It appears as though Patrick Elias reads my blogs because I stated that we (Devils fans and players) needed him to come alive and what an answer he had for me (us)!

The game had all of the makings of ending the Devils' seven-game unbeaten streak.  They were down 3-0 after the first, the game looked out of reach, and the 14,012 in attendance were silenced.

So what happened? Where was the momentum swing?  Martin Brodeur's glove save on Phil Kessel's breakaway 4:40 into the second period seemed to have been the turning point of the game, which favored New Jersey the rest of the way.

As I stated, the first period was ugly as the Boston Bruins jumped out to a three zip lead after 20 minutes of Devils' turnovers and mistakes.

The second period though belonged to the Devils.  They poured on shot after shot until Elias finally reached the back of the net, assisted by linemates Brian Gionta and Zach Parise.

The momentum swing continued as well-traveled Glen Metropolit went to the box on an undisciplined interference penalty.  Parise scored on the ensuring power play, his 13th this season, on a little shovel-shot on the side of the net, to close the gap 3-2 Bruins.

The third period started out very touch and go.  The B's seemed to be feeling out the Devils to see if they still had the momentum from the second period.  The Devils picked up steam as the period rolled on and the clock kept ticking.

With just over five minutes left, Sheldon Brookbank took a shot that Zach Parise deflected down off the ice and over the pads of Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas for his second of the night and 14th on the season, knotting the game at 3-3.

The Devils couldn't lose now... right?  Well John Madden took a penalty with under four minutes left and Marty Brodeur and the penalty kill came up huge.  At the conclusion of the kill the Devils took a harmless shot that seemed to catch Thomas off guard and he left the game with what looked like a knee injury, leaving the Bruins without their No. 1 'tender' for the rest of the game, inclduing overtime.

As overtime started it looked like a chess match going on.  Boston standing in their own zone as players left and came on the ice, the Devils would match lines, all while play was standing still.  

Play resumed and the Bruins and Devils did not get many good opportunities until Parise broke in 2-on-2 with Elias, dropped the puck, and took both of the Bruins defensemen with him, as Elias picked up the puck he took a wrist shot through the defenseman's legs and over the glove of backup Tuukka Rask, who was already down and partially screened.

The Devils won again, their eighth in a row.  The streak started on Nov. 17th and doesn't have any looks of stopping.

Next stop, a home meeting with the Washington Capitals this Friday on Scott Stevens Hall of Fame night.  I think the Devils can pull out No. 9 for No. 4

For now the Devils are now tied with the New York Rangers for first place overall in the Atlantic Division... Capitals on Friday, Rangers on Sunday... I see four more points awfully close.

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