25. march 2013 / THE PATRIK ELIAS RECAP (March 13-March 23)

Patrik leads his team in assists (19) and points (29) as the Devils fight to stay alive in the tight playoff race.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Flyers at Devils

Score: Devils 5, Flyers 2

Patrik wasted no time against the team he seems to love to torment, netting a goal just two minutes into the contest. Steve Bernier took a shot from the high slot which was blocked down in front by Adam Henrique and sent towards goal. Patrik, who was waiting in front of the net, corralled the puck and slid a quick backhander past Flyer goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to give the Devils the 1-0 lead. Patrik would also have the primary assist on the next Devil’s goal, a long shot by Adam Henrique that hit a Flyer in front and fell in over the line. New Jersey would take the game 5-2.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Devils at Flyers

Score: Flyers 2, Devils 1 (SO)

Patrik registered 4 shots on goal and skated for 21 minutes but was unable to get on the scoresheet in part two of this home-and-home series with the Flyers. The Devils would lose the game 2-1 in a shootout.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Canadiens at Devils

Score: Canadiens 2, Devils 1

Only defenseman Peter Harrold had an answer for stellar Montreal goaltender Carey Price but it wasn’t enough as the Devils dropped a tight contest with the surging Canadiens 2-1. Patrik was unable to score on his two shots on goal.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Rangers at Devils

Score: Rangers 3, Devils 2

New Jersey lost their third straight, this time to their biggest rivals, the New York Rangers. Travis Zajac and Anton Volchenkov scored for the Devils and despite putting a borage of shots on Ranger goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in the final period, the Devils couldn’t get one through, falling 3-2 at home.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Devils at Hurricanes

Score: Devils 4, Hurricanes 1

On Martin Brodeur’s return to action after a back injury sidelined him for a month, the 40-year-old netminder not only backstopped an important 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes to halt a three-game skid for New Jersey, but also scored a goal. Brodeur was credited as the last Devil to touch the puck before the Hurricanes threw an errant pass into their own net on a delayed penalty in the first period. Patrik set up Peter Harrold for a second period goal to put his team up 3-0. The assist was his 19th of the season, good for the top spot on the Devils.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Panthers at Devils

Score: Devils 2, Panthers 1

The Devils continued their winning ways with a solid victory over the struggling Florida Panthers at the Rock. Patrik scored his tenth of the season to tie the game at 1-1, and David Clarkson added the game winner. Patrik’s goal was highlight worthy. The Czech star split two Florida defenseman to put home a one-timer off of a great pass from linemate Travis Zajac. The win gave the Devils 36 points, good enough for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

(Dan Altano)