Devils continue to lack intelligence, lose fourth straight

March 28, 2009   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

In the pregame before tonight’s game with the Hurricanes, when asked what needed to change from the prior three games (all losses), coach Brent Sutter had a blunt assessment saying simply, ‘We need to be more intelligent’.  Then David Clarkson‘s crucial third-period turnover, a questionable late penalty call on Paul Martin and more bad penalty killing when it mattered most doomed the Devils to a 2-1 defeat they earned by sitting back in the third period when they should have continued to attack the way they had for most of the season.

So mission not accomplished coach, maybe it’s time to break out the bike rides now? 

Truly regrettable is that the third period spoiled what was a classic goaltending duel between Martin Brodeur and resurgent Cam Ward, who under new coach Paul Maurice  is finally living up to the promise he showed in the ’06 Stanley Cup run.  Both goalies made a combined 55 saves in the first two periods, many of the highest quality – particularly in the second period.  Ward robbed Zach Parise of goal #43 when the Devils’ winger found himself wide open with a rebound of a Jamie Langenbrunner shot, but Ward’s diving play kept the puck out of the net.  Brodeur made a spectacular save of his own on Tim Convoy, after which a scrum ensued as the Devils at least managed to protect Brodeur – for once, with Colin White and Convoy getting matching minors.

While Brodeur stopped all 30 Hurricane shots in the first two periods, Ward only allowed a Patrik Elias goal at 18:09 of the 1st, which was a great offensive play by all three fowards on a 3-on-2.  Brian Gionta streaked into the zone and laid a drop pass off to Elias, and with John Madden driving to the net and providing a screen, all Elias had to do was slap the puck in for his 32nd goal of the year, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead that somehow stood through two periods despite barrages by both teams.

Then came the third period.  Any Devil fan can blame the travel all they want, there’s absolutely no excuse to be outshot 18-6 in the third period when you’re trying to protect a one-goal lead.  Since the adrenaline rush of 552, this team’s fallen back into the habit of leaning on Marty as a crutch.  At 13:05, the inevitable happened - the aformentioned Clarkson turnover leading to a Sergei Samsonov rebound goal, tying the game at one.  I figured this game was destined for a shootout, but the refs decided to help us self-destruct with a call on Martin that the MSG announcers were very critical of.  Admittedly I didn’t see it and don’t really care whether it was legit or not, the PK defending on that last series and overall effort in the third period was a joke leading to another rebound goal by Tuomo Ruutu at 16:26, which despite the Devils’ inevitable ‘Oops, we’ve got to get going now’ chances late in the game proved to be game set and match.

What truly sucked about tonight was it looked as if the Devils’ magic number for clinching the division could be reduced significantly during the second intermission with the Flyers surprisingly trailing the Islanders 2-0 after two and us leading.  Instead, we crapped out and the Flyers came back to win a shootout, reducing our once huge division lead to just six points, also blowing one of the games in hand with the Capitals although with the way this team is playing now it doesn’t really matter what seed they’ll be.  This team has to get back to playing the way they did for most of 2009 first and foremost, stop relying on Marty and being one of the dumbest teams in hockey.

All of a sudden Monday’s showdown at MSG is for more than just the Metro Cup.  It’s become a referendum for both teams, as the Rangers struggle to lock up a playoff berth and the Devils continue their second straight late-season flop down the stretch.  Not to mention with the return of Brodeur and Sean Avery, the game will also be a referendum on that.  Forget that silly 5-0 win against Dallas earlier this year, this is the real chance to finally extract some meaningful revenge on Avery, Henrik Lundqvist and the rest of the Rangers.  So one team will win the Metro Cup and at least take a step toward getting back on track less than two weeks before the playoffs while the other will have serious questions to answer.

Notes: Among other things, tonight’s defeat ended the Devils’ eleven-game home winning streak.  Monday’s game at the Rangers will be a VERSUS telecast.  New Jersey’s next home game is Friday against the Maple Leafs, where they’ll honor Brodeur in a ceremony for win #552 that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will attend, among others.