Starting difficulties
After three defeats in a row, the Devils wanted to get the momentum back into their own ranks. A quick goal from Patrick Kane, who was able to net after just 4:22 minutes played on an assist from Alex DeBrincat and Moritz Seider, made this goal much more difficult to achieve.
The Devils still found their way back into the game and stabilized defensively. “After we allowed the first goal, we hardly made any mistakes in our own half,” analyzed New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff. “We were caught again in a long transition, but we closed the middle of the ice well and only allowed a few shots from outside.”
Meier back in form
“It’s fantastic to see that,” said Ruff, pleased about Meier’s performance. “Timo is fighting hard to get back into shape and in the last few games he has been skating a lot and being very physical.”
It was Meier who was able to equalize twice for the Devils. In the first period he made it 1:1 and in the final third he was able to equalize Detroit’s renewed lead from the middle period through Shayne Gostisbehere. With his teammates Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer, Meier posed major problems for the Red Wings defense on a few occasions. Together, the three strikers had nine shots and a strong plus-minus balance (+5).
“Without this formation we probably wouldn’t have gotten back into the game,” Ruff described a different scenario. “They set the rhythm. We know what Timo can do. Maybe this will be a stepping stone for him.”
For Meier himself, the Devils’ win was more important than their own double pack: “We did much better today and found a way to get these two points. I don’t think we played our best game, but we found a way to win before the Christmas break and that’s definitely a good feeling.”
Meier may also have this good feeling because the ketchup bottle effect seems to be occurring. After the game, the attacker described it as something he was familiar with. You wouldn’t hit for a long time and suddenly the goals would flow as if by themselves from the previously blocked, symbolic bottle.
2023-12-25 02:27:49
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