Leafs-Devils extras

October 30, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

After catching the highlights, I figured I’d toss in some bonus coverage of what was a wild and wacky game won by the Maple Leafs via Niklas Hagman’s interesting backhand shootout goal giving Martin Brodeur a snow shower which the affable Devil franchise netminder at least managed a chuckle at despite the outcome.

Vesa Toskala forced Jamie Langenbrunner’s try just wide ensuring Toronto’s 6-5 shootout road triumph in Newark last night which pushed the Devils (5-2-2) winless streak to three (0-1-2). He finished with 26 saves including six big ones coming in overtime when New Jersey had a chance to win it on the power play following 18 year-old rookie defenseman Luke Schenn’s minor for playing with a broken stick.

Toskala’s two best saves in OT were on the Devil captain who tallied a shorthanded goal earlier in the contest. The former Shark netminder made two groovy glove saves preventing Langenbrunner from rescuing his teammates who were outshot 48-25 in regulation before getting all six in the extra five minutes.

As Hasan noted regarding the shootout, Patrik Elias and Tomas Kaberle traded goals forcing it to extras where Hagman took a different tact coming in fast before stopping and going to the backhand for the clincher.

The former Star wing admitted afterwards that the snow shower was never his intent:

“I decided I was going to try something else and I felt pretty confident with it. I didn’t want to put snow in his face. That’s why I felt a little bad. I didn’t want to celebrate too much. I didn’t want to be cocky.”

Considering that his team entered more rested with the Leafs playing a night before falling at home to the Lightning 3-2, New Jersey coach Brent Sutter was understandably upset with the Devs’ effort.

“We were very fortunate to get a point,” the second year coach noted.

“Two of the last three games, we haven’t been very good. A lot of our players have to play a lot better. It was like our first game of the season and we hadn’t had training camp. We weren’t sharp at all.“

Who could blame him? The Leafs are basically a younger team who should be hard pressed to make the playoffs. Certainly, under Ron Wilson’s guidance they’ll work harder and won’t mail it in. Despite being outscored 33-26 thus far, the pesky Leafs are 4-3-3 with 11 points.

Not bad early returns considering there’s no Mats Sundin and no more Darcy Tucker or Bryan McCabe. Though I’m beginning to think Toronto got the better of that one with Florida getting a younger Mike Van Ryn, who’s played well logging lots of minutes while McCabe has been sidelined with a lower back strain since registering an assist in the Panthers’ first game.

Game Notes:

-The Devs’ first goal was changed from Petr Vrana to David Clarkson, who also was in the vicinity and apparently got his stick on Andy Greene’s shot.

-If Colin White’s goal was a rarity, then there was maybe something even rarer with every Maple Leaf outside Toskala registering a shot including Jamal Mayers scoring one and Ryan Hollweg netting an assist and two shots. You’re not going to win many nights when that happens.

-Due to all the scoring in both ends, no surprise that there was little in the way of hitting with the teams combining for just 22 total (Tor-12, NJ-10) with Jeff Finger laying the best one- a cruncher of Dainius Zubrus putting him into Hollweg’s lap on the Leaf bench. He shared the hitting lead with White as each had three.

-Each team blocked 14 shots with Greene and John Madden leading the way with three apiece while three Leafs had two.

-Toronto got the better of the Devils in the faceoff circle going 42-for-76 paced by former Ranger Dominic Moore’s 7-3 output. Madden was New Jersey’s best going 14-13 on draws.

-In the NJ rookie file, Vrana played 6:19 losing two of three draws while finishing plus-one. Meanwhile, the new kid on the block Matt Halischuk tallied his first career point, notching a secondary helper in 13 shifts (9:47) but finished minus-one as Hasan pointed out due to being on for three goals against.

-With a primary assist on Matt Stajan’s first, Schenn tallied his first career NHL point in his 10th game. Toronto had already said they’re retaining the former 2008 fifth overall pick who looks to be a solid skating steady D. He played 21:51 netting the assist with two shots and the minor in OT. Looks like he could stick for a while there. Something which the Original Six club has badly needed.

-If there’s a plus out of this one, Greene’s sudden emergence on the NJ blueline has to be a pleasant surprise. He looked like the odd man out early but has gotten back in and is starting to produce registering three assists with a plus-three rating in 19:36. Not bad production.

-With Elias playing just 11:39 due to a cut suffered early, the Devs’ top forward Zach Parise took 26 shifts getting as much ice-time (24:24) as defenders while scoring the big tying rebound tally at 11:17 to earn his club a point.

-Regarding the Hollweg hit on Parise, it looked like he led with his shoulder catching the Dev superstar clean. I’ve seen hits like that before where the shoulder and elbow almost come together. It looked alright. I don’t got any issue with the Devs sticking up for their best offensive performer. They should and Hollweg’s reputation isn’t too good.

However, sending the much bigger Mike Rupp out the way they did might not sit well with their opponent and probably warranted an instigator. The only reason he didn’t get an extra was because of who he bloodied. Such a move might be duly noted by the Maple Leafs the next time they see the Devils say in Toronto. Let’s keep that in mind. The rematch won’t be until the third week of December on 12/16 at the ACC. Circle it on your calendars.

-He did give up one weak goal but Brodeur was pretty strong. Otherwise, the Leafs get eight or nine.

-That was the Devils final game of the month. They finished October 5-2-2 with 12 points. They’ll host the Thrashers this Saturday 11/1 on Turn Back The Clock Night. Atlanta will visit the Garden later tonight to battle the Rangers.

-The Islanders will visit the Flyers as well tonight looking to end a four-game skid. They enter as the league’s worst team with a 2-6-0 record for four points. We’ll see what they can muster against a resurgent Philly team that’s taken three straight and should be flying high off the Phillies’ World Series win.