They say you get the good with the bad, and that certainly held true in New Jersey's 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
While Stefan Matteau was given legitimate minutes in last night's game, and played well recording a pair of shots and five hits, arguably New Jersey's best forward prospect Reid Boucher was left sitting in the stands.
It was nice to see Matteau get a legitimate opportunity to showcase himself - this is how you learn what you have in a player/prospect - but the decision to put Matteau on the top line with Mike Cammalleri and Travis Zajac was puzzling for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, he played limited minutes in his season debut. He was then made a healthy scratch for consecutive games. Now he's playing on the top line?
TSN's Travis Yost summarizes my thoughts nicely here.
It always amazes me (for any team) when a forward goes from healthy scratch to top line. Is there no middle? Just bizarre.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) March 29, 2015On the other side of the coin, why is Boucher being scratched? He played 12 minutes or less in his first two games after being recalled. Against Carolina he played over 14 minutes, the highest total in any of the seven NHL games he's dressed in this year. Next? Healthy scratch. It doesn't make sense, especially when the Devils have been eliminated from playoff contention. It can't hurt to give the kids a legitimate look, and scratching them won't do their confidence any good.
And another thing: why does Stefan Matteau, a projected bottom-6 forward, get a look on the top line before Reid Boucher, a goal scoring winger, does? Not that he looked out of place, but New Jersey's biggest weakness is a lack of offense, so one would think the team's best goal scoring prospect would get put in a position to, well, score goals.
Prospect Updates
- John Quenneville scored in Brandon's 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings. He now has five points (two goals, three assists) through three playoff games. Brandon leads the series 2-1.
- Fellow Devils prospect Brandon Baddock was held pointless in Edmonton's loss. He is pointless through three games.
- Joseph Blandisi is in action tonight as the Barrie Colts host the Belleville Bulls. Blandisi had an assist in Barrie's 3-2 series opening win.
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