Devils Defeat First Place Bruins in OT

ATTENTION EASTERN CONFERENCE! Beware of the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils played one of their best games of the season Thursday night in Boston (aside from most of the third period). Everyone asked how the Devils could match up with the Boston Bruins. Tonight, that question was answered.

The Devils were at the top of their game tonight, especially the captain Jaime Langenbrunner. Langenbrunner had 2 goals and 1 assist. His second goal, which came in overtime, could possibly be the biggest goal scored by the New Jersey Devils this season.

Langenbrunner’s goal was a statement to the NHL. This team is for real and they can compete with the best. Yes, the Devils did blow a 2-0 lead in the third period and allowed Boston to go up 3-2, but they didn’t roll over and die. Instead they responded to adversity and tied the game and forced overtime.

Jaime Langenbrunner started the scoring for the night when he scored a shorthanded goal, which bounced off Thomas’s pad and went over the line and into the net, at 15:01 of the first period to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.

In the second period, Zach Parisescored a power play goal when he bounced the puck off Tim Thomas from behind the net. The goal was Zach’s 29th of the season and he extended his point streak to five games. As the second period came to a close, the Devils were playing a great game and were in control.

In the third period, the momentum swung in favor of the Boston Bruins.  Chuck Kobasewtook a loose puck from behind the net and put it on the post, but then he got the rebound which Clemmensen caught. However, replay would go on to show that when Clemmensen caught the puck, it had crossed the line and the score was now 2-1.

Marc Savard tied the game at 2, when he put the puck in between the post and Scott Clemmensen. Boston then proceeded to take the lead when Dennis Wideman took a slap shot and buried the puck behind Clemmensen to give Boston a 3-2 lead.

With under two minutes to go, the Devils responded when Brian Gionta threw a pass in front of the net, which deflected in the net off Patrik Elias’s skate. This tied the game at three and forced the game to go into overtime.

In overtime, Jaime Langenbrunner hopped on a rebound off of Colin White’s shot, which deflected off Travis Zajac. The goal propelled the Devils over the Bruins and allowed them to move into 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. They also moved 3 points ahead of the Rangers in the Atlantic Division.

It was a night of crazy goals,but the Devils came out on top in one of their best games this season.

Scott Clemmensen made 24 saves and won his 21st game of the season. He’s now three wins away from that Henrik guy in New York, who leads the conference in wins.

Next up for the Devils is the Pittsburgh Penguins at home, tonight at 7:00 EST. Tonight the Devils will be honoring their play by play announcer Mike “Doc” Emrick. Tonight promises to be a great game as the Penguins are coming off an impressive 6-2 victory over the New York Rangers and the Devils are winners of seven in a row. Something’s gotta give in tonight’s Atlantic Division clash.

Notes:

Jaime Langenbrunner now has 4 goals in his last two games.

With the overtime win the Devils now improve to 6-1 in OT.

The Devils scored their seventh shorthanded goal of the season in the win against Boston and they now are tied for fifth most in the league with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Posted by Brett Bodner on Jan 30 2009. Filed under Atlantic, Eastern Conference, New Jersey Devils. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.