(Cue the Black Eyed Peas…) Let’s get it started…
Just over 4 minutes in a BIG check by Toropchenko drove the Devil player into the end boards…cutting off the play around the boards…nice physicality!
Ten minutes in, three shots for each team…0 to 0…Not much open ice to be had..
The Devils get on the board with 4:47 left…a set play along the boards and a rocket fired off Binnington’s shoulder, the post, and in. 1-0 Devils.
Shots seven to five in favor of the Devils…and the score remained 1 to 0.
Devils extend the lead to 2 in the 2nd…
Blues get the first powerplay of the game with 12:54 left in the 2nd period. Devils penalty kill is ranked 8th in the league. No shots for the Blues...
Devils are stingy giving up shots…Blues with only seven for the game at the halfway mark. Devils with eight shots…
The Devils get the powerplay at 7:19, and their PP is #2 in the league. They score under 30 seconds in on three quick shots…2 to 0 on a scramble in front of the net. And the Devils go right back on the powerplay as a penalty is called while the goal is scored…the Blues kill the second penalty off.
The period ends 2 to 0, Devils, and they continue with the shot advantage 14 to 12.
The devils pile on in the 3rd...
The Devils are 15-0-1 when leading after two periods…The blues can’t seem to get any momentum with too many one-and-done’s as they try to enter the Devils end. A shot from the point has eyes through a mess of players in front of Binnington…four bodies in front screening…and it's now 3-0 Devils with just under 17 minutes left.
Blues pull Binnington with 9:45 left in the period and the 6-on-5 pays off with 9:32 on the clock and Jordan Kyrou beats Markstrom under the pads for his 5th straight game with a goal…3-1 Devils. Justin Faulk and Brayden Schenn with the assists. Kyrou’s 14th of the year.
In the next minute, two separate scuffles with all 10 skaters doing some pushing and shoving with leather in the face. Refs even up the penalties two aside…Buchnevich and Thomas are in the box for the Blues for 2 minutes each…teams remain 5 on 5 on the ice.
Binnington is back on the bench with 4:56 left…and an empty net goal for the Devils with 3:16 left on the clock. 4 to 1.
More pushing and shoving with 1:15 left…Schenn and Jake Neighbours going after the Devils player for a cheap hit on Neighbours earlier. Devils get a powerplay out of the scrums.
Devils outshot the Blues 28 to 20.
Next up a 3-game road trip for the Blues...beginning in Tampa on Thursday.