The NHL’s 2014 preseason is starting to wind down, which means players are buckling down and/or just crossing their fingers that they won’t get injured with the start of the “real” games rapidly approaching. Here are a few quick hits of tonight’s action and maybe a nugget or two that isn’t necessarily material for a full post.
(Feel free to suggest other highlights/bloopers in the comments, too.)
- Preseason or not, the New Jersey Devils finally won a shootout! (Cues sarcastic the use of “VJ Day” photos.) Seriously though, it’s probably good for the Devils to enjoy a little “skills competition” success before the season begins, as the Bergen Record’s Tom Gulitti notes.
Crowd erupts. Zajac beats Halak glove side. DEVILS WIN A SHOOTOUT.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 3, 2014
It's only the preseason, but Devils needed that..
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 3, 2014
Travis Zajac was the only player to score in that shootout. Video will be added of that shootout triumph if it’s made available.
Zajac on if winning a shootout in preseason means anything: "“Not really, but, hopefully, we can just stop talking about it now.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 3, 2014
- While Max Domi got the most attention among Arizona Coyotes players who couldn’t make the latest cut, Brandon Gormley’s situation might be the bigger issue. AZ Central’s Sarah McLellan indicates that management believes the defenseman might have been putting too much pressure on himself.
Tippett and Maloney agreed Gormley didn't have best camp; put pressure on himself.
— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) October 2, 2014
Either way, not a great sign for his development. It’s not too late for him at 22, yet many were likely hoping for him to make the jump far sooner.
- Andre Burakovsky’s hoping to make enough of an impact to stick with the Washington Capitals this season. Not many players on the Capitals - or really, in the NHL - can fire off a wicked shot like this:
Wow.
Barry Trotz essentially told the Washingtron Post that it was too early to pencil him into the lineup earlier this week, but after tonight? Well, things sound pretty favorable:
- Nice save here by Winnipeg Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson:
More than a few people wonder if he’ll be a better option in net than embattled No. 1 netminder Ondrej Pavelec. Will he get a fair shot to prove them right, though?