The boys continued on the road for game 2, visiting the hometown Lightning. Tampa emerged as a preseason favorite in the Atlantic and serious cup contender with the injuries to the Panthers, and this presented yet another early measuring stick for the Devils.
Our boys answered the bell, pulling out a big victory 5-3 after a disappointing season opening loss to Carolina and getting the young season back on track. We iced some newer look lines with Dadonov out, as Gritsyuk moved up with Brown and Glass and Palat found himself back with Jack and Bratt. Tonight also featured the debut of new play by play man Don LaGeca as well as Zach MacEwan, acquired in a trade for Kurtis MacDermid.
One of our biggest bugaboos for the past 2 seasons has been starting on time and getting an early lead (see: 1-0, them). But not tonight as the Devils put up an absolute masterclass of a 1st period. They had the gas pedal down from the start: they were breaking the puck out cleanly, not taking any.. stuff… from these Florida man meatsticks, and burying their chances. We came in waves, drove the net hard, blocked shots and shut down a potent offense.
The tone was set early as Crozier took a little run at Nico that he brushed off. Timo gave Crozier a little love tap (crosscheck to the back) and we had ourselves a frisky start. At 8:30 of the 1st we broke through, as Nemec intercepted a clearing attempt at center ice, turned it right back up where, after a bit of a broken play right inside the Lightning zone, Nico picked up the puck off a Mercer pick and made a power move to the front pulling Vasilevskiy out of position. Timo swooped in to clean up some trash for our first of the night.
A few minutes later at 10:17, Luke hit Gritsyuk streaking up the left wing boards uncontested, who made a nice shimmy shake to get some space wide and fed Brown who was driving the center lane to the net. Showing some nice touch, Brown turned his blade up and re-directed the pass top shelf. 2-0, us.
Really not sure what all this is, but I like it.
I would’ve taken 2-0 to the room, but against Tampa you need to keep pouring it on, and Nico did just that. After he made a strong move for the zone entry, he dropped it to Luke who let go a wrister that Timo deflected behind. Nico’s momentum carried him below the goal line, where he corralled the puck, came back out front, spun and shot, where it deflected off Crozier (karma) and squeaked past Vasy.
During the 1st, Jonas an Dillon both made play-killing slides on cross slot passes, and Jack got just enough of Guenztel to make his breakaway non-threatening (and put him in a bodybag afterwards for good measure). Just an absolutely perfect period as the boys finished with a shot advantage of 16-2 (2!!!), scoring chance margin of 8-5, and generating 5 times the xG. No notes, chef’s kiss.
Surely, We Are Just Going to Cruise to an Easy W, Right?
As good as the 1st period was, the 2nd was a different story. Tampa is an elite team and weren’t going to be held down forever. they clawed back into the game potting the first goal against at 7:31 off a broken neutral zone play, a misguided step up by Nemec on Point resulting in a Gourde snipe from the slot. This disappointment in Dan LaGreca’s voice was palpable.
After some back and forth in a sloppier period all around, Tampa struck a second time to make it a one goal game. The Devils got caught after a long PP shift as some guys were out for 1:20+ and to make it worse, Timo broke his stick. It was basically a shooting gallery until McDonough finally converted on a screened bomb from the point. While the score was tilted in the 2nd, the play was pretty even as we were outshot 8-6, but scoring chances, high danger scoring chances, and xG were all pretty even during the period.
FINISH THEM
So, on to the 3rd in what would be a defining period for this squad early int he season. “Funny thing about pressure. Some people focus, some people fold.” – Al Pacino, Devils Advocate. What was it gonna be for our boys? Not going to lie, the doomer in me was apoplectic when Siegs got his tripping call, assuring myself the collapse was coming. But what’s this? A bright shining hero intercepts a lazy D-to-D pass and is off to the races. Jesper Bratt take a bow. I think we should keep an eye on this kid, he may be a thing. (Also, love Don LeGrelca’s call here).
This was a defining moment, my friends:
Less than two minutes later, a clean outlet pass up to Gritsyuk who executed a picture perfect 2 on 2 with Brown who fooled Vasy with a quick, low, shot – far post. (for all you kids and hockey parents out there, seriously this is a perfect 2 on 2. 2nd player crosses behind, drop pass, 1st player creates space driving the net, 2nd player gets a clean shot).
Gorgeous, that should be it right guys? Right?
Well not so fast, as Tampa does make things interesting adding a 3rd off a screened wrister with about 4 minutes left from Raddysh. If I were to complain about ANYTHING in this game, is that was two goals where Markstrom completely takes himself off his angle giving up a massive part of the net.
Additional Notes
One of the more unheralded stories of the game was blocked shots. 24 in total, and probably a few more, but the boys were selling out tonight and not losing this game.
When I wrote about us needing more 5 on 5 scoring, I didn’t mean don’t score on the power play at all guys. It looks very chaotic right now.
After a shaky debut in Carolina, Gritsyuk showed he belongs. Not just the points, but its his awareness, passing, speed and easy chemistry with both Cotter and Brown.
I liked MacEwan’s game – he skates well and will be a solid fill in on the 4th line. Dare I say I liked these line combos better than the first game.
Dawson Mercer had a strange game – virtually nonexistent except for the defensive blue line where he made several excellent plays, especially on the PK, where he was fantastic.
Luke had another 2 assists, it seems missing camp wasn’t a big deal.
And yes, I misspelled Don’s name on purpose since its Saturday night and we can have a little fun around here, as he works out the names of our guys. He’s got great energy, so far so good (except for the names).
On to Columbus, I’m feeling much better about this team now.
What’d you like tonight? Dislike? Concerns?
LGD