Devils Struggles
For the first part of the 2009-2010 regular season, the New Jersey Devils had played nearly flawless hockey. They were playing as a five-man unit and running on all cylinders. Martin Brodeur was playing out of his mind and the Devils were the class of the NHL. But even during the winning ways, the Devils were hit with the injury bug and there was no cure in sight. It started in the off-season when winger Patrik Elias had surgery on his groin. Then Paul Martin and Jay Pandolfo left a game on October 24. Rob Niedermayer was next, then Johnny Oduya. When Pandolfo came back, Dainius Zubrus broke his knee cap. David Clarkson then broke his ankle. In that time Elias, Niedermayer, and Oduya came back. Martin and Clarkson remain out today and their returns were put off until after the Olympic break. But even during all the injuries and the minor league call-ups, the Devils were scoring goals, playing solid defense, and Brodeur was shutting the door in net.
The Devils were in first place in the Eastern Conference when the calendar changed from 2009 to 2010. On January 8, the Devils played host to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Devils were trailing 3-0 when the lights at Prudential Center went out. The game was delayed for over an hour and half before the crowd was told that the game was going to be delayed and made up at a later date. It also seemed like the Devils good fortune was about to change as well. It seemed like after that game the Devils have struggled to find their game. They were a team that always got out to a quick start and put the pressure on the opposition. The Devils were now giving up the first two goals routinely. The Devils went on a 5 game road trip and won two games. They were also shut out twice; the first two times all year. They have been playing sloppy defense and have been very predictable offensively. But during their recent struggles Brodeur has been playing real well. There was probably one game in which he did not look good at all. The defense has been turning the puck over in their own zone and giving away goals. Brodeur can’t really be blamed for that. Since January 8, the Devils have played 15 games. They are 6-8-1. They have been out-scored 37-26 during that 15 game stretch. The latter is what prompted Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello to trade Johnny Oduya, Nicklas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, a 2010 first round pick, and 2010 second round pick to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, and 2010 second round pick.
The trade could be the biggest deal the Devils have made since 2000 when they traded for Alexander Mogilny. The Devils don’t usually make trades like this, so it was a big surprise when they did trade for a player who is concidered a top-five player in the league. Kovalchuk will help the scoring woes of the Devils. He is a dynamic player who, when on the ice, the opposing team has to keep an eye on.
The Devils cannot wait to get to the Olympic break. They cannot wait to get healthy. After the break, Martin and Clarkson will be joining the team again. Martin is the Devils best defender. He will help solidify the back end and help keep everything under control. Clarkson will bring his energy and feistiness to the offense. He is a pest and can get under the opposing team’s skin and help draw penalties. I think the Devils will settle down and get back to what made them successful in the first half of the season. If they don’t, it looks like it will be an early exit in the playoffs again.
