Devils mash the Monster in Overtime!

The New Jersey Devils kept firing throughout the game against Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson and that was the difference as shots that seemingly were saves made their way into the back of the net three times in the contest before Mark Fayne's (4) seemingly harmless shot bounced off "the Monster" for the game winner in overtime for a 4-3 Devils win.
New Jersey goals to David Clarkson (23),Petr Sykora (14) and Alexei Ponikarovsky (11).
The Devils now have two days off before "Doc" Emrick night Friday night against the Canucks.....

Hell Raisers

1) Petr Sykora's goal to start off the scoring was set up by a beautiful pass by Adam Henrique from near the goal line.
Henrique's pass was so sharp that Sykora's initial attempt was stopped before a Sykora rebound resulted in a goal...

2) Take away that goal and each of the other goals can have assists given to Johan Gustavsson,who allowed David Clarkson a wide open spot through the five,Alexei Ponikarovsky to dribble a seemingly easy save through the same spot and then misplay the Mark Fayne shot for the bad goalie hat trick....

3) Devils fans and myself,worry about the defensive injuries that result in one is basically an Albany pairing of Matt Taormina and Peter Harrold and the second Toronto goal was against that pairing.
Harrold was against a two on one and cannot cover both,so that left Martin Brodeur against Clarke Macarthur = goal.

4) David Clarkson had a goal scored,but his most impressive thing to me was his taking on Dion Phaneuf after a borderline hit on Zach Parise.
I thought it could have been called a penalty,but it was not a dirty hit to my way of thinking.
Clarkson likely would have gotten a decision against the large Maple Leaf and taking up for the captain is always a sign of a jelling team...

5) I thought the PK band was great in the win as Ilya Kovalchuk pulled a "Bobby Orr" by skating with the puck for a large chunk of one kill and not allowing Toronto to touch the puck.
After a short stint of trouble on the kill,the Devils have recently returned to dominance when down a man and for my money have to be the best penalty killers in the league....

Back later with Cavaliers-Pistons!!