Devils win before hitting the road.

The New Jersey Devils snapped a two game losing streak in their last game before a four game road journey with a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers.
New Jersey had to score two empty net goals to fend off a Panther power play with under three minutes to go to create the inflated margin of victory.
Devils goals to Patrik Elias (14),Ilya Kovalchuk (13 and 14 empty net),Zach Parise (14 empty net) and Adam Henrique (11) with Johan Hedberg getting the win in goal.
The Devils are in Pittsburgh tonight in the first game of the trip against the Penguins before hitting the Western Canada portion with games in Calgary,Edmonton and Winnipeg....

Hell Raisers

1) Patrik Elias enjoyed his 1000th game as a Devils with a goal and assisting on both of Ilya Kovalchuk's goals.
The pass to Kovalchuk that broke the tie was an especially pretty pass by the veteran.
Elias might have been the best player on the ice last night.

2) The Devils were able to fight off the power play that was six on four at times due to a Zach Parise delay of game penalty.
I hate that penalty since it was installed a few years back because it carries little nuance.
The referees have to know what was an intended delay and what is not and the current rules do not allow the referees to take any reason into account.

3) The defense still is giving me concerns.
Andy Greene and Anton Volchenkov are not Bobby Orr and Scott Stevens,but this team playing without both gives increased playing time to players that cannot handle it-Mark Fayne is a target of my disdain lately,although he did finish with a +2 and an assist last night,but the defense needs those players back and soon!

4) In Lou We Trust has been screaming about Peter DeBoer dressing both Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen for a while now and now I must join in.
I am a fan of the enforcer role and have no problem keeping one of them active,but keeping both is simply foolish,especially when Mattias Tedenby gets scratched as he was last night.
Tedenby has struggled this season,but give me one upside to Boulton and Janssen.
Take your time...

5) Steve Zalewski was called up from Albany and made his debut last night.
I like giving career minor leaguers a shot at the big time,but the Devils are doing it too often.
Zalewski AND Tim Sestito and both on the ice often?
See number 4 for my opinion on that.

6) Looks like a rare Gary Bettman good idea is going nowhere as the NHLPA has rejected the realignment plan for next season.
Very shortsighted by the union and the flack should go all on them.
This is not a good sign for the upcoming CBA talks and looks like this could be contentious.
Can this league afford another work stoppage with teams in cities that have issues already?
A lockout might just end in contraction of some teams,which would not be a bad thing for the product,but will look very minor league in the casual fans eyes.

Photo Credit-AP Photo