Cory Schneider Dazzles But Devils Destroyed, Shutout By Boston

The New Jersey Devils were simply destroyed by the Boston Bruins tonight. They were shutout 3-0 and there’s really no other way to put it. The Bruins looked like an NHL team while the Devils looked like they belonged in the ECHL. The only person on the Devils who brought their game to Boston was goaltender Cory Schneider who was, to say the least, brilliant. After a pair of strong wins against Philadelphia and Buffalo, although weaker teams, the result tonight was disheartening. The Bruins were playing in the second night of a back-to-back and it didn’t factor in at all. It looked like the Devils were playing their seventh game this week; scratch that, it didn’t look like they were playing at all.

Shots? Shots? Shots?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more lopsided shot total. The Bruins fired 42 shots at Cory Schneider (plus an empty net attempt) while the Devils managed just 14. That’s it. 14 shots. In 60 minutes. They had one shot every five minutes or so. Are you kidding me? Boston goalie Niklas Svedberg could have taken a nap tonight instead of attempting to make saves and he could have pitched a shutout. The Devils had just three shots after one and seven after two. I don’t know what’s worse: the fact they had so few or gave up so many?

Cory Schneider Is Amazing

Jan 8, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) stops a shot by Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) with the help of defenseman Marek Zidlicky (2) and defenseman Mark Fraser (32) during the first period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Look at the scoreboard. It will tell you the Bruins won 3-0. That score is completely misleading. The game should have been 10-0 Bruins. There’s only one reason the score looks somewhat respectable and that’s Cory Schneider. Schneider was bombarded from the beginning and played out of his mind. He was everywhere making saves left and right. In the end, he stopped 40 of the 42 shots Boston was able to throw at him. How do you have a world class goaltender like Cory Schneider and fail to support him that badly? That’s simply disgraceful. The Devils should be embarrassed that they allowed Schneider to be hung out to dry like that. It’s not the first time they’ve done it to him, but it’s easily the worst.

Something Positive

When you get shutout and are outshot by 29 there really aren’t any positives to take away. Obviously the play of Cory Schneider is one, but the other would be Adam Larsson. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman continues to grow and play well. He totaled 22:16 of ice time tonight and was superb. He blocked six shots and was a pillar of strength in his own zone. Larsson even jumped up in the play a few times to at least try and generate some offense. It seems like one of the only positives to come out of this miserable season is the development of Adam Larsson. Thankfully Peter DeBoer didn’t completely ruin his career.

Tonight was one to forget for New Jersey. They didn’t show up and Boston took the game to them. Cory Schneider did all he could, but it didn’t matter. The Devils didn’t score, barely got any shots and allowed Boston to dictate the action. Luckily, they don’t have to let this fester as they’re back in action tomorrow night against the New York Islanders.