The New Jersey Devils are 1-0 to start the post-deadline season, as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens by a final score of 2-1. It was a late surge by Montreal, but goaltender Cory Schneider kept the door shut and gave the team their 25th win of the season.

Takeaways

Connor Carrick… The 24-year-old looked great in his Devils debut last night, notching two assists in front of the Prudential Center crowd. He stepped in for the injured Will Butcher and did not miss a beat. He has a very nice shot and it is a main reason how he got his first assist. Carrick certainly made a case to stay in the lineup on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames.

Nathan Bastian… Bastian scored his first NHL goal on a beautiful deflection from a wrist shot by Carrick. He also looked very solid in his first game back with the club, and he makes another great case to stay in the lineup, although unlikely unless the injuries continue to pile up, so there is hope.

Key to Victory

Cory Schneider… Schneider looked like his usual self out there, making 34 saves on 35 shots. If you want to get analytical on him, most of the Canadiens’ shots came from the point, and the Devils did a great job keeping the puck away from the crease. But that is still a lot of saves to make in one night so credit must be given where it’s due, and it was enough to get him first star of the game. It is not known who will start Wednesday between him or Mackenzie Blackwood. But at this point of the season, it is more than likely that the two of them will split the workload, and there is a slight chance of a goaltender competition during next year’s preseason.

Next Game

Wednesday vs. Calgary Flames at 7:00