12. march 2013 / THE PATRIK ELIAS WEEKLY RECAP (MARCH 6-MARCH 12)

Patrik Elias comes through in the clutch with 2 shootout goals and 2 regulation goals as Devils Win 2 of 3.

SABRES AT DEVILS

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Score: Devils 3, Sabres 2 SO

After an abysmal 0-5-1 losing streak and on the verge of a loss to the Buffalo Sabres at home, the Devils were in dire need of a spark to right the ship and potentially save their season. Patrik Elias would be that spark.

Down 2-1 with just over a minute left in the contest and with Devils goaltender Johan Hedberg on the bench to allow for a sixth attacker, Patrik capitalized on a long rebound off of a shot from David Clarkson, lifting the puck into the open cage to tie the game and force overtime. Patrik wasn’t done yet.

After a thrilling but scoreless overtime, the game would have to be decided in a shootout. Clarkson put the Devils up a goal and after the Sabres failed both times to beat Hedberg, it was up to #26 to put it away. Patrik faked a shot, then showed backhand, but quickly crossed over to his forehand completely fooling Buffalo goalie Jhonas Enroth as he slid the puck in for the game winning goal that put an end to the six-game skid.

“Finally,” Patrik exclaimed to the media as he sat down for the postgame interviews. The goal was Patrik’s seventh of the season and twenty-fourth point.

PATRIK'S GOAL AGAINST SABRES

DEVILS AT HURRICANES

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Score: Hurricanes 6, Devils 3

You have to watch Patrik’s goal against the Hurricanes in slow motion to see how spectacular it was. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky took a point-shot towards goal and Patrik—who was actually skating away from the net—deflected the puck up high over goaltender Dan Ellis’ glove. The third period goal brought the Devils within two but it wasn’t enough as New Jersey dropped the game 6-3 in Carolina.

PATRIK'S GOAL AGAINST HURRICANES

JETS AT DEVILS

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Score: Devils 3, Jets 2 SO

In this shortened season, you don’t have to wait long to bounce back from a tough loss. One night after the trouncing by the Hurricanes, the Devils regrouped and rebounded with a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the Rock, thanks yet again to Patrik. Although he didn’t add to his two-game scoring streak, the Czech star stayed red hot with another shootout-winning goal, this time a slick backhand shot that beat goaltender Ondrej Pavelec five-hole.

The Devils now face a difficult second half of the 2013 season where every point will be an important one.

(Dan Altano)