In case you forgot, there was a hockey game at the Prudential Center today. Amid the chaos in the news, the injured and laboring New Jersey Devils hosted the Anaheim Ducks in a Saturday afternoon matinée.
The Devils received even more tough news on Saturday that key defenseman, Simon Nemec, wouldn’t be available, and it’s not a short-term issue.
It’s just another brutal blow to an already injury-laden team.
The Ducks, however, came into Newark healthy, with youthful legs on their side. Yet, the Devils defied the odds due to some unlikely heros.
Let’s dive into the Devils’ 4-1 win over the Ducks.
First Period
Missing a significant portion of their roster to injury and off-ice related reasons, the Devils showed some early jam to open the first period.
They controlled much of the play in the Ducks’ end of the ice and forced Lukas Dostal to make a handful of saves to keep the game scoreless.
However, a turnover in the offensive zone after Cody Glass dropped a pass to Connor Brown wound up on the stick of Leo Carlsson. The young Anaheim center found a streaking Troy Terry in the neutral zone, and sprung him for a breakaway to give Ducks the first lead, 1-0.
The Devils did respond, however, when Juho Lammikko gained the Ducks zone with the puck on his stick, and fed Stefan Noesen for a tap-in goal to tie the game at one.
Lammikko’s primary assist is his first point with the Devils, and first NHL point in 1,356 days.
Second Period
The Devils continued to spread the jam in the second period, grinding away in the Ducks’ zone and applying pressure offensively.
Paul Cotter gave the Devils their first lead of the game when he scored his third goal in as many games, depositing a loose puck that gave New Jersey the 2-1 advantage.
The Devils then wound up with a two-man advantage after Ryan Strome hooked Luke Glendening and Alex Killorn held Luke Hughes. However, the Ducks were able to keep the Devils off the scoresheet, and even strength resumed.
New Jersey later took a too many men on the ice penalty, served by Paul Cotter. The Ducks certainly created their chance to score. Yet, Allen’s strong play in goal staved off the Ducks’ attack, including a split pad save which negated an almost sure goal.
When even strength resumed, the Devils extended their lead when Ondrej Palat fed Glass in the Ducks slot, and he rifled a shot past Dostal to widen the lead to 3-1.
Third Period
The Ducks had the Devils on their heels a bit in the third.
Anaheim controlled the majority of puck possession, and pressured Allen in the Devils’ end of the ice through the first 15 minutes.
However, Allen stood strong, and the Ducks were forced to pull Dostal.
The Devils escaped the third period desperation, however, and Connor Brown scored on the empty net to give the Devils a 4-1 lead, and victory.
Allen captured his ninth win of the season, making 30 saves on 31 shots, making 2.02 saves above expected.
