The NHL Trade Deadline left Cory Schneider as the number one goalie in Newark and he made 34 saves Monday night in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Kieth Kincaid was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday.
“I thought our first period was really strong; we got on the board first, built the lead,” Schneider said. “They pushed back but nothing that we couldn’t handle. Every time we got scrambly a little bit, we got it under control and I was able to see it, make the saves. I was just a complete group effort.”
Nathan Bastian (first NHL goal) and Kurtis Gabriel staked the Devils to a 2-0 lead with goals in the first and second periods.
“It was difficult early because I was trying to establish sort of a flow and some physicality,” Connor Carrick said. “We did a good job competing as a unit of five and this time of year the NHL it is such of polished game, you have to have good team structure. The guys need to be working and willing their way to impact a play. I thought we had 20 guys doing that.”
The Devils improved to 25-30-8.
“Tipping pucks is one of those things that pretty much everyone works at,” Bastian said. “Being a big guy, I pride myself in being big (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) and strong and good around the net. Sometimes when you tip it, it goes in and sometimes it doesn’t. I was lucky enough to get it through Price’s legs.”
Carrick was picked up from the Dallas Stars.
Paul Byron scored the Habs’ lone goal early in the third period to put some excitement back in the match.
“We didn’t start the game off well and that was the whole story of this game,” Canadiens coach Claude Julien said. “There is not much more to say other than we needed to start on time.”
[WATCH: All Canadiens vs. Devils highlights]
Carey Price made 20 saves in the loss.
“Every single game from here on out will be absolutely huge. We’ve got to find ways to win as many games as possible. We’re going to try and win every game, obviously,” Canadiens center Max Domi said. “We’re going to leave it all out there. We’re going to empty the tanks every night. There’s a lot of character in this group so we’ll find a way.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.