New Jersey Devils: Top Ten Games All Time
Oct 18, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; The New Jersey Devils unveil their new 3D projection system prior to the game against the San Jose Sharks at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
I thought it would be a cool idea to do an article on my top 10 favorite New Jersey Devils games. The only rule I set for myself is that the game had to be in my lifetime (1995 or later). Considering the Devils have had so much playoff success in my life, a lot of the games on the countdown are playoff games. However, I was able to fit a handful of very memorable regular season games onto the list.
Next: A 2010 OT Winner
10. New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (2/5/2010)
Number 10 on the list brings us to an early February game in 2010. The New Jersey Devils trailed 3-1 with just about three minutes to play, when Dean McAmmon
d made the score 3-2. On the ensuing puck drop, Dainus Zubrus drew a tripping penalty, and the Devils made Toronto pay. With just 43.7 seconds to play in regulation McAmmond gave a beautiful pass across the ice and Travis Zajac ripped one by Gustavsson. Play continued after the goal, and the Devils got the puck into the offensive zone once again, and Mike Mottau ripped a slap-shot from the point, and it was a perfect rebound out to Jay Pandolfo who put the puck into the back of the net to give the Devils a 4-3 win. The goal capped a three goal stretch in 2:45 I picked this game to be number 10 because it wasn’t a playoff year but it was sure fun to watch. It really was one of the more memorable regular season games in recent history.
Next: An Eastern Conference Finals Game 7
9. New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators (5/23/2003)
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This is the first playoff game on the list. The New Jersey Devils were taking on Ottawa in game 7 of the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals.
Magnus Arvedsonwould open the scoring in the game on a slap shot that made its way past Marty. The game would remain scoreless until
Jamie Langenbrunnerwould get the Devils on the board. Brylin had a shot blocked right on to Jamie’s stick, and he snuck it past Lalime to knot the game at 1. Just 1:54 seconds later, Langenbrunner would tally yet another one on a wrist shot from the top of the circle. Ottawa however, would figure out a way to tie the game at 2.
Marian Hossa left a drop pass for Bonk who slapped one right past the glove of Marty to tie it at 2. Lalime and Brodeur would trade big saves until the magic happened. Marshall centered a puck, and Jeff Friesen put a move on Lalime and gave the Devils a 3-2 lead late in the third. The Devils would never look back, and would win the series to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. I included this on the list because it was one of the most important games in the franchises history. This catapulted the Devils to their third Cup in 8 seasons.
Next: Zajac In Overtime!
8. New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers (4/24/2012)
The next game on my list to do is Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Jersey was on the brink of elimination trailing 3-2 coming home to play what could have been the last game in the Prudential Center of the season. The Devils, in a must win, opened the scoring on a Steve Bernier rebound goal. The Devils would double their lead fairly early in the second period on an Ilya Kovalchuk backdoor goal, and you would think they were rolling. With 12:55 in the second Versteeg cut the l
ead in half on a goal from the slot. Just five minutes later Sean Bergenheim had a puck bounce onto his stick behind Marty, and he tucked it in to tie the contest.
Neither team would score in the third and the game would be taken to overtime. In OT, teams went back and forth and Florida had an excellent opportunity to win the game but it was nullified by a great back-check from Parise. Very quickly after that Parise, Zajac and Kovalchuk would g
o up the ice. Kovy dropped a pass for Zajac, and Zajac took into the slot and beat Clemmensen over the shoulder to win the game 3-2. Although, this wasn’t a series clinching win, I think it deserves to be on the list because it showed the resiliency that 11/12 cup run team had. They constantly blew two and three goal leads, but always found a way to win games. This victory jump-started the run to the Cup Finals.
Next: A 2-1 Classic
7. New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadiens (1/9/2010)
For number 7, we go back to the regular season. This is personally one of my favorites because of the call Doc made at the end. Very early in the game, Parise set up Zajac for the 1-0 New Jersey Devils lead. Shortly after the Habs went on the power-play and Marty made 4 big saves to kill it off, and the lead remained at 1. Gomez got a very easy rebound off the post behind Brodeur to ti
e the game up for the Habs. The game would go to overtime tied at one goal a piece. In overtime, Markov fired a slap-shot that would break Parise’s stick. Zach, went to the bench to retrieve a new twig as Zajac won a 50-50 puck in the corner. Parise would slip behind the defense and beat Jaroslav Halak to win the game 2-1 for New Jersey.
Next: An Andy Greene Game Winner
6. New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins (10/26/2013)
We stay in the regular season to one of the shining moments in the past few seasons. Krug would open the nights scoring for the B’s and they would quickly take a 1-0 lead on the power play. Very quickly after that the Bruins David Krejci would make the game 2-0 on a goal that banked off of his shin pads and past Brodeur. At that point, you would think the New Jersey Devils were in for a very long night. Just minutes later on the power play Henrique had a bounce right into the slot and he netted it to cut the lead to one.
The Devils almost got out of the first only down a goal when Lucic put one in to make it a 3-1 game. With 27.1 to go in the 2nd, Damien Brunner just got one past the goal line and the Devils were in business down 3-2. Jersey would then get onto a 2-man advantage down a goal with just over a minute left in regulation. Zidlicky would rocket a slap-shot from the point that beat Rask and the Devils tied the hockey game. About a half-minute later, the Devils were still on the power play when Brunner fanned on a shot that landed right on Andy Greene‘s stick who put it into the virtually empty net to give the Devils a 4-3 victory. I put this on my top-10 list because it’s one of the few bright spots we’ve had in the last few seasons. It was truly a memorable game.
Next: An Unlikely Hero
5. New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5/2/2003)
Another one of my favorite games is from the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. It was game 5 and the Devils had the chance to close out the Lightning in a very long triple overtime game. Tampa would take a 1-0 lead, but the Devils would quickly answer with a goal of their own. Scott Niedermayer scored and nobody would score again for almost five periods. Finally, Niedermayer took a shot from the point which was knocked down. Grant Marshall found it and beat John Grahame for the Devils 2-1 win. This would springboard them into the Conference Finals against Ottawa.
Next: A Milestone Night
4. New Jersey Devils vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5/17/2009)
This was a very, very memorable Devils night. A few milestones were reached, and it was just a great hockey game. Just :38 into the game, Langenbrunner buried one and the Devils were in business. Very quickly after that the Devils scored again to make the game 2-0. Travis Zajac netted a one-timer from Parise on the power play and the Devils were up 2-0. With 3:04 left in the second, the Devils were shorthanded when Elias and Gionta went up the ice. Elias backhanded a pass right to Gionta who scored, which made Patrik Elias the leading point scorer in Devils franchise history.
The Hawks however were not dead yet. Cam Barker wristed one past Marty to make the game 3-1 with just two minutes to play in the second. We take it late in the third when the puck bounced into the high slot and Byfughlien rocketed one and all of a sudden it was 3-2 New Jersey. But like so many times before, Marty came up huge in the waning seconds of the game and just like that, he was the winningest goalie in NHL history. This was a very memorable night in Devils history. Marty officially became the winningest goalie, and Elias became the all time team leader in points.
Next: The 3rd Cup
3. New Jersey Devils vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks (6/9/2003)
Now, we get to the first of two Stanley Cups in my lifetime. The Devils were taking on the Mighty Ducks in a very hard-fought series. The home team had won every game in the series to the time. Paul Kariya had a crazy goal after Scott Stevens beheaded him, and we got to game 7. I’d also like to mention Marty had 2 shutouts in the series going into the game. The first period in the game went scoreless. Elias had a breakaway chance late in the first that was stoned by Conn Smythe winner J.S Gigure.
We go into the second period, and who breaks the game open, but rookie forward Mike Rupp. That single goal would stand, but the Devils did score two more. Later in the second Jeff Friesen. Nobody would score in the third period until Friesen would score again with just about 4 minutes to go in the game, and the New Jersey Devils would go on to win the 3rd Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Next: Henrique! It's Over!!!
2. New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers (5/25/2012)
The next game we’re going to talk about is still probably fresh in the minds of New Jersey Devils fans. It’s game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Recent history tells is that beating the Rangers in game 6 is the only way to do it. The CBGB line opened the game with the first goal on a rebound by Ryan Carter. The New Jersey Devils would be on the power play later in the period and it was a perfect tic-tac-toe goal. The puck went from Harrold to Henrique to Clarkson to Zubrus who gave it to Kovalchuk backdoor and the Devils just like that were up a pair.
The Rangers however would not go away. Fedotenko would put one past Brodeur to cut the lead in half. Right after that, Callahan tipped one past Brodeur and it was a totally new hockey game. The third went scoreless and we saw overtime. Overtime did not last very long, as Henrique put a puck past Lundqvist and the Devils were going to the Stanley Cup Finals. I put this game second on the list because it was such a relief to finally get revenge for 1994. We finally beat the Rangers in the Conference Finals, and it was one of the best feelings ever.
Next: Arnott Seals It For Cup #2
1. New Jersey Devils vs. Dallas Stars (6/10/2000)
Finally, we get to number one on my list. This is a really cool one for me because this is one of my very first personal memories. I remember being 5 years old watching this game on the floor with my Mom, only to fall asleep before the second overtime. The next morning I woke up, and watched Jason Arnott score on a video tape that was recorded for me. Anyway, the Devils opened the scoring in the second period on a Scott Niedermayer goal from right in front of Ed Belfour. Mike Keane would then tie the game, and like many New Jersey Devils games from the time period, nobody would score for a while. Finally, in double overtime, Scott Stevens put a puck in the corner. Patrik Elias backhanded a perfect pass right to Jason Arnott and he scored to give the New Jersey Devils their second Stanley Cup in franchise history.
That was my list of my favorite New Jersey Devils moments. I really enjoyed writing this post because it’s fun to go back and look at all of the success this franchise has had. I’m interested to hear what other people think. Do you agree with my list? What are your favorite Devils moments? You can comment, or tweet them at me @chriskayy89 or to @pitchforkedpuck.