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Game 34: New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game Time: 7:30 PM
TV: MSG+
Radio: 660 WFAN AM, 101.9 FM
Match-Up
For the first and only time this season, the New Jersey Devils (15-11-7) will travel to Tampa Bay to face-off against the Lightning (14-18-1). The previous two meetings between the teams were split, with the Devils winning the first game 4-2, and the Lightning taking the second contest 5-2. The Devils will look to bounce back from a 3-2 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators, while the Lightning will look to continue their strong play at home.
Capital Punishment: 3rd Period Penalties Almost Upend Devils, Still Manage 3-2 OT Win
Three Stars of the Game
3rd Star: Jacob Josefson (NJD) (1 assist)
2nd Star: Mike Green (WAS) (1 goal, 1 assist)
1st Star: Ilya Kovalchuk (NJD) (GWG goal)
The Devils seemed to be lacking a certain pep in their step to start the 1st period of Friday night’s game. Their offense seemed uncoordinated, and they were unable to put a lot of pressure on the Capitals to start the game. Washington, however, was dominant through the first half of the period. Brodeur was called upon to weather an early storm by a desperate opponent, and as he did for the first two games, Marty was up to the task. As the period went on, and more fans began to make their way through the snowstorm outside, the momentum began to shift the Devils way. The Devils were given their first power play of the night, as Jay Beagle was called for holding, but with just 7 seconds left on the power play, Kovalchuk was called for hooking. The Devils penalty kill looked strong, as usual, and in the closing seconds, Josefson broke free from the zone with Gionta trailing. As Tomas Kundratek swatted the puck away from Josefson in front of Neuvirth, his clearing attempt landed directly on Gionta’s stick, resulting in the first goal of the game as Gionta hammered home a golden opportunity at 13:55 of the first period.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 Preview: Devils Ready to Make Their Own History
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
8:00 P.M. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: Bloomberg 1130 AM
If you told me last year that the New Jersey Devils would be one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, I would have told you that you were crazy. Fast forward one year and here we are, one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2003. To say this isn’t a big deal is an understatement. This is HUGE for this franchise!
If you remember correctly, the last two games I’ve called out Zach Parise and Patrik Elias and they both decided to show up. Parise has five points in his last two games and Elias scored a goal on Wednesday so while we’ll be looking for those two players to continue to step it up, it’s now time for Ilya Kovalchuk to come through.
ECQF Game 4 Recap: Closed-deur
(headline by @imraiv)
Three stars of the game:
3rd star: Stephen Gionta (assist)
2nd star: Zach Parise (goal)
1st star: Martin Brodeur (26-save shutout)
Game summary:
The Devils showed a lot of resiliency and character as they bounced back from a tough loss in Game 3 by playing a very tight-checking game that Jacques Lemaire would be proud of. They had a brilliant night on special teams, as the power play produced two goals and the penalty kill was a perfect 6-for-6. They also played their best all-around game of the series and got their best goaltending performance of the series, as Martin Brodeur stopped 26 shots en route to his new NHL record 24th career playoff shutout. The Devils won Game 4 by a 4-0 final, tying the series in the process, and they won the game by playing “Devils hockey.”
