A Happy Accident of Success | FEATURE

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Devils failed to convert on a power play late in the second period against Carolina Tuesday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh. To make matters worse, they surrendered a shorthanded goal to fall into a 3-1 hole in the contest.
With two minutes remaining in the middle period, the Hurricanes Jordan Martinook stepped out of the penalty box and 5-on-5 play resumed.
Having used a mish mash of players on that power play, the Devils needed to ice a random trio of forwards that were rested. And a happy accident ensued.
With a little over a minute remaining in the period, Jesper Boqvist, Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer jumped over the boards. A mere 10 seconds later, Mercer retrieved the puck below the goal line, drove into the crease and was able to knock in a rebound through the five-hole of goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov.
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff left the threesome on the ice for the ensuing faceoff. A mere 18 seconds later, Boqvist received a pass low in the offensive zone, cut to the net uncontested and slid the rubber through Kochetkov's five-hole again.
Suddenly, a 3-1 game was all tied up at 3-3.

"They got one and we left them out there and they got another one real quick," Ruff said. "It's kind of hard not to have them together."
They stayed together in the third period and would convert a third goal - second of the game for Mercer - that would prove to be the game-winner in a 5-3 come-from-behind victory.
"The three of us like to use our speed, play fast and all of us have that work ethic where we don't mind putting the puck in the corner and going to get it ourselves," Mercer said. "At the same time, we made plays and capitalized on our chances. It worked out in that game."
The trio combined for seven points and accounted for three of the team's goals in the victory: Mercer (2g-1a), Boqvist (1g-1a), McLeod (2a).
And so, a happy accident resulted in the Devils' newest line combination.
"I thought they did a great job of getting pucks to the net," Ruff said. "If you look at two of the goals and even Mercer's last goal, cutting across the crease and going to the hard area to put the puck."
What's most unique about Boqvist, McLeod and Mercer is that all three men are centermen by trade. Though when it comes to faceoffs, they know who will lineup on the dot.
"Mikey can take the draws," Mercer said. "He's really good at faceoffs and getting us puck possession right away."
That would seem to be the prudent decision as McLeod is the team leader in faceoff winning percentage at a 56.8-percent clip.
And if McLeod is tossed from the circle, the Devils have two options to take the draws. Another asset is having three men who understand the center's primary defensive role.
"Everyone is responsible defensively too so that works out," McLeod said. "We're supporting each other all over the ice."
It's no surprise they skated together during line rushes on Thursday and are expected to stick together against the Ducks on Friday night.
"Try and build off last game, keep that energy going," McLeod said of their unit.
The threesome have all the makings of a good line. They're defensively reliable, they aren't afraid to go to the net and they have the ability to finish plays.
"A line is dangerous when they can read off each other, if they compliment each other with speed and with skill, someone that gets to the net," Ruff said. "Sometimes you just find that chemistry.
"We've had that on and off with different groups. Maybe this is a line that can catch a little fire for us."