For what turned out to be the biggest goal of the Devils’ season, there was almost no one on the bench with enough energy to celebrate.
With just eight healthy forwards by midway through the third period, what coach Pete DeBoer saw from his depleted group on Friday night at Prudential Center was some unfettered determination, the game-winner that kept their season on life-support coming with 4:56 remaining in the third period and off the unlikely stick of Ryan Carter, who beat Jaroslav Halak low glove side for a heartening 2-1 win over the Capitals.
“That’s probably the toughest and best game we’ve had so far,” said Jaromir Jagr, the 42-year-old who played 25:28 and was — again — outstanding throughout. “When we have to win, guys go down [and] we had a lot of new guys. I’m proud of our team today.”
The win allowed the Devils (33-28-16) to leapfrog the Capitals (34-30-13) in the standings, and pull them within three points of the Blue Jackets for the final wild-card spot, with now just the Maple Leafs in between. A little help was announced soon after the Devils got into their locker room when they found out Columbus had given up a goal with just four seconds left in regulation and lost to the Blackhawks, keeping the margin at three points.
“If other teams win, it may all be for naught,” said goalie Cory Schneider, who was terrific in making 24 saves, the only shot getting by him coming midway through the first when Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 49th goal of season, open near the left dot. “Right now, we’re just grinding away.”
Grind was the optimal word, as alternate captain Patrik Elias was the first to go down early in the first after the Capitals’ reckless 20-year-old rookie Tom Wilson put Elias’ head into a stanchion near the Washington bench. Next was Adam Henrique, who never came out of the locker room for the start of the third period, and then with 12:17 remaining, Jacob Josefson went to the room favoring his left foot.
Damien Brunner also had to leave for about a four-minute stretch in the third while dealing with a reoccurring equipment issue, and considering DeBoer only dressed 11 forwards, the pickings were sparse.
“The third is obviously a gut-check,” Carter said, “and when it comes to that, I like the Devils’ chances.”
DeBoer had no updates or specifics on any of his injured players — which also includes Ryan Clowe, Steve Bernier, Stephen Gionta and Bryce Salvador — and now the focus shifts to Carolina, where the Devils will take on the Hurricanes Saturday night with five games remaining.
“We gave ourselves a chance to stay relevant here,” DeBoer said, “and that’s the goal again [Saturday] night.”