The Devils had a very strong game against the Flyers, out-chancing them in all three periods.  They more than doubled the Flyers at even strength with 15 chances to their 7 and led them 16 to 10 total.  The Devils were also very successful in not allowing PP chances, in the over 8 minutes on the PK they only allowed one scoring chance. Unfortunately the Devils PP wasn't able to generate chances either. 

The Devils 3rd line was probably the best against the Flyers, each player was atleast a +5 and none of them were on the ice for a chance against.  David Clarkson led the team with a +6 and also had 3 chances on goal. The 1st line also played well.  Zach Parise tied Clarkson with 3 scoring chances and Adam Henrique led the team, along with Sykora, with 3 chance assists. The only forwards to finish negative were Mills and Janssen, each going -1.

On defense, Adam Larsson led the way as he was on the ice for nearly half of the Devils even strength chances.  He finished at +6.  Almost every other defensemen had a decent night as well, everyone except Mark Fayne was on the ice for atleast 5 chances for. Fayne was only on ice for 3 and finished at -1.

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First off I didn't forget about the Stars game.  I still haven't had a chance to watch the game due a lengthy power outage. I am hoping to get that out in the next few days. Until then check out the Dallas side of that game at Defending Big D.  Once I get that game done I will also be putting out an October review, so look for that in the next week or so. 

Before I get to the Leafs game I would like to recommend anyone that is new to scoring chances check out this post first.  

The Maple Leafs had a very successful night in not only creating scoring chances but converting them too. They scored on 5 of their 16 total chances, all of which came at even strength.  The Devils did their best to keep up with them, scoring on 3 of their first 9 chances, but it wasn't enough.  In the end the Devils had a total 14 chances, only converting 1 of 11 at even strength.

The most successful forward for the Devils was probably Petr Sykora. He led the team with 3 chances on net and also finished at +2.  Elias was also another Devils that finished positive at +1. Both forwards were on the ice for 6 chances for, which led the team. Tedenby and Clarkson were worst among the forwards at -4, though Clarkson did have 2 chances on goal.

Bryce Salvador was the only defensemen who didn't finish in the red, going +1 on the night. Henrik Tallinder was on the ice for 10 chances against and finished at an awful -6. 

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The Coyotes were able to get into the scoring area early against the Devils. Getting off 6 scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the game.  It never really got any better for the Devils as they got out-chanced 13-5 through 2 periods.  They were able to stay even in the 3rd matching the Coyotes 4 chances.  In the end Coyotes scored 3 goals off their 17 total chances and the Devils put home 2 of their 9 chances.  

Overall no one really had a good game for the Devils.  The line of Sykora, Elias, and Zubrus did well in preventing chances, only allowing 1 but also were unable to generate a single chance of their own.  Elias did get a chance on goal while short handed though.  Adam Henrique was probably the best forward for the Devils. He finished +1, set up a chance and also had a chance of his own. David Clarkson also had a decent night getting 2 chances on goal.  Zach Parise managed 2 chances as well but ended up -3, which was worse on the team.

On defense the Salvador/Volchenkov pairing got the worst of the Coyotes.  Both were on the ice for 5 chances and both were -3.  Adam Larsson was also on the ice for 5 chances against but only finished at -1.  Andy Greene was the only defensemen to finish positive at +1.

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The Devils started strong against the Kings out chancing them 6-2 in the 1st and didn't let up for the rest of the game.  They out chanced their opponents all three periods and finished the game with a 17-7 advantage in chances.  The Kings even got out chanced on their one PP oppurtunity. The Devils did struggle slightly at getting their chances on goal. They missed 5 of their chances, 2 of those did hit the post though. In total the Devils scored on 3 of their 12 chances on goal.

The newly made 2nd line led among the forwards as they all finished the game at +3.  Elias, Zubrus and Sykora were all on the ice for 3 chances for and none against. Also all 3 of their chances resulted in goals.  Tedenby and Clarkson also ended up +3.  Henrique and Parise tied for the team lead in chances with 4 apiece but they both missed the net twice.  Parise also led the team with 3 chance assists and Kovalchuk led with 3 chances on goal.

Mark Fayne was separated from his usual defensive partner Tallinder but that didn't faze him.  He led the team at +8 and his new partner Andy Greene was +6.  The other new pair didn't have the same success as Larsson finished -2 and Tallinder was even. 

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Even though the Devils lost decisively to the Penguins 4-1 they still managed to out chance the Pens 9-7 at even strength.  The Devils PK was fairly successful, they did give up a goal but only allowed 5 chances in almost 7 minutes. They also had a chance and goal of their own. Overall it was a pretty bland game for the Devils.  They managed to stay fairly even with Pittsburgh but couldn't convert on their chances like their opponents. 

Looking at the numbers Kovalchuk is really the only one that stands out.  He didn't have any scoring chances but set up 3 and finished at +4 at ES. Elias and Zubrus managed two chances a piece. Cam Janssen somehow ended up +2. I'd also like to point out the fact that Jordan Staal was involved in 8 of Pittsburgh's 12 chances. That is pretty impressive.

None of the defensemen really stood out this game. Larsson and Tallinder both managed a chance on goal. Mark Fayne led among the defense at +2.

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The Devils struggled to create scoring chances against the Sharks, only managing 4 total at even strength.  They didn't get their first ES chance until Palmieri put one off the post early in the second period.  The Devils also had trouble preventing scoring chances allowing the Sharks to get 11 at ES and 18 total.

The only bright spot on the Devils was David Clarkson.  He only finished the game at a +1 but he had 4 total chances and put 3 of them on net. Larsson, Greene, and Zubrus also managed to be +1.

Patrik Elias and Zach Parise had another rough night against a team's top line. They each got a -5 at ES. They did do well on special teams though. Elias put home a scoring chance on the the PP and Parise managed to earn a penalty shot while short handed. 

The Volchenkov/Salvador pairing was the main victim of San Jose's wrath. Volchenkov was not only on the ice for 7 ES chances but also 6 of 7 short handed chances.  That means he was on the ice for 13 of the Sharks 18 total chances.  

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Despite trailing most of the game the Devils did a good job of limiting Nashville's scoring chances.  They held them to 4 or less chances each period and less than 3 chances per period as even strength.  The Devils had a total of 17 scoring chances but thanks to Pekka Rinne only managed to score on one.  Nashville had 11 total chances and converted on 2.

Ilya Kovalchuk finished the night +4 at even strength, along with his linemates Josefson and Palmieri.  Kovalchuk had 3 chances on goal as well as 3 chance assists. Parise and Elias also had strong nights, even though they finished -2 and -1 respectively.  Parise led the team with 4 chances on goal and Elias set up 4 scoring chances.  David Clarkson was another forward who stood out.  He had 2 strong chances early in the 2nd and scored on a beautifully set up chance from Tedenby.

Mark Fayne and Henrik Tallinder led among the defensemen.  Not only did they each finish at +6 or higher but they also combined for 3 chances on goal.  I would also like to note the strong play of Nashville's top defensive pair Weber and Suter.  They did a good job of shutting down the Elias line and the Larsson-Greene pairing.

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The Devils had a rough start against the Kings getting out chanced 7-1 in the first 13 minutes of the game.  Martin Broduer saw the first chance go by him but did some fantastic work stopping the others.  When Brodeur left after the first period the Devils where getting out chanced 7-5.  Johan Hedberg came in and didn't see his first chance against until about 7 minutes into the 3rd. Meanwhile the Devils had 9 chances in the last  two period and added 1 more in OT.  

The top line against the Kings was Parise-Elias-Sykora.  Patrik Elias led the team with a +8 while Zach Parise and Petr Sykora each were at +7. The only other positive forward for the Devils was Kovalchuk at +1.  All four of those forwards tied for the team lead with 3 chances each. Elias and Kovalchuk put all 3 of their chances on net; Parise and Sykora got 2 on net.  Zach Parise also led the team with 5 chance assists. 

The dominate defensive pair for the Devils was Greene-Larsson.  Adam Larsson finished the night at +7 while Andy Greene went +6.  Tallinder-Fayne struggled going -2, while the Salvador-Volchenkov pairing was able to finish the night at +1.  

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