Coyotes 3 – Devils 1
The Devils’ record-tying unbeaten streak has suddenly swung into their longest winless skid of the year. Ominously, even the Devils’ two Norris Trophy candidates proved culprits when it counted.
They took turns making Coyotes defenseman David Tanabe look like Bobby Orr. First Scott Stevens, then Scott Niedermayer, was toasted for a goal during the same third-period 4-on-4, and the Devils fell 3-1 to the Coyotes at the Meadowlands last night.
“After the second one, all I could do is come back to the bench and smile. It was a pretty special couple of shifts there, particularly against this team,” said Tanabe, who managed 16 and 13 points the past two seasons.
He raised his current total to seven by faking out Stevens to set up Chris Gratton’s tie-breaker with 8:16 left, then outfought and skated away from Niedermayer to add insurance with 7:10 remaining.
“It was just a special night for me, one I’ll remember,” Tanabe said.
It was one the Devils would like to forget. When Scott Gomez and Colin White joined Jamie Langenbrunner on the Devils’ injury list, trouble loomed, then arrived.
“I didn’t have a good feeling about this game before it started,” Pat Burns said.
Falling prey to the first-game-back syndrome after a 1-1-2 road trip, the shuffled Devils seemed sparkless, ready to be taken.
During the fatal 4-on-4, Gratton put Phoenix ahead 2-1 with his fourth, after Tanabe beat Stevens inside from the right wing to create a 2-on-1. Tanabe found Gratton on the left side beyond Brian Rafalski for the goal.
“It was almost like we were killing a penalty. We sat back and let them come at us. He cut between [Rafalski] and me and had a winger wide,” Stevens said.
The teams were still 4-on-4 when Tanabe burned Niedermayer for the 3-1 lead. Tanabe outbattled Niedermayer for the puck at center and pulled away to score his third, long side on Martin Brodeur from the left circle.
“That was the one that changed the game,” Niedermayer said. “It was kind of my fault. I didn’t play strong enough on my man and he beat me to the net.”
A week ago today, the Devils were stretching their unbeaten streak to 13. Today, they stand 0-2-2 in their last four.
“It’s only a couple of losses in 16 games. I don’t know if it’s a slump yet,” Stevens said.
Slump, skid, it’s still their longest this season.
* Langenbrunner’s arthroscopic surgery Sunday stitched rather than removed torn cartilage in his left knee . . . White sat out with a knee bruise last night after an MRI showed no structural damage, Lou Lamoriello said. Gomez sat out with bruised ribs . . . Devils and Marines will collect Toys for Tots tomorrow when Capitals visit.
