After Playing From Behind, Devils Fall In Shootout To Senators

Ottawa, Ontario – This was the second meeting between the New Jersey Devils and the Ottawa Senators. It would be the same outcome as the previous game in New Jersey. The Devils lost 2-1 in a shootout on Feb. 18th, and lost 3-2 in a shootout tonight.

The story of the game tonight was stick-to-itiveness and solid goaltending for the Devils. No matter what, they overcame being down twice in the game, and played hard, with exception to the opening minutes. However, they could not pull off the victory in a shootout. Martin Brodeur played very well and made great saves to keep the Devils in the game.

The Devils were under siege in the opening minutes. The Senators took advantage of the surge and scored the opening goal. At 2:12, Chris Phillips shot through a screen that Brodeur never saw. As poor play continued, Pete DeBoer called a time out and was heated on the Devils bench. After the timeout, the Devils came out fired up and were playing very hard. However, the Devils got nothing to go in and got lucky a few times as the Senators hit the post twice.
Mar 25, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; New Jersey Devils centre Travis Zajak (19) and Ottawa Senators centre Kyle Turris (7) faceoff in the second period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
On a breakaway for the Senators, the puck drilled the post and Brodeur pushed it just enough to let it rest on the post before Anton Volchenkov could swoop in to get it.

The Devils outshot the Senators 8-6 in the first period, but trailed 1-0.

Fun Fact – The Devils have only scored the first goal once in their last nine games. The goal came from Martin Brodeur against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In the second period, Brodeur constantly bailed out the Devils as he made some huge saves. The Devils evened up the game at 15:13 into the period with a goal by Andrei Loktionov. The Senators 6-foot seven-inch goaltender, Ben Bishop, was drawn out of the crease when the puck came to Loktionov, he easily put it into the net. Then with 17 seconds remaining into the period, Colin Greening regained the lead on a rebound. The goal was the second straight time the Devils let up a goal with less than a minute remaining in the second period.

The Devils outshot the Senators 12-4 in the second, but still found themselves trailing in the game.
Mar 25, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; New Jersey Devils centre Travis Zajak (19) and Ottawa Senators centre Kyle Turris (7) faceoff in the second period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
In the third period, Marek Zidlicky came up with a huge goal 6:05 into the third. He carried the puck in by himself and made some sweet moves. He got open and sniped it just past the glove of Bishop. There were a lot of close plays, but no one could put it past the goaltenders.

The game went scoreless after that goal and went into sudden death overtime.

In overtime there were so many great chances for the Devils and Sens. However, Brodeur and Bishop both rose up to the occasion. The five minutes were the most exciting in the hockey game. But the game was still tied and needed to be determined by a shootout.

After a scoreless first round, Senators’ Daniel Alfredsson gave them the lead, but Travis Zajac tied it up after the Senators could not put it away. However, Mika Zibanejad finished it off with a great backhand move to beat Brodeur.

The loss gave the Devils one point in the standings to make their lead to four points over the New York Rangers in standings. With the Toronto Maple Leafs getting a point as well, the Devils could not move up in the standings.

The Devils also lost Bryce Salvador to a lower-body injury and Stephen Gionta to an upper-body injury. The injury plague continues in the locker room and will hopefully be cured soon.

The Devils take the ice again in Tampa Bay on Friday in Tampa. The days off will allow the team to regroup and get some well needed rest.

Other Facts:
Attendance – 18,902

Shots- Devils 34, Senators 14

1st Star – Ben Bishop
2nd Star – Marek Zidlicky
3rd Star – Colin Greening