Five observations from New Jersey vs Pittsburgh:
1. The Devils showed they could hang After adding Derick Brassard to help anchor the 3rd line(!), the Penguins are once again at or near the top of the list when it comes to Stanley Cup favorites.
It's entirely possible – if not likely – the Devils get them in the 1st round of the playoffs. If last night was any indication, the Devils could be able to make things interesting.
The Penguins were at home, had their full arsenal of *skaters*, and the Devils didn't look remotely overmatched.
Both teams carried play in spurts but there was never a time where it felt like the Devils were playing out of their depths.
Pittsburgh put the peddle to the metal, too. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel all played over 20 minutes. Kris Letang played 25 minutes. The Penguins rode their stars as if it was a playoff game and the Devils managed to not only hold their own, but match the Penguins (the Devils won the high-danger chance battle 16-14).
Pittsburgh would be favored in a playoff series, and rightfully so, but I think the Devils have the speed and attacking mentality necessary to at least put up a fight.
If not anything else, the games would be entertaining as hell.
2. Keith Kinkaid was excellent In order to beat the Penguins you need quality goaltending. It's just reality. They have so much firepower and team speed that even when they're not at their best, they will still generate a lot of chances. Last night was a good example of that.
The Pens had 38 shots on goal and 14 Grade A chances. They beat Keith Kinkaid just twice. It wasn't always pretty – he looked like a fish out of water at times – but he got the job done.
Kinkaid has quietly put together a fantastic couple weeks owning a 4-1-0 record and .943 save percentage over his last five games.
3. Pavel Zacha continues to impress I thought Zacha was one of the best players on the ice vs Pittsburgh. He was skating well, he was dangerous off the rush, he distributed the puck effectively, and he recorded team-highs in scoring chances (4) and high-danger chances (3). He also played 1:10 vs the league's best power play and didn't allow them a shot attempt, let alone a chance. Really, he did everything but score.
4. Taylor Hall is a machine At this point it'd be a bigger story if Hall didn't record a point. Regardless of the opponent, line matchup, whatever, you just expect him to find his way on the scoresheet. If he's held pointless through 40 minutes, it's not a "oh no, Hall might lose his streak!" feeling but rather a "you know the Devils are going to score here because Hall still hasn't picked up a point" feeling. I don't recall ever that being the case for a Devils player in my seven(?!?) years writing about the team.
Hall is a truly special player doing truly special things. I just hope he gets the credit he deserves when it comes time to fill out the Hart Trophy ballot.
5. Michael Grabner fits like a glove I think John Hynes' system was made specifically for Grabner. It had to be. It's just the perfect fit. Grabner flies up and down the ice a mile a minute and his speed makes him a threat from anywhere. Even when the Devils don't have the puck, opposing players have to be very aware of where he is. If they're not and they don't put enough zip on a pass, or bobble a puck, he'll pounce on it and take it up ice for a chance. Whether he'll score is anyone's guess – he's not a great pure finisher even though he scores a fair bit – but he generates a lot of extra opportunities for his team.
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