Devils-Hurricanes: Game 2 Preview
Nothing has been won yet
by: Steve Cangialosi
There really wasn't a Devils player that delivered a disappointing performance in Game One of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series versus Carolina. There were some unsung heroes, however, that should be singled out.
With respect to the Hurricanes' Tim Gleason, who delivered 171 regular season hits (placing him in the top 15 among NHL defensemen in that category) and Joe Corvo (six game-winning goals during the regular season), New Jersey's Paul Martin is the best all-around defenseman in the series, and it showed Wednesday night. So much of the Devils' attack was engineered with Martin carrying the puck through the neutral zone. He was the best New Jersey player not to be named one of the game's three stars by attending media. He also logged 24:27 of ice time, the most of any non-goaltender in the game.
Mike Mottau's emergence continues to be one of the best under-the-radar stories in the NHL. Destined for a roster spot at Lowell of the American Hockey League last season, his chance to play was created by a Colin White eye injury sustained in training camp. For his consistent play over two full seasons, he was rewarded in Game One with a playoff goal that set the tone for the series.
The only games Mottau missed this season were suspension-related for a high hit on the Islanders' Frans Nielsen. He played all 80 for which he was eligible, and was one of the many who greeted Eric Staal rudely in the Devils' 4-1 victory.
Mottau was the Hobey Baker Award winner as collegiate hockey's best player in 2000. He had never appeared in a playoff game until last season's five-game, first-round series versus the Rangers. He's an indispensable part of New Jersey's defensive corps now.
Mottau easily could have been named the Devils' nominee for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to the game (with apologies to Scott Clemmensen). Must be something about Boston College products.
Only Alexander Ovechkin took more shots this season than the 372 fired by the Hurricanes' Staal. Carolina's 40-goal scorer had a grand total of two shots in Game One. John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, and Brendan Shanahan were matched up against the Staal line for much of the night, frustrating Carolina head coach Paul Maurice to the point where he removed Erik Cole from the Staal line in the third period. The Devils won't be able to play the matchup game as easily when the series shifts to Raleigh for Games Three and Four, but it worked like a charm in the opener.
As Jamie Langenbrunner said in postgame interviews: "Nothing has been won yet." For perspective, play the 'What If' game. What if the Hurricanes had scored on that golden opportunity just seconds before the New Jersey captain scored the fourth goal that clinched the win? The Devils would have found themselves protecting a 3-2 lead with practically half a period to play. That would have been the case despite the team playing near-perfect hockey for 50 minutes. It will take that kind of effort to finish the Canes three more times.
Through one game, however, from a New Jersey perspective, who could ask for anything more?
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