Devils spank Penguins 4-1, drop third in a row
For the Devils perspective check out In Lou We Trust.
Games like this make me want to vomit words onto an empty blog post and call it a night. There's so much I want to say and hardly any one thing I can focus on.
So with that said, where do we begin?
The Devils played a very physical game. In fact, I think it's safe to say the Devils out-muscled the Pens in every aspect of play. At what point did you not see a Pens player wiped out on the ice? Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang, Mark Eaton - all of those guys are defenders who got rocked left and right by the Devils' third and fourth lines. When your D is getting bashed like that all night it normally doesn't turn out well.
Surprise - it didn't.
One can argue the Devils scored garbage goals on Sabourin, to which I say - that's the way the puck bounces. Frankly, Zach Parise's deflection goal is easily one of the best goals I've seen in a while. Besides, nothing could pose as more of a garbage goal than Matt Cooke's tap past Clemmensen in the third.
You may remember in the Penguins' loss to the Rangers last week that Petr Prucha tied the game on a rare off-the-boards rebound goal. Tonight the Devils' Travis Zajac showed similar "skill" with a board-goal of his own. If two weren't enough, the Pens helped out with a deflection on a Dainus Zubrus shot that presented Dany Sabourin with no chance of making the save.
This is the sort of game where you really miss the presence of towers like Hal Gill and Philippe Boucher. I can't guarantee it, but I'd gladly wager money on the proposition that Gill would've kept Parise out from the front of the net on that redirect goal. And even though we've yet to see much of Boucher since his trade from the Stars, he's an able-bodied defenseman that doesn't play scared like Letang and Goligoski. That is exactly what the Pens need now.
Oh, and Marc-Andre Fleury back between the pipes would be nice too.
The good: Well, the Pens prevented the shutout. Sadly that's the best I can pull from this game.
The bad: Defense. Goaltending. Penalties. You name it.
The ugly: Bryce Salvador after taking an Alex Goligoski shot to the face.
Next game: Tomorrow night. Islanders. 7:30.
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I thought the Devils played a pretty solid game
all around, but the Pens did actually hit the post at least three times, so this could’ve been a very different game. That’s what happens when you have the skill up front that the Pens do. You can get outplayed and still make it a game.
That being said, wow that was a great goal by Parise. That guy NEEDS to be a Devil for life. Not only does he have the skill but he works harder than any other player on the ice each and every night.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 10, 2008 10:35 PM EST reply actions
Parise is a great forward. I predicted he’d have a 90 point season before the puck dropped in October and I’m sticking to it.
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Salvador
So my cable (and thus Center Ice) is out all night, until just before the end of this game, so I don’t get to “scout” the Penguins. I tune in just to see Bryce Salvador take a puck in the face. I love Bryce Salvador. Saw him a lot in St. Louis (they should’ve kept him and traded Jackman). Just like him to get up and try to skate away like “just get me to the lockeroom” even though he couldn’t see where he was going. Really hope he’s okay.
Frank, it hurts me to say it, but I fear a soothing tonic awaits the Pens tomorrow night.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
What now? Devils, Sabres and Sens beat us down and suddenly the ISLANDERS think they can beat us? My oh my do you have a surprise coming tomorrow night.
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No no, I meant tonic as in antidote. Therapy. Comfort food. Rest assured, I’m feeling no hubris going into this one. The Islanders have been rebound girl for many a talented team lately.
…And then there was Atlanta. Oomph.
Lighthouse Hockey: a New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
What would you call Atlanta? Does that qualify as a rebound?
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In all honesty
If Crosby buried one or both of those wide open nets he had in the game, then I think the game would have played out much differently.
That said, the Devils had the better breaks; they came out with the puck more often than not in their own zone when the puck went awry; and the Devils finished where the Penguins could not. I think the game was more even than the score would suggest, in all honesty.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
I didn’t really give up hope until 3-0. I’ve seen the Pens come back from 2-0 before but 3-0 was money in the bank for NJ, especially since they nailed it in the third period. There was a lot of poor passing for Pitt tonight, some bad breaks (as you mentioned) and a general sense of disarray in their own zone. The power play is pass happy, the even-strength attack couldn’t find/make lanes and Sabourin was just subject to the bizarre. Two redirects and a board goal hardly shatter self-esteem, but if he had to wager anything on his luck over the next day or two I wouldn’t advise it.
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