Anyone who follows the Devils knows that anytime the offense shows up and puts four on the board, it's a game where the boys in red should come away with two points, end of story. The team is built on defense and it just wasn't there on Tuesday. Anton Volchenkov was playing like some sort of Space Jam-like aliens stole his talents for a sequel hockey game against the Tune Squad (although it's not like any of them would target Volchenkov in the first place). Yeah, he got hurt and came back into the game, but it's not like he was playing like Scott Stevens before he left.
Frustrating game from the Devils, as I can assure you Schneider wouldn't have needed four goals for a win Tuesday, guy has been winning with barely any offense in front of him and at this point he's clearly the number one.
There were a couple bright spots surprisingly enough as Damien Brunner finally snapped out of his zombie-like slump with two goals, which will hopefully give him the confidence he needs to jumpstart his play. Michael Ryder stayed hot with another goal and now has four goals in his last five games, but perhaps the biggest help is the progress being made by two players that have missed significant time due to injury in Ryane Clowe and the captain Bryce Salvador.
Ryane Clowe, the walking concussion who I'm sure most people forgot was a Devil at this point (get used to it, he's signed for five years), should be back by the weekend or early next week. Salvador began skating with the team this week on his way back and should stabilize the defense, which has played well in his absence for the most part, taking some pressure off of the rookies, Merrill and Big Gelly (friggin love Eric Gelinas).
Anyways, the Devils are back in action Friday in Pittsburgh. On paper it's scary due to their record, but the Devils have won 4 of the last 6 against those assholes. Either way, Let's Go Devils.
This needs to come back...
