Bad News In Boston

Even before the puck had dropped on Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils were already playing at a disadvantage. First, was the news that Dougie Hamilton would not play following being hit in the face with a puck during Sunday’s game against the Washington Capitals. That was somewhat expected, what wasn’t expected was the news that Hamilton will need surgery for a broken jaw. Christian Jarros entered the lineup.

Then came the surprising news that captain Nico Hischier would be unavailable with a lower-body injury. Remember, Hischier blocked a painful shot off his shot during Sunday’s game but returned to score the game-winner in overtime. That type of news sure isn’t what Hischier wanted on his birthday. Pavel Zacha and Yegor Sharangovich also entered NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Hischier and Sharangovich had been two of the Devil’s best forwards during their three-game winning streak and left massive holes open in the top-six.

First Period

It took just under three minutes for the Boston Bruins to strike first. Alexander Holtz couldn’t get the puck deep into Boston’s zone which led to a Curtis Lazar takeaway. Lazar shot from a sharp angle on MacKenzie Blackwood’s left to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. 

New Jersey appeared to get the game’s first power play after Brandon Carlo tripped Michael McLeod who was going for a puck behind Boston’s goal. However, the penalty was later called back. McLeod tripped on the puck, not because of Carlo’s stick being the reasoning. 

As if losing Hamilton wasn’t enough, Andreas Johnsson would also get hit in the face with a puck just after the halfway point of the first period. The hit drew blood, but he was able to get off and skate on his own. He would leave the ice and go down the tunnel. Johnsson would return before the period’s end. 

The Devils had very few scoring chances but the best came near the end of the first. Jane Kuokkanen skated into Boston’s zone on a partial two-on-one but his shot was blocked. Dawson Mercer grabbed the rebound with another scoring chance. Bruins’ goaltender Linus Ullmark was able to make the save on the Devil’s second chance. 

With just over a minute left Boston would once again get another scoring chance. Patrice Bergeron was right on the doorstep with a nearly open net. Someone how the puck wouldn’t go in and it was too close to immediately tell if that was thanks to Mackenzie Blackwood or not. 

Devils were outshot 10-6 in the game’s first twenty minutes. Considering how much time the puck was in New Jersey’s zone, you’re surprised it’s not higher. Most of New Jersey’s attempts to get the puck in deep ended up being shot behind Boston’s goaltender. More times than not it was a Bruin who ended up retrieving the loose puck. The Devil’s best chances were shot down Boston’s defense who excelled at breaking up plays and passes. 

Second Period

If you missed the first few minutes of the second period you missed a lot of action and a bit of drama. First, Nathan Bastian tied it up for New Jersey at one goal a piece. His goal was less than a minute in and unassisted.  

Boston wasted no time regaining the lead. However, the Bruins wouldn’t settle for any normal goal scoring. Oskar Steen scored the Bruin’s second goal but before landing in the net that puck took a little detour. First, the shot landed on top of Blackwood’s net. The referee, rightfully, never stopped play and the puck would bounce off the net, off Blackwood’s mask, and into the net. According to the MSG network, the puck was on the net for about 1.5 seconds. 

New Jersey would even things up as well. In his first game back, Tomas Tatar scored the Devil’s second goal. The Devils offensive superstars Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt picked up assists. Being tied was fun for five minutes. Travis Frederic out one past Blackwood in a manner similar to Lazar’s goal in the first period. Seconds later, Mercer became the second Devil of the game to be hit in the face with a puck. 

Third Period

While the opening minutes of the second period was filled with drama, there was no goal-scoring action in the first few minutes of the third. Luckily, that changed for the New Jersey Devils at the almost halfway mark. After killing off a penalty, Damon Severson skates out of the box on a breakaway to deliver the Devils’ tying the third goal. Severson continues his impressive play since the team has returned from the holiday break. 

Brad Marchand blocking a Dawson Mercer clearing attempt to enter the zone led to a flurry of activity for Boston after the third period’s midway mark. The Bruins weren’t initially able to get that go-ahead goal. However, after a faceoff in Boston’s zone, play returned to New Jersey’s end. David Pastrnak made his first shot on a wrap-around in front of the goal crease. He caught his own rebound after Blackwood failed to control it and gave Boston that fourth goal they were looking for. 

Blackwood was pulled just under two minutes of play with a faceoff in the Bruins’ zone. The Devils took an icing call and Blackwood had to return to his net for what should have been for a short time. However, the Bruins won the faceoff and would maintain possession. Hughes would have his stick knocked out of his hands yet no penalty would result. A long-range shot from Brandon Carlo would get past Blackwood for the fifth Boston goal. The final score would be 5-3 as the Devil’s three-game winning streak came to an end.  

Closing Thoughts On Defense

With Hamilton’s absence and the subsequent defensive changes, P.K. Subban received a promotion to the second pairing. On the MSG broadcast, Ken Danyeko commented that with Hamilton gone Subban will have to provide a veteran presence.

Why give Subban that job? If anyone should fill Hamilton’s shoes it should be Severson. He’s the team’s longest-tenured defenseman and his play of recent backs it up. He’s by no means the next Victor Hedman, but with Hamilton shelved for the foreseeable future there should be no question he’s their number one defenseman and should be looked at as the “veteran presence.”