Devils go to work on the power play, brace for date with Rangers

As I mentioned earlier, the Devils did a lot of work on the power play during today's practice, particularly the 5-on-3.

They failed to score on two 5-on-3 power-plays in Saturday's 5-2 season-opening loss to the Flyers, including one for a full two minutes in the first period when the game was still scoreless. They managed just one shot on goal during that two-man advantage

Today, they had Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and David Clarkson up front and Jamie Langenbrunner and Paul Martin on the points on the first unit. The second unit had Dainius Zubrus and rookies Matt Halischuk and "Niclas Bergfors up front and Brian Rolston and Cory Murphy on the points.

Parise said they worked on "different plays and different options."

"I definitely think we learned a lot today and seeing what's open," Parise said. "Bottom line on a 5-on-3 is you've got to score or at least get some great chances. Today we were moving. Yesterday we were standing still. It wasn't smooth." 

The Devils also passed up some open shots.

"I know I did," Martin admitted. "Maybe some of it is waiting for guys to move in front. You just want to get the puck on the net for rebounds and deflections...On 5-on-3s, you can't have just one or two shots."

{Follow this blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TGfireandice}

What was the objective today?

"It's to understand what we're trying to do on the power play [and] what's happening with the other team when we do certain things," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "Not moving, it's hard to get good shots because everyone is a goalie today. All three guys on the ice, they want to be goalies. They want to block shots. So, we have to find a way to get away from that."

Lemaire admitted he "came close, very close" to calling his timeout before the first 5-on-3, thought it was only 9:49 into the game. That was because Jamie Langnebrunner and Travis Zajac had just come off the ice after a long shift. Zach Parise remained on the ice for the start of the two-man advantage, but Lemaire used him at the point because he thought that wouldn't be as tiring.

He had five forwards on the ice at the start -- Parise, Rolston. Zubrus, Halischuk and Bergfors.

Parise said he had never played point on the power play before. It seemed there was some confusion among the whole five-man unit.

"I think it was just spots people hadn't been in before," Parise said. "But it's the NHL. You should be able to figure it out. So, that wasn't an issue. I think we just wanted to see what plays were there and be moving and open up and that's what we worked on today. Hopefully, we have two minutes of 5-on-3 agai tomorrow (against the Rangers)." 

The Devils went 1-for-5 on the power play in Saturday's game. The Rangers are 0-for-9 on the power play in two games so far this season.

The Devils would want to bounce back Monday regardless of what team they are playing, but facing the Rangers does seem to add some urgency.

"It's definitely a game you are always up for," Martin said. "You know when you're playing them what's at stake. Those points can be important at the end of the year."

The Devils and the Rangers split the six-game series between the teams last season with both teams winning three times.

The Devils went 0-2, however, in the two games Martin Brodeur started last season against the Rangers. They went 3-0 vs. the Blueshirts in the the games Scott Clemmensen started in net and 0-1 with Kevin Weekes starting.

Brodeur, who missed six games vs. the Rangers last season while recovering from a torn biceps tendon, has not defeated the Blueshirts in regulation in his last 11 regular season starts against them (2-6-3 with both wins coming shootouts), dating back to Feb. 22, 2007.

Comments

[HoOn]

I hope and pray that Marty wakes up and finally gets his first regulation win against the Rangers since Feb of 2007.

[Jason]

TG, what is this I am reading that Lou and management are not getting along??

[Frankie D]

Lou not getting along with himself?

[NJromano]

Prospect uupdate-

Henrique just scored to tie the game in the 3rd period .. score is now 3-3..

[devilsfan]

Wonder what they worked on in camp if they had no idea how to work the 5-3 pp?

[TG]

Jason: What are you referring to?

Are you talking about the article I had yesterday in The Record, which mentioned the ownership rift or something else?

[Jason]

Management of the company, as in ownership. Supposedly the league had to be called in to get the coaching change made.

[TG]

Jason: I think that's someone misreading or jumping to conclusions about what I wrote yesterday.

Though I wouldn't rule out that the coaching hiring might have been delayed by it.

Here's the link to the article I wrote.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/hockey/devils/63375497.html

Was there something else you saw about it?

[Pete]

Seemed to me that Emery did to the Devils what Marty usually does to other teams - intimidation, hesitation, waiting for the perfect shot.

[Jason]

Yes, that was the article. They can say "it's nothing" all they want, and you as the media have to take them at their word, but it's not nothing. "Nothing" doesn't result in sit downs. "Nothing" doesn't result in the league getting called in. We call that "Something".

[TG]

Oh, I'm not saying it's nothing, but it was between Vanderbeek and Gilfillan.

Even though, from what I was told, it's been settled, it's definitely something to keep an eye on in the future.

Where Lamoriello fits into the equation is another matter.

[Westchster Steve]

Like I said last night

1) I blame Lemaire for how he handled the first period 5 on 3.
He should have started the 2nd unit instead of 5 forwards and Parise on the point.

2)Until the return of Elias, we can expect a lot of 1-1 , 2-2 scores in the third period unless we receive superior goaltending and/or superior special team play

[nnjrules]

Lou is gonna be forced to step down in the offseason, is my guess. JVB was pissed off about sutter and I would love to see how he felt about JL being hired. There seems to be a lot more going on then people may want to say, and don't buy the we are keeping an eye on next years cap slogan. They are keeping an eye on JVB bank account as well as the other owners. Signing a player to a 1 year deal has nothing to do with next years cap figure, if there was truth to that then why would we sign shanny to a 1 year deal knowing we will eat his salary if he didn't make the team? Why not a camp try out and telling shanny if things work out your deal is for 1 mill? Things aren't what they seem behind the devil curtain, regardless what your being told

[mikeP]

I understand Halishuk playing with Zubrus and Bergfors on the 2nd PP, because there aren't any other forwards remaining with offensive talent, but why is he, and not Zubrus, playing in front of the net. Halichuk is under 200lbs, while Zubrus is 6-4/6-5. I'd think Zubrus would be the immovable force in front of the net.

Rangers haven't scored a PP yet, but knowing the Devils, the Rangers will score 2-3 PPG's Monday night. Hope I'm wrong

Also, Murphy, like most of the team, had a poor night. I'm surprised that Greene isn't getting a chance tomorrow night instead of him

[mikeP]

njrules, why do you think this - that Lou will step down? It would seem the fight would be between JVB and the minority owner. Worst case is that the team looks to bring in more stakeholders in the team.

TG, how has the team done in the 1st 2+ years at the Rock, in terms of profit? any idea?

[TG]

The Devils made money the first year at the Rock . I don't think it was a lot, but it was significantly better than the money they lost at the Meadowlands. I don't know if they did last year.

And, Westchester Steve: The reason why the second unit wasn't on the ice first on the 5-on-3 is because Langenbrunner and Zajac had just been on for about a minute. I believe that Martin was also on the ice leading up to the penalties. They were too tired to start the PP. So, you can't make that argument.

That was the reason why I asked Lemaire today if he thought about taking his timeout then. That would have allowed him to put out his best players to start the 5-on-3 instead of creating a unit that had never played together and putting Parise at the point. Parise had never played the point before and is most effective on the PP when positioned to the right of the net.

[web hostings]

I wanna thank you for sharing with people such fresh and hepful information. cheapest web hosts compare web host