Breaking down the winning goal

In a game like the Devils' 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins tonight it was going to take a fortunate bounce for one team to score and that's exactly what happened.

The score was 0-0 until Milan Lucic beat Scott Clemmensen between the legs from the slot 49 seconds into the third period. It was a combination of several minor things, however, that led to Lucic's goal.

**The goal came just nine seconds after a Bruins' power expired and, though Brian Rolston had gotten out of the box following his slashing penalty, the Devils' were never able to get the puck out of their zone.

**As Zdeno Chara was taking his slap shot from the right circle, Travis Zajac reached in with his stick to try to block it.

"It broke my stick," Zajac said. "And it bounced right in front."

**Actually, the puck first hit the skate of defenseman Colin White.

"It hit so lightly," White said. "It broke the stick and I think it slowed it down because I couldn't find it. I saw the stick going and I think it hit my skate and bounced back right out in the slot."

**That's where Lucic was and he tried to shoot the puck quickly, but even that didn't go smoothly.

“As he went to shoot it, I was pushing across from my left to right and I lost my balance a little bit and he fanned on the shot a little bit,” Clemmensen said. “It was kind of an off-speed, awful-looking goal there that just went between my legs. It was a combination of him kind of fanning on the shot and me losing my balance a little bit...I think the puck had spin on it. I think that's why Lucic missed the shot a little bit.”

***

Although the Devils were shut out for the second time this season (they also lost 2-0 to Buffalo on Nov. 3), they were mostly satisfied with the way they played against the top team in the Eastern Conference.

"It was a playoff-type game," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "We had some chances and they just didn't go in the net."

“It could have gone either way tonight," Clemmensen said. "I thought both teams played solid. There were not many breakdowns at all. Not many mistakes were made out there and the score reflected it.”

 

"They got the bounce and we didn't," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We had some opportunities that we didn't capitalize on. It was just one of those games."

 

Tonight's game was the second of four difficult ones for the Devils this week. They beat the Flyers, 3-2, in a shootout on Sunday. They are off for the next two days before hosting Pittsburgh on Friday and then visit the Rangers on Saturday.

 

"This is a big week for us: Philly on Sunday, these guys, Pittsburgh, the Rangers," Langenbrunner said. "Those are all teams that are either ahead of us or (close). So, these are four opportunities to see where we're at."

 

***

Devils left wing Patrik Elias saw his 10-game point streak come to an end. Boston's Phill Kessel had an 18-game point streak snapped.

***

The NHL shuts down on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and teams are not permitted to practice. The Devils won't be back on the ice until Friday's morning skate.

Comments

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

i agree that we just did not get any bounces tonight. It happens i think the team looked great, and i was SHOCKED at how big the crowd was tonight! i enjoyed the game, but i disagree with the playoff comparison, it did not have the fire of a playoff game. But all it would have taken was one bounce in the right direction for us and we would have had a tie and maybe a win. These things happen but what can yo do?

[Spleens]

All it would have taken was Wheeler's stick to not have taken most of Elias' shot on that two on one and it would have been a totally different game. Kept up pretty well with the best team in the Conference I think. Good game all around.

[Guy]

I do not complain at all how the Devs played. The only thing they could maybe have done better was play less cat-and-mouse with the Bruins. I almost saw the Devils start to set the tone in the 2nd with Rupp's 2 great hits, and the golden chance robbed by Thomas. But this is more a nitpick than complaining. Great game by both teams

[jules]

Agree. It's unfortunate, but at least the guys don't sound too down and know that they can hang with the top of the east. That "layered defense" isn't too bad either.

[Brodeur30]

Abortion. That sums up the game. The Bruins got garbage bounces and, along with a few missed calls from the refs, the W. This team deserves better for that effort and the great cycling and chances they created in the offensive zone. It's a shame that Thomas flops around like a fish out of water and finds a way to make some saves.

One of the worst officiated games I've seen all season and I very rarely speak about the calls.

[josh]

new NHL same don koharski lol. suspect officiating aside, I thought the Devils played well tonight they held thebest of the east to really only that one chance from the slow the rest of their chances were mostly from the outside. they VERY realistically could'e had 3 goals in that game (the elias larceny *sp* the post by Rolston and the post by White).

From my point of view they really need to make the madden line our "4th line" and the Holik one our "3rd line" as far as the ice time goes or atleast make the icetime even between the two because the Holik line greats GREAT chances in every game and Holik being on the ice just makes me sit up every time (hey some people like slick superstars, I like old time agitaters that have physical skills. different strokes people!).

[josh]

when I said slow I ment slot in the post above

[modnarm]

BOUNCE NOTHIN. all our chances were dirty chances. rebounds and weird scrums in front of the net. Yes those work sometimes.. but there were not many set ups! no drop back and 1 timers! no cross ice passes! nothing that would get Thomas out of position so we could pocket a goal. Either Boston played incredible D that took up all the ice, or this team doesn't know how to set up some1 for a goal.. or legit scoring chance.

If they set up some plays they wouldn't have to rely on freaking bounces!

[JJ]

@modnarm - Dirty goals are the way you score against a top defensive team like the B's. They are the real deal. They were always in position, they were on the puck in the one on one battles, sticks in all the lanes, they supported each other, they played that game the way it's supposed to be played (as did we). There were no passing lanes for "setups, one timers and cross ice passes", that's why you saw none of that kinda thing because they just weren't giving it to us. You cannot force fancy play when the other team is playing the way they did last night. That said we controlled the puck for most of the night and had some opportunities while shooting on the rush and driving for rebounds, but the puck just didn't bounce our way. It was a well played game all around and Jamie's quote was dead on.

[Dave]

Not much chance of cross-ice passing and shots from the point, when 5 guys are taking away all the lanes.

[DevsfaninPGH]

Well said, JJ.

TG, I hope you have a good Christmas and enjoy the two days off with family (or whoever you choose to spend your free time with). I've snuck a peek at the schedule for the next month and you may not see them for a while.

[Pat]

The team played really well and you saw the B's go into a major defensive shell after the goal. The Devils took it to them for most of the game. The only thing I would have liked to see differently is fewer drop and behind the back no look passes and more driving the net hard looking for hooking/obstruction penalties.

[MoonDragn]

@modnarm, We did do some of that. Remember Rolston's shot that rang off the pipe, and White's shot that rang off the pipe also? Those were one-timers. There were a few deflected shots also. Remember Elias's almost goal that got fouled up by Wheeler? That should have been a Penalty shot.

[Prokat]

@brodeur30
I second the motion on the referees not only in this game but ALL the games.
BUT
The Devils did a good job despite the striped imbeciles.
Did anyone expect the Devils to be ranked by SI.com # 5 in the NHL right now with Marty being out until March?
I'll take it as a worldly X-Mas present.
Merry Christmas to all!

[BF]

TG,

enjoy the holidays and your seldom days off

[Pearl Jammed]

TG,

Merry Christmas, i hope the holidays are good for you and your family. Enjoy the next two days!

[Maxwell]

At least the Rags were up 4-0 to the caps and lost in OT. They still got a point but nylander's rush and a fortunate bounce kept them from 2. Tough loss, but still good to see the devils playing with purpose.

Clemmer has done well, but I think we win that game with marty in net. The style of play is spooooo much different - we're just waiting for a mistake and hoping to convert on an odd-man rush. With marty we can afford to be more aggressive. Hopefully he comes back 100%.

TG - great job as always. Happy holidays all.

[Warren]

Say all you want. Complain wherever you feel the need. Here's what we learned: (1) The Bruins are a heckuva good team (and they're missing guys) (2) The Devils are close...but not close enough (3) Tim Thomas made the save of the year thus far and is playing insane. (4) Julien has done the job he COULD have been doing here if we didn't have that insane GM!!!

[Kristen]

TG - Happy Holidays. Thanks for all the great reporting!

[JJ]

Julien's firing was definitely a strange deal but if you lose a clubhouse you have to go. For whatever reason the guys didn't warm up to him. As far as Boston goes, they are the real deal but can Thomas keep this pace up? I'm not so sure. There have been MANY teams that start fast out of the gate only to either fall apart in the 2nd half or get bounced early in the playoffs by 7-8 seeds who are playing for their lives down the stretch and are more prepared for the playoffs. Boston's got a nice mix of younger and older players, it'll be interesting to see what happens. Regardless, the Devils proved last night that they can play with them and in the playoffs anything can happen.

[embo slice]

I am sick of Langenbrunner talking about the bounces not going their way.....did the bounce go their way, Jaime, when you were fed for a breakaway with no one within 15 feet of you, you were right at the blue line, and all you manage to do is take a slap shot from a bad angle just inside the blue line.....you gotta be kidding me with that bs....enough of the bounce talk

[jules]

@JJ: Agree. Hanging with the best team in the east is nothing to sneeze at, and if they can keep it up, they'll be dangerous when Marty comes back. As for whether Julien could do here what he's doing in Boston, I'm not so sure. Supposedly, on XM, Chiarelli said that he talked to Julien about changing his style (I didn't hear this myself but others did). That would explain the change from Boston's style last season to this season. It's worked out for them, but you'd be hard pressed to say that Sutter's style hasn't worked for us, especially when the Devils have been battling injuries.

[JohnnyB]

Sega Genisis that came with Sonic 2 and NHL 94. my fav present of all time

[JJ]

I think all of the coaches are starting to wake up jules. I'm wondering if it is the obstruction being enforced the way it's supposed to be called (God knows it's the other stupid rules changes they made have nothing to do with it other than removing the 2 line and going back to delayed offsides/touch up) or if it's just that there are so many good young offensive players coming into the league these days that everyone is changing their styles. I suspect it's both, but regardless NHL hockey is more entertaining.

Altered Beast & Golden Axe. Johnny B. :) Oh yeah and Joe Montana football.

[MS]

I did not see much of a delta between these 2 teams. I would take Sutter's style over Julien anyday. It is all about entertainment and the increase in the Devils goal scoring, crushing hits from Holik and Rupp add to that. Even Parise and Elias are beginning to get recognition around the league because of their seasons and stats this year.

Agree with the previous post. Holik's line is 3rd when you get down to offensive capabilities. I don't know whether Madden's linemates are contributing to John's lack of offensive production but let's face it, every winger they have put there has had little or no production. I would like Pandolfo to sit out a couple of games and try one of those talented Lowell wingers and see if his production picks up. We have enough PK to cover the absence of Jay.