Sunday afternoon Johan Hedberg and the New Jersey Devils shutout the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. It was the Devils fourth win of the season and it snapped what was a four-game losing skid.
Game Notes
- What can you say about Johan Hedberg? He was outstanding Sunday afternoon and played a huge role in snapping a four-game losing streak. Hedberg made several big saves to keep the game tied in all situations - even-strength, short handed as well as when the Devils were on the power play. Hedberg stopped 22-of-22, highlighted by stopping five-of-five while short handed as well as a great pad save on a Michael Grabner short handed breakaway. Hedberg, like Brodeur, has shown in the early parts of this season that he can still play.
Hedberg is now 1-0-1 with a .48 goals against average and .980 save percentage.
- Adam Larsson played well again against the Islanders. He played 17:10, 4th among Devils defenseman in TOI Sunday, was plus-1 and had a hit, a shot, a blocked shot and two PIMs. Though he has had a couple shifts where he's been a little out of place, I've been very impressed with what I've seen from him since returning to the lineup.
What has impressed me most about him is how fast he gets the puck out of trouble. He gets the puck on his stick in the defensive zone and within a couple seconds he puts it on a forwards tape and a rush going the other way has begun. For the most part there's been no panic in his game. He reads the play and reacts, and quickly.
Though with eight defenseman two always have to sit, if Larsson keeps playing like this he's not going to be in the seats.
- Ilya Kovalchuk was held pointless once again Sunday and he now has gone four-games without a point. He had three shots and a few chances, but obviously couldn't capitalize. Kovalchuk's played over 100 minutes in the last four games.
- I felt Andy Greene played a very strong game. He had two assists, three shots, two blocked shots, one hit, was plus-2 and on for all three Devils goals for (one was a power play marker). Greene also played 20:50 and was 2nd in minutes among defenseman only behind Bryce Salvador.
- With the top-6 locked in and the line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier not being broken up any time soon, Jacob Josefson is stuck on the 4th line. He gets the occasional shift in the top-6 and plays some penalty kill, but he's not getting near enough minutes for his talent level. Josefson played 12:16 yesterday.
- Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier: two goals, including the game-winner, and four points yesterday. The three have combined for four goals and 10 points in the last three games.
- A win is always nice, but the Devils really need to clean up their act when it comes to taking penalties. They're taking way too many and their penalty killing unit isn't always going to be able to save them, especially against high powered offenses like Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay.
Prospect Updates
- Reid Boucher scored three times Sunday in a 5-2 win over the Kingston Frontenacs. He now has 45 goals in 51 games and three hat tricks on the year. Season stat line: 45 goals, 69 points, 45 PIMs, plus-9 rating, 51 games played.
- Ben Thomson picked up two assists for Kitchener in a 11-4 win over the Erie Otters. Thomson has 21 points and 94 PIMs in 50 games this season.
- Ben Johnson had an assist in a 6-3 Windsor loss to Guelph. 25 points in 51 games on the year for Johnson.
- Damon Severson had an assist and was plus-2 in a 5-0 Kelowna win over Vancouver. Severson now has 42 points and a plus-35 rating in 53 games played.
- Reece Scarlett had an assist in a 4-1 Swift Current loss to Saskatoon. Graham Black was held off the scoresheet.
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