New Jersey Devils‘ first playoff berth since 2012 is there for the taking. All they have to do is take it.
Taylor Hall scored two goals and the Devils reduced their magic number for clinching a postseason berth to six points with a 4-3 victory over the New York
Islanders on Saturday night.
Any combination of points earned by the Devils or not earned by Florida that total six will complete an improbable ride back to the postseason for the team
that finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17.
”It’s a tough time in the year and for a lot of the guys in this room
Keke Coutee Jersey , they’re going through it for the first time,” said Hall, who is looking to make the playoffs for the first time in his eight-year
NHL career. ”It wasn’t a perfect game but we managed to get two points and give
ourselves some breathing room.”
Coupled with Florida’s 5-1 loss to Boston earlier in the day, the Devils opened a five-point lead over the Panthers in the race for the second wild-card
spot in the conference and moved within a point of idle Philadelphia for the top
wild-card spot. The Devils and Flyers each have four games left in the regular
season, while the Panthers have five.
”Any win right now is going to be huge and we have to keep it going to give ourselves the best chance to control our own destiny and come out strong in
Montreal tomorrow,” said goaltender Keith Kinkaid, who made 27 saves, the last
on a one-timer by Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock with 14 seconds to play.
Stefan Noesen and Blake Coleman each had a goal and assist as the Devils won for the seventh time in 10 games (7-2-1).
Tanner Fritz, Anthony Beauvillier and Chris Wagner scored for the Islanders, who have lost 16 of their last 19 (3-12-4). Thomas Greiss made 31 saves in his
first game since Feb. 16, when he sustained an ankle injury and went on injured
reserve.
”He played great,” Pulock said. ”It was good to see him back. It looks like he didn’t miss a beat, so good to see him.”
Hall
Dontari Poe Jersey , who has carried the Devils in a career-best season, broke a 1-all tied 41 seconds into the second period with a fortuitous
power-play goal. His shot from the left boards hit off the skate of New York
defenseman Adam Pelech in front of the net and deflected past Greiss.
Hall’s 36th goal of the season was magnificent. He picked up a loose puck at his own blue line, flew up the ice into the Islanders zone and then veered to
his left and ripped a shot over Greiss’ left shoulder from the left circle to
make it 3-1 at 9:08.
”He’s our leader,” Coleman said of Hall. ”He’s been doing it all year, it’s almost routine now for him to score big goals and make big plays. We feed off of
it and it’s a reason why we are where we are.”
Beauvillier got New York within one a little more than four minutes later with a power-play shot that was deflected by Devils forward Brian Gibbons past
Kinkaid.
Islanders had a chance to tie it late in the period with another power play, but Coleman got his third short-handed goal, beating Greiss up high to cap a
2-on-1 with defenseman Mirco Mueller with 1:02 left in the period.
The goal became important when Wagner scored on a deflection in front with 3:36 left in regulation.
Fritz had given the Islanders the lead 75 seconds after the opening faceoff, scoring on a rebound. Neosen tied it at 7:54 scoring in close on a setup by
Coleman.
NOTES: The Devils honored hockey historian and television analyst Stan Fischler during the game. A 2007 Lester Patrick Trophy recipient for
contributions to hockey in the United States, he is retiring from television
coverage in the New York-metropolitan area after this season. He turned
86-years-old on Saturday. … Devils RW Kyle Palmieri left the ice in the third
period after being cut under the eye by an inadvertent stick from teammate Andy
Greene. Devils coach John Hynes had no update on his condition. … Wagner took
out Hall and referee Dan O’Halloran with a check being the Devils net in the
first period. … Hall’s 88 points are the fifth most in a season for the Devils,
eight less than Patrik Elias’ record of 96 set in 2000-01.
UP NEXT
Islanders: Start the final week of the season at home against Philadelphia on Tuesday night
Devils: Play final back-to-back of season at Montreal on Sunday night.
—
More NHL hockey: The Jets have locked down their shutdown cornerback.
Former Rams star Trumaine Johnson signed a five-year, $72.5 million contract on Friday, boosting New York's improved secondary.
The 28-year-old Johnson, arguably the top free agent at his position
Zach Miller Jersey , spent his first six seasons with the Rams and had 18 interceptions while establishing himself as one of the best cover cornerbacks
in the NFL.
His signing gives Todd Bowles' defense an unquestioned No. 1 cornerback ??and he'll certainly be paid like one of the league's best. The deal, which Pro
Football Talk first reported included $34 million guaranteed at signing, makes
Johnson's contract one of the biggest in franchise history.
"It's exciting. I was speechless when I finally gave my agent the green light," Johnson told the team's website . "It's the Big Apple. New chapter, new
beginnings and I get to add to this already great defense."
Morris Claiborne, who was the Jets' top cornerback last season, hit free agency but will return to New York on a one-year deal. The sides agreed to a
contract late Thursday night.
Johnson and Claiborne will combine with second-year safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye to form one of the most promising secondaries in the league. That
comes after New York finished a mediocre 21st in the NFL in pass defense.
Johnson was a third-round pick out of Montana in 2012 and established himself as a solid starter in his second year in the NFL. His breakout season came in
2015, when he had a career-high seven interceptions.
The Rams used the franchise tag on Johnson the last two offseasons. He posted a farewell to the Rams on his Instagram account Monday , signaling that he would
be leaving the team with which he had spent his entire NFL career.
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"The last two years, I've been tagged," Johnson told newyorkjets. "It's my first time going through this process. It's quite an experience. You lose sleep
and your agent is calling you every five minutes. But it worked out and I'm
happy to be a Jet."
On Friday, he posted a note on Instagram signaling his arrival to the Big Apple : "Landing Soon NYC! #JetWay." The accompanying photo featured Johnson
with the left side of his body in a Rams uniform and the Los Angeles skyline in
the background, with the right side in a Jets uniform with the New York City
skyline behind him.
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Mar 16, 2018 at 10:26am PDT
Johnson's man-to-man coverage ability makes him a valuable addition to the Jets, where he will again work with secondary coach Dennard Wilson ??the Rams'
defensive quality control coach from 2012-14 and Johnson's position coach from
2015-16.
"I was with him in St. Louis and two years ago in LA," Johnson said. "He's very passionate about his work and that's what I love about him. Coach Bowles is
here, too, and I am familiar with him. Coast to coast, California to New York
and it's going to be fun out here."
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