Coming off back to back disappointing games the Devils were desperate for a win. Frustration levels were beginning to show on the ice and in the locker room for the Devils after a lack luster performance in St. Louis. The Devils were looking to come into Dallas and sweep the season series against the Stars.
Setting the tone early the Devils would show just how desperate for two points they were. Responding with obvious jump and hard hitting, the Devils would also play their typical game of smart defense and suffocating opposing offenses. Right off the bat the Devils would be up against a 5 on 3, albeit a questionable call on a hit from Anton Volchenkov at 5:15 of the first. The Devils would only allow 1 SOG on the 5 on 3 chance, which propel them to continue the momentum they started the game with. Coach Pete Deboer would reunite the line of Zajac-Jagr-Zubrus for this game, and it would pay off when Zubrus would score his tenth goal of the year from Jagr and Zidlicky.
Dallas would come out and try and wrestle momentum away from the Devils in the second period. Play was more even until Ryan Garbutt would take an interference penalty at 8:49 of the second. Just about a minute into the power play Travis Zajac would score his ninth goal of the season on the power play from Brunner and Elias. Dallas would refuse to go quietly and would quickly respond 62 seconds later when Jamie Benn would score his 21st goal of the year from Seguin and Nichushkin. Travis Zajac would later take a tripping penalty at 18:22 of the second.
After killing the Zajac minor off at the beginning of the third the Devils would continue their suffocating play and hard hitting style from the first period. Cory Schneider would also continue his dominant play, which would come in handy to bail out his teammates in the third. Jaromir Jagr would take a hooking penalty that would result in coincidental minors when Jamie Benn would also be called for diving at 18:21 of the third. Being down a goal this would seem to be the optimal time for Coach Lindy Ruff to pull goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 5 on 4 advantage. Ruff’s decision would pay off for his Stars when Tyler Seguin would score his 24th goal of the season at 19:08 from Cole and Chiasson to force overtime.
The coincidental minors would carry over to overtime. At the end of the penalty time Eric Gelinas would send a pass to Jagr just leaving the penalty box who would then pass it to a streaking Patrik Elias who would be tripped at 0:28 of overtime. With the man advantage it would only take 12 seconds for Patrik Elias to score his 10th goal of the year off a rebound from Zajac and Jagr.
This being the Devils final Western Conference road trip the Devils will go into Nashville and play a Predators team they beat 5-0 on Nov. 10th. The Devils will be looking to sweep Nashville and go 2-1 on their road trip taking 4 of a possible 6 points. Dainis Zubrus would leave the game in the third period after taking a shot off his leg. It remains to be seen if he’ll play against Nashville.
Mike Panus : PureSportsNY