Doesn’t anyone smell a plot? Here’s one of the most powerful bunch of left wingers in history. They even wear red.
The southpaw side is now the strength of the surprising Devils, where they boast Patrik Elias, Zach Parise, now Brian Rolston and longtime checking stalwart Jay Pandolfo.
Conventional wisdom favors strength down the middle, starting in goal, on defense and at center. The Devils thrived at those positions in the past because of Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko and Scott Niedermayer. But those defensemen are gone, and goalie Scott Clemmensen is filling Brodeur’s skates superbly.
Elias and Parise, on separate lines, are the Devils’ two leading scorers, and Rolston is regaining his form after a right ankle injury ruined his early season. Pandolfo rounds out the group, penalty-killing now his major duty.
If it’s not by design, the Devils’ left-wing dominance is surely a happy coincidence. With right-handed defensemen (none among the Devils’ top seven) such a scarce commodity, left wingers often attack off-sided right defensemen, who must guard the outside with their backhand or overplay to the boards.
It’s a formula for success, even if it’s an accident. A Red Left Wing Plot? Check under the bed.