The top line of the New Jersey Devils continued its strong play as Ilya Kovachuk and Zach Parise each scored a goal and added two assists as the Devils whipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 at the Rock.The Devils scored three times in the final period as Anton Volchenkov (2),Kovalchuk (30) and Parise (28 power play) all scored after Claude Giroux had tied the game at one apiece seconds into the final period.
Patrik Elias scored the only goal (24 power play) of the first two periods late in the first with a flip over Sergei Bobrovsky on a power play.
The same two teams will meet in Philadelphia Tuesday night...
Hell Raisers
1) Martin Brodeur only needed to make 18 saves and aside from a flashy glove save or two did not have to be spectacular,but he did one thing amazing in the win.
Brodeur won his 650th game in his career,giving Marty 100 more than second place Patrick Roy.
If Marty decides to play next year,675 is almost a sure bet-the bigger question is this-Can Brodeur make it to win 700???
2) Ilya Kovalchuk scored a goal for the third consecutive game,but the bigger play to me was his 2 on 1 pass to Anton Volchenkov for what proved to be the game winner.
Considering the lack of an offensive option with him on the breakaway,Kovalchuk could have easily kept the puck himself despite having a more difficult shot..
Instead,showing the confidence in Volchenkov,he made the pass and Volchenkov buried the puck in the back of the net.
This Kovalchuk is proving far superior to the higher scoring player in Atlanta...
3) Two assists for Marek Zidlicky,both with the Kovalchuk/Parise combo and one on the power play.
Could we be seeing the beginnings of some chemistry there?
4) I really liked the flipped,tumbling goal by Patrik Elias over Sergei Bobrovsky to end the first period.
The shot came off the stick almost like a clear on a penalty kill,popped up into the air and over Bobrovsky's head and into the net.
Pretty neat from short range....
5) More cheap shots from Zac Rinaldo,this time with a really dirty shot on Ryan Carter that resulted in the power play goal from Zach Parise.
What is it with this guy?
Looks like Philly has their very own Sean Avery with the less than clean play,instigating and refusal to drop the gloves.
Looking forward to seeing this guy pasted by someone....
6) Devils and Flyers now tied for fifth in the conference with 85 points,although the Flyers have one game in hand.
Both teams are 13 points ahead of tied for ninth place Winnipeg and Buffalo.
They may not have clinched yet,but I'd say they are in.
7) The races in the Eastern Conference that look to go down to the wire is in the crummy Southeast Division,where the question is does Florida or Washington get the division and undeserved third seed?
Floria leads Washington by one point right now with the Capitals holding eighth by four points over the Winnipeg/Buffalo pair.
I really do not care who the Devils play in round one,as long as it is not Washington!
I don't think I could stand an entire playoff series of Beninati and Laughlin!!!
Photo Credit:Andy Marlin-Getty Images
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