Friday, November 24, 2006
Postgame: Anaheim 4 - Devils 2
NHL.com has your official scoresheet and super stats right here. I'm not particularly pleased with the Devils as of late. The Phoenix game, in all standards, was terrible. Fortunately, Claude Julien decided to mix things up by switching Zach Parise and Patrik Elias on both lines. Yes, the PZL line was successful as of late, but even that line didn't put too many shots on goal and they were most definitely absent in the Phoenix game. So at least they were trying. However, I'd like to point out the following:
- One goal was right after a penalty and another was during a Devils power play. Worse, Moen and Marchant completed their cross ice pass leading to Marchant's shorthanded (and game winning) goal with FOUR DEVILS WITH THEM IN THE ZONE. Coverage guys! Coverage! Martin Brodeur was already tired after thwarting an onslaught of Ducks on an earlier 5-on-3 power play, so he blew the save. Terrible. Shorthanded goals are simply unacceptable and if NJ was competent on defense in those junctures, they may have won the game.
- Cam Janssen is most definitely injured with a shoulder. No word on how long he'll be out, but he didn't play after fighting Parros halfway through the first period. Erik Rasmussen saw very little time after the first period. So the Devils ended up playing a majority of the game with essentially 10 forwards.
- I want to single out Paul Martin for this game. He gave away the puck on a multitude of occasions, had trouble clearing the puck both on even strength and on the penalty kill, and he was the one who initially coughed it up to Marchant leading to the shorthanded/game winning goal. I know he's talented and still young, but he did not play well and certainly not deserving of the 25:21 he did play this afternoon.
- Again, the Devils were heavily outshot by the Ducks, 36-25. The Devils did look good in the second period, but faltered in the first and third periods. They clearly need to become tighter on defense and more aggressive on offense.
- Is there a stat for shots attempted? Because I have a sneaking suspicion the Devils aren't that bad in terms of number of shots attempted, just shots that hit the net. Jamie Langenbrunner, Jay Pandolfo, John Madden, and many more need to work on their shot accuracy. Missed shots are missed opportunites for goals, and NJ clearly needs them.
To be fair, it wasn't as bad as the Phoenix game. The Devils did do the following better in comparison to Wednesday's game:
- The Devils took more shots, putting 25 on Jean-Sebastian Giguere
- They successfully stopped Anaheim from scoring on the power play, thanks to some amazing saves by Martin Brodeur
- The Devils did score a power play goal, as Brian Gionta decided, "Hey, watch me score this goal," rushed right into the slot with no one on him and beat Giguere low on the short side. Clearly Gionta hasn't lost "it," he just needs to use "it" more often.
- The Devils came back from a 2-0 deficit after the first period to tie it up. A defensive lapse caused the Devils to lose this one, not a complete lack of effort.
- The Devils didn't completely give up after the Marchant goal and came close to getting an equalizer late in the game (before Marchant iced it with the empty net goal).
Regardless, this is another loss for NJ as they are now embroiled in a three-way tie for first in the Atlantic Division with the Rangers and the Islanders. Brodeur may have let up some easy ones, but he definitely worked his tail off and almost single-handedly killed the 5-on-3 with some fantastic saves. I think he needs a rest, but I'm not Marty so I don't really know how he feels. I don't know who fills in for Janssen tomorrow. I don't know what NJ will do to improve their offense and defense in time for tomorrow night's game against the Sharks in San Jose. That will be up to Claude Julien (and I don't envy him right now).
Labels: Devils Postgame
# posted by John Fischer @ 8:30 PM 0 comments 
