GOAL SCORERS
NJD: I. Kovalchuk (14:01 - 3rd)
What a night it was in New Jersey, as the Devils needed a win to keep there playoff hopes alive and the Habs needed a win to try to get themselves closer to clinching a playoff spot. So it was a big night all around. Martin Brodeur got the start for the Devils. In Brodeurs last 2 games against Montreal he has not given up a goal. That would change tonight. It was a fast paced start to this game. As Matt Tedenby had a early breakaway and he was slashed.
So he was handed a penalty shot. Tedenby came in and made a nice move but went off the post and off Price's right leg and out. Then just 5 minutes later, Gionta came in over the New Jersey line and looked like he was going to go ariund the net but instead he took a backhand shot that was tipped in by Darche to make it 1-0 Montreal. Still in the first, the Habs were shorthanded. But Plekanec got a breakway and he was stopped by Brodeur who came out of the crease and made a great save. Then 7 minutes into the second, Gionta played the puck to Gomez (Who hasn't scored in 26 games) and his shot was stopped and the rebound went to Darche and he was stopped as well. Brodeur with great saves to keep the Devils in this game.
On the next play, Plekanec played the puck to Cammalleri and he had an open net, but he was stopped by Brodeur with the glove hand. Either Brodeur has all the luck in the world or he's on the top of his game. We will go to the third now. In the third (just 30 seconds in), the Habs were on the powerplay and Subban's point shot would go in to make it 2-0. 4 minutes later, Gionta came in on the right side and played the puck to Darche and he scored his second of the game to make it 3-0.
It was a mirror like goal in comparison to the first one that he had scored. Kovalchuck would add a late goal to break the shutout, but it wouldn't matter as the Habs got the win at 3-1 to put the Devils playoff hopes down the drain." We knew that going into this game how important this game was for both teams," Gionta said. "Every player chipped in and that's why we got the win." In the victory, Carey Price had 20 saves on 21 shots. In the lose that put the Devils out of the playoff picture, Brodeur made 26 saves.This was an all around good game for Montreal, as they are now 3 points away from clinching a playoff spot with just 3 games remaining. We have hit the final stretch of the NHL 2011 Playoff Race.
Written By Andrew Di Pardo
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