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Post-Game Report: Three Leads Squandered
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Zacha
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Asst. Coach Nasreddine
WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils return home for a rematch with this very same team on Tuesday. The game can be seen on MSG and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
Tickets are still available.
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Here are some observations from the game...
- How many times have the Devils lost a game due to their inability to build on leads? Their struggles to get that "next goal" - that is turning a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 lead, or a 3-2 lead into a 4-2 lead - has been the culprit on more than a half dozen occasions. But tonight, the Devils were able to build that cushion.
New Jersey transformed leads of 1-0 to 2-0, 2-1 to 3-1 and 3-2 to 4-2. That extra goal not only gave some run support to a 21-year-old goaltender in Akira Schmid, but allowed them to breathe a little during stretches of the game. It also allowed them to be in control, sit back and not play a risky game trying to play catch-up. Unfortunately, New Jersey now needs to learn how to play with the lead and protect them. It's still part of the growth process.
"At the end of the day, you've got a two-goal lead three times in a game, especially going into the third period, you should at least protect that lead and at least get a point," Nasreddine said. "It's extremely disappointing."
- It took Jesper Boqvist until Jan. 29 to record his first goal of the 2021-22 season. And following another tally Monday night at Toronto, the Swedish native, who added an assist for his first-career two-point night, now has goals in consecutive games...because hockey.
Boqvist, who has been a healthy scratch for more than half of the games this season for New Jersey, was able to draw back into the lineup with the current upper-body injury to Michael McLeod. And he's making of the most of his opportunity.
Boqvist has a rare blend of size (6-foot, 180 pounds), strength, skill and speed. The question is whether the second-round pick (36th overall) in 2017 can find a way to use all of those attributes to his advantage and develop into a complete package.
The 23-year-old scored a rush goal with his speed against Carolina Saturday night. But it was his size and skill that led to the goal against Toronto. Bosqvist was positioned at the crease (a place he will need to frequent more often). Boqvist collected a rebound by goalie Jack Campbell and then flashed the skill, pulling the puck to open space and re-directing it into the net quickly and in a tight space. Goals like that show Boqvist's true potential.
- No one was more amped up for this game than forward Andreas Johnsson. He was going against his former club, the team in which he posted a career-high 20 goals for back in 2018-19. Johnsson managed to poke the puck past Toronto's Timothy Liljegren at the Devils blue line and fought through his obstruction to create a 2-on-1 with Tomas Tatar. Johnsson caught Campbell cheating the pass and instead lifted it near side for the goal. His scream in celebration said it all.
- The Devils played their fourth game of the season without the services of head coach Lindy Ruff. He was absent following the passing of his father, Leeson, at the age of 88.
Nasreddine took the reins once again. He also ran the bench during a three-game stretch that Ruff missed with COVID-19. The Devils are 2-2 under Nasreddine's stewardship.
