Scorching Scorers

I enjoy a crisply-played defensive game in any sport. Sometimes it’s a required relief to witness wild scoring performances. Especially during a high-paced and heightened hockey game, scoring offenses are optimal. Nothing compares to the physicality of well-played hockey as players impeccably deliver the puck by penetrating defenders to the net. The New Jersey Devils are on fire outscoring opponents with scorching fervor. New Jersey ranked 11th in the NHL, as of Sunday, with 95 goals. They are averaging roughly 3 goals per game, led by Zach Parise and Patrick Elias. The Devils’ two leading scorers have placed 18 and 16 pucks in opposing nets, respectively. Parise and Elias are shoo-ins all-stars and deserve much credit for the Devils’ 19-9-3 record.
Scott Clemmenson is New Jersey’s backup net minder. His four stopped saves in Sunday’s shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers sealed the Devil’s 19th victory. Coach, Brent Sutter, has New Jersey within two points of the Flyers in the Atlantic Division. The New York Rangers are still at the head of the class, but s much is going right for the Devils. The amount of multi-goal games by Elias and Parise is most impressive. Patrick tied club leader, John MacLean, for most multipoint games in last week’s contest versus Ottawa. Parise reached his own milestone in a short career Sunday with his 199th career point. In the Ottawa game, Parise gave credit to teammate, Travis Zajac, after he was wrongly credited with the goal. The gesture shows how classy and true Parise is as a player and teammate. Parise is an excellent winger with the ability to rack up assists. The Devils are an unselfish bunch and have been able to find a nice mix on the front line. Even with players sidelined due to injury and illness, Sutter’s crew has meshed fittingly. Clemmenson has stepped up and was especially electrifying in the Philadelphia shootout. Scott had 27 saves in regulation and 3 in the shootout.
What I liked most about the Flyers-Devils game was the final goal. Zajac masterfully slid the puck past Flyer goalie, Antero Niittymaki. He did it with a nifty fake and took advantage of Niittymaki’s positioning near the back end of the goal. The Devils led the game 2-0 and coughed up the lead to force the shootout. The way they won the game by not allowing Philadelphia to prevail shows what this team is. The Devils are 2-1-1 against Philly this year. They are that good, and tonight I look forward to seeing them skate against the Boston Bruins. The game is at the Rock and last year, the Bruins visited twice. Twice the games were overtime Devils wins, so this could be a thriller again. New Jersey is looking for their 4th win in a row against a Boston team that surprisingly leads the Eastern Conference. With the steady defense of Colin White, Paul Martin, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Jay Leach, I like their chances. Leach is somewhat of a newcomer but is a tough player quickly gaining experience. He is now a regular for Sutter. Dainius Zubrus, Brian Gionta, Brian Rolston, Jay Pandolfo and David Clarkson are all effective players against a Boston team looking to ploy and scheme their way to a road win. Andy Greene, Johnny Oduya and Mike Mottau have defensive skills to battle the Bruins. Look for Sutter to shake things up with Bryce Salvador missing time on defense and John Madden out with the flu. All in all, New Jersey hockey is scorching and hot during a very, very cold December so far.

Parting points: Christmas comes early for Yankee fans. New York signed Mark Teixeira FINALLY. They now have the best offensive infield in all baseball. How good will Mark look in pinstripes? I just cannot wait to see.

Good Nolan Ryan article to check out: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=499547