The game was marked by six alternating goals between the two teams before Toronto scored the final two goals to cap off a frustrating evening.Devils goals were scored by Patrik Elias (5 power play),David Clarkson (3) and Dainius Zubrus (3 power play).
New Jersey travels to Philadelphia tonight against the hated Flyers before getting Friday off before a Saturday date with the new Winnipeg Jets...
Hell Raisers
1) Soft and bad defense were the redundant factor in the loss.
With the exception of Anton Volchenkov,the Devils defenders did not seem to show up,although Adam Larsson's assist on a Patrik Elias goal was a pretty one.
Henrik Taliinder,Mark Fayne,Andy Greene and Bryce Salvador were all having bad nights and the scoreboard showed that fact as Toronto not only outscored the Devils,they outshot them too.
No excuse for that on home ice....
2) I have always liked Bryce Salvador and he is (hopefully) still rounding into shape after missing a year,but he seems a step slower from a player that really did not have a step to lose.
My other Salvadorian issue is the lack of physicality from a veteran that needs that part of the game to shine.
Color me officially worried....
3) Martin Brodeur had to be rusty and it showed with five goals allowed.
His defense helped him very little as noted,but two of the five had to go all on Brodeur,especially one that went right through his legs.
The big question for me tonight is this-do you go back to Brodeur tonight in Philly against a good team and hope he needed last night to get sharp or go to Johan Hedberg and bring Marty back against the weaker Winnipeg Jets at the Rock?
I can see reasons for either call,but I tend to go Hedberg tonight since the Jets game is just two days away.
A longer layoff and I would play Brodeur this evening....
4) Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk get the most attention and higher paycheck,but for right now,Patrik Elias is playing the best of the forwards.
Elias has made whomever plays on his line better and thus far,the Elias line has been the teams best,no matter which other two players make it up....
5) It was nice to see the power play wake up with goals in both of their chances.
The Devils will need that man advantage to be more successful (duh),but mainly because with their weakness at center right now,they are not going to be scoring a ton of even strength goals in my opinion...
6) First points of the career for Adam Larsson and Brad Mills (both assists) in the loss....
7) Beautiful breakaway goal for David Clarkson in the second period to tie the game at three.
Full credit to Nick Palmieri for the assist with a sharp pass to put Clarkson in that position...
8) The New York Post is reporting the Devils have interest in Edmonton center Sam Gagner.
The 22 year old would step right into a top line and strengthen a weak spot on the team.
The Post speculates that the cost could be Matt Taormina,Alexander Urbom and a roster winger with a draft pick possible to be added as well.
I would like to keep Urbom if possible,but at that cost-I'm interested.
Keep in mind though that the NYP is the Fox News of newspapers in the area and I doubt that this is a deal that is close to being made...
Photo Credit-AP
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