Whether a playoff run is a long-shot or not, the New Jersey Devils could be a tough out going down the stretch.
The Pittsburgh Penguins experienced that firsthand on Thursday, seeing their six-game winning streak snap in an authoritative fashion via New Jersey’s 3-0 decision.
Kyle Palmieri scored both of the Devils’ goals in the first period, giving him an impressive 29 on the season. Adam Henrique added another insurance goal, but Scott Wedgewood only needed that first one, stopping a whopping 39 shots for his first NHL shutout.
Wedgewood is now on a two-game winning streak, and the Devils are pretty hot overall. While their two losses were lopsided (a combined score of 13-4), they’re winning overall, with five victories in seven tries.
Few teams were riding as high as the Penguins were coming into this game, with a big victory over Philly on Saturday and what some might view as a statement win against Washington a day later.
A nice rest wasn’t enough for Pittsburgh tonight, and it’s quite clear that the Devils must be taken seriously.