Let's take a look at the New Jersey Devils

by FrankD on Oct 24, 2009 11:09 AM EDT in 2009-10 game previews Comment 3 comments

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

MB30

Marc-Andre Fleury's in the midst of an 8-0 hot streak as he goes up Martin Brodeur tonight at Mellon. Similarly the Devils are 4-0 on the road so far this year. In other words, something's got to break.

When the Penguins played the Hurricanes a lot of the talk focused around Cam Ward and Fleury, two goalies expected to make an impact on the Team Canada roster. Tonight's match up shouldn't be any different, as both Marty and MAF are expected to crack the roster. Marty, of course, appears to be the frontrunner in terms of talent, tenure in the league and experience in the Olympics.

With Marty and Fleury duking it out in net, the Pens will also have to work extra hard to crack a defense-first team under new (renewed?) head coach Jacques Lemaire. The Devils are ninth best in the league in shots allowed , giving up roughly 28 per (Pittsburgh is fourth best at 26.9). The area the Pens will look to capitalize is on the power play, where the Devils tend to be struggling a bit, killing off at a rate of only 76%.

Keep your eyes on Devils point leader Zach Parise (5g, 5a), Travis Zajac (4g, 4a) and Rob Niedermayer (2g, 4a). Also worth mentioning is right winger David Clarkson, a tough guy goal scorer similar to the likes of Ryan Malone. Clarkson can easily notch 20 goals this season and still amass over 140 PIM. He seems to be well on pace so far with two goals, four assists and 24 PIM.

Puck drops at 7:30. Game thread on tap as usual tonight around 7ish.

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I watched most of Devils’ game against the Caps last week and I also think that David Clarkson is a serious threat… plays the body well in front of the goalie and his line does great on the cycle… just check out their monster-shift for the tying goal against Washington… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTjb9zBjtEI

I’m not a Devils fan by any means but THAT shift had me “wow”-ing…

Good thing is that’s their 2nd line and it’s no stronger than our 3rd line… so, advantage Pens:)

Let’s see how it plays out…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 24, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am a Devils fan, and that shift was awesome. On the one hand, I was ecstatic that the Devils got that even-up goal so late in the third, but on the other I was like, ‘The Capitals defense SUCKS. They’ve basically been chasing the Devils around in their own zone for two minutes.’

by kellyn on Oct 24, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs