Scouting the Enemy: New Jersey Devils

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2008 9:00 AM EST in News Comment 2 comments

Record: 12-7-2

Leading scorers: Zach Parise (13G, 12A, 25pts), Patrick Elias (8G, 12A, 20pts)

Injuries: New Jersey Devils

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Mike Mottau	two-game suspension served	11.26.2008

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Madden	left foot	11.27.2008

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Bobby Holik	right pinkie finger surgery	10.19.2008
Martin Brodeur	left elbow/biceps surgery	11.2.2008
Andy Greene	right hand surgery	10.30.2008
Brian Rolston	high right ankle sprain	10.17.2008

The Devils' injury list reads like a book. One can even argue they have an All-Star caliber team on the IR. But make no mistake, the Devils are still winning games without their goaltender. And their power-play point man. And their hard-hitting fourth liner.

Yeah, they're still winning.

Mark it: five in a row for the Devils. Whether the Devs plan to start the Devil-turned-Maple Leaf-turned-Devil-again Scott Clemmensen or eternal backup Kevin Weekes, they're going to come into this game riding on a high wave. That alone is more than the Pens can say after last night's game in Buffalo.

Then again they're not beating teams that are necessarily - how do you say, good? Minus the 6-5 win over Washington two weeks ago, the Devils also notched two wins over the Panthers, one over the Islanders and a monstrous 7-3 win over the Lightning. Of course the Penguins gave Buffalo their first win in five games last night, so Pitt can hardly talk.

Man, I really have to let things go.

Puck drops at 7:30.

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In all fairness to New Jersey

Good teams win their games regardless of their opponents, and the Devils have been doing that. More to the point, the Devils were on a four game losing streak prior to the five game winning streak – and in three of those four losses, they struggled to finish scoring chances. It wasn’t an issue of being outplayed, but they just couldn’t hammer that puck in. In the five wins, they’ve been able to do that – with the exception of their most recent game.

That Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Brian Gionta have been clicking has really helped out the offense and their confidence has trickled down to keep the Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, and Jamie Langenbrunner unit going, as well. Clemmensen will be in net tonight and best of luck to the Penguins defense for the task of stopping New Jersey’s recently hot forwards.

by John Fischer on Nov 29, 2008 4:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At least your team is clicking. You look at the Penguins’ roster on paper and you’d expect 4-5 goal per game. While the numbers do occasionally get there, if the Penguins get caught playing the Devils’ game it’s likely the rhythm will fall into the Devils’ hands. Minnesota did it to Pitt, and NJ did it earlier in the season (although that was just a monstrous night of shots for NJ), so I’m skeptical that it may happen again. I think when two teams like this meet up it’s not so much about what they have to work with, but how they can command the game. Should be a good one, as always.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Nov 29, 2008 7:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs