New Jersey Devils Win With A Big Third Period Against Oilers
The New Jersey Devils had quite the up-and-down night in Edmonton but managed to leave with two points and are currently sitting atop the Metropolitan division. The team started a little slow, but they didn’t quit, and that attitude kept them in the running and made it all possible. The oilers are a top team and a cup contender so beating them, despite not being a rival, was a big statement that this team is for real.
The Good
The BMW line was the only one going early in the game, and they laid out some good physical play and kept the opponent hemmed up in their own zone a good number of times. Miles Wood also had his best game of the season and one of the best of his career. His goals kept this team in it early on, and he set the tone for the entire third period. After this second goal, the Devils were only down one, and they looked like they knew they could win it, unlike in past seasons where they would have wilted.
Vitek Vanecek was insanely good and played as perfectly as one could. He might have allowed a goal, but when you’re coming off the bench, it is hard enough, not to mention it was on the penalty kill against the league’s best powerplay with the two best players on it. After that, he settled in surprisingly fast, made massive saves against big-time players, and saved the game on a 2-on-1 in the third.
The two fastest goals in Devils history
What more can be said about something when you break a team record? Seven seconds to tie the game and then take the lead is impressive and was a thing of beauty to see live. Graves was an absolute bull on the first goal, and while it might not have been the prettiest shot, he got the job done. On the second goal, Marino’s pass was a thing of beauty, and the guy is an incredible puck mover that didn’t get enough credit for it before the season. When Bratt got that puck, with how hot he had been all season, it felt like something special was about to happen. He had all the time in the world he ripped it off the bar and in, and the Devils never looked back.
The Bad
Blackwood went back to his usual .889 save percentage and is at .880 this season now. His play is inconsistent at best, and unfortunately, his groin injury looked pretty bad, so there should be some more concern in the future. For the time being, however, we need to hope he feels better soon and has no nagging problems.
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The team has looked slow for 5 of the last 6 periods and while they have won both games in western Canada, they need to pick it up and start the game ready to go in Calgary. Despite the slow start, they are another good team, and it will be a tough challenge.