The Boston Bruins only needed about eight minutes to establish their presence at the Prudential Center as they were able to score three unanswered goals in the first period and go on to defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-4.
The Devils loss drops the club to a miserable (15-15-10, 40pts) and are now 4 points back of both New York teams for the final spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Boston Bruins move to (26-9-4, 56pts) first place in the Northeast Division as they are now a point ahead of the Montreal Canadiens.
The loss also continues the Devils losing streak, which now sits at a franchise record of eight games.
Throughout the first period the Devils generated no offense in Boston's zone and were unable to score a goal in the first period.
Boston however was able to generate pressure and put up a three spot as Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell (2) would provide the goals for Boston.
The Devils were given four powerplay chances, one which was a 1:27 5-on-3, and failed to score on any of their opportunities.
"You know the spot you are in," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "You have two choices. You roll over and die or you get up tomorrow and find a way to turn one win into six or seven or whatever it is going to take."
However, New Jersey would show some fight in them.
With Boston holding a commanding 4-0 lead over New Jersey, the Devils would finally get one board! Patrick Elias was able to get a deflection passed Anton Khudobin to reduce New Jersey's deficit to three goals (11th of the season).
Nearing the end of the second, Travis Zajac was able to get alone on a breakaway and net a shorthanded goal (6th of the season) cutting the deficit in half.
The Devils defender Bryce Salvador was the victim of a Zdeno Chara slapshot and immediately felt the effects of it. After the play, he left the ice and got medical attention to what appeared to be a very significant injury to his hand. He did not return.
Also, the Devils Anton Volchenkov delivered a cheap elbow which connected to the back of the helmet of Brad Marchand causing Marchand to drop to the ice. Volchenkov was assest a 5 minute elbow and a 10 minute game misconduct.
Marchand however, was helped off by teammates and trainers to the lockeroom and did not return.
Greene scored on a slap shot 5:58 into the third period to cut the lead to a goal. But Seguin scored in close off a nice pass by Paille less than two minutes later to give Boston breathing room.
D'Agostini would add a goal for New Jersey cutting the lead back to one goal with 37 seconds to go, but Boston would not allow another shot.
The Devils battled back hard but it was too little too late.
"We battled back," Brodeur said. "… but nobody is happy about what happened today."
The Devils had a total of eight powerplay opportunities in tonights game and came away no goals.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Reaction: This game basically summed up the New Jersey Devils season in a nutshell. The Devils are as inconsistent as they come. One second they look the Eastern Conference champions that we all know from last year and the next they are looking like the 2010-11 team. This team has the ability and the potential to compete with any team in the Eastern Conference. The problem is that with all the injuries and the constant influx of players starting and inconsistent lineups, it makes it impossible to compete. Granted people aren't going to give you any excuses and the Devils certainly don't deserve excuses by there recent play but some things got to give. The Devils can't lose 17 in a row, or at least I hope they can't. The remaining schedule isn't going to be easy as 8 of 9 games are against potential playoff opponents. If the Devils are going to make one final push for the playoffs it needs to happen NOW ! Games that the Devils need to win are both Rangers games, the Flyers game, and the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Devils will be back in action Friday night against the Ottawa Senators @ 7:00pm.
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