Red and Green Devils ice Penguins 2-0

Photo Credit;USA Today

Cory Schneider was spectacular in goal with 35 saves and that was almost enough to insure victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on the Devils annual Red and Green uniform night in Newark.
Fortunately,Jacob Josefson scored in the second period (5) for all the scoring the Devils would need in a 2-0 win.
Adam Henrique would clinch the game with an empty netter (16 Empty Net) for New Jersey.
The Red and Green will return in action in Buffalo Friday (Likely no coverage as I will hit the road office early that evening) and then host the Islanders on Saturday night...

Hell Raisers

1) Cory Schneider continues strong play in net with 35 saves against a team the caliber of Pittsburgh was quite impressive.
I know,Schneider is not Martin Brodeur and he never will be,but it might be about time to admit we have a pretty good goalie right now...

2) Extra pictures tonight because I just love the red and green.
The red and green brings me back to when I was originally a Devils fan and even though I don't dislike the red and black,the red and green was unique.

Photo Credit: Saed Hindash-NJ.com

Lots of teams through sports use red and black,very few red and green.
We were unique and we've lost that...

3) Jacob Josefson set a career high in goals with his fifth and seems to be rounding into form.
Josefson (like Adam Larsson) was always to me a player that looked to be lacking confidence.
Since the firing of Peter DeBoer,Josefson seems to be playing with more of that and I wouldn't be surprised to see him sitting on a career year next season.

4) The play on the Josefson goal though was made by the long absent Michael Ryder,who put just enough of a nudge off a Eric Gelinas bounce off the boards to get the puck to Josefson for the chance.
Ryder won't be back next season,but he has to be motivated for the stretch run if he wants to play anywhere next season...

5) The Devils didn't commit a penalty in the victory.
When you can do that normally,you will win your share of games.but against the Sidney Crosby led Penguins and keep that bunch off the power play-that's massive!

6) Speaking of Crosby,give the defensive pairing of Andy Greene and Adam Larsson lots of credit for locking down the Pittsburgh star.
Crosby had his chances,but both defensemen played very well.

Photo Credit:Saed Hindash NJ.com

7) Just Because..

Devils finally win a shootout! Josefson grounds Jets!

Michael Ryder tied the game late in the third period (2) to wake the New Jersey Devils from an offensive slumber.
Jacob Josefson took care of the rest as the Swede scored the only goal in the shootout and gave the Devils two points in a 2-1 win that saw the team win their first shootout since the 2012-13 season.
Cory Schneider had 24 saves in the win.
The Devils next face Columbus on Saturday in a game that I might not have coverage of due to Ohio State football....

Hell Raisers

1) Cory Schneider might have played his best game all season.
He just missed on saving his only allowed goal and was sharp otherwise.
Encouraging to see him bounce back after the Pittsburgh debacle...

2) So who is to blame for that goal? Try the matchup of Bryce Salvador and Marek Zidlicky,who got back on a breakway and then allowed Blake Wheeler to split them for the goal.
Peter DeBoer realized the error and split the two up,but the damage was done.
Perhaps the two could have been paired together in the past,but at this point in their career-it's a bad match.
Salvador was moved with Adam Larsson,while Zidlicky teamed with Jon Merrill

3) Jacob Josefson may have seemed like a surprise pick for the shootout,but in hindsight-it does look like his skills are a good fit.
Easy to say that now,but of the Devils whopping four shootout goals last year,Josefson did have one of them...

4) Player of the night might not have been any of the three mentioned-That's because it was Damon Severson,who broke up a 3 on 1 and a 2 on 1 on plays that had either scored would have ended the game.
I was dubious of adding another young defenseman to find playing time for,but thus far Damon Severson has been the surprise player of the season...

5) The Devils used Adam Larsson over Eric Gelinas and I thought Larsson played very well.
Larssn showed a bit more of physical play than usual and made smart decisions with the puck.
It's amazing what happens when young players get ice time.....