NEWARK, NJ – After two grueling series with the Panthers and Flyers lasting twelve games, the New Jersey Devils landed in the Eastern Conference Finals with a little momentum along with a few extra days of rest. The Rangers, on the other hand, played fourteen games just about every other day as they entered the third round. One would have thought a little extra rest would have served the Devils well, but so far, it seems to have left them offensively deprived.
After three games, the Devils are struggling to find the back of the net. Only Ilya Kovalchuk, Ryan Carter and David Clarkson have accounted for New Jersey’s scoring. Zack Parise, Patrick Elias and Petr Sykora brought their combined 78 regular season goals and 9 playoff goals to the series, but after eighteen combined shots, have nothing to show for their usual sniper touch.
To make matters worse, their power play has stalled. Through the first two rounds, New Jersey converted 9 of 43 opportunities for a 20.9% success rate. Against the Rangers, the Devils have converted just one power play opportunity in twelve chances.
New Jersey will seek to get better quality scoring threats with less interference through blocked shots, something New York has mastered with 61 so far in the series. The Devils are clearly frustrated with being unable to score and have begun to criticize the Rangers dirty play.
After game three, Devils coach Peter DeBoer called the Rangers’ Brandon Prust a “headhunter” after his solid blow to the back of New Jersey defenseman Anton Volchenkov ’s head left him dazed. The play earned Prust a one-game suspension for Monday.
On Sunday, Rangers coach John Tortorella suggested the frustrated Devils were seeking to run set plays to draw picks and open up the shooting lanes. He responded to that comment by defending Prust and accusing the Devils of embellishing calls.
“He’s probably one of the most honest players,” Tortorella said, before continuing into a bit of gamesmanship. “I look at ( Dainius Zubrus ‘) elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching himself at (Michael) Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we’ll get something. We tell our players don’t stay down on the ice, get up. “The picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I’ve got a long list here. That’s a set play by Jersey — picking so we can’t get to (Ilya) Kovalchuk to block his shot. There’s some gamesmanship right there, huh?”
Tortorella was referencing Kovalchuk’s power play goal in game two. The puck slid from the right side of the zone to the left side to an open Kovalchuk who snapped a shot over the glove of Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist .
In some way, the Devils will need to solve a stingy New York defense which seems to have just about everything going their way in the series. DeBoer hopes Jacob Josefson may provide a spark as he returns from a fractured left wrist suffered April 3rd against the New York Islanders. Petr Sykora will be the healthy scratch to open up this space.
At the team’s morning skate Sunday, Josefson centered a line between Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson . Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk were centered with Adam Henrique on the second line. The top line had Travis Zajac in the middle of Zach Parise and Dainius Zubrus .
The Rangers, who hold a 0.940 save percentage in the playoffs, will have their hands full with a tenacious New Jersey attack early on. They key will be for the Devils to open up the shooting lanes find a way to convert power play chances. If they struggle with those two challenges, the series could be over by Wednesday.
Contact: dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
Follow me on Twitter @DMMORRELL
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