Different game, similar results.
Despite outshooting the Ottawa Senators by a significant margin in Monday night's 3-2 shootout loss, the New Jersey Devils were held to two goals or less for the fifth time in their last six games and fell short as a result.
Game Notes
- I thought the Devils played one of their best games of the season against the Senators. Ottawa is known as a puck possession team and for the most part they've dominated their opponents in that department all season long. Despite the Devils playing without their top player, Ilya Kovalchuk, and playing two bodies short for most of the game, the Devils really carried play.
New Jersey outshot Ottawa 34-14 and had they capitalized one one or two more of their many chances, they would have won the game.
New Jersey deserved the two points, no doubt, but they'll have to take the point they earned and get ready for Friday's game.
- The shootout was brought into the NHL to end games quicker and provide entertainment for fans. Over the last year or so, the entertainment value hasn't been as high as it once was. While I still enjoy watching the most talented players in the NHL taking turns exchanging breakaways, the shootout isn't near as fun as it used to be for a few reasons.
The shootout is getting old. It's not fresh, new and exciting anymore. Shooters aren't going in on goalies and trying to deke them out of the crease, they're rather skating in slowly and waiting for a goalie to move so they can put it in the roof or go five-hole. Not very often do you see highlight real goals in the shootout anymore. Also, it's too short. If you're going to keep it around, make it a 5-man shootout. Make it more of a team game rather than just awarding the extra point to the team with two or three players that have better hands than the opposition.
- Andy Greene was an absolute force on the backend last night. With Bryce Salvador going down with an injury, Greene ate up a significant amount of his minutes. Greene played 32:37 and had two shots, two takeaways, two blocked shots and a plus-1 rating to go along with his assist.
- Marek Zidlicky was 2nd on the Devils in minutes, playing 24:29. Last night I tweeted out praising Zidlicky's ability to elude defenders to create chances. Moments later he danced around a few defenders and put it in the roof, scoring on what was a very impressive individual effort. As I've said countless times, he turns the puck over a little much for my liking but he is a solid offensive defenseman. Nobody on the Devils defense has the ability to do the things he does.
- David Clarkson was pretty mediocre again. Travis Zajac was feeding him Grade A chances all night long and Clarkson couldn't do anything with them. He mishandled a few good passes, missed some shots and when he did hit the net he put it in Ben Bishop's chest more times than not. He had a good fight and had six shots, but it's about time he starts putting a puck or two in the net again.
- Speaking of Zajac, he played very well again, in my opinion. He didn't record a point, in large part because he was feeding Clarkson all night and he didn't score, but he was effective. Zajac won 59% of his faceoffs, had a couple hits, set up some very nice chances and scored an impressive shootout goal. Zajac was the only Devil of the four players that shot that was able to put the puck in the net.
- Matt D'Agostini was mediocre again. He had a couple hits and a takeaway but didn't put a puck on goal all night. If you're playing top-6 minutes, you need to throw some pucks on net.
- Harri Pesonen played nine minutes and continues to be nothing more than an extra body in the lineup. He can skate and has some skill, but Pete DeBoer isn't giving him many opportunities to produce.
- With Alexei Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and Ilya Kovalchuk out, the Devils wing depth is hurting. The Carolina Hurricanes put Jussi Jokinen on waivers today and if I'm Lou Lamoriello, I strongly consider putting a claim in for him.
Jokinen hasn't played with quality linemates or top-6 minutes this year, but he still has five goals and 10 points in 30 games. Jokinen is also very good in the shootout - an area New Jersey has struggled in this year.
He's attempting 11.5 shots per 60 minutes of 5 vs 5, which is his career high by a few shots. He just isn't getting any puck luck right now. His shooting percentage will rise and he'll start to fill the net if he's given an opportunity and continues to fire that many pucks on net.
Jokinen will make $3 million through the end of next season. The Devils finances are a lot better than they were and they have a lot of cap space, so why not take a shot at the guy? If he can find his game, you get a free top-6 forward. If not, you tried to improve your team.
Prospect Notes
- Artur Gavrus' Owen Sound Attack lost Game 3 against the Soo Greyhounds 5-3 last night. Gavrus didn't record a point and had 2PIMs in the loss. The Attack lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 also being played in the Greyhounds' barn. Gavrus has three points in three playoff games thus far.
- Reid Boucher's phenomenal OHL season looks like it will be soon coming to a close. The Sarnia Sting lost 5-2 to the Plymouth Whalers last night and now trail 3-0 in the series. Boucher, like Gavrus, was held off the scoresheet last night and Boucher, like Gavrus, has three points in three playoff games. The difference being two of Boucher's three points are goals while two of Gavrus' three points are assists.
- Stefan Matteau's BLB Armada were not in action last night, but they do play tonight. The Armada lead their series 2-0 and Matteau has two assists in the series.
- In the WHL, defenseman Reece Scarlett had two assists in a 3-2 Swift Current Broncos OT win over the Calgary Hitmen. Scarlett has three assists in three games. Swift Current trails the series 2-1.
- Graham Black was held off the scoresheet, but he, like Scarlett, has three points in three games in the series.
- Damon Severson's Kelowna Rockets trail their series 2-0. Severson has a goal and two assists through two games. Game 3 will be played tonight.
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