Here are my quick hits following the Devils' 3-2 shootout win in PIT, heading into tonight's game vs. VGK:
Gutsy Win
What a gutsy, thrilling win it was in PIT on Tuesday night, and what a job it was by Dawsy, buying time for Timo’s round-7 shootout winner to secure that extra point. Nico played so well that he might even get the start again tonight, but it appears to be a game-time decision as to who will start in goal. As for Timo, that goal unfortunately won’t show up on the stat sheet, but this was a moment that Timo deserved and desperately needed, quite frankly. When you're a guy like Timo, who is a three-time 30-goal scorer and just two seasons removed from 40 goals in this league, it starts to wear on you mentally when you’re not putting the puck in the back of the net at the rate you normally do (2 goals in 18 GP since the holiday break). I'm so glad Timo was able to have this impactful moment in this game!
Five D Stepped Up
When I talk about this game being a gutsy effort, wow, the definition of that type of terminology is the way the 5 D stepped up in Siegenthaler’s absence. To have your No. 1 defensive defenseman go down — Yes, on top of already having your No. 1 two-way center and No. 1 goaltender out of the lineup — is a huge blow and tough moment to handle on that bench, but the five defensemen responded incredibly well the rest of the way with such heavy minutes. Now, it’ll be Nemec, who has 2-9–11 PTS in his last 10 AHL GP, that will get an opportunity to step in tonight with Siegs still being evaluated. Next D up!
VGK Pre-Scout
I’m intrigued to see the energy the Devils bring on home ice tonight, with just two games to go before the 4 Nations Break. Look, this is a Vegas team that is coming into tonight winless in their last 4 games (0-2-2) and has lost 6 of their last 7 road games (1-6-0). It’s no secret they’ve struggled as of late, but this is a group that is composed of Stanley Cup Champions. The guys inside that VGK locker room know how to rise to the occasion and win important games, so this will be a tough test for the Devils with both teams in desperate need of points right now. For me, the biggest key for the Devils tonight is going to be preventing Vegas from generating any momentum on their PP, which has scored 9 PPGs over its last 10 road games. If you’re the Devils, you can’t afford to take too many unwarranted trips to the box — and when you do — the PK is going to have to continue its outstanding play we’ve seen over the last 3 games (11/11; 1 SHG).
Another Nail-Biter in Store?!
One more storyline I’ll have my eye on in tonight’s game is going to be how things unfold if this game starts to come down to the wire in the third period again. There are a few reasons I say that specifically for tonight!
- 1. The first reason is that 11 of the Devils’ 16 games since New Year’s Eve have been one-goal games (T-most), and Vegas is not too far behind with 8 one-goal games in this span (T-9th). On top of that, both teams are coming off a one-goal game on Tuesday night.
- 2. The second reason (and most important one for me!) is that Vegas enters tonight winless (0-5-3) in those 8 one-goal games, meaning they’ve struggled to get the job done and pick up points in these tight games they’ve been in. If it comes down to it, hopefully, this ends up becoming a favorable storyline for the Devils.
- 3. And, last but not least, I’m looking at the fact that there have been 6 games all-time played between NJD & VGK at the Rock, and all 6 games have been decided by one goal (excluding one ENG Vegas scored). If history means anything, it's warning us that Dano and I are going to need to be hooked up to IVs after this game!
Be sure to join Rachel and me on our pregame show tonight as we break down the chemistry between Jack & Bratter this season, Nemec coming in as the next man up on D, and preview tonight’s game vs. VGK. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on MSGSN!
Let’s Go Devils!
-Sal
Here are some graphics from Tuesday night’s broadcast!
