It was a huge win for New Jersey last night against the Pacific leading Vegas Golden Knights. Have the Devils began to regain an identity? That's three games in a row now that the depleted Devils have been the better team. Credit coach Sheldon Keefe who has all 18 skaters playing a full 200 foot game. In all three zones, all four lines and three D pairs played solid hockey, standing up to a much bigger and let's face it, better opponent.
Connor Brown was huge once again with a beautiful goal on a John Madden-esque type of forecheck. Solid efforts from Cody Glass, Paul Cotter, Xavier Parent, Angus Crookshank, on the bottom half of the lienup helped keep Vegas in check. Even Ondrej Palat, the new, seemingly rejuvenated, "please don't trade me", vet has contributed in all aspects as of late. Nico Hischier did everything but score and Brett Pesce's impact was immediate. With 22 back in the lineup, all of a sudden the other five D men are much more calm and pucks were exiting the zone way more efficiently then in the past few months. However the story was Jake Allen, with his second HUGE game in a row. Allen was virtually unbeatable, taking a cross ice PP attempt on a perfectly placed shot to beat him for the Knights' only tally.
With a team committed to structure, solid goaltending, and players hopefully getting healthy soon, NJ will have no issue climbing out of their funk.
Not Much Is Guaranteed In Life
Except for when the Devils have a weeknight PST road game and I have shit to do the next morning, then and only then there are guarantees:
The game start must be delayed.
It must be a tight game, prohibiting me to doze off and catch the highlights in the AM.
It must go to OT or even shootout.
At least this one was worth losing sleep over...
Put a pitchfork in this one! Hey Siri, play "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen...