Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Hold Off Flyers Rally To Win

By David Holliday

Mar 23, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils center Yegor Sharangovich (17) celebrates his goal with center Janne Kuokkanen (59) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils center Yegor Sharangovich (17) celebrates his goal with center Janne Kuokkanen (59) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Jersey Devils came up big again, getting two points against the Philadelphia Flyers and showing some life again this season with four wins in the last six games. While they may not be playoff contenders in a tough division, the Devils are being competitive again much like they were early in the year.

The Good

Pavel Zacha, Miles Wood, Michael McLeod and Nick Merkley all had a hot start and a good first period which saw Zacha getting two grade-A scoring chances, including one he rang off the post from the slot. This really set the pace of the game early in favor of the black and red. Merkley was banging away at pucks in the slot, which is something more Devils need to do and something that will keep him in the lineup over Nikita Gusev or Andreas Johnsson.

Kyle Palmieri scored a goal reminiscent of old Palmieri. He beat Carter Hart with a quick shot. from the right circle with just seconds left in the period. This was thanks to fantastic efforts from Janne Kuokkanen who recovered the puck to move to Jesper Bratt, who sprawled out and fell getting it where it needed to go. This was just a solid overall effort from the whole powerplay.

McLeod showed his speed like always but more of that first round skill on his goal in the first frame. While he may have shot and scored after the slick pass from Ty Smith, he was cool, calm and collected bringing it to his backhand and around Hart for a beauty of a goal. Him and Wood have the speed and chemistry to be the most deadly 4th line in the NHL when Bastian is back.

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The third line of Yegor Sharangovich, Travis Zajac, and Kuokkanen continues to put up points and play a solid game on both ends of the ice. First, Sharangovich took advantage of a great aggressive forecheck by Zajac who knocked it to Kuokkanen then back to himself and he buried a great shot from the slot. This was just a solid shift and all around effort from all three players. After this, Zajac was in the right place in the blue paint driving the net hard letting the skilled Ty Smith fire it off his stick for the tip and giving the Devils a solid lead. They were very different goals, but both came because of solid effort and making the hard plays to get the puck and get where they needed to be.

The Bad

Blackwood did post a solid .909 save percentage, but he was a little scattered Tuesday night. Usually, the big man swallows up pucks and controls the crease with ease, but they were bouncing on him causing numerous scrambles and chances for the Flyers. He was saved by a post on a 2 on 1 a few times. The Flyers Kevin Hayes even missed the net on a shorthanded chance. His play was ok at best, but a win is a win and the team does need to win him some games as well.

Jack Hughes found himself on a breakaway and tripped over his own feet, which was a little hard to watch. With points in two of his last 11 games, he has struggled to produce much of anything despite not playing bad in most of the games. At some point however it does start to look bad and he does need to do what he was drafted to do which is score some goals and be a big time set up man.

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