What an awesome game we witnessed on Friday night at the Rock! This game not only encapsulated everything we love about playoff hockey, but also taught us a lot about the mental fortitude and determination of this Devils team. As we all saw, this was an all-around outstanding performance across the board from every guy in that room to dig deep and grind out a game they had to win. It didn’t matter if it was going to take 2OTs or 6OTs, that group was ready to do whatever it takes to keep themselves alive in this series.
Most notably, no words can possibly give deserving credit to the 5 D who got the job done in the absence of Kovacevic, who left the game injured after the first period. Remarkably, those five guys (Pesce, Dougie, Dumo, Siegs, and Nemec) finished the night with a combined 149:58 TOI, which was the most by a group of five NJD Defensemen since Game 3 vs. TBL in 2003. That night, it was Grant Marshall who sent the Devils to the Conference Finals in triple OT!
Nemo the Hero
Talk about seizing an opportunity… Here’s a 21-year-old kid in Simon Nemec who has risen to the occasion at the most important time imaginable, and he now owns the title of the youngest D in NHL history to score a double OT goal! To go from being a healthy scratch in Game 1, to then be thrown right into the fire for Game 2 in Carolina, and end up now as the Game 3 hero, it has been incredibly impressive to watch Nemec settle in and find his confidence so quickly in the postseason. It's no secret that the Devils' backend has faced tremendous injury adversity already in this series, and for Nemec to step up like this, it has been paramount to why there is still life and belief headed into Game 4 today.
It was a short turnaround, but we've got another must-win game at the Rock coming up, so I hope everyone got a chance to rest and recover yesterday! From the Devils' perspective, it's going to be critical that they come out and repeat their process from Game 3, as this was the game in which the Devils finally found some real, sustained traction at even strength. We initially saw glimpses of it in the 3rd period of Game 1, and then for good portions of periods 1 & 3 in Game 2, but this Game 3 was by far the Devils’ best of the series so far in terms of smothering and ending plays fast, hard, and decisively with their sticks, exiting the zone cleanly, and preventing CAR from getting to the inside when they do establish possession. The Devils conceded only two (!) HD Chances at even strength in the entirety of Game 3 - and both of which came in the 2nd period.
Looking at the graphic below, you can point back to the fact that their combined execution of denials and exits percentages were far better in that game, and even well above their regular season average. Then, additionally, the Devils’ ability to break out, which we knew was not nearly good enough in Carolina, was far more effective. This, again, led to the Devils spending less time in their end and more time in the OZ with puck possession. So, we’re going to need to see more of the same today at even strength. As I talked about in my last two articles, special teams have to be at least even!!!
Be sure to tune in for our pregame show this afternoon as Rachel, Schneids, and I recap Game 3, discuss the impressive performances on the backend, and break down our keys to tying this series up at 2-2 today. It all starts at 3 p.m. on MSGSN!
Let's Go Devils!
-Sal
