Anton Volchenkov was credited with the only goal for New Jersey as it bounced off a King and into the net in the second period.
Game two is Saturday night at the Rock.....
Hell Raisers
1) I hold no blame towards anyone on the game winner.
Any goalie is going to have problems one on one and the Justin Williams pass was perfect,handcuffing the Devils defenders (one was Bryce Salvador,think the other was Marek Zidlicky,at the road office).
Could it have been handled better? Sure,someone could have tighter coverage on Williams,but for the most part as I look at the big picture,I cannot be too upset....
2) Two huge chances for the Devils to win this game with Mark Fayne missing a wide open net late in the third period and Ilya Kovalchuk missed a harder shot in the overtime period.
The Fayne shot could be the play that Devils fans remember if this series is lost by a game..
Tough to find fault with a defensive minded defenseman missing that shot,but still....
3) It is too bad that Fayne's game might be remembered for that as I thought he played very well as did the Devils defense in general.
The Devils managed to do well with the backcheck for the most part and allowed them to stay into the game...
4) New Jersey will need to step up on the forecheck and make Jonathan Quick scramble a bit.
17 shots on goal is not going to get it done against this Kings team and if the Devils cannot put more shots than this against the Kings,then things are going to look bleak....
5) The Zach Parise goal that was taken off the board was a good call,as Parise pushed in it with his glove,but the chance just before that was another lost opportunity as Quick stopped Parise as he attempting to shove it through the body mass...
6) Although the game winner against Martin Brodeur is certainly not one to scream about,the first goal might have been a goal that Brodeur would like back.
It reminded me of a move that I would use in table hockey,where the puck would almost be shoved more the shot past the goalie.
It was a shot in this case,but the speed of it brought that to my mind..
7) Honestly,I never felt that comfortable as the game was played.
Even with the game tied,I always felt like the Kings were getting the better of it and it was a matter of time.
The Devils have pulled a few games out that they really didn't deserve to win in the playoffs.
Sooner or later,luck can run out....
Back later with a short post on a thing or two....
Photo Credit:AP Photo
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