The New Jersey Devils hosted Pittsburgh on Saturday night in a battle between two of the hottest teams in hockey.
Entering Saturday's game the Devils had won nine of their last 12 games while the Pens had won 10 of 13 following their slow start to the season.
This figured to be a very competitive game between two division rivals but that was not the case as the Devils dictated play from the word go and handled the Penguins with ease in their surprising 4-0 win.
Some notes:
1) By all accounts this was the Devils' best effort of the season. They outshot the Penguins 37-21, out-chanced them 26-17, drove possession at a 58% clip, and 17 of their 18 skaters recorded at least a shot. I don't think John Hynes could have asked for anything more from the team in a game that surely meant a lot to him. 2) Former Penguin Bobby Farnham scored and had a game-high(!) three scoring chances at even-strength. Hockey is a weird sport sometimes.
3) Jacob Josefson didn't get on the scoresheet but I thought he was one of the best players on the ice. He was defensively responsible and good things seemed to happen every time he was out there as he distributed the puck very well and tied the game-high of four shots. He played more than 18 minutes and deserved every second he was given.
4) Mike Cammalleri has six goals and 17 points in 17 games. Adam Henrique has eight goals and 14 points in 17 games. Lee Stempniak has four goals and 14 points in 17 games.
They don't get much credit league-wide but they have quietly been one of the best lines in hockey this season. They're driving possession at a high rate and are piling up the points like there is no tomorrow.
5) Cory Schneider has allowed two goals or less in seven consecutive starts and stopped .943% of the shots he has faced in that span. When you have a goaltender playing as well as he is and don't get bombarded with shots on a nightly basis you're going to win a lot of games. We're seeing that now.
Prospect Updates
- I was at the Barrie Molson Center for Saginaw @ Barrie last night and once again Mackenzie Blackwood stole the show. He stopped 33-34 and made several excellent stops throughout en route to a 5-1 win. Blackwood is now 12-5-0 on the year with a 2.29 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. Those are insane numbers for an OHL goaltender.
- Pavel Zacha scored a pair and had five shots on goal in Sarnia's 7-0 win over the Guelph Storm. Zacha has nine goals and 14 points in 15 games on the year.
Josh Jacobs was held pointless in the win but did have three shots on goal.
- Blake Speers went off against Flint in SSM's 4-3 overtime win as he had a goal, two assists and eight shots on goal. He has five goals and 18 points in 19 games.
Defenseman Colton White had an assist and a shot in the win. He has nine points in 22 games.
- Joseph Blandisi scored and fought 6'7' defenseman Samuel Morin in Albany's 2-1 win over the baby Flyers. Blandisi has six goals and 12 points through 13 games this season.
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