Game Notes
- The Devils definitely didn't play their best game, far from it actually, but a win is a win. In a shortened season you take the two points any way you can get them, especially on the road.
- With last night's win the Devils are now tied for 1st in the Eastern Conference with the Montreal Canadiens. Both teams have 24 points in 17 games played. The Canadiens hold the tiebreaker, though.
- Ilya Kovalchuk was an absolute beast against the Capitals. He was all over the ice and was firing on all cylinders. Kovalchuk finished the game with seven shots, the game-winning-goal and just under 29 minutes of ice.
- A nice chunk of Kovalchuk's minutes came with the Devils on the power play, but he is a physical freak. His ability to play 25+ minutes a night, even in back-to-back situations, and look as good in the 3rd period or overtime as he does in his first shift of the game is amazing. He plays power play, penalty kill and is double-shifted almost every night. I don't know how he does it, but I'm pretty certain that he's the only forward in the league who can handle the work load he takes on and not tire out.
- David Clarkson looked like the back injury he suffered a couple days ago was bothering him. Clarkson didn't create much offensively and wasn't really engaged physically, either. Clarkson finished the game with one shot, his lowest total of the season, and zero hits in 17 minutes of ice.
- The Devils had five consecutive power plays in the 3rd period and managed just one goal. Marek Zidlicky isn't bad on the power play, but the Devils could use an upgrade or some change to their top unit. I'd like to see Adam Larsson get a chance playing the point on the power play. I think he could be good in that role and that he's earned some power play ice time with his play this season. He's been one of two or three Devils defenseman who have been consistently good this season.
- Patrik Elias was a stud again last night. He scored a short-handed goal to get the Devils going and picked up the primary assist on Kovalchuk's game winner. Elias now has five goals, 21 points and a plus-11 rating in 17 games this year.
- Andrei Loktionov showed some flashes again last night and scored his first goal as a Devil. I've been pretty impressed with his play on the 4th line. Loktionov is showing he can contribute to the team and that he isn't out of place in the NHL. I think DeBoer should try and find a way to get him a couple more minutes each night.
- Henrik Tallinder played a pretty poor game last night. His on-ice value is strictly in his defensive game, and he's playing poor defense right now. Tallinder went up against Ovechkin's line quite a bit last night and Ovechkin made him look like a pylon a couple of times. Troy Brouwer turned Tallinder inside out once, too, and that said play lead directly to a Capitals goal.
- The Devils are 4-3-3 on the year when Tallinder is in the lineup. They're 6-0-1 without Tallinder. New Jersey is 9-1-2 when Mark Fayne, who Tallinder has been playing in place of, is in the lineup. They're 1-2-2 without Fayne.
Highlights: Devils (3) @ Capitals (2)
Prospect Notes
- Reid Boucher scored two goals in a 6-3 Sarnia loss to the Soo Greyhounds. Boucher has 53 goals in 59 games on the year and is just five goals shy of tying Steven Stamkos' team record of 58. Boucher has nine games left to try and tie/break Stamkos' record.
- Ben Johnson also scored two goals last night in a 8-5 Windsor win over Erie. After a poor first half of the season, Johnson has been picking it up offensively of late and now has 18 goals on the year, tying last year's total.
- Devils prospects in action tonight: Reece Scarlett, Graham Black, Damon Severson, Reid Boucher, Ben Johnson and Ben Thomson.
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Source: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=49484
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