Game 5: "...If we win one tomorrow, that's what's called a winning streak"

They came out flat in the first, and Washington capitalized, with no pun intended.

They put forth a much better effort in the 2nd and Brian Rolston got them within a goal, but bad penalties, or should I say bad calls, hurt momentum.

In the 3rd, they had their best period of the season. Marty got nailed for a high sticking call while he was trying to bat the puck out of the air, moments after Bryce Salvador also took a penalty. The team endured a furry of Washington shots while on the 5 on 3 and killed off the first one. Then faced a similar number of shots and chances, and managed to kill off the remaining time on Brodeur’s penalty. However, moments following the end of an impressive penalty kill, they took a too many men penalty.

Yet again, penalties are becoming way too much of a problem. How many time do we expect our PKers to be able to stay out on the ice and face an offense of Washington’s caliber without at least giving them some kind of a lead? This team is in desperate need of discipline. Which leads me to point #2…

Johnny Oduya needs to step up his game. For someone who just earned a rather large contract extension, he has been playing very sloppy hockey. He has taken at least 1 penalty in each of the Devils’ first 6 games. 2 of those were hooking and 2 holding calls. Those are lazy penalties to take and set the team back, granted tonight’s was a blatant phantom penalty. He also has been playing very sloppy defense. He has been caught out of position many times, a handful of which have been taken advantage of by the opposing teams and resulted in goals.

The Zubrus-Bergfors-Clarkson line has a lot of potential. They are the ones who should be the second unit, let the Neidermayer line be the checking line and give ZBC some more ice time. The only downside is Clarkson is the only one with a goal. But, if they can gel, the over time, they could become effective. Their effort on the game tying goal is prime evidence. Their passing was crisp, their puck control was solid, and their shooting was actually on target.

Dainius Zubrus and Andy Greene remain the only bright spots on the second power play unit. If you watched the game at all tonight, you saw why. They’re the only two who can try to set things up while the other 3 pieces, which seem to change nightly, try to find space but cant seem to find it. They are also the only ones who tried to register a shot. Moving Clarkson off the first unit, in my eyes, was a mistake and hopefully will be rectified by Friday night.

Zach Parise has to be the most unlucky person in the NHL right now. Back to back games he has had wide open looks at almost open nets and either the goalie or a defenseman have gotten just enough of the puck to prevent a goal. Vokun did it, then Theodore and Poti tonight. Then again, in overtime first post, then glove on the goal line, then by a defender.

Luckily for us, he scored in the shootout, along with Langenbrunner, to get us a win.

Lastly, Brodeur played another phenomenal game and kept us in it, even after our shaky first period. His performance, along with Clarkson’s and the aforementioned shootout takers, got us the win tonight.

Devils 2 (2) - Washington 2 (1)

3-2-0, 6 points

Next up: Atlanta on Friday.