|
 With the Avalanche down a goal and 2:34 remaining in regulation,
Roy pulled goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere for an extra attacker.
Right winger PA Parenteau tied the score with 1:47 remaining and
center Ryan O'Reilly scored 28 seconds into overtime to give the
Avalanche a 2-1 comeback victory at Prudential Center.
The Avalanche trapped a tired group of five Devils in their own end
in the final minutes, allowing Parenteau to redirect a point blast
by defenseman Tyson Barrie for the crucial tying goal.
Roy said after the game it didn't matter that there was so much time
left when he pulled Giguere. He felt the Devils were vulnerable and
it was the proper time to take a gamble.
"I think with Patty, he reads the situation," O'Reilly said. "We
hemmed them in there real quick and they were tired. I think it was
a good situation, having them back on their heels and tired. You put
the extra attacker on there and gives us momentum. For us tonight,
that was a huge play that gave us that win."
The Avalanche continued to push in regulation, as center Matt
Duchene found himself on a breakaway that was foiled when defenseman
Andy Greene took a slashing penalty. The power play carried into
overtime, where Duchene set up O'Reilly at the top of the crease for
the winner.
The victory that was pulled from the jaws of defeat was the first
for Giguere since Dec. 6, a span of five starts and one relief
appearance. He made 27 saves and had a bit of luck on his side, as
the Devils hit three goal posts over the first two periods with
another chance in the third period getting behind Giguere but coming
to rest on the goal line.
"I'll take luck right now. I need it," Giguere said. "I did get
lucky a few times tonight. I'm grateful for that. I think we worked
hard enough to get two points at the end."
[to top of second column] |
The Devils would probably do anything to get luck on their side a
little more often this season. This is the third consecutive game
the Devils had a lead in the final minutes only to see the opponent
tie the score with its goaltender on the bench for an extra
attacker. They are 1-0-2 in those contests, leaving two points on
the table in their past two losses.
The Devils are 0-8 in shootouts this season.
"I don't like to say this game or that game is more important than
that one or the other one," Devils captain Bryce Salvador said. "The
fact of the matter is we need two points each night and right now
we're playing well enough to get two points and for whatever reason
we're not getting rewarded for it. What's important is we don't
overthink it or change the way we are playing."
Left winger Ryan Carter, whose first-period goal was the only
scoring for nearly three periods, refuses to lament the points the
Devils have frittered away throughout the season.
"We made it a point not to watch the standings and focus on the
points that are ahead of us," Carter said. "We've found a way to not
take two (points) of the four we could've had. Our mandate going
forward is stay positive and make sure you get those points and win
these games. There's no sense in reflection because it's just a
negative thing."
NOTES: Avalanche C Paul Stastny (ankle) and LW Alex Tanguay (left
wing) did not play. Coach Patrick Roy said the pair remains
day-to-day and they will not be rushed into the lineup. ... Devils D
Anton Volchenkov (lower body) did not play. He suffered his injury
in the team's previous contest against the Nashville Predators on
Friday. D Peter Harrold, who had not played since Dec. 7, took
Volchenkov's spot in the lineup. ... G Cory Schneider made his
fourth straight start. G Martin Brodeur has not played since
allowing six goals on 21 shots against the New York Rangers on Jan.
26.
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