N.J. Devils: Newark Wrestles First Place From Penguins

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY DEMONS


NEW JERSEY DEVILS - Look Who's Number One!


At just 0:44 of the opening period, David Clarkson got whistled for tripping.  Thirty nine seconds later, the Penguins' Brandon Sutter scored on the power play giving Pittsburgh an early lead.  Martin Brodeur then proceeded to stop the next twenty four pucks Pittsburgh shot on net.


While Marty Brodeur kept the Penguins scoreless the rest of the way, the Devils got goals from unlikely heroes.  In just his seventh NHL game, Stefan Matteau; the son of THAT Stefan Matteau-Matteau-Matteau; scored his first ever goal in the second period for the team that fell victim to his father's goal almost twenty years ago.  If you do the math, Stefan Matteau the Younger wasn't even born yet.


Midway through the third period, Adam Henrique gave the Devils their first lead of the night with a power play goal.  Then a little under three minutes later, 2013 acquisition and seldom used Bobby Butler scored his first goal as a New Jersey Devil, to seal Newark's 3-1 win over the Penguins.
 


Bobby Butler had two points on the night.  Ilya Kovalchuk and Andy Greene each had two assists. Pittsburgh won the face-off battle by a 32-28 margin.  But Newark won the shots on goal battle by a 28-25 difference.


Pittsburgh was content committing penalties.  The Devils had ten power play opportunities, and converted twice.  There's your difference in the game.  Marty Brodeur took care of the rest.


With this victory, the Devils wrestled away first place of the Atlantic Division from the Penguins.  The Devils now have seven wins and seventeen points on the season versus sixteen points for the Pens.  The conclusion of this home-and-home set with the Penguins moves to Pittsburgh Sunday evening.  The game will mark the exact one-quarter point of the Devils season.



Mike.BTB