The Devils needed just 3.7 seconds more to send this game into a shootout. Islanders forward Bill Guerin would not let that happen tonight, however, scoring an overtime poweplay game-winner with 3.7 seconds remaining.

The New Jersey Devils lost an overtime thriller tonight against the Islanders. In a 4-3 defeat, as special teams were the key to this one-goal loss. While the Islanders were 2-5 on their man advantage (including Guerin's GWG), the Devils failed to score (0-4) on their power play opportunities.  Since the season opener, the Devils have allowed at least one goal on the PP in each of the last six games.
 
The Devils even had a huge chance at the end of regulation when Islander forward Sean Bergenheim was called for a questionable interference penalty with 1:18 remaining.  However, goaltender Rick DiPietro was strong, blocking several shots, 25 of 28 in the contest, en route to earning his fifth win of the season (5-2).  Martin Brodeur’s backup Kevin Weekes did not disappoint either for the Devils stonewalling 32 of 36 shots he faced.  Brodeur was a healthy scratch for the game, even though he was seen icing his shoulder in practice, he was given the night off anyway, He will be in net for the Ranger game on Thursday.
 
Two Devils, who were aching for some scoring and point production, Brian Gionta and Danius Zubrus, were very impressive tonight after playing miserable hockey in the first seven games. In 18:23 of ice time, Gio, as nicknamed by teammates, scored the tying goal in regulation, only his second of the season. Zubrus was credited for the second assist on that goal and the only assist on Zach Parise’s beautiful first period roofer.
 
Parise intercepted the puck in the Islanders zone and finished the play with a wrister, top shelf over DiPietro’s glove side... only 55 seconds into the game.
 
Again, the Devils failed to play three full periods of hockey, actually three plus an overtime period.  After leading the first period 1-0, they gave up three goals in the next 20 minutes of play. In the last five games, the Devils have been outscored 13-3 in the second period.  Josef Vasicek, Miroslav Satan, and Mike Comrie scored for the Islanders in a span of nine minutes to take a 3-1 commanding lead.
 
The third period definitely went the Devils way, as they reached the back of the net twice to even the game 3-3. Jay Pandolfo’s third of the year occurred less than two and a half minutes into the period.  With less than eight minutes left on the clock, Gionta deflected a Paul Martin feed past DiPietro.  The Devils were forced to wait a few seconds for the referees to review the play and ensure that Gionta’s stick was not above the crossbar and therefore illegal when he touched the puck. They made the correct call and allowed Gio’s goal to count. The Devils carried momentum from that goal on, but could not find the net again, hitting a crossbar late in the third.
 
In their first overtime of the season, the Devils only managed two shots on goal, while allowing five by the Islanders. In all, the Devils were on the short end of the stick in shots tonight, with their 28 versus 36 Islanders shots.  Bill Guerin’s overtime goal won the game for the Islanders on Firefighters Appreciation night. Devils defenseman Andy Greene was called for tripping, again a questionable referee call, and Guerin found an open net with 3.7 seconds left on the game clock.  Guerin, a former Devil, was coming off a hat trick Thursday night and continues to impress, even at age 37. He is tied with teammate Mike Comrie for the team’s point leader (4G 6A, Comrie 5G 5A).  As I mentioned in my preview, Comrie, Guerin, and Ruslan Fedotenko all produced once again for the Islanders, a team they joined in the off-season.  While they continue to produce, the Devils newcomers including Zubrus and two defensemen (Vishnevski and Rachunek who have a combined one point this season)  have yet to find their sweet spots.
 
Definitely a much better game than the last one, the Devils still have much work to do before facing the Rangers at the Garden this upcoming Thursday evening.  Defensively, they allowed four goals for the fourth consecutive game and allowed another power play goal, a category in which they place last in the league.  Coach Sutter was not pleased with Johnny Oduya's effort either, but focused on the second period's letdown as the key to the defeat.
I was much happier with the outcome tonight, even though the Devs were unsuccessful. With the win, the Isles moved to 5-3 , while the Devils dropped to 3-4-1 on the season, at least earning one of the two possible points once the game went into overtime.
 
The power play unit had plenty of shots on net tonight, but still had some problems scoring.  For the Devils to beat the Rangers, who lost this afternoon and are visibly struggling, they will need to give 100% effort for a full 60 minutes, not just 40 (two periods).  The Devils conclude their 9 game road trip in New York and with a win most would agree that would be a successful, yet rocky, start to the 2008 campaign.
 
 

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