By Jon Lesnik
NEWARK – The New Jersey Devils season finale Sunday afternoon game against the Boston Bruins only meant two things: there would be day light out when the Devils left the Prudential Center and they would get an earlier start on their off season.
Having already been eliminated from playoff contention a week ago, the Devils spent the last week of a disappointing season looking for ways to remain motivated.
On Fan Appreciation Day, the Devils gave their fans a reason to look forward to the 2011-2012 season with a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.
The victory was a going away present for Devils coach Jacques Lemaire, who announced that he would not return as head coach next season. Lemaire told his players prior to the game that he was not returning.
At the end of the game, the Devils came out on the ice, and saluted their fans, waving to the crowd, and thanking them for their support. Ilya Kovalchuk gave some fans souvenirs when he threw his gloves into the stands.
The Devils finished the 2010-2011 season with a record of 38-39-5, ending a 13-season playoff streak. It marked only the third time in the last 23 years that the Devils had not qualified for the playoffs (1989 and 1996). It also ended an 18-consecutive-season run of above-.500 records.
The Devils had not finished below .500 since the 1990-1991 season when they finished 32-33-15, the second longest current streak in the league—behind Detroit— and had tied for the second-longest current streak among the four major sports. That streak had also represented the fourth longest streak in NHL history.
“In the end of the day, we want to be in the playoffs, and we’re not, and it’s disappointing,” Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said.
The Devils used third period goals by Vladimir Zharkov and rookie defenseman Alexander Urbom for the margin of victory
The Devils scored at 1:47 in the first period before most fans had even taken their seat when Patrick Elias took a pass from Brian Rolston in front of the Bruins net, and popped the puck over a diving Boston goalie Tuukka Rask for his 21st goal of the season, and team leading 62nd point.
The Bruins tied the game at 10:04 on a goal by Rich Peverley. Peverley’s 18th goal of the season came six seconds after the Devils had killed off a Bruins power play opportunity after a tripping penalty by Devils defensemen Andy Greene.
The Devils had an opportunity to take a lead in the second period, but David Clarkson’s shot from the circle to the left of Task hit the cross bar, keeping the game tied.
They took the lead for good in the third period when Zharkov scored his second goal of the season at 4:00. Zharkov picked up a loose puck, moved behind the Bruins defense, and fired a shot that beat Rask high on the glove side. It was Zharkov’s second goal of the season, and his first since Jan. 17, against the New York Islanders.
New Jersey took a 3-1 lead on Urbom’s first goal as a professional.
Urbom, who had been recalled earlier in the day from Albany, scored his first NHL goal at the 9:10 mark of the third period when he took a pass from Jacob Josefson and wristed a shot under the right post.
“It was a great pass from Josefson.,” Urbom said. “For me, it is the best way to finish the year.”
Johan Hedberg started in goal for the Devils and stopped 24 of 26 shots on goal. The victory improved Hedberg’s record to 15-12-2 on the season with a 2.39 GAA. Hedberg, who signed a one year contract with the Devils prior to the season and will be a free agent, has not discussed his future with the team or whether he will return next year.
Hedberg, like his teammates, was not distracted by Lemaire’s announcement before the game that he would not be returning as Devils coach next season.
“It has been a great thrill for me to play for him as a coach,” Hedberg said. “I learned a lot from him this year. As for next year, we’ll see.”
While he will not be behind the bench, Lemaire was clear what he expected of the Devils next year.
“Playoffs,” Lemaire said.
NOTEBOOK
Brodeur’s loss to the New York Rangers Saturday gave him a record of 23-26-6. Had the Devils won Saturday against the Rangers, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire had previously said he would consider starting Brodeur to give him a shot at finishing with a .500 record for the season. The sub .500 record was Brodeur’s first in his 18 year career with New Jersey, and the lowest amount of victories since the 2008-2009 season when he only played 31 games, and still had a 19-9 record.
The Devils again chose not to dress Zach Parise Sunday. The Devils held Parise out of the final four games of the season after Parise returned from knee surgery last Saturday. New Jersey elected not to take a chance of Parise getting injured having already been eliminated from the playoffs.
Colin White (right leg), Anton Volchenkov (lower body), and Danius Zubrus (neck, left shoulder) were also injury scratches for the season finale. Center David Steckel, and defensemen Jay Leach were also scratched for New Jersey.
The Devils recalled forward Adam Henrique from Albany in place of Steckel for the season finale against Boston. Henrique, the Devils 4th round pick in the 2008 draft played in 73 games with Albany this past season, scoring 50 points on 25 goals and 25 assists. He is the 10th player to make their NHL debut with the Devils this season. Henrique skated on a line with Jacob Josefson and David Clarkson.
Defensemen Alexander Urbom was also recalled from Albany and started in place of Leach.
Travis Zajac, David Clarkson, Andy Greene and Henrik Tallinder were the Devils ironmen in 2011 playing in all 82 regular season games.
Clarkson, who had an assist on Alexander Urbom’s goal in the third period, passed a milestone as the assist gave him 100 points for his career.
Boston won the season series 3-1
