Magic Jacques pulled a skunk out of his hat last night, as much a stinker as Ilya Kovalchuk’s resulting flub. Between them, they cost the Devils a victory they can’t afford to squander, given the monumental odds against their preposterous dream of a playoff spot.
New Jersey was eight minutes from a second triumph in as many nights, leading by one and granted a power play. But coach Jacques Lemaire, once a cautious genius, stuck with the risky five-forward power play he has used regularly since his return — and the result was predictable and fatal.
Kovalchuk, on the anniversary of his arrival in New Jersey, flubbed a pass at the left point. Florida’s Mike Santorelli pounced for the breakaway goal that forced overtime, and Rostislav Olesz converted the winner two minutes into the extra period for the Panthers’ 4-3 victory in Newark.
“You can question it now, because of what happened,” Patrik Elias said, as if the second-guessing is unfair and easy. It is easy, though, because it’s obvious — and should have been to Lemaire before the disaster occurred.
Kovalchuk has the instincts of a risk-taking, go-go scorer, instead of those of the conservative defenseman (two, really) who should have been at the point at that stage, with that score.
Afterward, Lemaire spoke as if he thought he had a defenseman on ice, when he didn’t.
The Big Shot stood up and took the blame.
“I just should have played it safe and put it in the corner,” Kovalchuk said. “I’m playing the D position and I have to be responsible in those situations.
“One mistake, and we paid for it.”
The Devils did gain their 18th point in their last 11 games, and are 8-1-2 in that stretch, yet must go 24-6 in their final 30 games to reach the 88 points, this format’s historic playoff minimum. The preposterous dream took a hit it cannot afford, with an overtime loss to these Panthers for the second time in those 11 games.
The fans were ready to jump on the bandwagon, even after that Santorelli deflator. An overtime “Let’s go Devils” chant, unhampered by the unnecessary organ accompaniment, was as loud as they have been in months. Seconds later, however, Olesz ripped his winner under Johan Hedberg’s arm, 2:00 into the overtime.
It was a game the Devils, lousy all night after beating the Rangers 3-2 at the Garden on Thursday, didn’t deserve to win. Winning horribly would have made triumph all the more inspiring, instead of just winning ugly. But the Devils looked tired, just as they did in the third period Thursday. And they gave up four breakaways, uncharacteristic for any Lemaire team.
Florida took the lead at 6:52 of the first on Smithtown, N.Y., native Chris Higgins’ ninth goal, a rebound off Steve Bernier’s undressing of Anssi Salmela. Travis Zajac answered two minutes later, gifted in front by a Zamboni gate bounce.
Jason Arnott put New Jersey in front at 11:01 with his 13th, rebounding Henrik Tallinder’s point shot that caromed out from the end boards. Florida promptly squared the score again, 1:34 later, on a power play slap by Dennis Wideman.
Mark Fayne made it 3-2 for the Devils at 6:20 of the second, New Jersey’s third fluky goal of three. At the blue line, Fayne scooped a slow-pitch flip netward that rainbowed down, and Nick Palmieri had to duck as it tucked under the crossbar, past Tomas Vokoun’s glove.
That was the lead New Jersey had to protect, and didn’t.
“We deserved to lose,” Lemaire said.
Yes, but they should have won.
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Mark Fraser was scratched for a second straight game, and Salmela was burned twice in the first period last night. . . . The Devils visit Montreal tomorrow afternoon and play host to the Hurricanes on Tuesday.
