METROPOLITAN DIVISION
1) Capitals 28-14-3 (59-points)
2) Devils 23-12-8 (55-points)
TONIGHT
CAPITALS
vs.
DEVILS
FROM
THE ROCK
Payback's a pitch..fork.
As things turned out, Cory Schneider seems to have picked the right night to call in sick.
When Anders Lee scored just 1:36 into the opening period, it looked as if the Islanders were merely picking up where they left off against the Rangers and Canadiens, and that the Devils were in for another long night.
But the league's second most potent offense failed to score again, mustering just 24 shots all game against Devils back-up Keith Kincaid.
Looking to avenge last week's shootout against the Islanders, Newark rolled into Flatbush where they punished the taxed and defensively challenged Islanders at Barclays Tuesday night.
After Kyle Palmieri tied the game at the 15:20 mark of the first, the period ended with Andy Greene and Brock Nelson dropping gloves. The Devils then took over with three more unanswered goals in the second. Fourth year defenseman Damon Severson set a new career high with his fifth and sixth goals of the season, and Taylor Hall closed out the scoring with his team leading 16th goal.
All told, the Devils peppered Jaroslav Halak with 42 shots.
The victory gives the Devils 54-points on the season. For the moment, that's good enough for second place in the Metropolitan Division, and fourth in the conference.
New Jersey's biggest problem has been leaving points on the table.
The Devils finished at the bottom of last year's Eastern Conference standings with a 28-40-14 record (70-points). Their 14 OT/SO losses were second most in all the NHL. Their eight OT/SO losses so far this season are once again tied for most among current playoff contenders, and tied for second most in the league.
Tonight, they host the first place Washington Capitals with another two points up for grabs.
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