It was an odd night at The Rock on Thursday as the OT merchant Canadiens (5-1 in OT entering Thursday's match)and their raucous fan base invaded Newark. The Devils would silence Les Habitants faithful early, with a Cody Glass goal just over a minute into play. Glass, returning from injury stripped the puck from the Montreal defender at the blue line and wristed a puck past the Habs young goaltender. One shot, one goal, a pleasant surprise for a New Jersey team that had surrendered the first goal in four of their previous five contests. However the luxury was short lived as Montreal would even the score just one minute and six seconds later. A tipped puck was lost in the lights, popped over everyones head, including a baffled Jacob Markstrom and into the net to knot the game at one. Despite a great start by NJ, the teams entered the tunnel the same way they exited, even.
In the second the Devils carried play, outshooting Montreal 12-8 and taking the lead on an Ondrej Palat tally (yes, you read that right). Despite not surrendering a goal, Jersey would not emerge the middle 20 minutes unscathed, as Dougie Hamilton left the ice just five minutes in and did not return. For the second time in just a few weeks, the Devils were forced to finish a game with just five defenders against a top NHL team.
With Kovacevic, Pesce and now Hamilton out, a depleted Devils D-corps did their best to weather the Canadien third period push. However, the efforts were not good enough as Montreal tied the game just 59 seconds in. Jake Evans beat Jacob Markstrom on a goal that would have made at least one goalie in this game cry (more on that below). Just halfway through the third was when the Devils D would crack. Dennis Cholowski, who I had hoped would see zero time in the NHL this season, was just one step too slow to the front of the net when Oliver Kapanen was not, 3-2 Montreal. Habs fans in attendance, in a bully-like, Nelson Muntz, Simpsons-esque, manner, stood, pointed at us all and unleashed a signature "Ha-Ha" to all Devils fans as we sat with head in hands. Well, that didn't happen but it sure felt that way.
Now up one, the Canadiens became very comfortable settling in to prevent defense in hopes for a victory formation. As the clock ticked away it appeared the Devils would fall in a bit of a bad luck/demoralizing fashion. But shortly after the two minute mark, it was Timo time. The big Swiss did not miss as a loose puck lie in the crease, chipping it up and over Jakub Dobes, whose lip began to quiver at that time, tying the game at three. There were some tense moments in the final seconds as the Canadiens buzzed in the Devil zone, but to no avail. We're going to overtime!
Two of the more dynamic OT teams dropped the puck and it didn't take long. A great pressure in the D-zone by Timo, combined with a terrific read and strip by Jesper Bratt led to a breakaway for 63. With the game on his stick Bratter would drag Dobes across the crease, opening him up like a bag of Hot Cheetos and slipping the puck five-hole into the back of the net for the waterfall and the win! A resilient victory for New Jersey to remain unbeaten in Newark!
Quick Hits:
Jakub D'oh-bes
Not his first time with a post game tear fest by Dobes, but it was the first time after a loss. The young Habs goalie did cry after his first playoff win back in April, but this time it was after defeat. Perhaps Les Habitants need Les Psychologist, for their goalie. After all isn't kind of important to have the ability to keep your emotions in check in sports? Maybe I'm being a bit harsh here...no actually I'm not. Get over it, even Brodeur lost nearly 400 regular season games. Grab a LaBatt and LaShut up...
Injuries
Unfortunately a recurring topic here for us Devils fans. Kovacevic, Dadonov, Glass, Brown, Pesce, Markstrom and now Hamilton... Let's get these all out of the way now and please be healthy by March! No word on the extent of Hamilton's injury or even what part of the body, not that it matters, right Keefe.
Hey Siri, play "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen...
Put a pitchfork in this one!
WOOooOOOOooooO!