GAME DAY
Box Score
Advanced Stats
In-Game Highlights
Photo Gallery
POST-GAME VIDEO
Full Game Highlights
Lucky Seven | REWIND
Player Interviews:
Hischier
|
Siegenthaler
Lindy Ruff Post-Game Interview
WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils are headed to Western Canada for a three-game road trip, starting with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
Here are some observations from the game...
- It was a dominant first period for the Devils in the first period, especially when it came to puck possession. The result was a 16-5 edge in shots after the first 20 minutes of play and the 1-0 lead off of Fabian Zetterlund's first goal of the season. Nico Hischier set Zetterlund up from behind Elvis Merzlikin's net, Zetterlund waiting, unbothered, in the high slot to rip the shot past the Columbus netminder.
- With near identical shots, Nico Hischier and Ryan Graves put the Devils up 3-0 early in the second period. Close to carbon copies, both players, and just 33 seconds apart, went long-side with a powerful shot, hitting the net top-shelf.
- Jesper Bratt assisted Graves' goal, marking a ninth consecutive game with a point, which sets a new career-high for the 24-year-old.
- Both Bratt and Hischier scored their fourth goals of the season to share the team lead.
- John Marino's first goal as a New Jersey Devil gave the team a 4-1 lead and it had a bit of extra excitement behind it, as Marino picked the pocket of Johnny Gaudreau at the blue line to take his shot. Merzlikins made the attempt to stop the puck, which hit him in the shoulder but it bounced off his shoulder and behind him, to give the Devils a three-goal lead for the second time in the game.
- Marino's goal came at 4-on-4 and with just 22 seconds left in the second period.
- After 40 minutes of play the Devils had a 30-12 shot advantage. The club ended with 50 shots on net, the first time since Feb. 11, 2009, against the Islanders the club hit 50 shots at home.
On the flip side, the Devils have consistently kept their opponents to under 25 shots per game.
"It's something that we've worked hard on the last few years in the way we play," Ruff said of limited the opponents chances, "I think the fact that our defense is bigger, their reach, forwards have really locked in to lanes with good sticks, but it's always puck pressure. You don't see many teams able to roll around, it's always puck pressure. You don't see many teams able to roll around the top or roll up the walls, it's a system built on constant puck pressure."
- Jonas Siegenthaler, who doesn't always take up minutes on the power play was put onto the second unit, with just 25 seconds left on the man-advantage. The first unit had held the zone for 1:35 before the stoppage in play. Siegenthaler has been used in this position before in the waning seconds of a power play, and this time he really made the seconds count. A melee in front of Merzlikins left the puck loose at the right post, Siegenthaler all alone had an empty net to shoot at, his goal giving New Jersey the 5-1 lead.
- Just once this season the Devils have been outshot by their opponent, today once again the Devils dominated in the shot department with
- Goals by three defensemen (Graves, Marino, Siegenthaler) seemed all too appropriate on an afternoon where the Devils were honoring one of the most beloved defensemen in franchise history.
"It was great," Hischier said, "You love to see Siegy up there, it was awesome. It's fun, the other guys too."
- Just before the opening puck drop the Devils honored one of their best, Mr. Devil Ken Daneyko. Dano, as he is affectionately known, took part in the center ice puck drop, but was also surprised by his wife Margaret with a Silver Stick, given to players in recent years who have played their 1000th NHL game. Daneyko never received one in his playing days, but now he can add that to his long list of Devils accolades.
Also as part of the Daneyko celebrations, his daughter Taylor was part of the pre-game ceremony to light up The Rock, while his son Shane, who attended Berklee College of Music, sang the national anthem.
