Devils Snap Two Game Skid In 3-2 Win Over Canucks

Devils goaltender Cory Schneider attempts to fight off a screen against the Canucks. Photo Credit: www.vancouversun.com

EAST HANOVER, NJ – Mike Cammalleri recorded a goal and two assists to help the New Jersey Devils (11-8-1) skate past the Vancouver Canucks (8-8-6) with a 3-2 win on Sunday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

The Good – Goaltender Cory Schneider earned his first win in Vancouver since being traded away from the team in 2013. He made 36 saves in the winning effort as the Devil’s concluded their three-game western road trip with a victory after a couple of losing efforts to the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.

Cammalleri has been arguably the best players for the Devils thus far. He recorded three points on Sunday and has now recorded 21 points in the team’s first 20 games (7 goals, 14 assists).

The Devils were up 2-0 in the middle of the third period when Henrik Sedin scored for Vancouver to cut the lead in half. With momentum and crowd noise against them, Adam Henrique restored the Devil’s two-goal lead when he scored off his own rebound. That tally ended up being the game winner.

Weather on the power-play or the penalty kill, New Jersey seems to exceed when their are an odd amount of skaters on the ice. The Devils were short-handed for a season high, seven times against the Canucks. They killed off six of those man advantage opportunities. Andy Greene scored with the Devils a man up to give his team a 2-0 advantage in the third as New Jersey now ranks 4th in the league when they are up a man.

The Bad – Schneider made an errant pass from behind his net when the Devils were up by two. Daniel Sedin intercepted him and then fed his brother Henrik in front to make the score 2-1 with plenty of time left in the final frame.

The penalty kill was almost a perfect 7 for 7 until Radim Vrbata scored for Vancouver with less than a second to go in the contest. The goal was well deserved, especially because Schneider robbed the forward on a penalty shot earlier in the game.

The Devils were playing with fire by taking seven penalties on the road. If it were not for Schneider’s spectacular stops and a ring off the post, this game could have ended differently. Also, defenseman John Moore gave the Canucks a penalty shot when he covered up the puck with his glove, inside the crease. Luckily for New Jersey, Schneider bailed his team out with a brilliant pad stop.

Noteable Quotes from NHL.com –

Schneider on his return to Vancouver

“It still feels like a second home,” said Schneider, who lost in his first two return trips. “It feels very natural to be back here, but at the same time it also feels good to win here and to beat them.”

“Henrik is such a good distributor on the wall and I’ve learned that even when the puck is in the middle they might go to one side or the other and not necessarily just throw it at the net,” Schneider said. “I just tried to hold my ground all night, tried to keep my feet as long as I could and just make sure they weren’t sliding pucks past me or behind me to other guys.”

Cammalleri on the win

“It was important tonight we played to our identity and we were happy with our compete level and commitment and work ethic, regardless of the result,” Cammalleri said. “When you do that, you have a better chance of having a good result. We didn’t like it the first couple games of this road trip. … If this group doesn’t have that, we don’t have a chance.”

What’s Next – The Devils will have today off and then play host to the Columbus Blue Jackets (8-14), who stand in last place in the Eastern Conference. This seems like an appetizing affair, but New Jersey did lose to this franchise earlier in the year, in Newark, when they had just two wins coming in.