YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
GAME DAY
Box Score
Game Sheet
POST-GAME VIDEO
Watch an archive of the entire game
COMING SOON: Full Game Highlights
Highlights So Far
COMING SOON: Post-Game Report
COMING SOON: Devils Player Interviews
COMING SOON: Devils Prospects Coach Kevin Dineen
WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils return to New Jersey for the start of training camp Thursday.
Here are some observations from the game...
- Tyler Brennan showed flashes of why he was the highest-rated goaltending prospect in this summer's NHL Draft. He's got the stature at 6-foot-4, 181 pounds. He takes up nearly every inch of the net with his frame. But he also showed a lot of athleticism and lateral ability in the game. Brennan's best save was perhaps a sliding split stop on Ryan Mast. He also was forced to stop Jakub Lauko and John Beecher right on the doorstep of the crease. It helped that the Bruins hit two posts, but that could also be a testament to his size taking up all available spacing.
- I wrote at the time of the NHL Draft that I thought Josh Filmon was a steal by New Jersey in the 6th round (166th overall). His tournament performance is making that look more and more accurate. He picked up his second goal in as many games Monday afternoon against the Bruins. Filmon crashed the net to find a rebound and snapped it home in the second period.
Filmon's draft stock dropped because he's only 159 pounds at 6-foot-1. Thus, his availability in the sixth round. But what wasn't noticed was the 20 pounds of muscle he added over the course of last season. He told me that his family are late bloomers (his dad and brother didn't fill out until their early 20s). If Filmon can pack on some more muscle (smoothies and burgers), then he will indeed be a steal at No. 166.
- Defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk has played two games during the Prospects Challenge. And not coincidentally, he's also had two fights. He dropped the gloves to defend a hard hit on teammate Simon Nemec against the Canadiens Friday. Monday afternoon against the Bruins he was at it again. The game was particularly feisty with post-whistle scrums and animosity. After a scrum had died down and things settled, Okhotiuk and Boston's Jackson Edward dropped their gloves and skated to center ice for a duel. The late fight resulted in both getting game misconducts. But that mentality is exactly what the Devils need in the lineup.
- Nolan Foote had his best showing of the tournament. He was physical, battled at the net and looked very inspired on the ice. However, despite his efforts, he wasn't able to score. Foote had a shorthanded breakaway in the second period that saw his shot sail wide. He won a position battle at the crease and was in position for an easy tap-in on a cross-crease pass from Riley Walsh. However, he couldn't get his stick on the puck. Foote did make a nice flip pass to spring Talvitie for his first period goal. But Foote needs to find a way to start finishing on his chances. Close isn't good enough.
