The New Jersey Devils pulled out their lunch pales and got to work in Pittsburgh Sunday as they picked up a 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins to complete the home-and-home sweep.
Game Notes
- The importance of the Devils last two wins over the Penguins can not be understated. Not only were they both divisional wins over what was the best team in the division record wise heading into the weekend, but both wins were in regulation.
New Jersey picked up four points and moved into 1st place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference while the Penguins failed to pick up a point and fell from 1st to 4th. The Penguins are three points back of New Jersey, have one less regulation/OT win and have played one more game.
- Johan Hedberg was very impressive in the 3-1 win over the Penguins. He made a few big saves early on to make sure the Devils didn't get behind the eight-ball and he continued to come up big when called upon all throughout the game. Hedberg stopped 23-of-24 in the win and is now 2-0-1 with a .973 save percentage and .65 goals against average on the year.
Having a backup who you're confident in and who will give you a chance to win each and every night is so important, especially in a condensed season where there are a lot of back-to-back situations. Pete DeBoer has no problem throwing Hedberg in the cage and Hedberg has rewarded DeBoer's confidence in him with three very good starts.
If Martin Brodeur continues playing like he has and Hedberg can give the Devils quality starts when called upon, the Devils should be able to contend for the Atlantic Division and perhaps Eastern Conference title.
- Ilya Kovalchuk scored again Sunday and extended his point-streak to three games. He has two goals, five points and 11 shots in that span. As I said before Kovalchuk broke out of his slump, he's way too talented to not put up points so it was only a matter of time. He has a top-5 shot in the league, so if he shoots he'll collect his fair share of points and goals.
- Stefan Matteau played the best game of his young NHL career Sunday. He picked up his first career assist, had a shot, a team-high five hits and almost 14 minutes of ice to go with it, a career-high. Matteau is starting to look comfortable in the NHL and it's showing in his production. Matteau has a goal, an assist, and four shots in the last two games.
- David Clarkson is going to cash in with his next contract. Period. His remarkable rise to becoming an elite power-forward continued Sunday as he scored twice, had five shots and two hits in less than 15 minutes of ice. That's nine goals and 15 points in 12 games this season.
- Adam Larsson played arguably his best game of the season Sunday. He played almost 23 minutes (only Andy Greene played more) and was plus-1 in the 3-1 win. He also had two hits, a blocked shot and made several big defensive plays throughout the game. Larsson continued to make solid outlet passes to get the Devils out of trouble and was very steady during the entire game. Larsson was also out there for the last 1:30 or so when the Penguins had Vokoun pulled to defend the lead. Larsson has really come along and has gotten better and better each game this season so it's not surprising to see DeBoer rewarding him with more ice time.
- The Patrik Elias - Adam Henrique - David Clarkson line is clicking on all cylinders and are proving to be way too much for opposition's 2nd and 3rd defense units. With Ilya Kovalchuk starting to get going on the top line, the Ryan Carter - Stephen Gionta - Steve Bernier line continuing to play well and Bobby Butler adding some additional scoring punch to the 4th line, the Devils are a scary team right now.
- Marek Zidlicky's time on ice totals were way down once again Sunday. Zidlicky played just 14:31, the least of all Devils defenseman. With the emergence of Larsson and the rest of the Devils defense playing so well, Zidlicky's even-strength ice time is starting to be limited and he's becoming more of a 3rd-pairing power play defenseman. Zidlicky hasn't played more than 18:30 once in the last six games.
Prospect Updates
- Reid Boucher scored another two goals for Sarnia, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-5 overtime win over Mark Scheifele and the Barrie Colts. Boucher now has 49 goals and 74 points in 54 games and is 11 goals ahead of Florida Panthers prospect Vincent Trocheck, who's 2nd in the OHL in goals with 38.
- Ben Johnson failed to pick up a point in a 3-1 Windsor loss to Kingston, thus snapping a three-game point-streak. Johnson had five points during that span.
- Ben Thomson scored in a 4-3 Kitchener Rangers win over the 1st place London Knights. Thomson's point totals are down this year, but he did match last year's goal total by scoring his 11th of the year Sunday.
- In the WHL, Reece Scarlett had another solid performance for the Swift Current Broncos picking up three assists in a 3-1 win over Edmonton. Scarlett has seven goals, 37 points and a plus-5 rating in 51 games this year.
- Scarlett's teammate and fellow Devils prospect, Graham Black, had an assist in Swift Current's 3-1 win. Black now has 19 goals and 39 points in 52 games on the year.
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»