Game 2, New Jersey 3 @ Chicago 2, OT
New Jersey Evens The Series
The New Jersey Devils have regained the advantage in a series where home ice doesn't seem to matter, emerging from Chicago with a 3-2 Overtime victory. After thoroughly being outplayed and outclassed in Game 1, Coach OldTimeHockey promised we would see a different Devils team emerge: "In the first game, I think my boys were still hung over from celebrating their President's Trophy (awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season) and it was my own fault for their lack of discipline. We respect the Chicago Blackhawks, but we were not prepared to match the effort they brought to the table in Game 1 of our series. To use the old hockey cliché, it only counts as one loss and this is a long series. I'm sure my boys will bounce back from the embarassment."
The Devils looked like a different team from the start, limiting the Blackhawks to less odd man rushes, while peppering goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. Early in the first period, Sergei Brylin was able to slip one by the "Bulin Wall" as it squeezed through some pads and trickled into the net. Midway through the second period, Chicago would come storming back on a give and go one timer from Vrbata to Salmalainen to equalize at 1-1. Early in the third, Hvlat would skate in on Martin Brodeur from a bad angle and was still able to put the puck in the net from a shot which barely occurred in front of the goalline. As time was winding down in the game, Jamie Langenbrunner unleashed a wicked slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Khabibulin cleanly through the five hole and provided the final dramatics. Neither team would score through the last 5 minutes of the game, however there were numerous close calls at both ends of the ice before the final horn sounded.
In Overtime, New Jersey controlled the openning faceoff and appeared to have the game won, however Khabibulin squoze his pads enough to make the save and lead to a breakout pass, which lead to a Chicago odd man rush. This time Martin Brodeur showed his brilliance with a sliding save. The rebound was coralled and brought up ice by puckhandling defenseman Paul Martin. After his shot was blocked, the puck carromed to Scott Gomez. Cool under pressure, he made a pass to the blueline where a hard charging Colin White had a clear path to the net. He unleashed a hard slapshot that found the far top left corner of the net for the victory. It was White's first ever playoff game winner.
Dejected that they let a 2-0 series lead slip through their hands, the Blackhawks went back to the drawing boards in hopes of regaining the magic from Game 1 that made them so successful.
This sets up a pivotal Game 3 where one team will be one step closer to elimination. The series is now a best of three with New Jersey having Home Ice In Game 3.
1 2 3 OT Total
Devils 1 0 1 1 3
Blackhawks 0 1 1 0 2
Shots On Goal:
CHI:17, NJ:22
Scoring
1st Period
NJ, Sergei Brylin (Langenbrunner, Parise)
2nd Period
CHI, Salmalainen (Vrbata)
3rd Period
CHI, Hvlat (Rutuu, Aucoin)
NJ, Jamie Langenbrunner (Lukowich)
Overtime
NJ, Colin White (Gomez, Martin), 4:29
3 Stars
1. NJ, Colin White, 1 G, 0 A
2. NJ, Jamie Langenbrunner, 1 G, 0 A
3. NJ. Martin Brodeur, 15 saves
The New Jersey Devils have regained the advantage in a series where home ice doesn't seem to matter, emerging from Chicago with a 3-2 Overtime victory. After thoroughly being outplayed and outclassed in Game 1, Coach OldTimeHockey promised we would see a different Devils team emerge: "In the first game, I think my boys were still hung over from celebrating their President's Trophy (awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season) and it was my own fault for their lack of discipline. We respect the Chicago Blackhawks, but we were not prepared to match the effort they brought to the table in Game 1 of our series. To use the old hockey cliché, it only counts as one loss and this is a long series. I'm sure my boys will bounce back from the embarassment."
The Devils looked like a different team from the start, limiting the Blackhawks to less odd man rushes, while peppering goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. Early in the first period, Sergei Brylin was able to slip one by the "Bulin Wall" as it squeezed through some pads and trickled into the net. Midway through the second period, Chicago would come storming back on a give and go one timer from Vrbata to Salmalainen to equalize at 1-1. Early in the third, Hvlat would skate in on Martin Brodeur from a bad angle and was still able to put the puck in the net from a shot which barely occurred in front of the goalline. As time was winding down in the game, Jamie Langenbrunner unleashed a wicked slapshot from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Khabibulin cleanly through the five hole and provided the final dramatics. Neither team would score through the last 5 minutes of the game, however there were numerous close calls at both ends of the ice before the final horn sounded.
In Overtime, New Jersey controlled the openning faceoff and appeared to have the game won, however Khabibulin squoze his pads enough to make the save and lead to a breakout pass, which lead to a Chicago odd man rush. This time Martin Brodeur showed his brilliance with a sliding save. The rebound was coralled and brought up ice by puckhandling defenseman Paul Martin. After his shot was blocked, the puck carromed to Scott Gomez. Cool under pressure, he made a pass to the blueline where a hard charging Colin White had a clear path to the net. He unleashed a hard slapshot that found the far top left corner of the net for the victory. It was White's first ever playoff game winner.
Dejected that they let a 2-0 series lead slip through their hands, the Blackhawks went back to the drawing boards in hopes of regaining the magic from Game 1 that made them so successful.
This sets up a pivotal Game 3 where one team will be one step closer to elimination. The series is now a best of three with New Jersey having Home Ice In Game 3.
1 2 3 OT Total
Devils 1 0 1 1 3
Blackhawks 0 1 1 0 2
Shots On Goal:
CHI:17, NJ:22
Scoring
1st Period
NJ, Sergei Brylin (Langenbrunner, Parise)
2nd Period
CHI, Salmalainen (Vrbata)
3rd Period
CHI, Hvlat (Rutuu, Aucoin)
NJ, Jamie Langenbrunner (Lukowich)
Overtime
NJ, Colin White (Gomez, Martin), 4:29
3 Stars
1. NJ, Colin White, 1 G, 0 A
2. NJ, Jamie Langenbrunner, 1 G, 0 A
3. NJ. Martin Brodeur, 15 saves
posted by OldTimeHockey at 12:21 PM
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