Overwhelmed by Crosby

It started with Sidney Crosby's goal only 1:21 into the game and continued for much of the first two periods. By the time the Devils started playing better in the third period, they were down by three goals and that was too big a deficit to overcome.

The 4-1 loss exposed some of the deficiences that have been created by the host of injuries the Devils had been trying to fight through - and were covered up during their five-game winning streak. 

This was a night when the Devils really could have used John Madden to play head to head against Crosby, but Madden missed his fourth game in a row with a bruised left ankle. Bobby Holik, who has been out since Oct. 18 with a broken right pinky, but has been skating for the last week, would have helped too.

"Definitely they've got to a great team over there," left wing Jay Pandolfo said. "When we started playing our game in the third, we played them well, but it was a little too late,"

Crosby's goal set the tone for the night. He split between Devils defensemen Bryce Salvador and Paul Martin on the right side before cutting to the net. Goaltender Scott Clemmensen intiially appeared to break up the play with a pokecheck, but Crosby regained the puck to Clemmensen's right and, with his back to the net, threw a backhand toward the net -- along the ice -- that Clemmensen said went in cleanly between his left hand and his body. 

"Crosby got around our last (defensemen) there (Martin) and was coming into the net on his backhand, so I went to pokecheck," Clemmensen said. "I didn't get the puck really, but I disprupted the play a little bit and ended up throwing my right leg out towards the right side of the net, figuring he might get a shot off, but I lost the puck for a second. When I found it, it was kind of on its way back to me and caught me in a very weird position and it just slipped between my arm and my body. I was kind of in a tripod position up on my elbow and it went between my elbow and my body."

Devils coach Brent Sutter said of Clemmensen, "I think he'd like to have that first one back."

But he also credited Crosby with a great play to take advantage of the mistakes by the Devils.

"It wasn't good decision making by the two defensemen when they're coming through the neutral zone," Sutter said. "It was bad positioning by both of them and Crosby makes a play there and Clemmer makes the play and the puck goes to his right. Crosby gets it and throws back on the net and I don't think Clemmer expected that.

"That's the difference between great players and guys that aren't great, as far as Crosby is concerned. They don't quit on something like that. He turned and threw it right back on the net. Some guys would take the puck and make a turn and look for a trailer or something. He just makes a great play and Clemmer wasn't ready for it."

Because some of us debated it earlier, I asked Clemmensen how many guys in this league would make that play.

"Not many," he said. "That guy never gives up on a play. Back to the net, you have to get yourself in a good position -- you're off balance - to even get half of a shot on net. Even then, it wasn't even a hard shot on net. It was just throw it back toward the net and see what happens."

That was the first of Crosby's three goals on the night. He also had an assist on the Penguins' other goal with an elevated pass to Petr Sykora for a power-play tally.

Crosby's second goal came after a terrible turnover by Barry Tallackson to Evgeni Malkin in the Devils' end. With the teams skating 4-on-4, Tallackson mostly fanned on his attempted pass and threw the puck into the slot. Clemmensen said he came out to try to beat Malkin to it. He was beaten by a better play.

"As soon as the puck started drifting toward the slot, I didn't even think twice," Clemmensen said. "I just went for it and I thought was going to pokecheck it away from him. He actually dove for it as well, which I hadn't planned on. I kind of threw my leg out to make a save, but Crosby was there."

Crosby was behind Clemmensen and had an easy shot into the vacant net.

Crosby completed his second career hat trick -- first at home -- with an empty-net goal with 2:01 remaining.

***

Zubrus said he was "just too weak" to play because of his stomach flu and that was wide Sutter sat him for most of the third period.

***

Sutter said he did not hesitate to put Tallackson back out on the ice after his bad turnover.

"That happens," Sutter said. "Everyone makes mistakes at some point in time in games and through their careers and it was a young kid's mistake."

Comments

[Sohl]

Weekes is definately getting the start in philly after that performance

[TG]

I think Sutter will probably go back to Weekes too, but I don't think Clemmensen was completely terrible tonight. The first goal was bad. On the third goal, he was in a tough spot because of Tallackson's turnover. He took a risk and tried to beat Malkin to the puck and lost. If he stayed back, it's probably a 2-on-0 against Crosby and Malkin. Not sure what chance he would have had in that situation. Maybe trying to get to the puck first was the smarter play for him and he still gave up a goal.

[RG9]

upsetting game but it was kind of obvious before how it was going to turnout. hopefully these four days give them the chance to regroup and just practice the pp and everything else.

[DiscordantLight]

I was at the game tonight, and I know I'm gonna sound really negative here, and I swear I always try to look on the bright side of things, but wow the Devils we're pretty bad tonight. Here we're my observations on the Devils tonight.

Gonna start with the only bright spot.

Mike Rupp. Yes, I said Mike Rupp. He played his best game of the season tonight. He scored a nice goal, threw some good hits, and even made some really nice moves with the puck. I was glad to see him play well.

Now onto the bad....

Patrik Elias....Has gotta finish, he missed an empty net in the first period, hits the post, HAS TO FINSH. However, he also set up some GREAT chances for others in the 3rd.

Sheldon Brookbank, this guy...must...go...now..Seriously, he could've scored twice, Elias fed em once, possibly twice, and he just taps the puck like 2 ft in front of em. Simply Horrible. The guy has to do.

Jamie Langenbrunner, Now I've been a fan of Jamie for a long time, and Im not saying give the C back to Elias, but this guy doesnt have what it takes. Never once when things we're down did I see him do a thing on the bench other than get out of the way for Parise to get to the bench.

He doesnt play with an edge anymore, I remember back in 2003, Langs had a fire, and an edge. It's seemingly gone, he gives up on plays, he whacks his stick at a player's midsection n skates off. He just doesnt seem to play with an edge.

Scott Stevens played pissed off, and everyone knew it. We need a captain who plays the game pissed off, I personally think that guy is John Madden right now, but that's just me.

Sidney Crosby you can tell wants to win every game, everyone can say what they want about him, but living here in Pittsburgh and going to alot of pens games, I can say, Crosby plays to win, and he makes all of his teammates play with that same passion.

I think Langs can turn it around, he used to play with that same edge, he just needs to find it.

I don't think our team is broken, and hey...maybe it was just a bad game, every team will have one from time to time, I know we still have some key players out, I strongly believe we'll make the playoffs, Those are just the things that I noticed wrong tonight.

Every Devils was just reactin to the pens movements, n sometimes...just literally standing there observing malkin n crosby just dancing around them.

I'm sure Brent will chew them out over the next few days over this game.

[RG9]

Clemmensen was good this week but i feel like even if weeksie wouldnt have done much better at least he has more experience he should have played this game.

[Vishal]

TG why does Tallackson get a pass on that play when Vrana and Bergfors buts would be glued to the bench at that point?

[JerseyLove]

Tallackson has been given too many chances. Ughh.

I've been disappointed with Parise. He seems to have lost his spark.

[Jim B]

If the devils didn't have the kind of injuries that they have they wouldve had a legit chance at winning this game but when you look at the guys that are out of the lineup you can see that this team just isn't strong enough or talented enough to win these kinds of games.

[Tapiolevo08]

TG,

Any ETA on the wounded? Rolston, Holik, Greene, Madden?

[Mark]

Agreed... Tallackson was given a chance and hasn't impressed. Time to send him down and give someone else a shot.

[Tapiolevo08]

Bergfors had 2 goals for Lowell tonight. They have won 5 in a row. Rookie Russian winger Vasyunov has 6 goals in 12 games.

[BH]

Parise lost his spark? Is no one off limits on this board? geesh. He played with a lot of fire tonight, just cause he didn't score does not mean he played bad.

[Robbie]

Time to get Havlat

[DiscordantLight]

I thought Parise played well, and had alot of spark, he created some great chances tonight.

[aarrgghhhh]

Can someone ask Brent what mistake Vrana made in his 37 seconds before garbage time? I mean, if Brent had to get Tallackson back out there because kids make mistakes, I wonder what Vrana did. Must have been pretty bad. Maybe what he meant to say was *North American* kids make mistakes. Europeans are just sloppy.

I really don't understand why the kid is here, if they think he'll clear waivers, get him out of here. This is a total waste. At least Bergfors got out of this pointlessness and is now helping Lowell win every night.

[njdevsfn95]

Worst part about this game was Crosby getting the NBA-star treatment from the refs for his WWE take-down of Rupp in the 3rd.

This is the only time in my life I've made the comparison of NHL refs to NBA refs, who are notorious for treating the stars differently than every other player.

How they don't call a hold/interference on Crosby is ridiculous. Then they add insult to injury and give Rupp 2 minutes for standing up for himself.

If that isn't preferential treatment from the refs to "the NHL poster boy" I'm not sure what is.

[Robbie]

I love how Matt Cooke only got a roughing penalty with Lags but didn't get called for checking Parise when he was half way in the bench?

[AreJay]

We're not going to know how good or bad this team really is until January, when at least all of the skaters should be back barring anymore injuries.

Which will probably happen, because this season has been a disaster in that respect.

[RestlessKnight]

We're short talent due to injury and Sutter needs to be experimenting with Sheldon? What is he going to give you that Clarkson can't? Add that to Barry, which Lou must have forced into the lineup and now our injuries are appear glaring. Get them out of the lineup and put in one of our potential threat of scoring prospects. Chico, I don't want to see Brookbanks first goal. . . please.

On the brighter side, look for footage of Tedenby. He is electrifying. Not sure how he'd ranked behind Bergfors among our prospects.

[Sohl]

True clemmer didnt play terrible, but he didnt seem to have the same spark he's had in the past games he's started.

And there's nothing promissing about Vrana at all. When Sutter does give him a chance he messes it up, or just stands still and doesnt do anything. I can think of one good play he's made since he was called up.

And TG, dont we still have rights to Fedorov? Or did lou buy out his contract? Because he wants to play in the NHL and only the NHL, not AHL or anything, with all these injuries he could get his chance. Better than Vrana.

[Brodeur30]

Seriously, does Sutter watch the fvckin game? Barry Tallackson is NOT an NHLer. I could've told you that years ago. Despite his size, he's softttt, slow and has hands of stone. He brings zero to the lineup. He was the direct result of Crosby's second goal tonight. Just another name in the long line of U of M golden gophers busts. There are plenty of them and I'll throw out names if you want...

People can say all they want about Crosby's first goal, but his weak backhand on the ice was going wide and Clemmenson was the reason it ended up in the back of the net. Bottom line. Watch the replay. Clemmenson was OK tonight. You really can't blame him on two of the goals. On the second goal Oduya just laid down on the ice on the crosby-sykora 2 on 1 vs him and prayed for the puck to hit him. Stupid. You're taught from the day you start playing hockey to take the guy without the puck on the 2 on 1 and let the goalie take the shooter. This isn't hard people. Couple that with Barry tallhackson's whiff from the defensive zone and you have another two goals that could've been prevented.

Lastly, Brookbank is garbage. He's a hack. He's a medicore skater and his shot is laughable. Was hilarious how all the great scoring chances in the third ended up on his stick. He whiffed on two and missed the net on a few more. He doesn't even belong in Lowell/ Hilarious how the Devils don't want to send him down because of the chance he may be claimed by someone else. LMFAO. Get that garbage hack out of the lineup..

[Brodeur30]

btw...

Bergfors had 2 goals and an assist tonight in Lowell. He's now over halfway to last season's total (27pts in 66 games) this season (14pts in 10 games). It's obvious the guy's got skill and I think he needs the rest of this year in the AHL before he's a full-time NHLer. When he inevitably comes back he needs to get some minutes. Not 7 minutes a night. That's not how you develop players (not to mention have them playing with Rupp/brookbank etc). I think he can be an impact player next year after one more season in Lowell while logging a ton of minutes. Along with Bergfors... Vasyunov, Eckford, Corrente and Tedenby (assuming he comes overseas) will al be fighting for roster spots next year...

Can't wait until this team is healthy again. I can't take anymore of watching Brookbank and Tallackson...

[aarrgghhhh]

Sohl: if you could grade Vrana on performances where he gets 3 or 4 shifts.
Big if. Okay, let's say you could. Why is he here then? The Devils were waiting for a team that played last night, they should have fresher legs, but by having a 4th line Sutter basically refuses to use, it just evens up to the playing field.

Put him through waivers. Trust me, they've depressed his value enough no one will pick him up. Let him get minutes down in the A, like Bergfors is, and make that team better, they have a chance to be competitive for the playoffs this year and it would be good for everyone there to get that experience.

I'm sure Vrana's bank account doesn't mind being in Jersey, but from a hockey perspective, it's a total waste. Send him down and bring back Pelley, who at least Sutter will give some shifts, and Vrana for Pelley is a more than fair trade for Lowell. This will end up working itself out because they have 2 games before the 10th and by then, Bobby and Madden will probably be ready, and then Rolston afterwards... but why continue this charade? There is no point in having a player that is going to skate 37 seconds in the meaningful portion fo the game... I think Patty or Parise could have picked up that slack, hell Jay Leach could have hung out on the bench and taken a couple of defensive shifts if that was what they were going to do.

[aarrgghhhh]

and they also need to start carrying healthy scratches, it's pretty insane that they had 18 skaters on the roster today, and that's it. There's no cap reason for it, Brodeur puts them well under the cap.

more reason to have Pelley here instead of there.

[Ryan]

mattao was a disgrace and we need back madden, rolston and holik