Devils Fall In Overtime 4-3 As Bernier Scores Twice
By Phil DeHaven
The New Jersey Devils who were coming off a penalty filled 4-2 loss Tuesday night vs. the Rangers, traveled to Florida for their final two games of the season. Tonight’s opponent would be the Tampa Bay Lightning who were hoping to win and attempt to beat out Montreal for the Atlantic Division title. Tonight’s game for the Devils saw the NHL debut for Raman Hrabarenka and the return of Seth Helgeson to New Jersey.
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The first period started off with the Devils coming out strong and putting some pressure on the Bolts. Their early pressure would result in an early power-play opportunity for New Jersey and
Steve Bernierwould capitalize just three seconds into the extra man advantage. The Devils 1-0 lead wouldn’t last long though as Tampa Bay forward
Tyler Johnsonscored just 1:20 later to tie the game at one.
The Devils bad habit of getting into penalty trouble would come back to bite them for the second game in a row as Tampa Bay defenseman Nikita Nesterov scored on a slap-shot from the blue line to give the 2-1 lead. Seth Helgeson would commit the Devils second penalty of the game, but the penalty kill unit would rebound to kill off the penalty. As a result, the game would enter the first intermission with Tampa Bay up 2-1.
After each team took another penalty early in the second, the Devils started to build some momentum. That would lead to an equalizer from Patrik Elias who was able to beat Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop on a high wrist-shot. Just when you thought the Devils would start to take control of the game, the penalty troubles continued to haunt them.
Apr 9, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Steve Bernier (18) is congratulated by teammates as he scores a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay would get a fortunate break as a blocked shot on the power-play went directly to a wide open Steven Stamkos who easily scored to make it 3-2. Before you could even catch your breath, Steve Bernier scored his 2nd goal of the game just 16 seconds after the Stamkos goal to tie the game 3-3. The goal is Bernier’s career-high 16th of the season. The Devils would then take a too-many men penalty with 1:02 left in the 2nd, but would head into the 2nd intermission tied 3-3.
The Devils would begin the third by killing off the penalty, but wouldn’t be able to escape their penalty troubles the rest of the night. Both teams would be unable to score in the third, but the Devils would take their 8th (yes 8th) penalty of the night with just under a minute to play in regulation. The Lightning would start the overtime period with a 4-on-3 power-play which would lead to a game-winning goal deflected in off an intended pass from Tyler Johnson.
This is the second game in a row in which the Devils have taken 7 penalties and is evidence of just how over-matched and undisciplined this team is. If you can’t stay out of the penalty box, you are asking for trouble and that’s exactly how the Devils have lost these last two games. If you don’t get scored on during the penalty kill, having to kill of that many penalties each night will tire your roster out and you will fall late in a close game.
The Devils wrap up their disappointing season on Saturday night as they face an old friend in Jaromir Jagr and the Florida Panthers on the road.