I could probably write a novel about that game and there is a lot to unpack.
It wasn’t pretty, but continuing to find ways to win has been the most impressive part of these last few games. As Mike Rupp continues to say, you gotta find a way with your B and C game, and while the Devils offense showed up tot he tune of 50 shots, the defense seems to have reverted back to some early season leakiness. Couple that with a lack of timely saves, and one really egregious goal let in by Allen, and this game turned
into chaos in the 3rd.
However, they dont ask how, they ask how many and that makes 3 straight OT/SO wins, once again led by Jack Hughes who potted the OT winner and had the primary on the tying goal. Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist, and was joined by Dougie, Erod, and Chisolm as goal scorers. The Isles were led by Simon Holmstrom who had a goal and an assist.
1st Period
The Isles got on the board first, and frankly it was reminiscent of Devils of old. We were dominating possession and shots, but after an odd breakdown in the neutral zone, an Islander forechecker was left to come in alone, tap it front where Duclair muscled it through Jake Allen. Dougie pinched up in the neutral zone (which i don’t mind) but they were able to tip it deep, and Mantha’s controller seemed to stop working for a second. 1-0 them.
Mantha quickly made up for it 17 seconds later, finding a streaking Erod who snuck one through Sorokin. Shoutout Boquist winning a battle at the defensive point to free Mantha, and what a slick pass.
Just under 2 minutes later, New arch enemy Matthew Schaeffer would somehow dance around a flailing Siegenthaler (or what ever that move is when he gets on all fours) and 3 other puck watching Devils, and slip one through Allen’s legs to make it 2-1. And that’s how the 1st would end, Devils had long stretches of dominating shifts and play, especially with Jack’s line out there, but the Islanders capitalized on some sloppy defending. Could’ve used a save also. Below is the shot map, showing that 2/3 of their shots in the first (4 of 6) were right on the doorstep.
2nd Period
The Devils would tie in up at 4:17 of the 2nd on a nice back door route by Chisholm, and I’m not entirely certain of this, but Chisholm starts breaking for the net before Bratt shotts – and Bratt sees him – so I think his shot off the end boards might have been intentional. If so, just an elite play, if not good read by Declan.
Unfortunately, the wheels feel off for the back of the 2nd as the Isles continued to take advantage of their forecheck and disruption through the neutral zone. They did a really good job chipping an chasing, and getting in behind our D as well as sealing off the wings on breakouts.
Holmstrom scored less than a minute after Chisholm’s goal on a broken scrum in front after a failed clear by the Devils. The puck pinballed around, one of them even broke his stick, but it somehow squirted out to Holmstrom who deposited it over Allen’s shoulder.
The Isles would slowly chip away for the next 6 minutes and find their 4th goal of the night on one that Allen just absolutely needs to stop. Tony D’Angelo walks in from a low angle in the left dot a puts it literally through Allen. With a pile of bodies crashing the crease, Eklund poked it home. He HAS to squeeze that off, particularly in a tight 3-2 game.
Towards the end of this period was one of the most unnecessarily dirty sequences by multiple players on the Isles. First, Stanley took a massive two handed slash across Nico’s arm, then cross checked him while he was down. In the ensuing scrum behind thenet, Schaeffer and Luke Hughes got into a bit, until Schaffer decided to grab Luke’s visor and ragdoll his head, which is probably more dangerous than Stanley’s slash. THEN, Schenn comes barreling in to rescue the little boy, knocks the pile over and Schaffer winds up on top of Luke, CONTINUING to press his head into the ice. Not like it matters (gestures at our Power Play) but the fact that they only got a 5 on 4 for 2 minutes is preposterous. They are lucky it was toward the end of the period and didn’t escalate into a Panthers-Bolts circus.
3rd Period
20 minutes left to decide whether they can pull it together with their B- game, or let UBS get added to the houses of horror list. And, THEY WOULD COME BACK AND TOTALLY REDEEM THEMSEVLES.
At 6:08 we added a 3rd, after a great hard working Ozone shift form Nico’s line with Luke and Pesce up top. Luke with a nice spin and keep up top who has his shot attempt blocked, but right to Nico. He spins and gets a low shot through traffic that gets trough, and the puck pops up and over Sorokin to Evangelista who somehow bats it in. Needed that one, and with the way Sorokin was playing, that was the type of goal they just needed to manufacture.
at 13:42 the Devils would tie it on a 5 on 3 after Mantha drew 2 consecutive penalties, this first on Holmstrom for holding, and the second for sacrificing his face in from on a high stick. And dare I say the Devils out out a unit that should be our 1st PP unit, Dougie-Jack-Nico-Evangelista-Grits. And lo and behold, Jafter some normal movement up top, Jack takes the puck behind and finds Douglas Entertainment Hamilton for a Dougie bomb to tie it. Glorious, love the fight in this team.
Allen would make a couple of good stops to shut down the period, stabilizing a bit after a shaky outing. on to OT we go after a dominant 3rd:
OT
DO you know what’s fun? Knowing we’re gonna win once it goes to OT. Legit unstoppable. After Sorokin sells a whistle, and frees the Isles on a rush chance, our budding star defenseman locks up the aforementioned wunderkind Matthew Schaeffer, turns the puck up to Jack who is on alone with Bratt riding shotgun. He makes no mistake burying it high blocker, and proceeds to point up into the stands at the large contingent of Devils fans. That’s our superstar. 5-4 good guys.
Some Scattered Thoughts
I really would’ve like Allen to be better here, I don’t like the idea of needing to ride Hellebuyck, but I guess that is kind of his job. Allen did lock it down int he 3rd, so I guess there’s that, but giving up 4 on 2.7 xGA vs Sorokin giving up 5 on 5.5 xGA is a glaring difference in this game.
Some of the Jack-Bratt-Grits shifts have been just absolutely sublime, and have everything – high chance volume, retrievals, everyone touching the puck. They are ewasily a top 5 line in hockey, and might not be 3, 4, or 5.
I can’t use the words I would like to describe the visor grab. This is very clear angle of it. Drop your gloves like you’re supposed to:
Don’t look now but Mantha has been cooking of late. Another point tonight, that is now 8 in 8 games and now up to 10 in 17 games. all at 5 on 5.
Jesper Boquist has become an excellent depth player, he just is a dog on a bone. It’s like he went to camp in Florida for the summer and came back with tattoos.
Was that a penalty on Luke at the end? Maybe in the first period, but not in overtime. I think Schaffer tried to sell it a bit too. The online discourse is already absurd, but watching Schaffer slam his stick and whine to the refs really reminded me that’s he only 19 years old.
They have to clean up the special teams, twice in this game it had the chance to really turn the tide and it was a dud. I think it is time to make some serious personnel changes: Dougie-Jack-Nico-Grits-Luke2 on PP1, Luke1-Timo-Brown-Mantha-Erod on PP2. Or something like that.
Wagon continues on to Toronto tomorrow kiddos.
LGD
