Devils Postgame
Undisciplined Devils Blow Multi-Goal Lead; Sleepwalk in Loss to Penguins
The New Jersey Devils play undisciplined, sleepwalk against the Pittsburgh Penguins and blow a multi-goal lead.
NEWARK—If the New Jersey Devils are planning to give the Carolina Hurricanes any sort of challenge in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, then their recent performances against non-playoff teams simply won’t suffice.
The Pittsburgh Penguins came to Newark, New Jersey with a 4-4-2 record in their last 10 games, largely icing an unrecognizable roster outside Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson.
Much like the Bruins, the Penguins won’t head to the postseason. Yet, the Devils are struggling to find their game against inferior teams.
The Devils couldn’t have possibly had a better start than they did. After Dawson Mercer won the opening draw, Erik Haula was immediately sprung for a breakaway and scored to give New Jersey a quick 1-0 lead.
Ondrej Palat soon after drew a hooking penalty that sat Kevin Hayes for two minutes in the Pittsburgh penalty box. Although the Devils swarmed Tristan Jarry on the man advantage, the penalty expired before New Jersey could score. However, just after the penalty expired, Cody Glass fired a shot from the top of the left circle that was redirected by Palat to give the Devils a 2-0 lead.
The Penguins eventually found their legs and pushed back, drawing a power play as a result of offensive pressure. Johnathan Kovacevic tripped Evgeni Malkin sending Pittsburgh to the man advantage.
Although the Penguins power play expired, Malkin sustained pressure in the offensive zone. After wedging the puck between Jake Allen‘s pads and the post, Luke Hughes put the puck in his own net while attempting to clear it from the crease, cutting New Jersey’s lead 2-1.
The Penguins received an early man advantage to start the second period when Brett Pesce was whistled for hooking. It took Pittsburgh just two seconds to score after Malkin’s blueline blast deflected off Valtteri Puustinen and in to tie the game at two goals each.
Despite the Devils holding a 5-1 scoring chance differential in the second period, the Devils and Penguins remained tied heading into the second intermission.
After some back and forth in the first half of the third period, the Devils gave the Penguins another man advantage as a result of a Glass high-sticking Crosby.
Crosby made the Devils pay, giving Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead, redirecting Bryan Rust’s pass on the power play.
With Allen pulled for an extra attacker, Rust hit the empty-net to seal a Penguins 4-2 victory.
Allen made 17 saves on 20 shots in the loss.
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