N.J. Devils: Taylor Hall Continues Hell of a Season

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

Taylor Hall Picks Perfect Time For First Career Short-Handed Goal

New Jersey Devils: Like a man possessed ... Taylor Hall smells the playoffs and is zeroing in for the kill.

He's never been to the playoffs.  But you can tell he senses it.

Whether on the power play, at even strength, or shorthanded, Taylor Hall will not be denied.  He scored both on the power play and at even strength Saturday against the Islanders, then scored what proved to be the game winning goal while shorthanded against the Canadiens the very next night at Montreal.

In his second season with the Devils, Hall has established career highs with 37 goals and 89 points, and is just one favor away from tying his career high of 53 assists.  In the meantime, Taylor continues solidifying his candidacy for league MVP with plus-eleven play, and by extending his point streak to eight straight games in which he's now recorded thirteen points.

With Sunday's Newark win, and Florida's loss, the Devils have opened up a seven point lead over the ninth place Panthers.  Newark has just three games left to play against the Rangers and Maple Leafs at home, then against the Capitals at Washington in the regular season finale.  Florida has five games remaining against the Hurricanes, Predators, Bruins and Sabres all at home, then close out the season at Boston.

Keith Kinkaid started his sixth straight game, and both games on back-to-back nights.  After turning away 27 of 30 shots against the Islanders, Kinkaid stopped 25 of 26 Canadiens shots on goal for his 23rd victory of the season.