Punchless Power Play at Prudential

The New Jersey Devils managed to skate past Montreal 2-1 Wednesday even without a power play goal in five tries. The Canadiens played short-handed and took the first five penalties of the game, but the Devils were unable to capitalize on the advantage. The Devils sputtered on the power play throughout the first two periods. Instead, New Jersey benefited from awesome goaltending and a fluke goal from first year Finland native, Illka Pikkarainen. Devils’ netminder, Martin Brodeur, tied Patrick Roy’s NHL record for regular season appearances at 1,029. Brodeur also inked his 598th career win. The goalie missed passing Terry Shawchuk on the all-time shutout list because Travin Moen scored unassisted in the first period. The Devils fell behind and squandered a two-man advantage when the Habs inexplicably scored a shorthanded goal. Moen took the puck off a Jamie Langenbrunner turnover and deposited into the net for a 1-0 Montreal lead. Langenbrunner flubbed the puck on a cross-ice pass from defensiveman, Andy Greene. The Prudential Center crowd showered the arena with boos. Most of the jeers were directed at former Devil forward, Scott Gomez. The Canadien Gomez was booed every time he touched the puck. The Devils couldn’t get much going or facilitate much against Gomez’s new team until the second period.
The Devils answered in the second period on Pikkarainen’s wrister that deflected off the glove of Carey Price in goal. Price accidentally knocked the puck with the back of his right skate to allow New Jersey the equalizer to score. Patrik Elias broke the 1-1 tie 17:24 into the third period to salvage the Devils’ 23rd win. Elias picked up his seventh goal of the year by redirecting his own rebound into the net. Price stopped the initial shot, but Elias whistled in the game winner with 2:36 remaining, just in time. Elias’ goal sealed the fifth consecutive New Jersey victory over Montreal. The franchise’s all time leading scorer was coming off his 300th goal in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Flyers. Price made 25 saves for Montreal. He made eight during the four-penalty first quarter. The 16 year veteran, Brodeur, was credited with 17 stops. The Devils are second to Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey improved to 12-6 at home. Montreal sits at fourth in a close Northeast Division. One game separates the two teams ahead of the Canadiens. The Sabres own the division lead, five games up on the Habs.

Parting Points: Sad news about former WVU Mountaineer Chris Henry’s passing today. Thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates.

Halladay is finally a part of the senior circuit…but he hasn’t pitched a playoff game yet.

Song of the day- “This Magic Moment” by the Drifters