The New Jersey Devils had themselves some much needed time off between the mandatory bye week and the All-Star Break. Kyle Palmieri went to San Jose and represented them well, but now it is time to get back to business.
The Devils came back from the break and defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a final score of 6-3. They came out of the gates storming and are now 3-0-0 against the Penguins this season.
The season has not gone exactly how everyone thought it would, but for some unexplainable reason, they have had some strong play and success against the Penguins. One of the main reasons behind it though, is the play of Devils center Travis Zajac. Zajac had scored a goal in each of the previous two games against them, and he continued his hot streak against them.
It began by him scoring the first goal of the game, setting the Devils up for a pretty good team performance. He also added in three assists later in the game to contribute four points on the night. That is an outstanding game for a guy who still has some offensive talent, but isn’t necessarily relied upon to have many nights like that. When he does it, it’s definitely a very big boost to the rest of the team.
What also makes Zajac’s big games vs. the Penguins so impressive is the role he plays for the team. Obviously, he is asked to provide somewhat of an offensive contribution, but not as much as a Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, or Nico Hischier. His main role is to shut down the other teams top players. He is the matchup guy for his coach.
The reason this is extra special is obvious to anyone who follows hockey. Being the guy expected to go against their top players means going against guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Not many teams have one guy who can win scoring titles, MVPs, and playoff MVPs. Pittsburgh has two that have achieved all three. Shutting down those two is no easy task, and Zajac has done that and then some this season.
What next for the New Jersey Devils? The Hudson River Rivalry is renewed for the first time this season at Prudential Center when the New York Rangers come in on Thursday. That is the biggest rivalry this team is a part of and it will be so fun to watch regardless of where either team sits in the standings.