Game #20 vs. Florida: The Brattman Forever

 

After a gutsy win on Tuesday, the team was rewarded with an off day in the Florida sun and a rematch against the defending champions, which is the first time in Devils history they have played the same team on the road back-to-back. This rare opportunity would give this team a chance to prove they can play at this level consistently, as Keefe said pregame "Anything can happen once. For us to duplicate the resiliency and the resolve that it takes to find your way through a game like that against a team like this. But also understanding that they are going to be better, and we need to be better."

Last year the Devils had a record of 1-2-0 vs the Panthers where they each scored ten goals in those three games. While the games last year were close, the Panthers took it to us physically and bullied us all over the ice and our goaltending had a negative goal saved above expected in the two losses. In both games this week our goaltending has showed us they solidified their game and from the Brendan Dillon fight on, this team showed they have the grit and heavy style of play to take it to one of the toughest teams in the league.

 

Photos by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Period 1: Gritty & Pretty

In the first few minutes of the first period, Florida was able to establish their forecheck again winning the board battles leading to chances early, but Allen was up to the test early. As the period went on, we were able to establish our breakout either through direct passes or chip plays while increasing our pressure in the neutral zone. At the thirteen-minute mark both Jack and Palat took away Florida’s time and space which directly lead to a partial breakaway for Bratt which was put aside by Bobrovsky. Over the next few shifts Florida increased their pressure and were able to get quality chances on goal, but Allen was in perfect position every time. At the halfway point, the puck was dumped into the Florida zone where Meier got in on the forecheck hard, took a hit to get the puck over to Nico behind the net where he went to work putting Barkov in a spin cycle. He then moved the puck to the point where Luke let go a low hard shot, the rebound popped out to Noesen who won his battle in front of the net and put the rebound away on his backhand. The first line of Noesen-Nico-Meier came back the next shift applying the same heavy forecheck and were almost rewarded with a second goal. Florida was able to tie the game at 1 with a great individual effort from Jesper Boqvist, as we went forehand-backhand-forehand around both Dougie & Allen. The Panthers controlled the play for the next few minutes and eventually went to the Powerplay after a phantom hooking call was called on Tatar. The PK unit only allowed 1 shot against and killed it off, and with 38 seconds left in the period a make-up call would put our red hot powerplay unit out on the ice. The PP1 unit came out firing with Bob making an unreal save on Nico and then Jack sent the puck from behind the goal line, up to Dougie at the point. Dougie then slid a pass over to Bratt who faked the one-timer, took the open ice in the middle of the slot, and wired a wicked writer top shelf to give the Devils a 2-1 lead with 1.4 seconds left in the period.

 

                                                      Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Period 2: Special Teams Showcase
The second period started right where the first left off, with the Devils creating strong scoring chances and players like Brett Pesce locking it down in the defensive zone. Nico forced Bob to make a crucial save early in the frame after a beautiful bank pass off the wall to get around Ekblad. Five minutes into the period, Reinhart put an absolute laser in over Allens shoulder for his league leading thirteenth goal of the season. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot after Kovacevic got tangled up with the referee and fell to the ice. 

That did not rattle this team like it would have earlier in the season, the next shift the first line came out and was able to get two strong shots on goal and draw a penalty. On the ensuing powerplay, Jack circled behind the net and threw the puck into the mixer where Mercer was driving the back post, and the puck found its way into the back of the net. At first, we thought it was Jacks goal after the puck redirected of Kulikov’s skate but as the puck was about the cross the goal line, it redirected off Merces shin pad giving him his fifth of the season. The Devils continued the pressure over the next few shifts where Haula almost suck one in in between Bobs arm but was able to get just enough to keep it out. The Devils had played a nearly perfect period up until this point and then Florida gained some momentum back after pinning in our 4^th line for two whole minutes until Dillon was called for a cross-checking penalty. Florida was looking to answer back with a powerplay goal of their own but were unable to register a shot on goal (they did hit the crossbar). After the kill the period seemed to slow down for both teams with only three shots being registered on goal in over four minutes of action. Then Florida took another late period penalty with 21 seconds left, this time an interference call on Mikkola. The Devils won the offensive zone face off and got to work quickly, snapping the puck around the zone where it eventually went low to high, and Noesen scored his second goal of the night off a deflection in front. The Devils were headed into the 2^nd intermission with a 2-goal lead and looking to keep their perfect record of securing a win after having a two period lead intact. They would have to kill a whole two minutes of PP time on fresh ice to start the third.

 

                                                Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

 Period 3: Bratty Hatty

Florida’s hopes of using this early powerplay to get a rally going quickly came to a halt when Verhaeghe was called for an offensive zone trip on Nico. On the ensuing 4 on 4 hockey, Jack was a little reckless with the puck where he made a beautiful tape to tape pass to Reinhart in the slot, luckily the league’s leading scorer decided to put this one a few feet above the crossbar. Three minutes later all five devils players got caught puck watching which allowed Balinskis to be left wide open back door. He had the puck on his stick for what felt like an eternity with an empty net starring him in the face, he shot the puck back against the grain and Allen made a spectacular shoulder save to preserve the two-goal lead. Thirty-eight seconds later, Bratt would make the Panthers pay for not being able to capitalize on those two scoring chances. The puck was wrapped around by Tatar and Pesce pinched at the perfect moment, Bratt with fresh legs off the bench covered Pesce’s point spot and received the puck where he put a seeing eye shot on net that snuck its way through Bobs arm and in. The Devils were not only getting the saves we were asking for all last season, but we were also doing what great teams do and the is making teams pay for missing their opportunities. With the Devils fully in the driver seat now, they were looking to do more damage with sixteen minutes left in the game, Meier was robbed again backdoor after a great 2 on 1 opportunity. While the Devils were up a man later in the period, Jack took a run at Lindell after the whistle and got called for an unsportsmanlike. While the negating of a powerplay is not ideal, I love to see Jack stand up for himself out there when he feels like someone took a cheap shot or unnecessary hit at him. This confidence comes from the fact we have guys like MacDermid & Dillon patrolling the ice and that we lead the league in fighting majors. A prime example of this is later in the period when MacDermid challenges Gadjovich to a fight after a high hit the team did not like. MacDermid got good punches in and only took some damage because of the Helmet that popped off Gadjovich head and threw him off a bit. Overall, another great scrap in back-to-back games and a sign to the league that this team will not be pushed around. The icing on the cake came with five minutes left as Bratt scored his third of the game with a shorthanded empty net goal. This was his second career hat trick which both have come in Florida.

      

                                              Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

 

My 3 Stars of the Game

3^rd Star – Jack Hughes – 3 Assists
2^nd Star – Nico Hischier – 3 Assists
1^st Star – Jesper Bratt – 2^nd Career Hat Trick

Key Takeaways

Overall, this team came out tonight and showed that Tuesday was not a fluke and that this team can build something special over the next few months. Bratt, Hughes and Hischier balled out with a total of 4 goals and 9 assists in this two-game series.

 - Jesper Bratt came to play scoring his 2^nd career Hat Trick.

 - Special Teams is firing on all cylinders.

 -  This team plays heavy and will not be pushed around like last year.

- Our goaltending & team defense has been outstanding recently.

 - The Devils now sit atop the Eastern Conference & Metro Division with 26 points and a record of 12-6-2. While they have played the most games in the league a point % of .650 has them on pace for a top 10 finish in the league standings.

 Fun Facts

-          The Devils have scored first 12 times this season through 20 games, they only scored 25 all last season.

-          They currently lead the league in fighting majors with 10.

-          They lead the league in first period goals with 26.

-          First team to score 2 PP goals in the same game vs Florida.

-          They have allowed 13 goals against in the last 8 games. (1.625 GA/GP)

-          The Devils are now 10-0-0 when leading after 2 periods.

 Biggest Concern

I know this was my concern last game, but the story has not changed, we need to find a way to make the 4^th line more efficient. It was great to see MacDermid stand up for Nico after the high hit, but in a near perfect game them getting pinned in was one of the only blemishes. Florida could not capitalize this time but that is a momentum swinging shift that could cost the Devils points or a playoff game.