Pucks and Pitchforks - A New Jersey Devils Blog

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Martin Brodeur under siege by the Bruins (AP)

In an unfortunate turn of events, the Devils lose again to the Bruins. It was a similar game the last time these two teams met, with the Devils scoring first and then allowing the game to get away from them. Although New Jersey played a much better game, the result was just about the same.

Petr Sykora scored in the first giving the Devils a 1-0 lead. The score would remain that way until the fateful third period, where the Devils inability to score would come back to bite them. Boston demonstrated incredible patience, while weathering the storm of the Devils early attack.

The Bruins came out in the third period and would not be denied. Andrew Ference scored first and the rout was on. The Bruins would score three more goals in the period, giving Boston a 4-1 victory. The Devils showed once again that they were unable to handle the pressure of the Bruins.

The Rangers and the Flyers both lost, which would have given the Devils an opportunity to climb in the standings. Hopefully this loss doesn’t ruin the Devils homestand. The Devils just finished a solid road trip and started the homestand off well against Winnipeg. This looks to be a critical part of the season with the Flyers coming to the “Rock” on Saturday.

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images )

According to an article released today by New York Post, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur says he is strongly considering returning for the 2012-2013 season.  While Brodeur is in the last year of his contract, there has been much speculation as to whether the franchise goaltender would retire or return for one more season.  While Brodeur’s answers in the New York Post were not definite he did state:

“I feel differently about it now than I did last summer, or at the start of the season.  It’s not 100 percent, but I’m definitely leaning toward coming back next year”   -Martin Brodeur (Via New York Post)

While the return of a living legend like Brodeur seems extremely advantageous there certainly are some negative effects as well. Continue reading this post »

Zack Parise crashing into the goaltender in Winnipeg (AP).

Going into the Winnipeg game, the Devils had fared well on the road trip, winning two out of three games. On Saturday night, they were able to keep their good “mojo” going in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, we would have to wait until the third period for the Devils to score.

As has been the Devils pattern on this trip, they got off to another slow start, and the Jets got on the board first. Andrew Ladd scored on a scorching shot just over Martin Brodeur’s glove hand to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead. The Devils had been buzzing in the offensive zone, but were unable to connect.

With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Kurtis Foster finally connected off a Devil’s faceoff that was won in the Jet’s zone. Foster buried a snapshot to tie the game at 1-1. About 3 minutes later, Adam Larsson faked a shot from the point and connected with Patrik Elias in front of the net, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead. The Devils were able to hold onto this lead, giving them the victory. The Devils now have 25 wins and are 8 points behind the Rangers.

Zach Parise at the 2009 NHL All-Star Game. Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images North America

With the release of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game Roster, it came as a shock that there was an absence of Devils representation.  Although Adam Henrique and Adam Larsson have been named All-Star Rookies.  There were no Devils players selected to participate in the All-Star game.  This is something that has brought much distress to the fans of the New Jersey Devils, and rightfully so.  It is absolutely absurd that the NHL chose to overlook the Devils players when determining the All-Star Game roster.

The Devils have multiple players worthy of a spot on the All-Star Roster.  Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, and Patrik Elias, all have been playing at a level that warrants All-Star consideration.  However, the league did not give them consideration when selecting the team.  It is interesting to notice how the league granted Alexander Ovechkin a spot on the roster.  Ovechkin has always held a reputation as a premiere player in the league.  However, he currently is in the middle of one of his most disappointing seasons of his career.  With 17 goals and 16 assists Ovechkin’s 33 points is less that all three Devils players listed above.  It is quite clear that Ovechkin was selected primarily on his previous success not his play this season. Continue reading this post »

Johan Hedberg allowed just 1 goal in 23 shots in Devils overtime win in Edmonton. Photo: Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger

Just 24 hours after being routed by the Calgary Flames, the Devils would continue their road trip facing another Canadian team, the Edmonton Oilers.  Johan Hedberg would get the start for New Jersey, after finishing the game in Calgary as the Flames chased Martin Brodeur from the crease in the first period.  The Devils as a team allowed 6 goals in just 14 shots in Calgary a statistic that both the goaltenders and the defensemen would prefer to forget.

The game in Edmonton was very different as the Devils played an extremely solid defensive game, supplemented by excellent goal tending from Johan Hedberg.  After a scoreless first period, Ilya Kovalchuk was the first to strike with a shorthanded breakaway goal in the second period.  The Devils would hold their 1-0 lead until the third period when Ales Hemsky would tie the game on the power play.  With the game tied at the halfway point in the third period neither team was able to post the game winning tally.  Resulting in a low scoring contest that would remain 1-1 through regulation.  Further supporting the Devils trend of not finishing games in regulation.

With Overtime underway it was the captain Zach Parise who would seal the deal just over a minute into overtime, with a tap in on a set up from Patrik Elias.  The Devils would win the game and perhaps gain back some confidence after the crushing loss to Calgary. Continue reading this post »

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

Last night versus the Calgary Flames pitted old versus new.  The Devils old coach, Brent Sutter, who now coaches the Calgary Flames versus the Devils new coach Pete Deboer.  It was Brent Sutter who brought a more offensive style to the Devils when he was hired in 2007.  After a two year stint of Jacques Lemaire and John MacLean, Deboer was hired to once again bring a more offensive style to New Jersey.

Unfortunately for the Devils, the Flames designated last night’s game as the one to celebrate Jarome Iginla’s 500^th goal, and both players and fans were fired up for the event.  The game got away from the Devils almost immediately.  Before many of the fans had even settled into their seats at the Saddledome in Calgary, the score was 2-0, and Martin Brodeur was being pulled.  At the end of one period, the Devils had been manhandled by a score of 4-0.

In the second period, the Devils started to chip away at the lead finishing the period with a 5-2 deficit.  As the third period began, the Devils were eventually able to get the score back to 5-3, but it was just not meant to be.  Jarome Iginla scored a goal extending the Flame’s lead to 6-3, giving him the “Gordie Howe hat trick”. Iginla had a goal, 2 assists and a fight with Adam Henrique.

In a last ditch effort, Deboer pulled his goaltender with more than 5 minutes to go as the Devils went on the power play.  But that was short lived when Dainus Zubrus was penalized ending the Devil’s advantage.  A player to watch for the Devils is Adam Henrique, who scored a goal and an assist in the game, giving him 32 points and placing him only 3 points behind Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the rookie scoring lead.

Mark Fayne collides with Evgeny Malkin in last night's game (AP).

The Devils opened last night’s game with an uninspiring first period.  They fell behind 1-0 after one period.  But in the second, we saw the swarming offensive and defensive play that has been their trademark this year.  Once again, the Devils connected on a short-handed goal by Adam Henrique, which tied the game at one.  Kovalchuk added a goal with a blistering slap shot from the point to make the score 2-1.

The referees let the players play in this one.  Mattias Tedenby went hard to the net in the second period, and looked to be tripped, dislodging the net.  Nothing was called on that play.  Fortunately, the refs were consistent, leaving neither team with too many special teams chances.

In a rare power play opportunity on this night, the Devils used a nice tic-tac-toe setup from Elias to Zubrus, who guided the puck past the Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to make it 3-1.  The score would stand up, giving the Devils their 23rd win of the year.  The Devils now stand 8 points behind the first place Rangers.