More important to me than the World Series, the Devils won at home last night. Who am I kidding, even if they lost it would still be more important to me than what happened in that other sport. The Devils improve their home record to 2-4-0 by knocking off the Capitals 3-2 but honestly, I thought the effort was kind of flat.
The first period got off to an extrememly slow start and the Caps outshot NJ 11-6 and took a 1-o lead off of Tyler Sloan’s goal. The way the Devils played in the first reminded me of how the Devils played in the first period the last time these two team met. Just like the first meeting, Brian Rolston would knock a puck in the net that brought NJ back into the game, except that in the first game it cut the deficit in half where as this one tied the game and this goal was nothing but pure luck and I really can’t give any credit to Rolston for the goal except that he was the last Devil to touch it. In the second, the Devils outshot the Caps 11-6 and got a goal so now through 2 periods, both teams weren’t thrilling me, shots were even at 17 and the score was tied at 1. I figured this game was just going to find its way to a shootout like the first meeting did. In steps Niklas Bergfors.
I’m not sure what was said in the locker room after the second period, maybe talk about only wanting to play 60 minutes and nothing more because the Devils came out in the 3rd and dominated the beginning part of the period. The Capitals committed 4 minor penalties in the 3rd and the Devils capitalized on 2 of those chances. Parise was in great position on a nice old style PP rush up the ice and found Bergfors for the go ahead goal, his first PP goal. The Caps found themselves in the box again and it was Bergfors (after lengthy reviews by the scoring judge) who was credited with the redirection past the Caps goalie.
The Devils seem to slack off a little which let Washington get back to within 1 of the Devils but eventually they shut the door, took the 2 points and called it a night.
I was certainly impressed with Bergfors tonight and I am glad he’s making the best of his oppurtunity with the Devils. He did look a little lost in the very beginning of the season but call that inexperience because now, he is playing like he belongs. Marty has looked better and better each game but that won’t stop me from wishing to see Denis a little more this season.
Devils get ready to host the Islanders, who have been on a streak to the Rock on Friday night. This will be the first look at John Tavares in the regular season. Rumor is Elias might be back. Rob Niedermayer left the game in the 3rd period last night with an Upper Body Injury” and we hope its nothing serious but will await more information today.
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