For the second consecutive game the New Jersey Devils were involved in a blowout; only this time they were on the right side of it.
The party started early as the Devils scored two goals in the first two minutes and led the rest of the way en route to a 7-4 win over a Minnesota Wild team desperate for points.
The Good
- Devante Smith-Pelly continued to defy the odds against the Wild scoring another pair of goals on just three shots. He's now shooting over 40% in New Jersey (not going to last, obviously) but to his credit he has played very well and is certainly making the most of his opportunity on the top line.
While the goal scoring will dry up in time, he has been good in possession more often than not and he's been very assertive on the forecheck and around the paint. On Adam Henrique's 2nd period goal, for example, DSP didn't register a point but he separated a Wild defender from the puck, the Devils recovered it and the rest is history. He's been much better than I expected, and not just because he's filling the net.
- Mike Sislo has never had anything given to him in professional hockey. He joined the Devils out of college as an undrafted free agent, spent the majority of the last six years in Albany and has always posted good numbers there. Despite that he has never really enjoyed more than a cup of coffee with the big club. Sislo continued to plug along, though, and worked to make sure he is ready for any opportunity he gets.
I'm not sure he'll ever establish himself as an NHL regular but it was very nice to see him rewarded for all his hard work with a pair of goals against the Wild. He'll never forget Thursday night.
- Joseph Blandisi has had a few quiet games of late but that was not the case against Minnesota as he picked up a pair of primary assists at 5 v 5. Again, he's endured some growing pains along the way but he's tallied 17 points in his last 28 games as a 1st year pro. That's promising.
- Score effects ran their course in the 3rd period but the Reid Boucher - Travis Zajac - Kyle Palmieri line was very good when the game was close.
In the first 40 minutes the shot attempts were 15-3 New Jersey with that trio on the ice at 5 v 5.
- I can't touch on everyone but I thought Adam Henrique and Tyler Kennedy were excellent on the top line, and I thought Damon Severson played a pretty sound game in his return to the lineup. Hopefully that continues.
The Bad
- Jon Merrill had a few hiccups in the defensive zone including a turnover that led directly to Minnesota's 3rd goal. He seems to be making the same mistakes over and over.
- Keith Kinkaid made a few excellent stops and he did what he had to do but he posted an .875 save percentage. I have to nitpick - the Devils didn't do much wrong in this game - because on most nights the Devils won't win with sub .900 goaltending. Their offense isn't good enough.
Stat Of The Game
Only Devante Smith-Pelly had more scoring chances than Bobby Farnham.
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