Devils PostGame: The Perfectly Legal Victory Edition

Derek, I'll level with you that the officiating was awful, and it does sour what was a great game and an even better win. But there's not a chance that was an interference call.

And you mention Chico, and he's not ever known for agreeing with something that happened to a goaltender. Ever. Regardless of team being played for.

Anywho, onto the recap.

After some early 1st Period chances from the Penguins that were stopped artfully by goalkeeper Martin Brodeur (Whom, despite the score, saw a return to form, and perhaps only Malkin's goal in the 2nd he might be blamed for) the Devils set to the attack, and it was that legendary offensive duo known as Madden and Pandolfo - with a little help from sparkplug David Clarkson (Who saw his own reflection 15 years from now in Gary Roberts on many occasions). On an early attack about 6 minutes in, Clarkson attempted a wrap-around that instead directed towards Pando in a good shooting position, and he ripped one top shelf past Fleury to make it 1-0.

The Madden-Pando-Clarkson combo struck again later in the period, as Pandolfo entered the Pittsburgh zone, dropped it to Madden, who said "Bitch, get out 'da way" to Marc-Andre Fleury and just ripped one to the twine. At 9:58, it was NJD 2-0.

The Pens then nailed home 3 straight on deflections from Maxime Talbot and Gary Roberts, followed by a biting, knuckling slapper from Sergei Gonchar, that may have hit Karel Rachunek. Brodeur was much better than in Atlanta, but I think maybe a rest in Thursday at the Wachoff Center is a good thing for the Islanders and Rags next week.

It was then that Zach Parise got the first of his three assists on the night with a slap pass to Travis Zajac, who half-shot, half-angled the puck past Fleury. Parise and Zajac ain't the future, they're the present.

It was later in the period that things got crazy. Ridiculously, six consecutive calls on the Penguins. Including a very controversial one where Malkin and JStaal broke in 2-on-Goalie and Malkin scored, and only after the play did a penalty for too many men get called. Morton and LaRue should absolutely be suspended for this, but not for what happened next.

Brian Gionta went to the net as usual, and parise took a shot that I believe went off the boards and through the crease and stayed loose, even on my awful television, you could clearly see the puck was untouched. Gionta was pushed into the net. Three Pens around the goal, none of them close the puck, all battling Gionta and their own netminder to find it. Travis Zajac found it and potted his second of the game.

The Penguins got justice with a 5-on-3 later in the period which Malkin cashed in on, clever pass from Sid the distinguished diving Lady, and the game tied at 4 headed to the third.

Midway third period. Elias a great bank pass away from Crosby, finds Zach Parise cross-ice, he sends it across where Aaron Asham, of all people, finds it on the tape and puts it home for his second of the season, and Parise's 3rd helper of the night, 7th of the year - quickly becoming the Devil answer to Jason Spezza. It was 5-4 and would stay that way the rest of the game.

We'll look further into this one tomorrow folks.