Game 70 GameThread: Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes

I’d be surprised if Langenbrunner keeps this going. Given the events of last night, I feel this game has the potential to be one heaping letdown all around. Plus, the Canes have something to fight for while the Devils are all but automatically penciled in for the playoffs, so there’s a danger right there.

I’ll catch up to it whenever I can.

Carolina started off very well as Weekes and the defense weathered the storm. About 7 and half minutes in, the Devils started responding some good shifts of their own. That said, Carolina looks swift out there, they’re controlling the puck the better, and their passing is strong.

That said, the Devils look good on this penalty kill. Cam Ward showed that you can clear the puck over the glass IF the puck hits off the glass and goes over.

Of course, just as I type that, Carolina pounds home a rebound. Anton Babchuk comes in on the flank and after the second rebound attempt, the puck goes right to him and uncovered with the whole net!

Devils really should have clamped down in the slot. PPG for Carolina. Let’s see if NJ responds quickly.

The Devils started playing better and at least getting a few chances at Ward after the goal.

That said, Carolina was clearly better this period. They definitely came out flying, while the Devils struggled. The Hurricanes now lead in shots, 18-9. That says it all!

I’m…not sure about the Shanahan interference call. But it was called and so New Jersey has to start this period killing a penalty. The silver lining is that the Devils are only down by 1 and if they can kill this one, in addition to Sutter giving his team a verbal “what’s for” to wake up, then perhaps the Devils can mount a comeback.

Rich Chere will be interviewed on TV shortly.

With the shot disparity you mentioned John, I was certain that the Canes could be up by a large margin. Apparently, that’s not the case, which is good for us.

All the offense needs to do is get back moving. And I am certain that they will as I have that feeling that I seen this before this season, though not recently, with the team struggling in the beginning only to soundly rebound later on.

The penalty kill looked good until….now.

The puck drifts to, wait for it, an uncovered Eric Staal on the flank! A tight angle, but Staal just buries it with space.

The Devils have to start responding on the scoreboard.

Hey, Ray Whitney’s going to the box for hooking. This could be a chance, Devils.

The Devils aren’t being thwarted on offense by Carolina as it is by their own bad passing.

Oh, hey, a retaliation by a Devil – you bet the ref will call that! Will the Devils be able to kill a penalty? Will the team smarten up with the puck and be able to have a decent shift this period on offense? Will they do something to show that perhaps this isn’t a letdown of a game?

Jamie Langenbrunner got the hell cross-checked out of him by Wallin. That’s a minor.

Devils: let’s take advantage of this one. Please? Get one?

BONUS UPDATE!!!! Tim Gleason hits it over the glass…with his hand! 5-on-3! Devils. DO IT

Patrik Elias across the crease to Zach Parise, and he gets it off Dennis Seidenberg’s skate and it’s in! His 41st of the season.

There we are. Short PP remains, but this has to be a lift for the team. I hope the Devils build on it and get an equalizer before the next intermisson

The refs are calling EVERY LITTLE THING. Even so, that was a cross-check from behind into the boards, just dumb.

Recognize this and STOP DOING STUPID THINGS.

The Devils killed a penalty! Seriously! All 2 minutes of it! Helped by an awful miss, but it’s a kill!

…but that last power play was just bad. The big difference in both teams is in how well they have been at possessing the puck. Carolina’s hustling and making smarter passes. The Devils are doing as they go along, the passing has been questionable, and not in constant motion – a big target for the tight-checking Carolina defense.

That all said, David Clarkson is doing the best he can – and he just got robbed by Ward.

And Doc uses the word artistic for someone not named Ward tonight. Sergei Samsonov picks it from Paul Martin, gets a feed immediately from Jokinen, and Samsonov was electric to cap an impressive move.

Letdown? Yes. Letdown. Namely, the PK units.

Oh wait, nevermind. It’s Jussi you’re talkin’ about. I thought he was on the Lightning.

Wow, that is a letdown. Thankfully, they got tomorrow to shake themselves out of the hangover from last night.

Carolina played very well, the Devils really didn’t. Special teams killed New Jersey here. The poor start was definitely a “hangover” from last night, and the Devils just couldn’t solve Carolina’s defense (or Ward) to really respond to their efforts.

The Devils were tired tonight 3 games in the last 4 days showed its effect. They seemed to be just a step slower than Carolina and they did not have their usual surge in the 3rd period. The calls were not going their most of the game. The game meant more to Carolina and Ward played great. The Devils still managed over 40 shots for the game though. CAN’T win them all guys.