NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It’s getting scary again, the Devils already channeling the spirit of last year’s Preposterous Dream, but this time, they’re not climbing out of an abyss.
Theirs is not the preferred formula, but it still is giving them the right answers, three straight victories. For the second straight game, the Devils came back from an opening deficit to win in a shootout, 3-2 over the Predators last night.
“It’s a bunch of guys who really believe. Like that feeling we had last year, that we were going to be able to do that,” said Johan Hedberg, again the catalyst, filling in for the injured Martin Brodeur (right shoulder). He’s been the winner in all three of the Devils’ victories.
This time, they overcame a 2-0 hole dug on David Clarkson’s boarding major in the first. After Ilya Kovalchuk finally put the Devils on the board on a 5-on-3 in the third, Clarkson atoned by tying the game with 12:03 left in regulation.
That set the stage of a repeat of Thursday’s 2-1 shootout victory over the Kings, when Hedberg was perfect in the tie-breaker and Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise both connected. Each did it again.
Another comeback victory was complete, when it looked thoroughly unlikely entering the third.
“Between periods, the guys were screaming, ‘Let’s go. We can do this,’ “Clarkson said. “That’s a huge win for us.”
And for him.
“I went from the doghouse to doing something to help,” said Clarkson, called for boarding Ryan Suter, shoving him into the wall after lining him up. “I don’t ever want to be the reason the other team scores.”
Though the Devils disputed the call and its severity, for the third time in four games this season, and second straight, New Jersey gave up the first goal in the first period. For the first time, the Devils then gave up another in the opening period. Both scores came after Hedberg — now 13-2-1 in his last 16 decisions — stopped Sergei Kostitsyn on a penalty shot.
Nashville scored once during that power play, Colin Wilson snapping the Devils’ season streak of 14 kills, and again two seconds after the major expired, on Jerred Smothson’s rebound, before Clarkson rejoined the play.
If there were any doubters among the Devils, Kovalchuk’s 5-on-3 goal at the one-minute mark of the third gave them hope. Then with 12:03 left in regulation, Clarkson forced overtime by sliding home Mattias Tedenby’s pass.
Despite the Devils’ bravado, Hedberg still had to work miracles to get them to the shootout, robbing Suter, among others, in the final minutes and overtime. But in the shootout, it looked automatic.
Nevertheless, Kovalchuk said the Devils can find easier ways to win.
“We’ve got our coaching staff and management getting gray hairs with these comebacks,” Kovalchuk said.
*
The injured Brodeur watched from the stands. . . . New Jersey’s Cam Janssen fought Brian McGrattan in a lengthy first period bout. As usual, Janssen absorbed the early punches, then landed haymakers late. McGrattan raised his arms in debatable victory, even taking a bow.
*
Some witty signs adorn this arena: “Smashville,” “Hockey Tonkin’,” and “Known for Big Hits.” . . . Dainius Zubrus marked his return to the arena where he suffered his broken kneecap Nov. 19, 2009, and he knew it. . . . The Devils are off until they play host to Colin White and the Sharks on Friday and visit the Penguins on Saturday, opening four straight on the road, followed by visits to Los Angeles, Phoenix and Dallas. . . . Keith Kinkaid was recalled from Albany yesterday to back up Hedberg last night.