The New Jersey Devils just scored their league-leading 12th shorthanded goal of the season. It seems they always come at a time of need.
The New Jersey Devils have been the best team in the league when it comes to scoring when a man down. The team’s penalty kill has been a strength for most of the season, and the threat of scoring a man down has helped.
It all started early in the season. Brian Gibbons scored the Devils first shorthanded goals just three games into the season. This goal put the Devils up 4-2 on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and ended up being the game winning goal. It was just the start of clutch shorthanded goals on the season. Did we mention that this goal came while the Devils were down 5-on-3? It was the first time in franchise history that the team scored a goal while two men down.
Blake Coleman is tied with Gibbons for the team lead in shorthanded goals with three. He scored two against New York-area rivals in one goals games, including one that tied the game against the Rangers in a game the Devils eventually won in the shootout. Another came just last week against the Islanders, and ended up being the game-winning goal.
Travis Zajac scored his only shorthanded goal of the season against the Islanders back in January, in what ended up being a shootout loss. However, without that shorty then the Devils lose in regulation.
Pavel Zacha scored his shorthanded goal last month against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The goal gave the Devils the lead for good, and ended up taking the air out of the Amalie Arena.
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Then there was Taylor Hall’s goal last night. After a night full of offensive disappointment, the Devils found themselves in a 1-1 tie late in the third period. They were playing the Montreal Canadiens, a team in the midst of their worst season in recent memory. Losing this game would give the Florida Panthers new life.
Then Taylor Hall happened. The Devils were down 5-on-3 with less than five minutes left in the game. Ben Lovejoy went to the box after Keith Kinkaid already got called for tripping a minute earlier. Things looked bleak for a minute there, but as soon as the first penalty ended the puck hit Zajac’s stick. Hall came out of the box, and was all alone in the middle of the ice. He raced towards Carey Price, and put the Devils up 2-1.
While most teams play back during the powerplay, the Devils look for opportunities to turn it around. A shorthanded goal may be the most momentum turning play in hockey. The Devils have the play to thank for at least six points in the standings. It will be crucial in the playoffs (if the Devils can hold onto their spot) to have this weapon in their back pocket.