NEWARK -- Two professional hockey teams, one in first place and the other tied for last, competed at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark this past afternoon.

It sure resembled the other way around, as the last place Phoenix Coyotes earned nine power plays en route to a 4-1 win over the Devils, in their first daytime contest at "The Rock.  The Devils committed nine penalties and played like the worse team in front of 16,636 (94.4% full).

Without D Paul Martin, the defense seemed uncoordinated, and to loose pucks.  As a team, the Devs allowed four goals, including a short-hander, on 38 Coyotes shots.  Mikael Tellqvist (5-3-0) started in net for the Coyotes, and earned the victory, stopping 30 of 31 shots.

Patrik Elias had an excellent shorthanded opportunity to give New Jersey the 1-0 lead with 1:17 left in the first period.  As he skated down the middle, he was disturbed by the defenseman behind the play and lost control of the puck.

The Devils were also 0-for-2 on the power play and led 10-9 in shots after a scoreless first, while the Coyotes shot blanks on their only chance.

SECOND: The Devils committed four minor penalties, which had something to do with the 17 shots they allowed on Martin Brodeur (16-10-2).

What bothered me the more was starting Marty in this situation.  It was a perfect trap game and opportunity to rest him against a backup goaltender no less and a team that scores the fewest amount of goals in the Western Conference.

Philadelphia pays a visit to the Rock tomorrow night and the Devils have an important road trip immediately following that game.  Phoenix is a young and skillful team and starting Kevin Weekes would have rested Marty for the upcoming difficult schedule.

LINE-UP: The line of Fredrik Sjostrom, Martin Hanzal, and Radim Vrbata owned the Devils today, accounted for all four goals, added six assists, and finished with a +7.  Sjostrom scored his first of two goals at 3:32 of the second period.  The Devils had opportunities to tie this contest, but ended the second down 1-0 on 13 shots.

THIRD: Oy vey…Before ranting about the team’s play in the third period, I must comment on the officiating.

I was very disappointed with the non-roughing call after Zach Parise’s shorthanded goal closed the gap 3-1.

On the other hand, the refs’ whistles blew continuously, as four Devils were assessed infractions for a variety of penalties in the third, including three for hooking throughout the game.

And that roughing call to David Clarkson?  Refs, that was such bullshit.  Ooh… wait, players are not allowed to assess the refs’ judgment… or they might get fined… if coach Brent Sutter wants to rev up his team’s engine… get on the air, take a fine (which management would probably cover anyway) and attack the unbalanced officiating.  While the referees are supposed to cut down on illegal touching, even the slightest hook or grab, they are, in fact, slowing down the game and worsening environments for fans.  Is that what Comm. Gary Bettman wants from the league?

The aforementioned line killed the Devils today, as Vrbata sent fans for the doors with an important goal, to extend the lead 2-0.  Sjostrom followed that up with a power play effort, his seventh.

Zach Parise made things interesting with a shorthanded goal assisted by Patrik Elias and Sergei Brylin.  Brylin actually did all the work except for scoring, but Parise cleaned up, his team-leading 15^th thus far.  I had a good feeling that the Devils might come alive, but then again, Parise scored with six minutes remaining in the game.

The Devils actually went on the power play less than two minutes later, but allowed Hanzal’s highlight-reel SH breakaway goal that put this game out of reach.  Hanzal came down the left side, deked out Brodeur, and finished with a forehand past Marty’s blocker.  I am not sure if Karel Rachnuek or Travis Zajac was on the ice at the time, but both finished with a -3.  Four D-men had zero shots on net for the Devils, this coming after I praised them for their efforts in the Bruins game...

Maybe, Joel was right. the Devils need some help on the blue line...

(Schneider is most likely off the market now that the Ducks traded Andy McDonald to the St. Louis Blues for Doug Weight, Michal Birner and a seventh-round draft pick next year)

Fortunately, Phoenix did not take advantage of D Johnny Oduya’s roughing and hooking infractions.  Oduya returned to the lineup against Boston and was one of three defensemen to contribute an assist in the Devils’ 3-1 win.  However, without Martin’s 23:46 average time on ice, the team looked helpless.

I understand that the Devils cannot win every game, but again, there is something not clicking, whether it is the constant line changes by Sutter, or their relatively youthful roster.  They are in first place in possibly the most competitive division in hockey, but confuse me sometimes against non-competitive younger teams like Washington and Phoenix.

Tomorrow is another important day for the Devils, as the Flyers come to town on the back end of their two games in two days.  The Devs need a healthy Martin, as Pandolfo remains day-day with a pelvic injury...

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