Game 22 Live Blog: New Jersey Devils @ Boston Bruins

Here’s five thoughts from the second period with the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins still scoreless.

1.) Wake Me Up When This Is Over!

As I mentioned in the first period thoughts, when the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils hook up for a game, there aren’t many goals scored. Not only are goals at a minimum though, so is excitement and therefore storylines. …hence my long delay in posting the first period thoughts. Well, that and the solid banter Ty Anderson, Conor Ryan and I are having. It’s almost as if each team just wants the other team to score first to get themselves going. What a snoozefest!

2.) Marchand Needs To Practice What He Preaches

By no means was it on par with what Tom Wilson did to Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo but Brad Marchand did cross-check New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith right in the back of the head. Like Wilson’s headshot, there was no call on the play. I’m guessing that Marchand won’t be campaigning for a video review of headshots after the game?

3.) Paging Boston Bruins Winger Jake DeBrusk

It won’t be long before we start to see Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk’s face on the back of a milk carton. He and his game have gone missing and no one can seem to find them. DeBrusk hasn’t scored a goal in six games and more specifically 20 periods of play. In 11:39 TOI tonight, DeBrusk has no shots and one hit to go with a high-sticking penalty at 9:14 of the second period. DeBrusk’s name has been coming up in NHL Trade chatter recently but his value can’t be that high right now.

4.) Where’s The Vaak Attack?

Boston Bruins rookie defenseman Urho Vaakanainen is having a game to forget so far. Vaakanainen has two shots but he also has two turnovers in 11:38 TOI. He also took a high-sticking penalty at 7:19 of the first period but thankfully the Bruins killed it off. With Brandon Carlo out for a while, the rookie rearguard has a chance to step up and prove he belongs in the show. He needs to find his game fast!

5.) Any Subban Takers?

New Jersey Devils defenseman PK Subban is not the defenseman he was when he won the Norris Trophy with the Montreal Canadiens in 2013 and was one of the best puck-moving d-men in the game but he still has a lot to offer. Subban clearly has made a concerted effort to play better defensively and he’s still a capable powerplay quarterback. The problem for any team wanting to trade for him is he still has another year left on his contract that carries a $9 million cap hit. If the Devils were to pick a part of that up, is he worth it for the Boston Bruins