Last night the New Jersey Devils took on a struggling team in the Toronto Maple Leafs and fell short in a shootout; an area the Devils have dominated in this season. Here are some notes on the game, among other things.
- Though the Devils are essentially locked in at the 6-spot in the Eastern Conference standings, you have to give them credit for how they played yesterday. The game really didn't mean too much for the Devils, and they came out with a purpose. New Jersey out shot the Leafs by 29 shots. I know they're struggling but it's hard to out shoot any team by that margin. If it was not for James Reimer and his solid play between the pipes, it could have been 7-3 Devils.
- Zach Parise got back on track yesterday. He tallied his first point in six games with his goal, and scored in the shootout. Unfortunately for Parise, it only earned his team one point.
- Adam Henrique had more jump in his step last night than over the past couple weeks, and he earned himself a goal, breaking a 17 game slump in that category.
- David Clarkson had an assist, seven shots, a couple hits and almost dropped the mitts with Dion Phaneuf. A typical game for him against his hometown team.
- Bryce Salvador played arguable his best game of the season last night, in my opinion. Salvador had an assist, four shots, a blocked shot, three hits and a plus-2 rating in almost 23 minutes of ice.
- Jacob Josefson finally scored his first goal of the season and I couldn't be happier for the guy. He's played so well in every aspect of the game for a while now, he just couldn't put home a goal. This should definitely be a confidence booster for him. The only problem for Josefson is Travis Zajac should return in the next game or two, so Josefson will likely be moved down to the 4th line in the near future.
- The Devils next game is tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it's a massive one. If the Devils win, the Penguins will have a much tougher time getting the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Why is that good? Let's say the Devils finish 6th and beat the Florida Panthers in the first round. If that happens, chances are they'll be the lowest seed remaining in the Eastern Conference which means they'll play the top seed remaining. Would you rather play the Penguins with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury, among others, all playing at the top of their game or a somewhat slumping New York Rangers team who you split the season series with? I'm going with the latter.
- The Ontario Hockey League playoffs are underway and a couple of Devils prospects opened up their first round series last night. Unfortunately, neither Reid Boucher or Scott Wedgewood got the results they were hoping for.
Reid Boucher's Sarnia Sting lost 5-1 at home to the Saginaw Spirit last night. Boucher was even and didn't register a point. The Sting are back in action tonight with game two against the Spirit.
As for Scott Wedgewood, his 2nd seeded Plymouth Whalers fell to the Guelph Storm last night in game one. He stopped 26 of 29 in a 4-2 loss. His counterpart, Leafs goaltending prospect Garrett Sparks, stole the show for the Storm stopping 45 of 47 in the win.
- Albany played against Norfolk yesterday, and lost. Norfolk now has a 19 game winning streak. The two teams meet again today.
- By the way, Mattias Tedenby registered an assist and defenseman Eric Gelinas scored yet again. Typical game for the two.
- Some notes on Devils prospects David Wohlberg and Jon Merrill of Michigan who were just eliminated from the playoffs
from Tom Gulitti:
"Finally, the University of Michigan’s hockey season ended tonight with a 3-2 overtime loss to Cornell in the NCAA tournament.
That brings to an end to the college career of senior center David Wohlberg, a 2008 sixth round pick for the Devils. It’s possible Wohlberg, who had 16 goals and 17 assists this season, could end up in Albany to play in a few games before the AHL regular season ends. (He would have to sign some type of contract).
The bigger question is whether 2010 second-round pick Jon Merrill will choose to leave Michigan as well after completing a tumultuous sophomore season in which he sat out until January while serving a suspension for breaking a team rule.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman finished with two goals and nine assists in 18 games.
With his lengthy college background at Providence, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is always careful to give undergrad college players room to make their own decisions as far as leaving school. It would be up to Merrill to tell the Devils he is leaving school—if he chooses to do that. "
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