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Game 31 Preview: New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers - 12/12/2009

John Fischer — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:49:21 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

The Devils need to make the Flyers look unhappy and also celebrate. The best way to do that is to score goals and to do that, the team must be at least decent in their passing. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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The Time: 7 PM EST

The Broadcasting Info: TV: MSG+2 (yep, commence complaining...elsewhere); Radio: 660 AM WFAN

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (21-8-1) vs. the Philadelphia Flyers (14-14-1)

The Last Devils Game: It was not a good game for the Devils. The Devils didn't give a 60 minute effort, but their opponents, the Florida Panthers, did and scored some fantastic goals. The winning streak was snapped at 4 with a 4-2 loss and I wasn't happy with the performance. But it could have been worse...

The Last Flyers Game: ...it could have been something like what Philly had against Ottawa on Thursday. The Senators held off Philadelphia and shut them out in spite of being on the road and being outworked, per this recap from Broad Street Hockey. The Flyers couldn't solve Brian Elliott and Travis Hughes - along with many other Flyers fans - is unhappy with how the team has performed.

The Last Devils-Flyers Game: In Philadelphia, the scoreboard was closer than the game that was on the ice. The Flyers outplayed the Devils and if it weren't for Martin Brodeur, the score would have been a rout in favor of the Flyers. The 3-2 loss by New Jersey snapped their road winning streak at 9 and then overall winning streak at 8. I recapped the game here; for the Flyers' side, Travis Hughes recapped the win over at Broad Street Hockey.

The Goal: Passing, passing, passing, PASSING. I want to see passes that hit their targets, that aren't straight giveaways to the other team, aren't leading their target into multiple opponents, and aren't easily read by defenders. You can easily tell when it's going to be a long night for the Devils and it's when they struggle moving the puck up ice in making those passes. It's not that the team doesn't have good ideas, an observer can see that if the passes got to where they needed to be, then the Devils' offense would be raking in the goals. And that's the problem - the execution isn't there and the team struggles to adjust. This was a problem yesterday and this was a problem in the last Devils-Flyers game. The Devils fans just have one simple request: a win over the hated Philadelphia Flyers. They're not going to do it unless their passing improves tonight.

Read on at Broad Street Hockey for the Flyers' point of view on tonight's game as well as a current state of their affairs. Continue after the jump for my further thoughts.

Now, the last two opponents were teams that were struggling in the NHL - the last-place Carolina Hurricanes and a Florida Panthers team mired in a haze. As proof to the theory that there are no doormats in the NHL, both of these teams were quite competitive against the Devils. In comes the Philadelphia Flyers, who now have a new coach but that has generated little momentum as the team remains in the bottom of the Atlantic Division (they are only ahead of the Islanders since they have played fewer games) and 2-8-0 in their last 10. The frustration continues for the Flyers faithful as Travis Hughes of Broad Street Hockey wrote this after their 2-0 loss to Ottawa:

Six games, three shutouts. Watch America's Most Wanted this weekend and maybe we can find out who kidnapped the Philadelphia Flyers offense. With the exception of one game against the New York Islanders, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk, and Danny Briere have been invisible over the last month.

I don't know what to think and I don't have answers, but this team just can't score. They have absolutely zero confidence. Maybe a trade is necessary to shake up the offense. Maybe they just need Simon Gagne, Blair Betts, and Darroll Powe back in the lineup. Maybe we overrated them and they're just bad. I simply don't know. With the amount of games coming up in the next few weeks -- really, up until the Olympic break -- they can't afford to continually give up points like this. It's frustrating, not to mention depressing.

Today, Travis put up this commentary emphasizing how important the next set of games are for the Flyers.

Now, it's up to them to respond and show they have something to prove. They have to take this personally. Richards has to lead the charge, emotionally and on the ice. He can set the tone for this team early on, and he'll have to against the Devils for the team to have any success. It's not that Richards has to score a goal in the first ten minutes. But when he's at his best, he's zipping around the ice, doing anything possible to make a high-percentage play. He has to set that tone, but his linemates and the other goal scorers on the team have to follow. That means Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell, James van Riemsdyk, and most of all, Jeff Carter, have to match his intensity.

This should be a concerning point. All of the previous Flyers named are very talented. This is a team that should be scoring tons of goals, but aren't. The Devils absolutely cannot just rely on their continued failure. This is a rivalry and the Flyers were very amped in both games between the two teams - two losses for the Devils. If anything, I'd forget about the recent struggles down in Philadelphia and expect the Flyers to come out, well, flying. Maybe I'm overreacting a bit; but given that the recent performances, especially the games against Carolina and Florida, nobody should be underestimated even if their recent form is terrible.

As far as the Devils are concerned, well, I hope I made my point about the passing. So let's focus on guessing a lineup. The Devils didn't practice this morning, so Gulitti and Chere will have the facts later this afternoon. It sounds weird, but Martin Brodeur hasn't exactly got a lot of work as of late. He's faced a total of 122 shots, or an average of 24.4 per game, in the last five games. The Detroit game was the only one where he faced more than 25 shots, much less 30 (he faced 31). Given that and the fact that Our Second Most Hated Rivals Who Have a History of Looking Good but Falling Apart in Hilarious Fashion (OSMHRWHHLGFAHF) is coming to the Rock tonight, I would think Brodeur would be starting.

With respect to goonery because OSMHRWHHLGFAHF has a history of making it look "mean," I wonder if Andrew Peters or Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond would be inserted into the lineup. If it were up to me, I wouldn't bother as the fourth line has played well together recently and no one else in the lineup needs to be benched - just play more consistently better (I swear this is a phrase), that's all. So I would guess the same lineup that was seen last night, except ZZ Pops starts the game again:

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Jamie Langenbrunner
Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Nicklas Bergfors
Jay Pandolfo - Rob Niedermayer - Vladimir Zharkov
Rod Pelley - Dean McAmmond - Ilkka Pikkarainen

Andy Greene - Bryce Salvador
Colin White - Mike Mottau
Mark Fraser - Johnny Oduya

Martin Brodeur
Yann Danis

As usual, check up with Gulitti and Chere will have the updated info later today. I'll take care of the GameThread, though my commenting will be a bit sparse so I try not to enter comments as action is on the ice. Do join in commenting all the same. Until then, please leave your thoughts and comments here. Go Devils!

New Jersey Devils Morning News, Dec 8

TibbsBeastoftheEast — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:41:10 -0000

Devils notes: Mike Mottau recovering from illness - (The Bergen Record)
Brodeur ties NHL record with 103rd shutout - (The Bergen Record)

2010 Olympics Preview: New Jersey Devils

John Fischer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:13 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

Where will you see Martin Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Zach Parise in mid-February 2010? In Vancouver, representing their country. Though, they won't be celebrating together. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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As you may or may not be aware, the 2010 Winter Olympics are coming up in less than 3 and a half months. By the end of December, all of the nations will have announced their men's ice hockey rosters. The NHL is taking part in this year's games, so expect all the top nations to be loaded with talent. Therefore, each blog on SB Nation Hockey is listing who on their team is likely to represent their nation in Vancouver. You can find the other team previews in this updated story stream.

The New Jersey Devils have more than a few Olympic hopefuls and so I'm taking a stab at categorizing their chances of representing their nation. Some are definite locks, others are more of a long shot. I'll be using the same template the other SBN-Hockey blogs, which is the same template Yanks Abroad uses for their excellent 23 Tickets feature. Read on to see which Devils I think you'll see in Vancouver and which ones need to play really well to make their case. Feel free to comment on the players listed, yell at me if I missed anyone or put them in the wrong place, or discuss the Olympics in general.

PACK YOUR BAGS, VANCOUVER AWAITS!

Zach Parise, LW, USA

Let's see, top ten NHL scorer, former Gold medal winner for USA from the 2004 World Junior Championships, MVP of the 2004 WJCs, consistently played for USA in the WCs, and the Olympics are being played on a NHL surface. The question shouldn't be whether Parise will be on the team; but how far will he lead the American offense? He's going to be an absolute blast to watch, especially on the smaller ice surface.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Zach Parise	24	15	15	30	19	4	2	1	1	20:30	109	13.8

Martin Brodeur, G, Canada

Age really is just a number, isn't it? He went to Team Canada's evaluation camp and the story became, "Brodeur or Luongo?" Given that Brodeur has superior numbers so far, I think the answer is clear. While I'll be supporting America in this tourney, let me give a pro-tip to the Canadians about their starter. If you want to go with youth, go with Marc-Andre Fleury. If you want to be popular, go with Roberto Luongo. If you want to win the Gold, consider starting the one goaltender who has actually led Canada to win one in the last 50 years.

	GP	MIN	W	L	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Martin Brodeur	22	1318	15	6	45	2.05	603	558	.925	1

Patrik Elias, LW, Czech Republic

Elias won the Golden Stick last year for being the best Czech hockey player in the world. Surely, the Czechs wouldn't forget about him in Vancouver? Now that he's healthy, he's showing the NHL why exactly he won it. His playmaking, offensive awareness, backchecking, and a better-than-decent shot make him an important weapon up front.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Patrik Elias	10	3	7	10	3	4	1	0	1	18:47	23	13.0

NEARLY A LOCK, EXPECT TO SEE THEM IN VANCOUVER

Paul Martin, D, USA

Martin has been out with a significant injury for most of the past month, he'll likely not be back to playing until the middle of December. Prior to the injury, Martin has looked good - taking on big minutes (09-10 average: 23:57) and keeping himself (and his positioning) calm in the final minute as well as he does in the first minute. Brian Burke said the injury wouldn't hurt Paul Martin's chances for representing America, per Tom Gulitti. Considering he can handle 24-27 minutes against top opposition regularly, this leads me to believe he'll be in Vancouver.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Paul Martin	9	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	23:57	9	0.0

Jamie Langenbrunner, RW, USA

Believe it or not, but the Devils captain has never represented the U.S. in the Olympics after 1998. Really. Well, if there's any time for him to have one more go at it, it's now. Langenbrunner broke out with his best offensive season last year and he's enjoying another productive year so far. Seriously, would you have expected 22 points in 24 games? I didn't. The man can play the point, join up on the rush, handle cycling down low, and even play primarly as a checking player. Langenbrunner is versatile and experienced, which are invaluable on a potentially young American roster. I think he goes.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Jamie Langenbrunner	24	5	17	22	8	6	1	1	1	20:32	68	7.4

IN A BATTLE, THESE GUYS NEED TO HAVE A VERY GOOD DECEMBER

Johnny Oduya, D, Sweden

Oh, how much can change in such a short while. Prior to this season, I would have said he was nearly a lock; but then he spent the beginning of this season getting burned repeatedly. The two-way defenseman hasn't shown much in terms of offense or in defense. Instead of looking poised, he's looked nervous. I had to even raise the point about how bad he was this season. Then he gets injured. So Oduya has to get back into form and play much better than he had been at the beginning of this season. Combine that situation with Sweden potentially having 6 defensemen ready and Oduya has to prove himself all over again. Hopefully, he is able to do just that.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Johnny Oduya	11	0	0	0	-5	16	0	0	0	21:04	9	0.0

WORK TO DO, LONG SHOTS BUT NOT OUT OF CONSIDERATION

Travis Zajac, C, Canada

Nothing against Zajac. His performance in New Jersey so far has been perfectly acceptable. He's productive, he's winning faceoffs (51.9%), he can play big minutes (21:10), and he can play in all situations. However, the problem isn't with Zajac, it's with Canada. Namely, Canada is absolutely stacked at center. We're talking about a team that could have Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby, Brad Richards, and Patrick Marleau down the middle. Guys like Mike Richards, Rich Peverley, Ryan Getzlaf, and Paul Statsny have all made good cases, but even they are on the outside looking in (or will play as wingers). It really is just a numbers game for Zajac unless he has one amazing December. Maybe in 2014?

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Travis Zajac	24	7	15	22	13	10	3	0	0	21:10	58	12.1

Nicklas Bergfors, RW, Sweden

A few days ago, Bergfors mentioned how much he would love to represent Sweden at the Olympics according to this post by Tom Gulitti. Now, I first thought this was just a hope because, hey, Bergfors is a rookie. Surely, Sweden would have many forwards ahead of him on the depth chart. Then, I check NHL.com and find he's currently 9th among Swedish skaters in scoring and 3rd among Swedish right wingers (behind Daniel Alfredsson and Mikael Samulesson). That surprised me and now that hope doesn't seem so far-fetched. Given that Gulitti's post also notes that Sweden's head coach is trying to get Bergfors on the eligibility list, perhaps he's got a more realistic shot than I thought. Even so, I think Bergfors needs to show much more consistency in his game to be considered. Sure, it's understandable that he's not consistent, he's a rookie, after all. He truly is a long shot.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Nicklas Bergfors	24	6	10	16	3	6	3	0	2	15:33	60	10.0

MOVING UP, COULD BE CONSIDERED WITH AN AWESOME DECEMBER

Brian Rolston, LW/RW, USA

He's played for the U.S. in 2002 and 2006, he's currently 20th among American skaters in scoring, he's still got a cannon of a shot, and he's could be catching fire real soon in New Jersey. Brian Rolston, in my opinion, is even more of a long shot to make the American roster than Bergfors making Team Sweden. But if he has an amazing December, then he has to at least be in the discussion - perhaps as an reserve player in case injury strikes. I don't think he'll make Team USA but I can't say never if he's finally going to get it together in New Jersey for the next month. Mind you, that's a pretty massive "if."

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Brian Rolston	23	8	5	13	-1	4	4	0	2	18:33	80	10.0

NOTABLE DEVILS WHO WON'T BE IN VANCOUVER IN FEBRUARY

David Clarkson, RW, Canada

Does Canada really need an agitating winger who can score? Well, on the smaller ice surface and to give the team some more grit, Clarkson could be in a useful role. But Canada doesn't necessarily need to go that route and they may have other players who are just as useful for that role (e.g. Ryan Clowe). The recent injury basically puts him out of the running, however bleak it originally was.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - David Clarkson	23	7	8	15	1	39	3	0	2	15:08	65	10.8

Andy Greene & Mike Mottau, D, USA

Yes, they have both been been playing out of their minds this season. But Greene had to fight to keep his #6 spot on the team multiple times last season and even to the start of this season; and Mottau is a literal "does everything OK, but nothing really well" defenseman. I appreciate what they are doing in New Jersey, but I doubt they crack the USA lineup ahead of Martin, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter, Erik Johnson, James Wisniewski, Matt Carle, Jack Johnson, Ryan Whitney, Alex Goligoski, and even Joe Corvo and Jordan Lepold. I'd be honestly surprised if either makes the roster.

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Andy Greene	21	3	9	12	6	4	3	0	2	23:21	25	12.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Mike Mottau	23	1	1	2	5	13	0	0	0	22:31	23	4.3

Not Considered: Matt Halischuk (CAN), Mark Fraser (CAN), Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (CAN), Andrew Peters (CAN), Bryce Salvador (CAN), Rod Pelley (CAN), Rob Niedermayer (CAN), Cory Murphy (CAN), Matthew Corrente (CAN), Yann Danis (CAN), Tyler Eckford (USA), Ilkka Pikkarainen (FIN), Jay Pandolfo (USA), Tim Sestito (USA), Dainius Zubrus (LTU), Dean McAmmond (CAN), Vladimir Zharkov (RUS).

Devils outlast Bruins 2-1 in shootout

Stanley Cup of Chowder — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:25:23 -0000

More photos » by Mary Schwalm - AP

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The Bruins fell to the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in the shootout in a matinee at TD Garden. In a game that was all about the goaltenders, Martin Brodeur made history by becoming the NHL leader in minutes played by a goaltender, surpassing Patrick Roy on the all-time list. Brodeur has now logged 60,215 minutes over his 17 year NHL career. Brodeur turned aside 32 shots, while Tuukka Rask continued his strong play in the Bruins net with 36 saves.

Zach Parise put the Devils up 1-0 9:45 into the second period when he jammed the puck in off of a scrum in front of Rask's net.

Blake Wheeler got the equalizer for the B's 12 seconds into the third period. Byron Bitz slid a cross-crease pass to Wheeler, who was stationed by the left post and quickly swept the puck into the net.

The same two guys that found the back of the net in regulation (Wheeler & Parise) were also successful in the shootout. With the shootout knotted up at 1-1, it was up to Jamie Langenbrunner to seal the win for the Devils. Langenbrunner skated in and fired a snap shot that beat Rask five hole.

Final - 11.27.2009	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
New Jersey Devils	0	1	0	0	1	2
Boston Bruins	0	0	1	0	0	1

Complete Coverage >

Notes:

- Bad news on the Milan Lucic injury front: Lucic is expected to miss about 4 weeks with a high ankle sprain.

- I thought that Brodeur would have gotten a bigger ovation for breaking Roy's record. They announced his achievement over the PA system. It seemed like the crowd was starting to give a standing ovation and then they quickly dropped the puck.

- The Bruins have earned points in 10 of their last 11 games.

- Shawn Thornton scored the take-down in his bout with Andrew Peters, Peters landed a few solid blows.

- The B's won't have much time to think about this loss. They are back in action tomorrow night against Northeast Division rivals, the Ottawa Senators.

New Jersey Devils Grind Out a Win over Boston Bruins with the Shootout, 2-1

John Fischer — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:38:49 -0000

More photos » by Mary Schwalm - AP

The New Jersey Devils celebrate after getting one past Boston's Tuukka Rask. Zach Parise was the goalscorer and turned out to be the only one for NJ during regulation. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

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It wasn't an easy game at all for the New Jersey Devils. The Boston Bruins, who won their last four, were pressing hard early and in the third period. While the Devils outshot the Bruins 37-33, the Bruins had more possession, pinned the Devils back in their own end more often, and had better scoring chances. Yet, the score remained tied thanks to one man: Martin Brodeur.

Today, Martin Brodeur broke the all-time NHL record for career minutes played in the second period. That wasn't all. He wasn't just big in Boston, he was massive. Long shots, point-blank shots, shots from the slot, up high, down low, on the ground, while standing - Brodeur made every stop except for one. A shot right on Brodeur's flank right in front of the crease courtesy of Blake Wheeler. Nevertheless, Martin Brodeur prevented this one from becoming a Boston rout in the third period and for that alone, he should be praised. The Devils get nothing from today's game if it wasn't for Brodeur bringing his "A" game.

Credit should also go to Boston's Tuukka Rask as well; he had a busy afternoon with 37 shots against and he was only beaten by Zach Parise forcing a puck into the net. But the Bruins had more scoring chances in my opinion, more dangerous shots on net, and Brodeur was the sole reason the Devils got a point - much less two. Jamie Langenbrunner sealed the deal in the shootout and so the Devils win their second straight over Boston and in general. NHL.com has their recap up with a link to the boxscore and other stats.

Check out Stanley Cup of Chowder for his recap later on - he was at the game, as I understand it so it'll be up a little later. My recap continues after the jump.

First, an embedded video of the game's highlights via NHL.com. Expect a lot of saves:

The win didn't come easy at all for New Jersey. First, the Devils lost David Clarkson early in the game. Clarkson blocked a Zdeno Chara slapshot from point blank right on his right ankle. He had to crawl to the bench, he did not return at all, and that is definitely concerning. The last thing the Devils need is another injured forward. Unfortunately, per this postgame post by Tom Gulitti, Jacques Lemaire is already saying that the injury "doesn't look good." That could mean just the fact that another Devils is injured doesn't look good, but it could also mean the injury is serious. More will be available tomorrow, but I wouldn't expect Clarkson to play at the Rock.

Second, the Devils had to make a lot of heads up plays in their own end, leading them to be pinned back further. The Devils blocked a total of 17 shots, 4 by Bryce Salvador, but many of these blocks led to an errant clearance that the Bruins picked up in New Jersey's end or a clearance that got the Devils to change but Boston easily got so they could start again. Ultimately, the Devils got into too many cycles where they kept having to defend over and over. It's great that they made defensive stops, and it's great that Martin Brodeur made so many saves. But it's not great that the Devils essentially made it easier for the Bruins to attack over and over. In particular, the make-shift third line of Tim Sestito-Dean McAmmond-Matt Halischuk got worked over the most in the third period but this was true across all four lines.

Yes, all four lines. There was a Rod Pelley and Andrew Peters sighting in the third period. Not that Jacques Lemaire wanted to spread out some of the fatigue among the forwards. The top two lines got plenty of work with all of them playing at least 20 minutes today except for Nicklas Bergfors (18:28). As usual, the defensemen endured a disparity in time played. While Matthew Corrente got 10:52 of ice time, the workload was all over the top four with Andy Greene playing a mind-boggling 27:59 this afternoon. And to think, only Mike Mottau (26:52) made a fatal error - giving the puck right to Byron Bitz who fed Blake Wheeler for the goal. I really hope Greene gets a lot of rest tonight because the Islanders aren't going to give him a break tomorrow.

With respect to individual statlines, this may surprise you, but Brian Rolston had the most impressive set of numbers. He played 22:45, put 7 shots on net, attempted 10 (3 misses), and had 5 hits. Really. He had the second best scoring chance in the first period when he broke away on a breakaway, but was forced to the side by Dennis Wideman from behind and so Rolston's shot was on an angle and hit Tuukka Rask's helmet.

Going back to things that made this game difficult for New Jersey: the power play. The Devils didn't have too many of these, the refs let the players play today. But in the first period, Travis Zajac had a wide open net right in front and the shot was shanked during the Devils' first power play. The miss wasn't fatal, but it was regrettable. If only Zajac actually had the puck on his stick when he attempted to shoot it! Who knows how . Later on, during a power play late in the second period, Brian Rolston "slashed" Dennis Wideman (I'll give Dennis this, he knows how to sell a move - like a wrestler!) which led to a minor penalty that wiped that chance out early into the man advantage. I can't complain about the special teams too loudly, since the Devils' PK was solid, but it's still opportunities wasted.

Lastly, I have to praise the Bruins' for their balanced attack. 33 shots, Patrice Bergeron led with 5, but 5 other Bruins had at least 3 shots on net, and only Marco Sturm ended the game without a shot on net - and that's only because Matthew Corrente recovered from getting burned to stop him from shooting. The Bruins were better at faceoffs, winning 61% of all draws - further proof of Boston's advantage in terms of puck possession. It wasn't one line or one player that gave the Devils' issues - it was the whole team.

That all said, I would have been happy with just a point. But the Devils managed to hold steady in overtime and earn the win in the shootout. This reminded me of Stanley Cup of Chowder's recap of Boston's previous win: a game where the Bruins didn't look like the superior team, where the Bruins kept it close largely in part of their goaltender, and got the win (2-1, no less). The Devils will take the win; but they'll have to be ready for a tough one tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, they all get a good night's sleep - they'll need it after such a tight game today.

Thanks to Steve for the GameThread, the commenters in said GameThread, and you, for reading all this. Please share your thoughts, concerns, and such in the comments.

New Jersey Devils Morning News, Nov 26

TibbsBeastoftheEast — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:03:44 -0000

Niedermayer practices with Devils - (The Bergen Record)
Elias scores winner for Devils - (The Bergen Record)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Patrik Elias' Tip Snapped the Slump - New Jersey Devils Beat Ottawa Senators, 3-1

John Fischer — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:42:54 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

Patrik Elias' tip in the second period was the game winning goal, his 68th season game winning goal of his career. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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The New Jersey Devils had a bit of a challenge tonight to say the least. Still depleted by injuries, winless in their last three, and up against an opponent who not only has won four straight but three of those wins came against quality opponents (Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Washington). Yet, the Devils and Senators went on to play a tightly checked game and Patrik Elias' tip made all the difference in the score. That's Elias' first of the season, yet another game winning goal (68th of his career), and the Devils break their winless streak by a score of 3-1. NHL.com has their recap up, complete with the box score and other stats from the game.

The biggest indicator of the game itself came with the shots on net. Ottawa outshot the Devils 25-21. No, that's not a typo. Both teams struggled to get the space to put shots on net. Sure, the Senators had 11 attempts denied (5 blocked, 6 missed) and the Devils had 17 attempts that didn't go on net (11 blocked, 6 missed). However, that really speaks to how well both team's defenses were at positionally. There were times that both teams looked sloppy in their own end; but neither team got much in terms of consistent pressure with the exception of the Senators after the Devils' first goal. It was a tight game, and that the Devils rose above over a hot Senators squad has to do wonders for the team's confidence.

Peter R has his recap up at Silver Seven, lamenting the boredom of the game and the frustration shown by the Senators. (Maybe he should consider a different sport if he thought tonight's game was boring. Or demand that his team perform better?). My thoughts on tonight's game follow after the jump, complete with an embedded NHL.com video of tonight's highlights.

Now, both Martin Brodeur and Brian Elliott played well tonight. I felt Brodeur had more dangerous scoring chances to deal with - how the Senators didn't score on a loose puck right in front in the third, I don't know - but no one can really complain about the goals either goaltender gave up. Brodeur got beaten by a deft deflection (a chop?) from Milan Michalek right in front of him. No shame in conceding that one. Likewise, Elliott shouldn't feel too bad about being beaten by Patrik Elias' tip of Andy Greene's shot late in the second period.

Elliott may regret the first goal he gave up. Andy Greene's dump into the zone takes a funny bounce off the boards and goes into the slot. Now, if you look closely in the video, you see Elliott about to make a move at it but he doesn't. I understand he doesn't want to expose himself, but he really should have attempted to poke it away or smother it. Instead, Nicklas Bergfors picks it up, makes a move, and beats Elliott. It was luck that got Bergfors the opportunity, but it was the rookie's skill in turning it into a goal.

I would want to point out that despite contributing 21 shots on net, a number of forwards stood out. Nicklas Bergfors started off the game willing and ready to fire the puck and got 3 shots. Scoring that goal should do well to boost his confidence. I felt he became quiet as the game wore on, but that could have been the result of Ottawa's defense keying on the unit of Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Niclas Bergfors. Still, I think he's responding to the recent criticism of him well; he can build on a performance like the one he had tonight.

Which leads me to Parise. He was hustling, making plays on forechecking efforts and battling along the boards well enough. Yet, I felt his shots were a bit off; especially in the first period where he would take a pass and fire it before it really settled on his stick. Nevertheless, he put 4 shots on Elliott (more than any other Devils tonight) and got an assist. If that's a not-so-good game from Parise, then we should all be so happy.

But the big performer at forward tonight was Patrik Elias. OK, it wasn't all good - he was 4 for 13 at the faceoff dot. But he was skating well with Brian Rolston and Jamie Langenbrunner; he got 18:15 of ice time tonight; he was more confident with his passes; and he was looking more like the Elias that we all know and love. Some of his passes could have been simpler on offense, but he'll get better about that. Of course there is the goal. It's his first of the season and he has to feel confident. As usual, the goal Elias scored was big not only because Elliott had no real chance at the deflection, but it was the game winner. It's almost funny that he tends to score important goals.

OK, enough about the forwards, what about the defense? Well, the Ottawa forecheckers were successful at smoking out a number of defensemen on the breakout. The Senators were pretty good at catching cleared pucks in the neutral zone or at the point to re-start their attack at points of the game. I felt the Devils were sloppy after the Bergfors goal and that Ottawa had most of it's best chances to score in the game in that time frame in the third period. It honestly reminded me of what happened after Brian Rolston's goal in Dallas on Saturday - which didn't end well.

Yet, the Devils escaped the first period at 1-1 and the defense shored itself up afterwards. Namely by not allowing Ottawa to boss them around on the rink from the second period onward. I wouldn't say they were great, but that the Senators only got 25 through to Brodeur and attempted only 36 shots total is laudable. What was laudable was that the minutes were spread out a little more. Sure, Andy Greene played 25:03 but he was the only defenseman to have played more than 24 minutes. Mark Fraser got 14:15 and looked OK, Matthew Corrente got 8:54 and was also decent; but I think the big factor was that no defenseman had to do any PK duty tonight. This limited the Devils to even strength situations, which allowed Jacques Lemaire to roll all three pairings, and power plays where only one defenseman was on each unit.

The discipline from the Devils tonight was mostly impeccable short of the two (three?) items. First, David Clarkson and Andrew Peters wanting to start something with Matt Carkner and getting coincidental minors in separate situations. Second, Andrew Peters demolished Chris Neil and Alexandre Picard with big hits. While that meant this is really the first game where Peters was actually noticible in a game. Per Peter R's recap at Silver Seven, Neil was injured by the hit and Picard was shaken up. I felt the first hit was just a hard one (if it was improper, would it be in the highlights?), but the second one was questionable. Still, I hate seeing injuries and I certainly hope Neil's is minor. Again, any penalty was wiped by Carkner and Peter trying to tussle, which the refs weren't allowing. Outside of that, the Devils were clean. Not having to kill penalties that's the best penalty killing, after all.

Still, despite the lack of total shots attempted and power plays from the Senators, I felt Brodeur bailed out the Devils quite a bit with a big save or an clearance of a loose puck. The defense got onto most of the rebounds, but Marty came up huge, particularly in the third period and particularly on Jarkko Ruutu - as shown in the highlights). How the Senators didn't tie it up there is beyond me. Maybe Marty's goaltending is like a vacuum for pucks? I don't know. Michalek's deflection was perfect and the Senators couldn't recreate perfection to beat Brodeur. I may be repeating myself, but Brodeur was solid tonight and was a key factor in the Devils' win.

I said in the preview for his game that focus would be crucial and outside of the Devils' performance after Bergfors' goal in the first period, I think that bore out. The Devils didn't get down on themselves for being tied at 1 or not getting much done on the power play, The Devils didn't panic much late in the game, even drawing a tripping call from Jarkko Ruutu that helped kill the clock. They weren't perfect, but they did well enough to earn the victory. Keeping their focus on the task at hand allowed it all to happen, from what I saw.

Now, the Devils get to rest for a little bit, enjoy a little Thanksgiving, and then head up to Boston for a noon game on Black Friday followed by a 1 PM game at the Rock against the Islanders on Nondescript Color Saturday. I'm not even sure when they'll get the chance to practice to work on their power play or make simpler plays on offense, but the win should give them a boost to give a good effort for the next two games. After all, it broke a winless streak, thanks to Patrik Elias' tip.

Thanks to Steve for running the GameThread, thanks to you all for reading. Please leave all your thoughts, questions, and concerns about tonight's game in the comments. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Senators get bored, lose 3-1 to New Jersey

PeterR — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:01:51 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

21 days ago: New Jersey Devils' Andy Greene (6) checks Ottawa Senators' Jonathan Cheechoo as Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, right, eyes the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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And who can blame them, really? Any time you play the New Jersey Devils, you're going to be fighting to stay awake the whole game, and the Ottawa Senators couldn't fight through the snooze to get the win. It didn't help that forwards Alex Kovalev and Mike Fisher were both out, and the struggles of Jason Spezza (2P in last 9GP) continue, so there was really not much going offensively for the Senators tonight.

When Ottawa did get chances--and there were a couple, including notably from Nick Foligno, Daniel Alfredsson, and Milan Michalek--Devils 'tender Martin Brodeur was usually standing tall in net. Ottawa's lone goal came from Michalek, who tipped in a point-shot from Jesse Winchester; Winch and Ryan Shannon (who had the second assist on the lone goal) again had strong games tonight. The Sens did manage to outshoot the Devils 25-21, including a 12-7 third period, but couldn't convert their scoring chances.

On the plus side, Brian Elliott was strong, and Jersey's goals were all explainable. Nicklas Bergfors was the beneficiary of a lucky bounce off the stantion after a dump-in, as the puck dribbled in front of the net and Elliott couldn't pokecheck it away. The second was a tip-in, and Elliott stopped the rest of the shots, helping the Sens kill off all four penalties they had. The third was an empty-netter, but there was more to it than just an easy tap-in.

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Those of you who saw it know exactly what I'm talking about, but after Spezza had committed (and missed) coming off the bench late in the game, Jamie Langenbrunner was on a breakaway with an empty net. Alfredsson, obviously frustrated with his team's inability to get anything of substance going offensively, threw his stick. It's not something you see very often--and it results in an automatic goal--but it goes to show that Alfie was as frustrated as the Senators fans who were watching the game were.

As if the Senators injury problems weren't bad enough, Peter Regin got hit in the face with a puck in the first period, Chris Neil injured his left knee after he was hit by Andrew Peters later in the first, and Alex Picard was down and out mid-way through the second after getting the forearm-shiver from Peters (no penalty, though). Although Regin returned in the second (with a face shield on) and Picard was back in the action after a few minutes, Neil did not return. Which is too bad, because Neil's had a rebound season almost as resounding as Fisher's had been, and now both--for uncertain time frames--are out of the lineup.

Among my picks for stars of the night (along with Michalek and Regin) was Chris Phillips. I've been very impressed with his play this season (who hasn't?) and even though he was -2, he had another strong game. Most positive statistic was his five hits, but I was most impressed by a defensive play he made while short-handed, when he stretched out to knock the puck off Elias' stick in the second period.

I can't really say I noticed much from Ryan Keller on the night, but he did only play 8:03 overall. He did have a couple of shots, though, which is as many or more than the majority of his teammates--in far less time than anyone other than Neil (who had only played 3:25 when he got knocked out of the game). I hope I don't have to see him again, because that would mean at least one of Fisher or Kovalev is back, but it would be interesting to see how well he plays against a team that's not the New Jersey Devils.

Again tonight, the Senators played a very disciplined team; it was the second time this season Ottawa had no powerplay opportunities (the first was a couple of weeks ago against Edmonton). I don't know what it is, but you can be sure there were at least a couple of penalty-worthy indiscretions on the night, not the least of which was Peters' dirty hit on Picard (no, it wasn't boarding or cross-checking, but it was roughing). It's also curious that, after the hit, Peters dropped his gloves to fight Matt Carkner, but despite the fact that Carks didn't drop his gloves, both got two-minute roughing minors.

Not much else to say, really. The Senators were missing a lot of firepower, the firepower they had wasn't firing, and they were playing New Jersey anyway. It was a disappointing end to the team's four-game winning streak, but there isn't much time to pout about it; Ottawa's back at it tomorrow night.

New Jersey Devils Departures and Replacements at the Quarterpoint

John Fischer — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:51:44 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

How does Niclas Bergfors, the rookie scoring winger for the Devils, compare to Brian Gionta, who was the team's second line right winger last season? (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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In this past offseason, the New Jersey Devils have lost some significant players to free agency. Here's a list of the notable departed players from last season:

John Madden signed with Chicago
Brian Gionta signed with Montreal
Scott Clemmensen signed with Florida
Mike Rupp signed with Pittsburgh
Bobby Holik retired

To replace those spots, the Devils gave Nicklas Bergfors a real shot to make the team as a scoring winger and has stayed up ever since. Also, after training camp, the Devils assigned Rod Pelley to center the fourth line as Bobby Holik did for much of 2008-09. With respect to the other three spots the Devils signed Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Andrew Peters, and Ilkka Pikkarainen as "tough" wingers; signed Rob Niedermayer to play center on the fourth line; and signed Yann Danis as a backup goaltender.

A reader suggested that I compare how these players are doing with respect to how the departed players are doing at the quarterpoint mark of the season. A quick comparison of stats via NHL.com follows after the jump.

Second Line Right Wing - The Departed: Brian Gionta

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Brian Gionta	19	8	5	13	3	8	2	0	1	20:53	65	12.3

The Replacement: Nicklas Bergfors

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Nicklas Bergfors	21	5	9	14	0	6	3	0	2	15:23	55	9.1

Now, Gionta broke his foot; but prior to that he was enjoying his hockey with Montreal. He's been scoring goals and playing on Montreal's top line. Only injury has really slowed down Gionta so far this season. Who actually is playing right wing on the second line is debatable as Jacques Lemaire switches his lines from game to game, often within the game. Based on his role as a scoring winger, I feel Bergfors would be the appropriate choice as his replacement. While the rookie doesn't have as many goals, he's got one more point than Gionta with less average time per game, and he has shown a good tendency to shoot. Of course, Bergfors should remain more productive just because he's healthy; but I feel he needs work with his consistency. After putting up 5 points in 2 games, he only has 2 shots on net in his last 4 games. He can't dip into spells like that, not as an offensive winger. But so far, so good.

As an additional note, David Clarkson potting in 7 goals (3 PPG) and 8 assists is a significant amount of production in Gionta's departure not necessarily being a big deal. Since Clarkson's role changes along with where he's moved to in the lineup (e.g. more physical on a fourth line, more defensive on a third line), that's even more impressive than Bergfors' start as a rookie.

Third Line Center - The Departed: John Madden

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - John Madden	21	4	4	8	-1	10	0	0	0	16:47	36	11.1

The Replacement: Rob Niedermayer

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Rob Niedermayer	13	2	5	7	3	4	0	0	0	17:38	19	10.5

Madden has been playing his brand of defensive hockey for the benefit of Chicago. Rob Niedermayer was a late signing in preseason, but has been a mainstay on the Devils' third line until he got injured. Niedermayer has fit in well and even provided some early production as a nice bonus. Niedermayer was actually used more often than Madden has been in Chicago; but Madden has the advantage in shots against differential per 60 minutes in even strength situations over Niedermayer according to the numbers at Behind the Net. Had Niedermayer not get hurt earlier this month, the comparison would be more meaningful. As of now, it's Tim Sestito holding the role and there really isn't much of a comparison there. But when Niedermayer does get healthy, he'll retake his spot as the third line center.

Fourth Line Winger - The Departed: Mike Rupp

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Michael Rupp	23	4	2	6	2	29	0	0	0	9:05	25	16.0

The Replacements: Andrew Peters, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Ilkka Pikkarainen

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Andrew Peters	13	0	0	0	-4	18	0	0	0	5:49	10	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond	7	0	0	0	-3	0	0	0	0	5:16	2	0.0

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Ilkka Pikkarainen	13	0	1	1	-3	6	0	0	0	8:17	7	0.0

Yeah, this isn't really close. Rupp has been very useful in his limited role with Pittsburgh and has gotten more ice time on average than any of these three players. Whereas these three Devils wingers are incredibly limited and haven't contributed much of anything this season. Even in hits, Rupp has 53 - which is 5 more than these three Devils combined (Peters has 17, Pikkarainen has 17, and Leblond has 14). Granted, the position isn't crucial for success; so it's not like the Devils are sorely missing Rupp. Yet, you want a contribution from all your lines and the fourth line hasn't done much of that for New Jersey.

Fourth Line Center - The Departed: Bobby Holik

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2008 - Bobby Holik	62	4	5	9	-2	66	0	0	1	10:11	79	5.1

The Replacement: Rod Pelley

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	ATOI	SOG	PCT
2009 - Rod Pelley	20	0	2	2	-6	11	0	0	0	7:11	18	0.0

Since Holik is retired, I'm using his numbers from last season for comparison. And it's not really that bad. Holik didn't contribute much outside of getting limited action per game, throwing a couple hits, winning faceoffs, and contributing a little production. I have no issue with Pelley's offense, but if he got minutes similar to Holik's then it should improve slightly. Pelley does have one big advantage over Holik. Pelley's not likely going to get benched in the second half of the season for getting aggressive and taking really dumb calls regularly. Then again, Lemaire hasn't shown much faith in the fourth line as seen by their average ice time, so it may be a moot point. So far, Pelley has done OK in that spot.

Backup Goaltender - The Departed: Scott Clemmensen

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Scott Clemmensen	5	247	3	1			17	4.13	139	122	.878	0

The Replacement: Yann Danis

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Yann Danis	3	140	2	0			5	2.14	65	60	.923	0

Scott Clemmensen has had a rough time in Florida as Tomas Vokoun's backup. He's been shelled for goals and not inspiring any confidence in his team. A big contrast to how he played in relief of Martin Brodeur when Brodeur was injured. Danis has been earning the confidence of the Devils' coaching staff however. They gave him two starts in back-to-back situations and was given the start in Dallas on Saturday after two losses. Sure, Danis was pulled in that Dallas game, but he had no real chance at the goals and I doubt he'll be placed in exile for it. While he hasn't played as much as Clemmensen, Danis has the better numbers and will likely continue getting a few more games here and there in New Jersey. Best of luck to Clemmensen in turning it around in Florida.

Looking just at the numbers, it's clear to me that the Devils have done an adequate job in filling in these larger holes in the roster. Granted, if Gionta wasn't injured, then it may be a different story. But we can only compare what has been done and honestly, the only real big gap is at fourth line winger as Rupp's job has not really been replaced. You can argue that third line center is an issue now with Rob Niedermayer injured and leaving Tim Sestito - an AHL callup - to take over with spot duty (though the job may be Dean McAmmond's now).

Perhaps this is to be expected. After all, despite going winless in their last three games, the Devils are still 14-5-1 and only a point outside of the Atlantic Division lead. From that alone, one could say the Devils have not been rocked too hard by the losses of these players. However, it is heartening to see that some of the replacements for their positions are generally doing as well as the departed players for the most part. Hopefully, this continues for the rest of the season.

Feel free to disagree or agree with how I'm looking at the departed and replacement players. Are you happy with the replacement players who aren't fourth line wingers? Do you wish any of those departed players didn't leave New Jersey as they did over the summer? Do you have a better way of comparing these players, or a different perspective? Please let everyone know what you think in the comments.

Game 19 Preview: New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers - 11/16/2009

John Fischer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:29 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

Things I want to see tonight: The New Jersey Devils' Zach Parise elated after scoring a goal. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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The Time: 7 PM EST

The Broadcasting Info: Versus for the TV (hope you don't have DirecTV like I do); Devils main site/NHL for radio feed

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (14-4-0) @ the Philadelphia Flyers (10-5-1)

The Last Devils Game: The Devils got off to a rocky start by giving up two goals to the Washington Capitals on their first two shots. Then New Jersey hit back with five unanswered and beautiful goals. My recap of the game explains why the score flattered the Devils more than anything else.

The Last Flyers Game: The Flyers were hot prior to visiting the Buffalo Sabres. Alas, the Sabres got the best of them and held off a third period comeback effort by the Orange and Black. The Flyers lost to the Sabres, 3-2; a loss described by Geoff Detweiler at Broad Street Hockey as "frustrating" in his recap.

The Last Devils-Flyers Game: It was the home opener at the Rock, but it was anything but welcoming for the Devils. The Flyers were just a step ahead of the Devils all night long and comfortably won 5-2. I called the game as a rout by the Flyers since they were so dominant with the puck in my recap back in October.

The Goal: Stay vigilant. In my opinion, the Devils are in that odd area where they've won so much - undefeated on the road - yet the wins largely didn't come easy. In five of the last six games, the Devils conceded the first goal - most recently, the first two goals against the Caps - forcing them to make a comeback. Can we honestly expect the Devils to keep doing this over and over? Yet, just when I think the opening to a game may lead to the eventual end of the winning streak, the Devils dig deep and eventually make their presence felt, equalizing before killing off the game for yet another win.

The Flyers are a tough enough opponent as-is, being a rival; and emotions tonight will especially be high as the team will honor Dave Schultz prior to the game. Therefore, I feel the Devils should aim to be on guard and not let the start of the game get to them. After all, New Jersey has been winning this way for the past two weeks.

Read on for further thoughts about the game, a guess at lines, and some insight into the Flyers thanks to Travis Hughes of Broad Street Hockey.

Today, Jamie Langenbrunner, Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, and David Clarkson didn't practice; but according to Jacques Lemaire via Tom Gulitti, they'll be expected to play. In that regard, I'm going to guess we're going to see the same lineup that the Rock saw on Saturday against the Capitals.

Zach Parise - Travis Zajac - Patrik Elias
Brian Rolston - Dainius Zubrus - Jamie Langenbrunner
Matt Halischuk - Tim Sestito - Niclas Bergfors
Andrew Peters - Rod Pelley - David Clarkson

Andy Greene - Bryce Salvador
Colin White - Mike Mottau
Mark Fraser - Cory Murphy

Martin Brodeur
Yann Danis

Admittedly, I'm not feeling all four lines on paper but take comfort in that Lemaire will likely change them during the game. If not within the first period, then most likely after the first intermission. That's why this is a guess at the lineup as opposed to the expected lineup.

Also: I'm not a fan of fighting, but I would like to see Peters actually be the one to eat any fighting majors. The Flyers, on Dave Schultz Night, are a team that isn't at all averse to starting something on the ice. Given that Peters is best known for punching people in the face, it'd be better for him to do the fighting instead of a useful player like, say, Clarkson or Salvador. (And perhaps Mark Fraser too considering the last fight he was in with a Flyer didn't go so well. Per Gulitti, he won't be looking for one - which is good.) Maybe we'll see Leblond if Lemaire is thinking tonight could get out of hand with the physical stuff?

Now, just for kicks, let's take a moment to look at who the top shooters on the Devils as of now:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	SOG	PCT
Zach Parise	18	10	12	22	12	4	2	1	1	80	12.5
Brian Rolston	17	4	3	7	-2	2	2	0	1	57	7.0
Nicklas Bergfors	18	5	9	14	1	6	3	0	2	53	9.4
David Clarkson	18	6	8	14	3	31	2	0	2	48	12.5
Jamie Langenbrunner	18	4	11	15	6	0	1	1	1	46	8.7
Travis Zajac	18	6	12	18	9	8	2	0	0	46	13.0

Five of the Devils' top six shooters are the top five scorers on the team. I don't think that's coincidence. Yet, the exception is Brian Rolston. Now, let me be frank: I feel if he keeps up his shooting, the points will come. After all, it wasn't long ago that Bergfors was able to get shots but no points, much less goals. He kept doing what he was doing and now he's made the adjustments necessary to get goals. With that sweet pass to Matt Halischuk on Saturday night for his first goal, Bergfors is also improving in his awareness and in his confidence to make plays. While Rolston's not a rookie like Bergfors, confidence is still a key ingredient for success on the ice. That will come eventually as long as Rolston continues to put in a good effort on offense night in and night out.

Likewise, look at Clarkson's and Zajac's stat lines. It's interesting that all three have similar shooting percentages so far. While I'm not sure if they can keep up that rate, it does lead one to wonder. Do they just need to shoot more, or are both players more selective with their shots - leading to more accurate shots? I'd like to see them shoot more often if only to provide additional offensive pressure outside of Parise. In Clarkson's case, just staying out of the penalty box could lead to more shooting opportunities!

I highlight these 6 shooters because tonight's performance by the Devils will hinge on how well these guys do up against this man:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
Ray Emery	15	912	10	4			34	2.24	431	397	.921	1

Yep, Emery has been fantastic to start this season. That sound you may hear is the grumblings of confused Ottawa fans. Parise & Co. will have their work cut out for them if they are able to get an open look at Emery. I think that if those six aren't able to put tough shots on net, then I'm not sure how the Devils will be able to come out of Philly with a win. I'm not saying that the Devils need to shoot every time they have the puck on their stick; setting up a shot is usually worth the wait if it's done right. But they would be wise to force Emery to stand on his head as often as possible. Though, I'm worried that Emery will do just that given how well he has played so far!

Speaking of the Flyers, I was fortunate to ask some questions to Travis Hughes of Broad Street Hockey to get some insight about Our Second Hated Rivals.

Question #1. The Flyers' winning streak has just been snapped, but they came awfully close to coming from behind against Buffalo. How do you think the Flyers will respond now that they have lost a game? Do you expect them to bounce back or do you think a loss was coming from their on-ice play and could be the start of something worse?

TH: The Flyers looked dead in the first part of the game against Buffalo. They were out-hit, out-worked, and out-played by the Sabres. Toward the end of the second period and for just about all of the third, however, they were the better team. A few bad bounces went against them and ultimately wound up costing them, and when you couple that with a less-than-complete performance, you're not going to win in the NHL. But like I said, the effort was there toward the end of the game and I'd expect them to come out firing against the Devils on Monday night. It's a division game, how could you not?

Question #2. The Flyers currently boast the best power play in the league with a 26.7% conversion rate. From what you have seen, why do you think the Flyers have been so successful on the power play?

TH: Chris Pronger [JF Aside: Statline below, please note he averages 27:01 of ice time per game].

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Chris Pronger	16	4	13	17	13	26	1	0	0	0	36	11.1

It's hard to believe one player can be so effective, but it's the trickle-down effect that he causes that makes this power play so good. With Pronger at the helm of one power play unit, Kimmo Timonen can run the other, giving them two extremely solid units that can beat anyone. When you've got two of the best PP point-men on your team, it's tough to be stopped.

Question #3. Turning to not-so-pleasant team statistics, the Flyers have averaged 16.9 PIM/game so far this season, the fourth highest in the league. Has this been an issue in Philadelphia, and if so, what do you think the team needs to do to cut down on their penalty minutes?

TH: I think we all look at it as progress, actually. They were the top team in the league last year and stupid penalties are probably what cost them a shot at the Cup last year. This year, while the number is still high, players like Dan Carcillo and Scott Hartnell have shown a lot more discipline. Carcillo, in fact, has probably drawn more penalties then he's taken so far this year. It's something the team as a whole still needs to work on, for sure, but it's getting better.

Question #4. While Devils fans are beginning to praise rookie winger Nicklas Bergfors more and more, the Flyers have an impressive rookie winger of their own: James van Riemsdyk. Based on what you have seen of him this season, what sticks out from his game that has made him so successful so far?

TH: He doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that he's playing in the NHL. He's extremely poised on the ice for a rookie. He just goes out and plays his game like he's still at New Hampshire and he acts like he belongs on the team. For a guy that most thought would be in Adirondack this season, it's an impressive quality to have. At the same time, it doesn't hurt to have Jeff Carter and Danny Briere as his linemates. Those two are pretty good teachers.

Question #5. Lastly, what do you predict will happen in tonight's game?

TH: It's Dave Schultz Night at the Wachovia Center, so I'm going to say a 3-1 Flyer win with about four fights. Wouldn't be right, otherwise.

Big thanks to Travis of Broad Street Hockey for answering my questions for this preview. I, of course, disagree with his prediction. I'd like to point out that the Devils have spoiled home openers this season on the road as well as decisively beating teams who were then superior in the standings. A loss by the Flyers would be right with respect to the Devils' current road form.

But do take heed in Travis' responses. I, too, expect the Flyers to come out tonight to play with a purpose and avoid what they did wrong against Buffalo on Saturday night. This is a very talented team from Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and the aforementioned van Reimsdyk at forward; to the noted Pronger, Matt Carle and Timonen leading their blueline; and behind all of that is Ray Emery. And they are trying to actually improve one of their trouble spots: penalties.

The Devils have a chance to tie a NHL record with 10 consecutive road wins and if they can do it tonight, it would be a big feat considering the quality of the opponent. Just beating Ray Emery will be a feat, considering how well he's played so far. If they stay vigilant on the ice and continue playing their game even if the start doesn't go well, then the Devils still have a chance to get the win - even from behind if necessary. They won at MSG, at the Verizon Center, at the TD Garden, and twice at the Igloo. The Devils know how to play rivals on their turf and the vigilance they displayed there will be required to win tonight in Philly.

Want to share your dislike for the Flyers or discuss how the Devils need to win tonight? Please leave all your thoughts, questions, concerns, and other words about tonight's game in the comments. Steve will take care of the GameThread. Expect a radio-based recap on my end as I don't have Versus thanks to the current DirecTV-Versus spat. It's been a while since I've listened to the radio feed so it will certainly be a different experience. Nonetheless, either by radio, TV, or by being there live, please support the right team in this game: Go Devils!