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| Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com |
Monday night, the Devils took care of the first part of the pair with a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning by rallying with the final four goals of the game.
Taylor Hall scored once and assisted on two more goal to a pace a suddenly alive New Jersey offense.
Devils goals to Hall (2), Blake Coleman (2 shorthanded empty net), Will Butcher (1 power play) Ben Lovejoy (1 empty net) and Stefan Noesen (1).
The series continues tomorrow night with game four in Newark and it will be televised on the Golf Channel-Yes the Golf Channel, as the network is part of the NBC family and on a rare night needs every channel that it can cobble together to show every game.
1) The man advantage wasn't great with just one goal in seven attempts, but the one goal was huge as Will Butcher tied the game with a goal in a 5 on 3 situation with a strong wrister and that goal seemed to inspire the Devils.
Still, the Devils are going to have to do more on the power play than 1 for 7, if that want to have a chance to pulling the upset in this series.
2) Cory Schneider was sharp (with one exception) in his return to the ice and first win since two days after Christmas.
I thought the Steven Stamkos goal was one that he should have been able to handle, but otherwise, Schneider's game was strong.
34 saves on 36 shots is strong enough that we can excuse one semi-soft goal.
3) Schneider did fall awkwardly during the third period Tampa Bay barrage and I was screaming at the television for him to arise.
It turned that he couldn't at the time and I wondered if he would be able to continue.
Schneider played through the pain and worked through it.
I haven't seen anything about his availability for game four, so I assume that he is ready to go.
4) Taylor Hall.
Look, I was a big fan of Adam Larsson, still remain so and I still think that he has a chance to be an All-Star level defenseman, but at the time that Taylor Hall was acquired, I thought that was a steal and it gets even better.
Taylor Hall might be the most explosive Devils offensive player in franchise history and if he isn't now- it's a matter of time.
Taylor Hall is still under contract for two more seasons at six million per (a bargain for his production) and will be just 28 at the end of the contract, conceivably entering his prime.
I know it's early, but the Devils might be well suited to look into what it would take to extend his contract now- that decision could pay huge dividends for the Devils.
5) Marcus Johansson returned from the concussion issues that sidelined him for much of the season.
Johansson played just under 15 minutes and might have fresher legs for the postseason due to the injury.
It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.
6) And we have to mention the groin shot by Victor Hedman to Nico Hischier's err "area" with ninety seconds to play.
It looked very intentional and cheap to me and even though it didn't result in a long-term injury to Hischier, Hedman should have been considered for some supplemental discipline, but was not.
7) Can the Devils sustain this effort for game four?
Will the foul-filled final minutes with fights carry over?
Can Cory Schneider continue a comeback that allows him to regain his job?
We'll find out tomorrow night-Same Bat Time, Different Golf Channel!!
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