Elias Rounding Into Form for Devils
Forward looks to contribute more after returning to lineup
by: Steve Cangialosi
Climbing out of a two-goal hole for the second time in nine days is a lot to ask, even for the Devils. Sluggish starts had been the norm for New Jersey, despite entering Monday night's game at Philadelphia riding an eight-game winning streak, which ended with the Flyers' 3-2 victory (a score not indicative of how Philadelphia controlled the game).
On the positive side, Patrik Elias collected his first two points of the season, and the hunch here is that he will likely remain playing right wing on a line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise for this week's games at Nashville and Dallas.
Despite the Devils' incredible 14-5-0 start, during which the team's all-time scoring leader missed 14 games, Elias remains one of the great x-factors in determining how far this club can go. If he regains the form that helped him produce a 78-point season in 2008-2009, Elias will provide the team with depth that Jacques Lemaire needs to effectively mix and match lines and keep the opposition guessing.
To a man, the Devils have been complimentary of Lemaire's teaching methods, and from all accounts, are elated with Lou Lamoriello's selection to replace Brent Sutter. The team, however, saw a different side of Lemaire last week after consecutive wins over Anaheim and Pittsburgh on back-to-back nights.
David Clarkson's toe-drag goal versus the Ducks is one of the prettiest goals New Jersey has scored this season. During his post game news conference, Lemaire focused not on the goal, but on three penalties taken by Clarkson that night.
The very next evening against the Penguins, rookie Niclas Bergfors produced the first three-point night of his career. Lemaire's postgame press conference ripped several players, notably Bergfors, for their inattentiveness to the defensive side of their games.
As Chico Resch noted on our postgame show that night, Lemaire is no cheerleader. In the long run, you have to believe his team will be better because of it.
A FOND FAREWELL
Finally, happy trails to Brendan Shanahan, who formally announced his retirement Tuesday after a stellar 21-year NHL career. Lamoriello's first-ever NHL draft pick in 1987 scored 656 career goals, 10th most in the league's history.
I was stunned when he and the Devils parted ways just days before the season began, and I believe he had more hockey left in him.
My most vivid memory of Shanahan in his second stint with the team last year was watching him score against Tampa Bay's Karri Ramo to become the oldest player in NHL history to succeed on a penalty shot. It sparked the Devils to a come-from-behind, 5-4 overtime win versus the Lightning and Shanahan's value to the team was evident that night. He was used on a checking line during the playoffs versus Carolina.
If he was destined to play six minutes a night this year, that would have been sad. Maybe the team did the right thing after all.
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