Your weekly dose of numerical notes, brought to you by the No. 1– as in Martin Brodeur’s ranking on the all-time goaltender goal list.
2- Number of regular-season goals Brodeur has been credited with. Brodeur’s goal Thursday was his first career power-play goal.
3- Number of goals Brodeur has scored in his illustrious 19-year career. It also is the number of career goals scored by Devils’ forward Cam Janssen in eight NHL seasons.
12- Number of postseason points Brodeur has– a goal and 11 assists.
39- Number of career points– 17 goals and 22 assists– former NHL forward Stu Grimson recorded during a 14-year pro career.
43- Brodeur’s career regular-season point total– two goals and 41 assists.
48- Number of points Brodeur trails NHL points-leader Sidney Crosby for this year’s Art Ross Trophy.
The Albany Devils’ power play ranks 28th out of 30 American Hockey League teams– firing at just 11.4 percent. Albany entered Sunday’s game in Bridgeport having scored just 1-of-its-last-20 man advantages.
Yet, somehow Albany’s power play found a way to be worse.
Albany was 0-for-3, failing to score on a 5-minute first-period major. Plus, when given a third-period man advantage, the Devils surrendered a shorthanded goal– the game-winner in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ 2-0 win.
“It’s killed us,” Albany coach Rick Kowalsky said. “It’s up to the guys to execute and make plays; ironically, on their shorthanded goal, it looked like our defenseman was afraid to make a mistake.”
Keith Kinkaid stopped 41 of 43 shots, taking a tough-luck loss. He was named the game’s No. 3 star.
“We just couldn’t get inside shots,” Kinkaid said. “I thought we played well defensively … unfortunately, a turnover leads to a goal, and that’s the way game goes.”
Nino Niederreiter and Brock Nelson each scored goals. Rick DiPietro stopped 33 shots, taking home the No. 1 star.
Through two periods, the A-Devils and Sound Tigers were scoreless. Kinkaid stopped 28 shots through two periods.
The Tigers and Devils engaged in three fights through two periods. Cam Janssen, shocker, dropped the gloves early. Unlikely scrappers Chad Wiseman and Steve Zalewski dropped the gloves as well.
Albany’s top scorer, Joe Whitney, had his six-game point streak snapped.
The Devils’ top line, Whitney, Phil DeSimone and Matt Anderson, were each a minus-1.
Albany defender Raman Hrabarenka left the game after just 34 seconds after being boarded by Kirill Kabanov. Kabanov was given a major penalty.
Eric Gelinas led the Devils with six shots on goal.
Albany dropped its second straight, falling back into ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Devils made a trio of roster moves Wednesday morning, sending Cam Janssen and Keith Kinkaid back to Albany and recalling goalie Jeff Frazee.
#NJDevils have assigned RW Cam Janssen and G Keith Kinkaid to @AlbanyDevils. G Jeff Frazee has been recalled from Albany.— (@NHLDevilsPR) March 06, 2013
Corey Griffin
This move is as much about getting Kinkaid playing time as it is committing to Johan Hedberg as the Devils’ starting goalie while Martin Brodeur is out. The Devils think enough of Kinkaid that they want him to play consistent minutes and 26 minutes in a week is not enough for a young, developing goalie. Frazee had spent most of his professional career with the Devils’ AHL affiliates since being drafted in the second round in 2005. His time as the Devils’ potential goalie of the future has likely passed him by and he’ll spend the next week or so backing up Hedberg, who will see the majority (if not all) of starts while Brodeur is sidelined by his balky back.
As for Janssen, we weep for the end of the New Jersey Bash Brothers, but it was pretty obvious last night that he and Barch have no place on the same roster. In fact, I’m shocked Janssen isn’t facing some sort of NHL discipline for the hit he put on Cory Conacher last night. I can’t imagine that helped his stock with the coaching staff. With Janssen down, that creates an open roster spot — and some intriguing options. Will the Devils recall Jacob Josefson or Matt Anderson? Do they have a waiver claim in on veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik? I doubt the latter, but the former is certainly possible. We’ll know by noon if the Devils have put in a claim but if that’s not the corresponding move, we may be waiting until Thursday.
With no morning skate, the Devils were late to announce their lineup for tonight’s game. Johan Hedberg will get the start in net despite his recent struggles and the recently called-up Cam Janssen will replace Stefan Matteau and join fellow Bash Brother Krys Barch in the lineup.
I imagine DeBoer’s lineup decision led to a scene similar to this in the home locker room of the Prudential Center:
Really? This is the guy they call up? I mean, I could understand the decision if the Devils were playing two games against the Flyers this week — but that’s a week away. Sooooo… yeah. I can’t say I understand the motive behind having Cam Janssen and Krys Barch on the same roster unless Brian Burke is running the team suddenly. My only guess is the Devils felt deficient on the right side and wanted to have flexibility in terms of whether to start a goon on the left or right wing of the fourth line.
Y. Danis cleared Waivers. Carolina places Boychuk, SJ places McLaren, and NJ places Janssen on Waivers.— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 30, 2013
I’m not all that surprised by this. Janssen wasn’t even cracking five minutes a game when he was in the lineup and Krys Barch offers more of an overall package than Cam does. I have to wonder what the next move is for the Devils. If they send Stefan Matteau back to juniors, that would clear up two roster spots. Is this the Devils way of clearing space for Mathieu Darche in addition to Adam Henrique’s pending return? Stay tuned..
Cam Janssen was placed on injured reserve last week after getting in the chest against the Jets. He could play tonight as the Devils take on the Lightning in Tampa Bay.
Anton Volchenkov has taken Janssen’s spot on IR with a sore hand. He had hurt his hand against the Senators on Friday. He did not make the trip with the team as they play the Lightning tonight and the Panthers tomorrow.
Rod Pelley and Cam Janssen will be in the lineup tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. They will be replacing Eric Boulton and Adam Henrique on the 4th line. Mark Fraser will be a healthy scratch.
