Pucks and Pitchforks
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Brian Boyle, New Jersey Devils Defeat Pittsburgh Penguins

By Vincent Parise

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 05: New Jersey Devils Left Wing Taylor Hall (9) and Pittsburgh Penguins Center Sidney Crosby (87) skate during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils on November 5, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 05: New Jersey Devils Left Wing Taylor Hall (9) and Pittsburgh Penguins Center Sidney Crosby (87) skate during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils on November 5, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils were on a skid that became worrisome. The road trip got off to a very bad start at 0-3-0. Zero points for a week led to the Devils waking up in last place in the Metropolitan Division on Monday.

Was it going to be easy to get back in the win column right away? No. The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the best teams in the NHL, winning two of the last three Stanley Cups. They have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Things were looking dim going into it, yet somehow, the Devils make it look easy against them. They defeated the Penguins 5-1, and are finally back in the win column.

Joey Anderson found himself back in the lineup. This is the smart move. Fans want the young guys in the lineup. Anderson collected his first point in the National Hockey League, a primary assist on a goal by Will Butcher. It is good to see him finally get on the board, and maybe he stays in the lineup and keeps the fourth line rolling.

Speaking of the fourth line, they played awesome. Brian Boyle formed an awesome trio with Jean Sebastien Dea and Anderson. Dea got his first and second assist of the season. The Devils will always need a line other than the big line to produce, and tonight it was the fourth line.

Sometimes cool things happen that you just cant explain, even in the world of hockey. It was Hockey Fights Cancer night in Pittsburgh. Boyle’s cancer is now in remission, announced just over a week ago. Boyle went out and had himself his first career hat trick on the special night. He’s surely a fan favorite among the Devils, and we all love seeing great stories like that.

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The Devils outshot the Penguins, 39-36. It is good to see the Devils outshoot a team like the Pens with all of that fire power. With that said, Keith Kinkaid made 35 saves on 36 shots. Keith played well against the Islanders on Saturday, but it was good to see him really step up for the team on this night.

A save on Sidney Crosby coming up the wing really sticks out in the end. It has been stated over and over again, the Devils will need great performances from Keith Kinkaid AND Cory Schneider this season.

The Devils need to win games on days that the top line of Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, and Kyle Palmieri don’t score at even strength. They did not tonight, even though they did generate plenty, and Hall and Palmieri each had an assist on the power play.

The Devils play their first back to back game tomorrow (Tuesday) in Canada’s capital, against the Ottawa Senators.

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