Saturday, October 16, 2010

Devils drop decision to Avalanche

The early season bad luck continues for the New Jersey Devils as pucks slid through the crease and clanged off posts all night and the Devils paid the price in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at the Rock.Ilya Kovalchuk (2) and Matt Taormina (1 Powerplay) scored for the Devils.New Jersey hosts Boston tonight in Newark before having a few days off before a Thursday visit to Montreal..

Hell Raisers

1) The Devils just didn't get the breaks in the game and that happens sometimes.
There was several pucks that slid past Craig Anderson (who was excellent,by the way) that just slithered through the crease and at least four shots if not more that smacked off the post.
This is one of those streaks and if the Devils can continue to keep firing (41 shots last night),I think things will turn around.

2) All of that considered,the Devils need to do a better job of positioning players for rebounds and camp some guys in front of the net as well.Seems like way too many are beside the net and not in front,which gives the goalie a better view of the shot.

3) Matt Taormina continues his fast start with his first NHL goal and an assist on the Ilya Kovalchuk goal.It is early,but I like what I have seen thus far from Taormina's game on the offensive end.

4) Bad game for Colin White,who committed a careless high stick the first period,which allowed Colorado's only first period goal,didn't screen out T.J. Galiardi on the second Avalanche goal and then committed another high sticking penalty later in the game.

5) All three of the Albany callups played,although Tim Sestito saw the least amount of action.Jacob Josefson and Matt Corrente each saw plenty of ice time and didn't make many mistakes,although Corrente was in a tough spot on the Cody McLeod goal having to make a quick decision on the play.

6) John MacLean was switching lines late in the game to shake things up a bit,but it seems like the Arnott,Elias,Langenbrunner line was the least active of the bunch.That line needs to get with the program before they get broken up in an effort for more offense.



Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett-Getty Images

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