All About The Jersey - New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders: Game 2 StreamA world class blog for Jersey's team: the New Jersey Devilshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47083/lou-fave.png2013-10-07T11:00:07-04:00http://www.allaboutthejersey.com/rss/stream/45688692013-10-07T11:00:07-04:002013-10-07T11:00:07-04:00Reviewing How Isles Caught NJ on Many Breakaways
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<img alt="The result of a Michael Grabner breakaway on 10/4/2013. His second of four breakways of the night. Let's look at them to see what went wrong." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y9bhhVWmgiDMTAXwNHWGJwd2E8Y=/0x40:4000x2707/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20768533/183122591.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The result of a Michael Grabner breakaway on 10/4/2013. His second of four breakways of the night. Let's look at them to see what went wrong. | Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>Michael Grabner gave the Devils a lot of problems on Friday night with several breakaways, scoring twice and setting up a third goal. I look at the video of five situations where he was all alone with the goalie and take pictures of where the Devils went wrong on each of them.</p> <p>After two games in the 2013-14 regular season, the <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a> have allowed six goals. All of them have come off the rush, be it on a breakaway or an odd-man rush. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/10/5/4804654/new-jersey-devils-edged-in-shootout-by-new-york-islanders-lose-4-3">Friday's home opening shootout loss the New York Islanders</a> included multiple breakaways and odd-man rushes that did not yield a goal on top of the three they got in regulation. That game in particular has raised eyebrows among the Devils faithful, wondering what's going on. It's not entirely unexpected that the Devils aren't a fast team. They have several veterans on both offense and defense who aren't known for being good skaters. Then again, they have had some of these players for seasons now and the team doesn't normally give up so many. I have to agree with it being a problem worth discussing.</p>
<p>In the comments to the recap I wrote about the shootout loss to the Isles<a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/10/5/4804654/new-jersey-devils-edged-in-shootout-by-new-york-islanders-lose-4-3#188941845" target="_blank">, member dr(d)evil had an interesting take about why the Isles were able to get so many open opportunities at Martin Brodeur.</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>While I’m sure that speedy forwards like Grabner are going to give this team trouble all season, I don’t think we’re going to be giving up so many breakaways all season long. I think the defensemen are still getting up to game speed and are going to improve on making their reads. They’ve never been a fast-skating group to begin with but what’s burned them so far is poor anticipation and getting caught going in the wrong direction.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I think the doctor is onto something. I suspected that the lack of team speed is exacerbated when the loses the puck or if players are in the wrong position. Throw in the fact that the team has played all of two games together and this may be a problem that isn't as large as time goes on. Of course, a defending player being in the wrong spot and not able to catch up is always going to be a problem. The main one is whether it's going to keep happening.</p>
<p>In light of the comment and that larger concern, I think it's worth exploring several of the breakaways and odd man rushes the Isles did get to see what went wrong. While not every team has <span>Michael Grabner</span> and his crazy speed, he exploited the Devils the most with one-on-ones on Friday night. Therefore, I'm looking those plays he was involved to determine what the problems were and maybe what the solution might be.</p>
<h4>Grabner's first breakaway</h4>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-10-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p>There were two stills from this play of note. Grabner's first breakaway came off the Isles' blueline when he managed to beat <span>Marek Zidlicky</span> to go clearly through to the net on his own.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Grabner_5" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3345565/Grabner_5.png"></p>
<p>This still comes shortly after Grabner chipped a puck heading up the boards to past Zidlicky. Now, Zidlicky is in a tough spot. He retreats immediately behind the blueline. It's not clear where the puck currently is, but given Zidlicky's head, it may be going past him along the boards. He's not in a good position to try and keep it. He can't legally step up to hit Grabner as it would be a clear interference call.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3345567/Grabner_6.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_6"><br id="1381108321614"></p>
<p>However, what he decides to do, well, doesn't work. Zidlicky decided to turn around and lunge at either the puck or Grabner. By turning, he gives up the inside position along the boards that Grabner darts through. By lunging, he needs to either get the puck or get the man. He gets neither so he ends up on the ground like a fool. At this moment, Zidlicky's going down, Grabner's staying up, and the puck is free for the taking for a breakaway. Grabner had one man to beat and he beat him.</p>
<p>Can this be corrected? Possibly. The initial chip threw off Zidlicky and that's going to happen here and there. However, Zidlicky should be experienced enough to know how to react in this situation. I understand Grabner skating forward right at him is difficult to deal with. But he's a defenseman and has been in that spot countless times.</p>
<h4>Grabner's second breakaway, first goal</h4>
<p align="center"><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-27-h"></iframe></p>
<p>Grabner got ahead in the center of the ice and slid a puck in low past a diving <span>Martin Brodeur</span>. Where did this all begin?</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Grabner_1" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3345605/Grabner_1.png"><br id="1381108598040"></p>
<p>It all came from the neutral zone. <span>Jaromir Jagr</span> and <span>Patrik Elias</span> converge on <span>Travis Hamonic</span> to force him to make a play. Elias is coming by the boards while Jagr is trying to prevent an outlet pass. However, Jagr's not going to be able to do that because the man behind him is way faster than Jagr. It's Michael Grabner and he turns up the jets right about here. Given the positioning of both Devils, Hamonic is able to play this puck into space for Grabner to collect and go. <span>Ryane Clowe</span> can only watch. He - and the fans - can only hope that the defensemen are prepared for what's coming.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Grabner_2" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3345517/Grabner_2.png"><br id="1381108771142"></p>
<p>They are not. <span>Bryce Salvador</span> is by the far side of the rink because he just came on the ice for <span>Andy Greene</span>. <span>Adam Larsson</span> is still out there and he's caught in this moment. He's stumbling a bit in this shot, perhaps because he just realized what's coming at him. That hampers his ability to come across to the middle. Even if he didn't, he's beyond the center part of the ice, possibly because he was about to head over for a change. Grabner has the speed and control to simply go through the massive gap between Larsson and Clowe. Four Devils are above the center part of the ice and the one who isn't won't be able to catch Grabner. One simple pass in the neutral zone and catching the Devils off guard makes it easy for Grabner to drive into the zone untouched.</p>
<p>Can this be corrected? I would hope so. The Devils got too aggressive on Hamonic in the neutral zone, the defense wasn't fully changed, and the near-side defender, Larsson, was caught out of position. These are all correctable issues.</p>
<h4>Grabner's third breakaway, second goal</h4>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-234-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p>Grabner cheats up high and gets rewarded when <span>Josh Bailey</span> made a play off a blocked shot. Like Grabner's first breakaway, the genesis of the play comes from the blueline.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3345571/Grabner_7.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_7"><br id="1381109282795"></p>
<p>Volchenkov just shot the puck and Bailey blocked it. As it so happened, the puck went towards the nearside boards and right in front of Bailey. Volchenkov is in an awkward position and that's dangerous in this spot. Bailey keeps it away from Volchenkov and will look to try and get it away. Grabner could act as an outlet for Bailey but he's going to cheat and start skating into the neutral zone.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3345579/Grabner_8.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_8"><br id="1381109353016"></p>
<p>Switching to this back angle, Bailey is now turned and he's just going to clear it past Volchenkov. He gets the puck beneath Volchenkov's stick and ahead of his skates. This not only eludes him but the puck is going to stay below the center of the ice. We know Grabner darted ahead as Bailey was winning the puck. But what of Volchenkov's partner, Larsson at this point of the game? He wasn't on the opposite side. Hopefully, he dropped back in case the puck did get past Volchenkov.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3345581/Grabner_9.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_9"><br id="1381109475736"></p>
<p>Well, he did but he's too far away from Grabner. In his defense, Bailey put the puck in a spot where Grabner could scoop it up. He's fast enough that Larsson isn't likely going to make up the lateral distance. Though, it would have been nice if Larsson made more of an effort if only to force Grabner to make his decision quicker. Once again in this game, the Isles won a puck at the blueline and it turned into a one-on-one for Grabner. This time, he beats Brodeur on a shot Brodeur should've stopped.</p>
<p>Can this be corrected? I'm not so sure. Volchenkov's shot getting blocked could have gone a different direction and perhaps this opportunity doesn't come. Bailey made the most of Volchenkov being in an awkward spot and Grabner anticipated what could happen and got rewarded. Given that Larsson started on the far side, there was just too much ground for him to catch up even if he intended to go after Grabner in the neutral zone before Bailey cleared the puck. All told, this one was one of the least odious breakaways of thegame. Brodeur really should have made the save.</p>
<h4>Grabner and Nielsen untouched, Nielsen's goal</h4>
<p align="center"><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-453-h"></iframe></p>
<p>Instead of a straight up breakaway, here is what is essentially an odd man rush that leads to another goal Brodeur should have stopped. The breakdown is apparent early on.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Neilsen_1" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3345609/Neilsen_1.png"><br id="1381109954591"></p>
<p>Yes, the Devils were caught in a defensive change! <span>Matt Donovan</span> recognized the situation very well. Andy Greene and <span>Peter Harrold</span> went off on a change as the Devils were on offense. As Donovan picked up the puck along the far side boards, Grabner and <span>Frans Nielsen</span> were on the near side skating ahead in the neutral zone. Marek Zidlicky and Bryce Salvador just got on the ice and they have loads of space.</p>
<p align="center"><img alt="Neilsen_2" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3345607/Neilsen_2.png"><br id="1381110006077"></p>
<p>Zidlicky charges towards the center and is now the one in a two-on-one. Grabner had to hold up a bit to allow Nielsen to gain the zone. He does a pass back to Grabner, Zidlicky had to step up on Grabner, who easily tossed it to Nielsen in the near-side circle. Nielsen does not have the best angle on Brodeur but he's one-on-one with him. Salvador is stuck in the slot to make sure there's no passing lane Bailey. Zidlicky is caught. The forwards had no chance to get back. Nielsen went to the goal line and tucked in a puck through a five-hole Brodeur should've closed.</p>
<p>Can this be corrected? I think so. The original defenders assumed they had enough time to change and they got caught. This one is partially (mostly?) on the bench. Had the change been made sooner or quicker, then perhaps the defense can close down both Isles instead of seeing Zidlicky look pylon-esque in a tough spot. Again, Brodeur should have stopped the shot but the break doesn't happen if the change was better. (Or if Donovan's pass wasn't so good. It was a great read by the defender.)</p>
<h4>Grabner's fourth breakaway</h4>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-471-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p>This is a situation where high risk doesn't lead to high reward. It's pretty obvious who failed here but let's highlight the important stills anyway.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3345519/Grabner_3.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_3"><br id="1381110386851"></p>
<p>Andy Greene went up on a pinch and didn't get it. <span>Adam Henrique</span> is in his spot on defense. But all he can do here is watch Frans Nielsen pass it out to Grabner, who's skating ahead in the neutral zone. In this moment of time, it appears Zidlicky decides to go aggressive. Grabner is only about to receive the puck and he's not aware of #2 coming towards him. Zidlicky isn't the biggest or meanest player but it looks like he's about blast Grabner with a bodycheck. That should stop him from skating like a mad man through the Devils' neutral zone.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3345527/Grabner_4.png" class="photo" alt="Grabner_4"><br id="1381110589305"></p>
<p>Nope! Grabner gets past Zidlicky. He just smoothly gets around the attempted check. He may have kicked the puck away, took a step like he was a matador, and then be able to collect the puck for another one-on-one. In the video, you can hear Chico sigh an "Oh" because it's obvious to everyone watching the game what will happen next. Zidlicky committed to the hit and he had to make the hit to stop Grabner. He didn't get it so he once again looks foolish as #40 went for a breakaway. Fortunately, Brodeur did stop the low shot that came from Brodeur.</p>
<p>Can this be corrected? Possibly. The defensemen under Peter DeBoer do tend to pinch and that allowed the <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Islanders</a> to breakout with plenty of space. Nielsen and Grabner exploited this because Greene didn't get it. The more direct issue was with Zidlicky. I understand he probably couldn't have skated backwards fast enough to contain Grabner. But if you're going to go for the hit there, then you need to get it. Grabner made a nice move but that was poor from the veteran.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Now, this isn't an exhaustive list of all of the breakaways and odd-man rushes by the Islanders in this game. This isn't complete as the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Penguins</a> exploited the Devils' positioning for open shots and goals. Still, these examples show off what went wrong for the Devils. The good news is that several of the errors that showed up on video and in pictures are correctable. In that regard, I agree with dr(d)evil. Better execution at the blueline should yield fewer turnovers or blocked out pucks turned into counter-attacks. Improved defensive changes on the fly should give less space. Maintaining positional form can be worked on in practice and can come in time.</p>
<p>A guy like Grabner may find ways to give them fits and all 28 of the Devils' other opponents may not have someone as fast as him. But identifying how he did it so often on Friday night may make it easier to prevent these odd man rushes and breakaways against other opponents in the future. That's my hope at least. We'll see if there are any improvements starting tonight in Edmonton. Thanks to dr(d)evil for the inspiration and thank you for reading.</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/10/7/4810586/reviewing-michael-grabners-rushes-against-the-new-jersey-devilsJohn Fischer2013-10-05T14:49:38-04:002013-10-05T14:49:38-04:00Devils Goal Breakdown: First Goal of '13-'14
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<img alt="The first Devils goal celebration of the season, a product of Damien Brunner poking a loose puck into the net." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UK-Kxkot1ji6wlCURljUjQO3qIo=/113x0:3887x2516/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20704859/20131004_jla_se8_250.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The first Devils goal celebration of the season, a product of Damien Brunner poking a loose puck into the net. | Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Damien Brunner scored the New Jersey Devils' first goal of the 2013-14 season. This breakdown of the play that led to the goal shows three breaks that benefited the Devils along with good decisions by the Devils' forwards.</p> <p>I made the decision to do a goal breakdown of the very first goal scored by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> this season. I expected it to come in their first game at Pittsburgh. That didn't happen as the team was shut out. Fortunately, the drought did not last much longer. It ended 2:58 into their home opener, their second game of the season against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a>. The fans were quite pleased until they heard an awful and unfamiliar song.</p>
<p>The goal itself was scored by <span>Damien Brunner</span> and it was the first of the game. It was not one of the prettiest goals ever as Brunner just stretched into the crease to knock the puck in. A lethal poke, if you will. Closer examination does make the goal more appreciable. The Devils something they didn't get on Thursday and throughout much of 2013 season: breaks. The breaks did not come out of thin air either. The play leading up to the goal was good, the zone entry was solid, and the players took advantage from what the Isles gave them. So let's take a closer look at the first goal of the 2013-14 season.</p>
<h4>The Situation & The Goal Video</h4>
<p>It was even strength hockey in the first period and the score was 0-0. <span>Andy Greene</span> officially blocked a <span>Matt Martin</span> shot and the Devils recovered the puck in their end. The video and the breakdown will begin there. Here's who was on the ice:</p>
<p><b>The Devils On-Ice:</b> #5 <span>Adam Larsson</span> (changed with #2 <span>Marek Zidlicky</span> during play), #6 Andy Greene (changed with #24 <span>Bryce Salvador</span> during play), #8 <span>Dainius Zubrus</span>, #12 Damien Brunner, #21 <span>Andrei Loktionov</span>, and #30 <span>Martin Brodeur</span></p>
<p><b>The Islanders On-Ice: </b>#3 <span>Travis Hamonic</span>, #13 <span>Colin McDonald</span>, #17 Matt Martin, #20 <span>Evgeni Nabokov</span>, #47 <span>Andrew MacDonald</span>, #53 <span>Casey Cizikas</span> (changed with #91 <span>John Tavares</span> during play)</p>
<p>The video from NHL.com is a bit different this year. Pausing it brings up a giant blue play button in the middle and a bunch of sharing icons appear. Useful for sharing and not bad for general viewing, but not for taking screenshots. I've done my best to capture the important events. In any case, here's the video:</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-12-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<h4>The Breakdown</h4>
<p>So we begin with the Devils recovering the puck in their own end. Andrei Loktionov got the puck inside the right (far) circle and he will pass it out to Dainius Zubrus. He's wide open on the left (near) side at a minimum, he should make a clean exit out of the zone.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340593/Brunner_1.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_1"><br id="1380994270269"></p>
<p>Right after the pass, Loktionov skates forward to the middle of the neutral zone. This will be important in a bit. Zubrus does get the puck over the blueline but it won't be long before an Islander meets him.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340655/Brunner_2.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_2"><br id="1380994347440"></p>
<p>Zubrus is aware that Matt Martin is coming to deliver a package of pain. So just before the point of impact, Zubrus backhands the puck towards the middle of the ice. It's not going to no one either as Loktionov is open in the middle of the ice.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340599/Brunner_3.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_3"><br id="1380994469451"></p>
<p>Martin's not wrong to go for the hit as he at least forced Zubrus to make a play on the puck. But the Devils get their first break from it. Martin loses his stick on the check. It popped up away from his hands and fell forward. Live, I wasn't quite sure how Zubrus was able to skate away from Martin so easily from the hit. Zubrus is a big man and he's been checked countless times in his career. He's not particularly quick but it's clear here how he was able to separate so easily from Martin. Because Martin's stick got away from him, he's going to go and pick it up. This allowed Zubrus the space to skate away from him.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3340595/Brunner_4.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_4"><br id="1380994685956"></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Loktionov has all kinds of space in the neutral zone. He was right to skate ahead after his pass to Zubrus. As Zubrus took the hit (or some of it), he was able to get the puck away. He put it in a space for Loktionov to go and get it. You'll notice there are no Islanders in the area. Their defenders have dropped back and Casey Cizikas was replaced by John Tavares, so the Isles' ace is in his own end. Brunner is behind Loktionov but he is skating ahead as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: center; "><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3340629/Brunner_5.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_5"><br id="1380994848458"></p>
<p>Loktionov carried the puck in the zone easily and he's met with Andrew MacDonald. The Isles' defensive pairing is maintaining their shape and they are in good positions. MacDonald's job is to contain Loktionov. He's keeping his man in front of him while denying him easy access to the middle of the ice. Loktionov recognizes MacDonald and his stick stretched out so he's going to head right. So far, so good for the Isles.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3340633/Brunner_6.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_6"><br id="1380995000513"></p>
<p>MacDonald followed him back while maintaining enough space to limit Loktionov's options. This is good defending from him so far. At this point, Loktionov is no longer the only Devil in the Isles' zone. He does not know this. Instead of going into the corner and hoping for some help at the backboards, Loktionov turns around from his location. By doing this now, he'll be able to see if he's got a teammate open. If so, he can make a quick pass before MacDonald can step up and deny him.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340653/Brunner_7.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_7"><br id="1380995147839"></p>
<p>And that's exactly what happens. Loktionov turned and immediately flung the puck to the middle of the ice. MacDonald stretches out as if the puck was going to head to the net. It's a token move but not a bad reaction. He's doing it in case it's going down low. But that's not where it's going. Meanwhile, Brunner sneaks in behind Tavares, who dropped down into the slot, and in front of Hamonic. Hamonic will pick up Brunner as he heads towards the net.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340669/Brunner_8.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_8"><br id="1380995451967">The man Loktionov saw was Zubrus. You see that Matt Martin just got in his own zone with his stick. I don't know enough about Martin but I suspect he's not that much slower than Zubrus. Having to pick up his stick is understandable but it allowed to . Colin McDonald got back on the far side but he's not in a position to do anything. Tavares is in a good position in the slot and he's got his stick out in the hopes of dissuading Zubrus from going further. The Lithuanian Freight Train decides not to because he has a shooting lane.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3340671/Brunner_9.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_9"><br id="1380995677330"></p>
<p>Let's switch to the behind-the-net view from one of the replays. Zubrus just shot the puck and it's going high. He got it out in time before McDonald intervened. Zubrus also got the shot off under Tavares' stick, which is a pretty neat move. The shot itself shouldn't be trouble for Evgeni Nabokov. He clearly sees it coming. There are no sticks or bodies in it's path for a potential deflection. Brunner is the only Devil near the crease and Hamonic has him covered. He is squared up in his form. No big deal for the Isles in this moment in time.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3340685/Brunner_10.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_10"><br id="1380995844567"></p>
<p>Disaster strikes. Nabokov misjudged the shot. He went for a glove save and he mistimed raising his glove. Nabokov not only doesn't catch the puck but it hits the top of his glove. Given the velocity of the puck, it will now pop up and goes behind him. The botched glove save attempt is is a fantastic break for the Devils, the second on this play.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, look at Brunner and Hamonic to Nabokov's left. Brunner sees what just happened. Hamonic does not. Hamonic's body is horizontal and Brunner is vertical in this view. As a result of both, Brunner is able to turn towards the net with his eye on the puck before Hamonic can. This will lead to the goal.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3340709/Brunner_11.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_11"><br id="1380996164876"></p>
<p>The puck's arc off Nabokov's glove took it to the crossbar. Physics were lucky for the Devils here as the puck only touched off the front part of the crossbar. It didn't hit it square such that it bounced out. It didn't hit the top or back part to have it land on top of the net or go behind it. And it went nearly straight down, out of the reach of Nabokov who can only see this happen. It is a very fortunate bounce, the third break for the Devils on this play.</p>
<p>Brunner does well to charge towards the net anwyay. He's already turned and he's stretching out so he can get his stick out into the crease in anticipation of the puck dropping. Hamonic now understands what's going on and so he's late in containing Brunner. He's got one hand on Brunner's back, which does nothing, and one hand on his stick. He's trying to position his stick to go across Brunner's body. However, Hamonic doesn't really hook Brunner. He is not impeded. The stick is just there, presumably to prevent Brunner from taking another step closer.</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3340689/Brunner_12.png" class="photo" alt="Brunner_12"><br id="1380996470665"></p>
<p>And so Brunner is stretched out and able to get to this puck before Nabokov. He just pokes it into the net. That's all he could do and all he needed to do. Brunner scores his and the team's first goal of the season and it was good.</p>
<h4>The Conclusions</h4>
<p>The Devils benefited largely from three fortunate occurrences. Martin losing his stick off his check allowed Zubrus to enter the Islanders' end with no coverage. This gave Loktionov an easy pass to the high slot. Nabokov flubbing the glove save and the puck dropping off the crossbar were critical for Brunner to score. Nabokov should have grabbed the shot to begin with. That was the one real error by the Isles in this video. Martin going for the check was understandable, Tavares wasn't in a bad position and forced a not-so-easy shot, and Hamonic's only fault was not seeing what happened with the shot before Brunner did. Who could have predicted the puck would follow the path it took. The Devils will not always get these sorts of breaks in games. So it's good to see the Devils make the most of it.</p>
<p>However, it's apparent that the Devils did more than just have Brunner in the right spot at the right time. The zone exit was simple and clean. Zubrus showed good awareness to get the puck away before Martin hit him and then skate ahead to the middle of the ice afterwards. His shot was good and it turned into a fortunate bounce that I'm sure he didn't expect. Loktionov calmly picked the puck up in the neutral zone, carried it cleanly into the Islanders' zone, didn't force a play through MacDonald, and wisely turned away to look for help. His pass to Zubrus was smooth and accurate, putting him in a good position for a shot. Brunner positioned himself well and his reaction to the shot was quick. I don't know if he knew he saw it before Hamonic did but he didn't waste any time trying to go after it. His boldness was rewarded with a goal.</p>
<h4>Your Take</h4>
<p>Now that you've saw the goal again and read the breakdown, I want to know your thoughts on the Devils' first goal of the season. What part of the play impressed you the most? Which Devil did you think did the best on the play? Please leave your answers and other thoughts on the play in the comments. Thank you for reading. Hopefully, there will be many more breakdown-worthy goals to come.</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/10/5/4806052/new-jersey-devils-goal-breakdown-damien-brunner-scores-first-2013-14John Fischer2013-10-05T00:27:02-04:002013-10-05T00:27:02-04:00Devils Edged by Isles in Home Opener 4-3 (SO)
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<img alt="Damien Brunner had a good game with two goals on four shots, making his presence felt early. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VOYjsCx5BVC3upSEq87eVFoX-Oo=/0x179:4000x2846/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20680153/183124942.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Damien Brunner had a good game with two goals on four shots, making his presence felt early. | Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>The New Jersey Devils forced post-regulation play in their home opener against the New York Islanders, but lost in an extended shootout for a final score of 4-3. This recap covers from what the Devils did well, where they fell short, and the crowd among other observations.</p> <p>After a disappointing game in Pittsburgh, the hope was that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> would bounce back in their home opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a>. The final result was a 4-3 loss by way of the shootout. While they got a point, it wasn't the desired result. With a five-game road trip through Canada coming up, starting the season with one out of four possible points wasn't the ideal way to go about it.</p>
<p>That said, there are plenty of positives to take from this game. The Devils did play better in general than they did on Thursday night. They still had their fair share of turnovers, but not nearly as many as the Isles, who played their first game tonight. The Devils turned those additional opportunities into attempts and comfortably led in that category from the second period onward. Peter DeBoer mixed up the lines and pairings in the second period and based on how much better the team was in possession, I'd say they worked out. The Devils not only scored once but three times, all from the new guys. <span>Damien Brunner</span> opened the game's scoring and tied it up in the third period. <span>Michael Ryder</span> put home a lovely shot in the second period. They didn't just settle for shots from distance as much as they were able to generate opportunities down low. Had the puck bounced a little more the Devils way, perhaps they would have found that extra goal. They did very well in overtime and while they didn't win the shootout, at least they dragged it to six rounds. These are things the Devils can build on.</p>
<p>This is not to say that I'm totally pleased. The Devils could have gotten a win and they didn't. That usually means that they could be better and there are aspects where they could have done so. That said, my overall feelings about the game would have stayed the same had the Devils won the shootout. Not a great performance, but a step in the right direction. If the Devils continue down their path, then the wins should come. The Devils shouldn't be anywhere near a panic button, so to speak, for two winless games to start the season. Your take may be different, though.</p>
<p><b>The Game Stats: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/GS020016.HTM">NHL.com Game Summary</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/ES020016.HTM">NHL.com Event Summary</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/SS020016.HTM">NHL.com Shot Summary</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/PL020016.HTM">NHL.com Play by Play Log</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/TH020016.HTM">NHL.com Devils Ice Time Log</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/SO020016.HTM">NHL.com Shootout Summary</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.extraskater.com/game/2013-10-04-islanders-devils">Extra Skater Game Stats</a></p>
<p><b>The Opposition Opinion: </b> Dominik throws asterisks into shootout games for his recap but <a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/10/4/4804302/new-york-islanders-vs-new-jersey-devils-shootout-victory">he's pleased overall in his recap over at Lighthouse Hockey</a>.</p>
<p><b>The Game Highlights: </b>From NHL.com, here's the highlight video from tonight's game:</p>
<p align="center"><iframe height="395" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020016-X-h"></iframe></p>
<p><b>Hey Possession: </b>The Devils led overall in attempts 55-39, 45-32 in 5-on-5 play, 40-28 in close score situations in 5-on-5 play, and 28-19 in tied score situations in 5-on-5 play. That's a big jump over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> game where the Devils only out-attempted their opponent because they were down two goals early. <span>Andy Greene</span> and <span>Peter Harrold</span> led the way from the blueline while <span>Travis Zajac</span>, Ryder, and <span>Adam Henrique</span> did a lot of pushing forward. By eye sight, those five were seemingly constant in the Isles' end for stretches of the game. It wasn't all good as the Larsson wasn't good in general and <span>Jaromir Jagr</span> was essentially an anchor. No wonder he got shifted down to play with <span>Stephen Gionta</span> and <span>Ryan Carter</span> from the second period onward.</p>
<p>Amazingly, the Devils did a lot of their damage against the Isles' top line of <span>John Tavares</span>, <span>Kyle Okposo</span>, and <span>Matt Moulson</span>. While they combined for seven shots, they were defending much more often than not. Their Corsi percentage was each below 30%. That's the best way to try contain a top line; force them to do what they're not intended to do. Of course, they still generated seven shots so they weren't that contained all that much But they each were on the ice for at least ten shots on net. Fortunately for them, Michael Grabner and <span>Frans Nielsen</span> were a bit better and made the most of some one-on-Brodeur opportunities. They carried the day in terms of production until Moulson appeared in the shootout.</p>
<p><b>Where I Gripe About the Defense: </b>It would still be in their best interest to work on where they got beaten tonight. The defense left a lot to be desired despite giving up only 26 shots on net. Like on Thursday, there were good defensemen and bad defensemen. While Greene had a very good game and Harrold was usually fine with him (he did get caught on the blueline for a breakaway that Brodeur stopped in the third, that was his one big fault as I recall), the other pairings were frightful. Larsson was picked on almost right from the start, Anton Volchenkov struggled with the puck on his stick, and both had their ice time drastically cut from the second period onward. Volchenkov only got a little more due to a penalty kill in the third. Grabner's second goal, helped by Volchenkov not able to keep the puck in and Larsson not engaging him really made them look stupid. For Larsson, it was the second goal he looked dumb on as Grabner torched an out-of-position Larsson on his way to scoring his first goal.</p>
<p>Marek Zidlicky may have come out ahead in possession but he managed to do it in the most head-shaking way possible. Positioning was seemingly optional for him on some shifts, he gift wrapped a breakaway for Grabner in the third period that Brodeur bailed him out on, he was aggressive to a fault with his pinches, and he was inconsistent in his reaction time. He was difficult to watch tonight. Despite a big possession advantage, I'm again left wondering how <span>Mark Fayne</span> isn't replacing any of these three guys right now.</p>
<p><b>Where I Gripe About the Goalie: </b><span>Martin Brodeur</span> didn't have a very good game in my view. I'm not sure how Tonight's Attending Media gave him the third star of the game. Yes, he absolutely robbed <span>Pierre-Marc Bouchard</span> in the third period and he extended the shootout to six rounds. Yes, he had some good saves at times. Yet, the three goals he allowed were stoppable. The first from Grabner was an aggressive attempt to force Grabner to shoot early, which he did and got the puck just under him. That may have been a defensible decision. I'm failing to see what was defensible about Grabner's second goal, a low shot from a not-so-dangerous angle, or Nielsen putting home a backhander through a gaping five-hole from the goal line. That's because they weren't. It could have been worse had <span>Josh Bailey</span> not hit the post in a 2-on-1 or if Bouchard wasn't super-robbed. Had Brodeur given one or two fewer soft goals, then perhaps the Devils would have won this game outright. If I have to type that, then I don't think he was anywhere near one of the three best players tonight. (I would have made the third man Greene, for what it's worth.)</p>
<p><b>Where I Gripe About the Other 41 Year Old Man on the Devils: </b>Jagr was bad tonight. He tried to muscle his way down low with some degree on offense. However, his decisions on passes weren't always smart. Jagr was responsible for several giveaways and he didn't always backcheck on them. I know he's not much of a defender but I don't see how he's going to get prime time if all he does is float above the circles. In terms of possession, he ended up at -12 among all attempts in 5-on-5 play. To put that in perspective, the only forward who finished below 50% tonight was Gionta at -2. He was a black hole. With one shot on net in over 14 minutes of play, I'm not sure why he was chosen for the shootout, but sure enough, he didn't score. It's clear he's playing his way into form but it was hard to watch #68 tonight.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out that Not Every Team Has a Grabner: </b><span>Michael Grabner's</span> speed made him the most dangerous player for the Isles and not coincidentally their best player. He turned loose pucks into chances and his teammates hit him with multiple killer diagonal passes to play him into the Devils' end. This will lead to pointing out that the Devils are slow. But I want to note that they were exploited by their positioning more than just straight up speed. When players are caught flat footed, even non-slow guys are going to be behind the play because they have figure out what just happened and react, which usually involves turning and desperately trying to make a move. With a guy like Grabner or even someone charging hard like <span>Chuck Kobasew</span> last night, those guys don't have chance. The Devils aren't going to suddenly become super-quick even if they signed The Flash, so it's imperative that they communicate about where the Isles are approaching off the puck (the far side from the bench was common) and the defenders, whoever they may be, drop back in anticipation instead of stepping up.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out Some Good Devils from What I Saw: </b>I really, really liked Greene's game tonight. He was quite good for over 24 minutes at both ends. I really, really liked Damien Brunner charging to the net as needed. He's not the biggest or strongest but he managed to get in position for two goals. He put up two other shots, so he's clearly . I'd like to keep seeing him with <span>Patrik Elias</span>. I liked Steve Bernier's performance. When he was moved up a line to play with <span>Andrei Loktionov</span> and <span>Dainius Zubrus</span>, I felt he did quite well winning pucks and keeping plays going. He did well in the situation.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out Josh Harris Saying Four Words: </b>Thanks to a bunch of readers on Twitter, my brother, and the Associate, Josh Harris used the phrase "In Lou We Trust" twice in an intermission interview on TV. Specifically in reference to his approach to the hockey side of the business. That's the right call and thanks for reading, Mr. Harris!</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out the Crowd: </b>The crowd was what a home opener should be. Hot, excited, and boisterous. They wanted to see something good, they got an exciting game, and the Devils played well enough to keep them involved. I could hear the Diablos all the way from my seat in Section 1 when the other sections weren't making noise of their own, so they were doing work.</p>
<p>I absolutely <i style="font-weight: bold;">loved</i> the crowd's reaction to the goal song, too. It was mentioned in passing somewhere (I think a comment on Tom Gulitti's Fire & Ice) that the goal song was changed. It did not change in preseason and very few people knew what it was changed to. The masses had the same reaction as I did to the sudden usage of a crummy Bon Jovi song (Aside: I lived in New Jersey my whole life, I don't get why I should like this guy or a boss. E-Town Concrete's from New Jersey, that doesn't mean we need to put them on a pedestal, though Mandibles is a good tune.) that the fans had no say in deciding: "Yaaaaaaaaaaaay - wait what is this, this is awful BOOOOOOOOOOOOO, &c." And it happened after a goal against that came from a botched glove save by <span>Evgeni Nabokov</span>. That's definitely a goal against worth jeering, even if he did get the last laugh in the shootout.</p>
<p>I know there's a vocal group of Devils fans on the Internet that wanted to see Rock and Roll Part 2 go away, but tonight proved the vast majority didn't want a change to the goal song. Especially a change without any notice and only began for this game and not any of the three preseason home games where it could have been tried out. And that's a majority ranging from hardcore season ticket holders to casual fans. Out of a sold-out crowd, I'd say it was well over half of them. Instead of just taking what the powers that be demand they take, the crowd stood up for their collective selves and made their disagreement literally heard. The disapproval returned for the second and third goals, with many fans deciding to sing along to Rock and Roll Part 2 <i>anyway</i>. I should know, I led it in my little area and other sections did it too. We all had fun, likely much to the dismay and of the snobs who are still either clutching their pearls, replacing cracked monocles, or missing a pacifier to <strike>suck</strike> use. Media snarked/cried about it; but they're the same people who thought Brodeur was the third best player on the ice tonight so who knows what game they were paying attention to. I hope management did pay attention (or read this site, which I think at least one man of importance does), heard the ticket-pass masses, and make the appropriate change for October 19, which should also be a hot crowd.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out A Small Error: </b>I think was the first game for one of the graphics people. From the scoreboard in the third period:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="10-4-13_scoreboard_faila" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3339633/10-4-13_Scoreboard_Faila_medium.jpg"><br id="1380945907559"></p>
<p>Yeah. Better luck next time.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out Earl's Dance Party wasn't Axed: </b>Good. <b> </b>Earl is an institution that should not be sullied.</p>
<p><b>Where I Point Out That Saturday's Post Will Be A Bit Late: </b>Since the Devils scored their first of the season tonight, I will do a goal breakdown. But that will be up likely tomorrow early afternoon instead of the usual 11 AM sighting.</p>
<p><b>Where I Say It's Your Turn: </b>What did you think of tonight's performance? Was this an improvement of Thursday's game and if so, is it enough to be encouraging for the future or does the team still have some ways to go? What did you make of DeBoer's adjustments from the second period onward? How would you like the Devils to adjust for speedier opponents or teams given the personnel they have? When will Jaromir Jagr get his groove? Would the Devils have won this game if Brodeur was better? What was up with Larsson-Volchenkov or Zidlicky? What do you want to see from the team going forward into their upcoming road trip? Please leave your answers and other thoughts on tonight's game in the comments.</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/10/5/4804654/new-jersey-devils-edged-in-shootout-by-new-york-islanders-lose-4-3John Fischer2013-10-04T18:00:06-04:002013-10-04T18:00:06-04:00Islanders at Devils: Gamethread #2
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<p>Home opener. Home opener! HOME OPENER!!! Discuss here....</p> <p><strong>The Time:</strong> 7:00 PM EST</p>
<p><strong> The Broadcast:</strong> TV - MSG; Radio - 660 AM WFAN (101.9 FM)</p>
<p><strong>The Matchup:</strong> The <a href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Islanders</a> <span>at the </span><a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;">New Jersey Devils</a><span> </span></p>
<p><strong>The Game Previews: </strong>Karen previewed the game earlier this morning. <a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/10/4/4801290/new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-islanders-game-2-preview" target="_blank">Check it out here</a>. For the opposition's point of view, please check out <a href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/10/4/4799402/ny-islanders-vs-new-jersey-devils-gameday" target="_blank"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013/10/4/4799402/ny-islanders-vs-new-jersey-devils-gameday">Lighthouse Hockey's Gameday</a> Preview<a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/">.</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>The Song for Tonight: </strong>I'd be willing to bet this has been a gameday / gamethread song probably multiple times in the past, but I couldn't tell you when. Get yourself pumped up tonight with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_eGXPzSzAg">Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Gameday Info: </strong><a href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/no_morning_skate_for_devils_today_brodeur_to_start_home_opener_vs._isles/" target="_blank">As per TG</a>, The Devils lineup is still a mystery. <span>Jacob Josefson</span>, <span>Mark Fayne</span>, and Rsotislav Olesz skated this morning with <span>Martin Brodeur</span>, who will be in net. The untouchable fourth line of <span>Ryan Carter</span> -<span>Stephen Gionta</span> - <span>Steve Bernier</span> was not good last night. I'm not holding out any hope for any changes, but it would be nice... For the Islanders, <a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/isles-files-1.812028/nelson-donovan-to-play-season-opener-1.6197367?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">per Arthur Staple</a>, <span>Eric Boulton</span>, <span>Matt Carkner</span>, and Griffin Reinhardt are out for the Islanders. <span>Matt Donovan</span> and <span>Brock Nelson</span> (am I the only one who keeps thinking Brock Samson from the Venture Brothers?) are in. Nelson will be playing with <span>Peter Regin</span> and <span>Pierre-Marc Bouchard</span>. Donovan's partner on the back line will be <span>Brian Strait</span>. The Devils need to find a way to contain the Islanders top line of Matt Moulson-John Tavares-Kyle Okposo, as well as the speedy <span>Michael Grabner</span>, better than they did the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a> superstars last night.</p>
<p><strong>The Reminder of Rules: </strong> The usual rules of conduct will apply. Commentary should be <em>mostly </em>about the Devils game. Keep it clean, keep it legal (read: no streams), and be excellent to each other. Please refrain from super-big pictures and/or .GIFs to keep the gamethread moving for everyone.</p>
<p>John may provide some commentary here but probably moreso through <a href="http://www.twitter.com/inlouwetrust">@InLouWeTrust</a> throughout the game. I'll chip in if I can get a signal from my seat up in 212. Go Devils! And welcome back to hockey at the Rock!</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/10/4/4801074/new-york-islanders-at-new-jersey-devils-gamethread-2Jerry Tierney2013-10-04T07:00:02-04:002013-10-04T07:00:02-04:00Devils vs. Islanders: Game 2 Preview
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<img alt="The familiar face of Martin Brodeur will be in net for the Devils home opener." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fTy4Zn0N9VA8G_At4Qp-XpIaHmE=/0x206:4000x2873/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20626375/20130920_sng_bm3_001.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The familiar face of Martin Brodeur will be in net for the Devils home opener. | Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Devils face the Islanders in their home opener. After a disappointing loss to the Penguins last night, the Devils will look to get their first win with Brodeur in net in front of their home crowd. </p> <p><b>The Time: </b>7:00 PM EDT</p>
<p><b>The Broadcast: </b>TV - MSG & MSG Plus, Radio - 660 AM WFAN</p>
<p><b>The Matchup: </b><a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lighthousehockey.com/">New York Islanders</a> (SBN Blog: <a href="http://www.lighthousehockey.com/">Lighthouse Hockey</a>)</p>
<p><b>The Last Devils Game: </b>The Devils fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> in both clubs' season openers by a score of 3-0. <span>Adam Henrique</span> missed a penalty shot opportunity (the first of his career), there was definite rust, and <span>Cory Schneider</span> didn't see the same incredible results he saw in the preseason.</p>
<p>Of the positives, <span>Damien Brunner</span> had eight shots and the penalty kill was flawless - the Penguins didn't even get a shot off with the man advantage, though there was only one 5-on-4 situation. On the negative side, <span>Marek Zidlicky</span> passed on a wide open net and the team was shut out in a season opener for the second time in team history despite eight shots from Damien Brunner.</p>
<p>For a full recap of the game, check out <a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/10/3/4800974/new-jersey-devils-sloppy-shut-out-pittsburgh-penguins-3-0-season-opener">John's post from last night here.</a></p>
<p><b>The Last Islanders Game: </b>This is the Islanders first game of the season. In their final preseason game including their top players, the Islanders beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a> 5-2. <span>Johan Sundstrom</span> had two goals and the Moulson, Tavares, Okposo line contributed another two goals. <span>Justin Johnson</span> had the other Islanders goal. <a href="http://islanders.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2013010103">Here is a recap of that game on the Islanders website. </a></p>
<p><b>The Goal:</b></p>
<p>This is the Islanders first game of the season, so they will be anxious and roaring to go. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how the Devils come out for the game. In the second game of a back-to-back, the Devils need to match the Islanders energy, and take advantage of any jitters they may have to starting the season.</p>
<p>The Islanders have a lot of talented forwards. Keeping the likes of Tavares, Moulson, Okposo, and co. contained will be vital. The Islanders are also full of young, speedy forwards. That may not be the easiest for the older, slower Devils defense to hold off.</p>
<p>Speaking of defense, will <span>Mark Fayne</span> get his season debut this evening? There are many defenders who failed to impress in Pittburgh, so he may get a shot. Marek Zidlicky missed a wide open net, took an unnecessary penalty, and gave up an odd-man rush in the second period. While facing the toughest competition, <span>Andy Greene</span> and <span>Adam Larsson</span> were on the ice for the first and third goals against. <span>Anton Volchenkov</span> was caught playing catch-up and made numerous mistakes. <a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/10/3/4800974/new-jersey-devils-sloppy-shut-out-pittsburgh-penguins-3-0-season-opener">John goes into much more detail about the defensive woes last night in his recap with a well-earned vent about Zidlicky.</a> Like John, I wouldn't mind seeing Fayne replace either Volchenkov or Zidlicky.</p>
<p>On the other side of things, the Devils forwards need to step up and put the puck in the net. Brunner wasn't afraid to shoot the puck, and Ryan Clowe had a great opportunity at the end of the game last night, but now they need to finish. <span>Patrik Elias</span> and <span>Jaromir Jagr</span> didn't do much in Pittsburgh - hopefully they'll impress in front of the home crowd. Both were dusting off the rust after missing some of (or all of, in Jagr's case) the preseason and may come out stronger tonight. Like on defense, the Devils have a few options at forward if DeBoer wants to give Josefson or Olesz a chance (Tedenby is still on IR).</p>
<p>There will be one definite change in the lineup tonight - <span>Martin Brodeur</span> will make his season debut. It will be interesting to see his performance after a less than stellar preseason. <a href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/schneider_will_start_devils_season_opener_in_pittsburgh_brodeur_to_start_home_opener_friday/">He has had some extra time to cope with the passing of his father and he seems to be looking forward to getting back on the ice for a game.</a></p>
<p>The Devils get the chance to get right back at it after a disappointing season opener. With the crowd on their side and a bit of rust shaken off, hopefully the result will be different than last night. The team didn't show much of anything in the first period, and then picked up the pace and outshot the Penguins in the second and third period. New Jersey needs to come out from start to finish tonight to take out the Islanders.</p>
<p><b>Your Take:</b></p>
<p>What would you like to see differently from the performance in Pittsburgh? Would you change the lineup in any way? How can the Devils keep the Islanders top guns off of the score sheet? Do you feel comfortable with Brodeur in net? Please leave your thoughts on the game tonight in the comments section below. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the game whether you are at The Rock or elsewhere!</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/10/4/4801290/new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-islanders-game-2-previewKaren Meilands