Pucks and Pitchforks
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NJ Devils and SC Bern Play Entertaining Game

By Vincent Parise

BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 01: Jersey exchange from left: Simon Moser #21 of SC Bern, Hugh Weber, President of the New Jersey Devils, Marc Luthi, SC Bern CEO and Swiss player Nico Hischier #13 of New Jersey Devils during the NHL Global Series Challenge Switzerland 2018 match between SC Bern and New Jersey Devils at PostFinance Arena on October 1, 2018 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/NHLI via Getty Images)
BERN, SWITZERLAND - OCTOBER 01: Jersey exchange from left: Simon Moser #21 of SC Bern, Hugh Weber, President of the New Jersey Devils, Marc Luthi, SC Bern CEO and Swiss player Nico Hischier #13 of New Jersey Devils during the NHL Global Series Challenge Switzerland 2018 match between SC Bern and New Jersey Devils at PostFinance Arena on October 1, 2018 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It is a very exciting time to be a fan of the New Jersey Devils. They’ve been in the national spotlight lately. Nothing has been more exciting than being selected to travel to Europe to play actual games. The preseason game in Switzerland versus SC Bern did not disappoint.

A lot of people may think that because the Devils are an NHL team and SC Bern is not, means that the Devils were just going to go in there and smash them. That is really not the case. SC Bern is still a pro team and deserved respect going into the game, and should have even more respect after this game. The game was also played on international ice, meaning it is a much larger sheet than what we are used to in North America.

Hockey is a sport where every game is tough no matter the opponent. In other sports it can be more cut and dry in terms of who will fail and who will succeed. A hot goalie or a bounce here or there can change everything in hockey.

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The Devils won this game 3-2 on an overtime goal by Taylor Hall. It was seemingly dominated by the Devils in terms of time of possession and shots on goal, but like I said, a hot goalie and a few good plays by SC Bern had this game tied 2-2 going into overtime. Then Hall showed us why he is considered one of the elite players in the NHL and won himself the Hart Trophy. The reigning MVP looks ready to go as he ends the preseason on a high note.

It was really cool to see Nico Hischier and Mirco Mueller be honored as native Swiss sons in their home country. You can tell that it means a whole lot to both of them, and the Swiss folks loved having them home for one game. Nico Hischier was the first ever Swiss born player to go number one overall in the NHL Draft, and he is an absolute superstar back home, and an emerging one here in North America.

That is it for the preseason. It is go time. The New Jersey Devils conclude the NHL Global Series in regular season game one on October 6th, 2018 against the Edmonton Oilers in Gothenburg, Sweden. This one counts.

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