The winning process wasn't great, but the results certainly were in New Jersey's 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Devils were outshot - in some cases significantly - all three periods against Pittsburgh, but Jacob Josefson managed to snipe one in the 2nd period, and that turned out to be all the support Cory Schneider needed.
Some thoughts:
1) Eric Gelinas didn't get a ton of ice last night (13:59) but he made the most of it, assisting on Jacob Josefson's game winner. Gelinas made a nice move eluding the oncoming forechecker in space, before stepping around another player, and moving it up to Michael Ryder, who then chipped it to Josefson for the goal. Gelinas is capable of one-man breakouts, which are very valuable in today's NHL, and he finally has the confidence to pull them off. It's nice to see.
2) It's been real fun to watch Jacob Josefson's development of late. After recording just six points in 41 games, Josefson has picked it up of late with four points in his last nine games. He's not taking the league by storm, but he's chipping in offensively and the quality defensive play is still there. I don't think he'll ever be a big producer, but he does have some offensive talent, and he's been putting it to good use.
3) Cory Schneider has been incredible all year - he has a .929SV% for a reason - but he's kicked it up another notch of late. In his last three starts he is 2-0-1, has allowed two goals against, and owns a .978SV% in that span. That's absurd.
4) The Devils are over .500 for the first time in forever, and they have the Sabres up next. That's as good of an opportunity as any to keep building on their recent play and give themselves some wiggle room in terms of staying above .500.
5) The Devils need to wear their green and red/green and white jerseys more often. They look extremely sharp, and I don't care what their record is while wearing those jerseys.
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