The New Jersey Devils had one of their toughest tests of the season on Friday night and they passed with flying colors.
The Chicago Blackhawks were in town and the Devils didn't exactly greet them kindly as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st period and never looked back en route to a 4-2 win over the defending champs.
While the Blackhawks are not firing on all cylinders they entered Friday's contest with a 5-2-1 record in eight prior games and that includes wins over Los Angeles and Tampa Bay so it's not as if they're easy pickings.
The Devils simply were the better team from start to finish and they were rewarded accordingly.
Some notes on the big win:
1) From start to finish I thought Travis Zajac was the best payer on the ice. He broke up several plays on the penalty kill, caused a few turnovers - including one that led directly to his goal - and contributed two even-strength points (one goal, one assist). He was also good through the neutral zone as he regularly carried the puck up ice with little trouble. No. 19 has had some very good games but his performance against the Blackhawks may have been the best of the bunch.
2) Damon Severson didn't play a ton (14:00) but I thought he played very well in this game. He was the team's best possession player and he distributed the puck well all night long. As such he picked up a pair of assists including one on a beautiful pass to Mike Cammalleri.
Cammalleri puts Devils up 4-0 pic.twitter.com/HQPCxvgY1t
— Stephanie (@myregularface) November 7, 20153) I've said it several times now but there are very few players providing as much bang for your puck as Lee Stempniak is right now. After his two point effort against the Blackhawks he now has 10 points in 13 games on the year and has been a key player logging important minutes in all situations. Not bad for $850,000.
4) The Devils scored 10 5 vs 5 goals in their first 12 games. They scored four 5 vs 5 goals against Chicago. New Jersey had an unsustainably low shooting percentage of 4.4 in that game state prior to Friday's game so it was only a matter of time before they broke out. They're shooting 5.6% now and it will almost certainly continue to rise over time.
5) Kyle Palmieri was never a big point producer in Anaheim but his rate stats suggested he could be if he was given more ice time That has proven to be the case thus far as he has 10 points and 33 shots in 13 games and certainly looks the part of a top-6 forward.
Prospect Updates
- Pavel Zacha recorded a primary assist in a 3-2 loss to Flint. Zacha has 10 points in 11 games on the year and has recorded at least a point in eight of his last 10.
Fellow Devils prospect Josh Jacobs also recorded an assist while firing six pucks on net in a losing effort. He's up to nine points in 16 games on the year.
- Another game, another quality start from Mackenzie Blackwood. The 6'4' netminder stopped 36 of 38 in Barrie's 4-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves. He is now 10-5-0 with two shutouts, a 2.46 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Those are absurd numbers for an OHL goaltender.
- Blake Speers had a goal and an assist in Soo's 4-3 win over Mississauga. After being held pointless in his first three games of the year Speers has tallied 14 points in 14 games.
Colton White also had a good night at the office picking up a pair of assist from the back end. White has eight points in 17 games.
- Joseph Blandisi scored a pair in Albany's 4-3 win to give him nine points in nine games on the year and eight in his last five games.
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