The New Jersey Devils looked to be on the ropes in the third period against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes after losing a 3 goal lead and allowing the Hurricanes to tie a desperately needed game for both teams.Fortunately,the newest Devil would step up and save the squad from a crushing defeat as Tuomo Ruutu beat Cam Ward from the slot with the game winner with roughly six minutes to go in the game (6) and give the Devils a 5-4 win over Carolina!
Adam Henrique scored two more goals (21 and 22 shorthanded) to lead the Devil attack while Travis Zajac (11) and Damien Brunner (10) scored the remaining Devils goals.
New Jersey hits the road for the next three games in their longest remaining road trip of the season with the trip starting Tuesday night in Philadelphia...
Hell Raisers
1) Why was this game so important?
Well,after the less than energized effort against the Red Wings and three road games on the horizon after this one-this game was a must win for the playoff hopes of the red and black.
Even with the win,the Devils still trail the Rangers by three points and the Rangers have a game in hand for the final Metropolitan spot and follow Detroit and Columbus by two points (the Wings have two games in hand with the Blue Jackets having one) and Washington by one point for the wild card.
Suffice it to say-a loss in this one against a lower team at home might have killed some hopes...
2) Tuomo Ruutu not only scored the game winning goal,Ruutu assisted on Travis Zajac's goal with a sweet pass that literally skidded under the stick of the Carolina defender (Jay Harrison,I think).
Perhaps,it was because Ruutu was playing Carolina and had some familiarity,but if he plays with this type of abandon-the Devils are going to be very pleased with the addition of Tuomo Ruutu.
3) How hot is Adam Henrique? Well ,Rachel might answer that question differently than I,but there can be no denying that Henrique had returned from the break with some outstanding play.
Henrique's two goals notched the sixth game in a row that he scored in and if he can score against Philadelphia on Tuesday,will own the team mark for consecutive goals in a game all alone...
4) Martin Brodeur was OK in net.
Not great,not awful.OK.
The sweeping prayer by Alexander Semin that got by Brodeur should have been stopped and the Jay Harrison maybe should have been too.
All and all,Brodeur was helped by the offense,which is fine with me for all the years that Marty was bailing THEM out...
5) For all the issues,the one thing that I have liked coming out of the Olympic break is this-the team is putting more shots on goal.
Over 30 against Carolina and for a team that traditionally has not done that on a consistent basis,it is a very good sign....
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