Last year, they tuck tail after the second Flyers goal and go home. But it’s a new year, new team, new energy. After readingMatt’s pre-game speech, I was ready to run through a brick wall and the Devils delivered as it seems only they can do. I think that may be Herb Brooks in that Grimace costume. Couple that with the massacre the Flyers endured the night before, and we were going to be in for a tough one.
After falling behind 1-0 and 2-1, the Devils managed to drag this game to OT, and with the best
3v3 player in the world, it was over the second Jack picked that puck up in the D-zone corner. For the game, the Hughes brothers led the way with the tying and winning goals, while Dougie picked up his annual home opener goal, and Luke 2.0 got on the board with a slick pass on Luke 1.0’s goal. For the Flyers, Sanheim and Ristloianen picked up their goals.
First Period
The game got off to fast start with the Devils on the front foot most of the period. But as we honor our traditions in this household, we let the Flyers get on the board first during a delayed call at 11:12 of the period. Kind of a wonky goal, and if I had anything to nitpick it would be Siegenthaler failing to eliminate Ristolainen’s stick on the defelction. 1-0, them, hello darkness my old friend.
The first would end at 1-0 bad guys, but not for lack of effort from the Devils who showed a much improved process and play style. They were moving the puck up quickly getting it into their forwards hands for rush play, and were particularly good in the neutral zone, causing turnover and quick short ice opportunities the other way. They dominated possession, 32-9 shot attempts, 14-6 shots, and a whopping 83.4% xGF.
2nd Period
I was hoping for a rehash of the last pre-season game with a dominant 2nd in both possession and on the scoreboard but unfortunately we couldn’t have both. Douglas Entertainment Hamilton atoned for a rough first period with a great 2nd effort, FINALLY getting the Devils on the board at 17:58 of the period.
One guy I’d like to shout out on this goal is Mantha – we might see a lot of this from him – as he parked himself in front of Woll who clearly didn’t see this shot at all. Watch him track the puck and Dougie in the highlight. Love me a nice screen.
That is how the 2nd would end, another dominating period, but knotted up at 1-1. Once again they speed bagged the Flyers controlling shat attempts 33-13, shots 16-8 with a 71.7% xGF.
3rd period
The 3rd periods last year were some of the most disheartening sludge puck experiences I’ve ever seen this team play. But not tonight… They kept the gas pedal down, even after going down 2-1 after Sanheim unloaded a perfect slapper from the top of the circle:
This was just a mess of a sequence, starting with Mercer missing a golden chance in front, to Siegs flailing at the blue line, to Dougie losing a foot race, to a bad change, to Erod and Meier missing each other, to Timo just casually doing nothing on the D-to D pass there. woof.
But the good guys kept pressing, getting countless opportunities (including Bratt getting robbed by Woll) until they were able to get the equalizer at 9:44 of the period:
Luke to Luke – get used to it, because it is exactly what both of them are good at. First, it starts with Luke 1.0 with a great play break up in the D-zone along the boards, and he quickly gets it up to Luke 2.0 who lulls everyone to sleep, draws 2 Flyers to him, before sliding sneaky pass to the Luke 1.0 who had all day to walk down the slot and fire it home. It really showed Luke 1.0s maturation in the Dzone and his skating, and Luke 2.0s intelligence and passing. What a play.
That was it though for the 3rd, as the Flyers fell into a prevent D just to get the point, and honestly I don’t blame them after getting embarrassed the night before. One encouraging thing, the Devils kept the pressure on, continuing their lopsided possession game: 27-16 shot attempts, 11-8 shots, and 66.3% xGF. on to OT we go.
OT
This was…sloppy. We almost coughed it up on a head-scratching turnover by Timo, who also got completely spun around in front shortly after, but Allen was there to rob Zegras. Luke 1.0 didn’t have a blemish free game, as he had what seemed to be a missed connection with Grits, that turned into some sustained pressure by PHilly that Allen smartly froze to get a whistle.
And then PB&J happened. That’s our star, the best 3v3 player in the world:
Stick Toss. And Scene.
Some Scattered Thoughts
Absolutely classless question at the end of Jack’s interview during the first intermission by A. J. Mleczko. She’s actually a good analyst and usually makes up for Buccigross, but that was absolute trash from her.
If the powerplay converts, this game has a whole different feel to it. 0/4 is not great Bob, but it’s not really a unit I am concerned about until we see some more. They were relatively clean getting into the zone but never really got into their preferred sets (that I diagramed here). They were all pretty chaotic and felt rushed.
I thought all the new guys looked pretty good:
Erod was buzzing around early, and had a few good chances. Really thought he buried one short side, but just hit the netting.
Really like Chisholm’s game, like was that the same guy we saw in pre-season? Did we get Colin Miller’d? Electric skater, good puck mover and competent in the D-zone.
Mantha has looked better each game, and aside form the above screen, he was much mroe involved and active. He had a nice little give and go with Chisholm in the first. He still needs to be more ready for a JAck feed, he’s gotta better understand it can come from anywhere at any time.
I tinhk this Evangelista kid is gonna fit in pretty well here.
Largely, this Flyers team hasn’t changed much the sag and give you the outside but block EVERYTHING. The Deivls had 96 shot attempts this game, and 44 shits on goal. 32 of the 52 were blocked. They are gonna need some ice packs, I believe the Hudson News in Newark Penn sells it.
Dillon is chopping wood out there with the puck, we really need to figure better low-to-high paly where it doesn’t swing to him or Siegs in the Ozone. Dillon also had a brutal time handling the puck in the neutral and Dzone.
Dougie had a rough go in the first, but pulled it together – like he had a hole in his stick at the point.
Fantastic game from Luke Hughes. looked confident, poised, was a menace with his stick in the D-zone. More, please, we need 83 more in fact.
But with much better process, we would get better finishing right? Guess what, we didn’t. That was fun and all, but need them to put the puck int he net earlier. Woll was great, but wasn’t out of his mind.
Speaking of process, are we back? We might be back:
On to Long Island!
LGD
