Gignac strikes twice in Devils 6-2 win over PIT at Prospects Challenge

The New Jersey Devils were back on the ice less than 24 hours after their opening game loss to the Buffalo Sabres at the Prospects Tournament. Facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects, the Devils prospects put the pedal to the metal and dominated the Penguins en route to a 6-2 victory. Brandon Gignac had two goals, Joey Anderson, Blake Speers, John Quenneville and Colby Sissons also lit the lamp in the decisive victory in Game Two of the Prospects Challenge.

Tweet from @NJDevils: It must be football season in Buffalo because we just put up a touchdown. #NJDevils lead the Pens 6-0. #ProspectsChallenge pic.twitter.com/JkK1ctfAdn
Here are 5 takeaways from the game:
1. Goaltender Cam Johnson got the start in goal, his first of the tournament. Speaking to him before the game, he was excited to get the start and show his skills. In the first period, Johnson was forced to make several acrobatic, sprawling saves to keep the game at 0-0 as the rest of the Devils found their groove. In the first period alone, Johnson made 13 saves, followed by three in the second period and another nine in the third. In terms of pro experience, Johnson has played just three games for the Binghamton Devils, after signing with New Jersey out of the University of North Dakota.

2. Brandon Gignac has had a rough go since last December when he injured his knee (torn ACL) and saw his season with the Binghamton Devils end abruptly. Since then, he has spent his time rehabbing and working on regaining his strength, and the dividends are clearly paying off. Gignac has been used by Coach Mark Dennehy in all situations, moving from the fourth line in Game One to the third line in Game Two. Against the Penguins on Saturday afternoon, Gignac scored the opening goal of the game to give the Devils a 1-0 lead at 12:32 of the first period from the half-wall. Assisting on the goal was forwards Yegor Sharangovich and Ryan Schmelzer. Gignac wouldn't stop there, he added his second of the game - again from the half-wall on the power play in the middle frame.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: A Gignac for finding the net! #ProspectsChallenge pic.twitter.com/2l3dGb4qNH
   3. Special teams were a key component for the Devils against the Penguins. In the first period, the Devils killed off three Penguins power play opportunities, including one in the second minute of the game. The Devils ended the afternoon scoring three power play goals and surrendered only one power play goal to the Penguins in their six opportunities.
   4. Playing in his first game of the tournament, prospect Blake Speers added the Devils second goal of the game. His marker came less than a minute into the second period. Speers played on a successful third line that combined for a four-point afternoon against the Penguins.

5. Three players posted two-point efforts as the Devils began to pile on the goals against the Penguins. Joey Anderson (1g-1a), Colby Sissons (1g-1a), and Yegor Sharangovich (2a) fininshed the day with multi-point games, showing their worth to Coach Dennehy and the Devils management in attendance.
   The Devils will take to the ice for practice only on Sunday, followed by their final game of the tournament against the Boston Bruins prospects on Monday at 9:30AM.