Kovalchuk hat trick slices Sabres 4-1!

First,allow me to apologize for missing a few days.
Working a ton and will being doing so for the next two weeks,so just a heads up there.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored his first hat trick as a Devil (23 power play,24 and 25 empty net) as the New Jersey Devils snapped a two game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo.
Petr Sykora scored (13 power play) the other goal for New Jersey,who get two days off before hosting Anaheim Friday night at the Rock

Hell Raisers

1) Hard to believe that the hat trick for Kovalchuk was his first in three years,since he was still with the Atlanta Thrashers.
Kovalchuk also added an assist on the Sykora goal and was obvious to any viewer to be the dominant player on the ice.
Kovalchuk continues to see time on both penalty teams and I would go as far to say that this is the best run of complete hockey of his career...

2) Martin Brodeur could have added another shutout as the only puck that eluded him was off a Dainius Zubrus turnover that beat Marty on the far post.
Perhaps there is something to that fine line that sees Brodeur play enough to be sharp,yet not tired out?

3) Zach Parise was strong as well in the win.
Parise just missed a goal with seven shots on Ryan Miller and gave up a sure goal with the empty net to pass to Kovalchuk to allow him to grab the hat trick.
A very unselfish play that one loves to see from the team captain..

4) I really liked the strong play from our shutdown defenders in Anton Volchenkov and Bryce Salvador in the win.
Sometimes the quiet and solid (read non-offensive) defenseman does not get a ton of kudos,but both have been playing very well of late,especially Volchenkov....

5) Stephane Veilleux and Nick Palmieri were brought up from Albany before the game.
The former played a little on the fourth line,while the latter was a healthy scratch...

6) Rumors are flying that disgruntled Minnesota defenseman Marek Zidlicky could soon become a Devil.
The 35 year old is rarely playing with the Wild these days as he is having issues with Minnesota coach Mike Yeo.
Zidlicky has agreed to waive his no trade clause if a deal can be arranged with New Jersey.
More on this as things develop....

Photo Credit:AP Photo