New Jersey Devils: Brian Gibbons Plays Hero Again
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils recorded a big overtime win after Brian Gibbons scores again. His surprising season just keeps getting better.
Sometimes the coaches just know better. That happened to start this season when New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes gave perennial AHLer Brian Gibbons a chance on the main roster. While most of us wanted John Quenneville or Joe Blandisi a chance to win that job, Gibbons has done nothing but prove himself since game one.
His improbable season continued Saturday night. Coming off back-to-back games, the Devils were playing in overtime for the ninth time this season. This, after blowing a two-goal lead in the third period. It would be a tragedy if the Devils came out of that game with one point.
Gibbons made a beautiful play to end the game with a win. After losing his footing in the offensive zone, he immediately gets up, steals a pass and puts the puck behind Jimmy Howard.
The play emulated everything that is Brian Gibbons season. Despite making a terrible play, losing the puck in the offensive zone, he immediately shakes it off and uses pure grit and determination to put himself in a position to score.
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Just think about Gibbons career up until this point. Prior to this season, he had five goals and 17 assists in 66 games. He couldn’t even get an NHL call up last season. He was considered undersized, and missing the essential skills to survive in a new era of the NHL. Gibbons was even on this roster last season, and couldn’t get more than an AHL contract.
Who knows when the balloon might pop on the surprising season of Gibbons, if it ever will. He’s shown no signs of stopping so far, so why should we think he will? Whatever happens from here on out, this will be Gibbons best season of his career. He’s a big reason why the Devils are at the top of the Metropolitan Division.