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Schwei's Devils Notes: A Big Win In Montreal, Elias Returns And More

By John Schweibacher
» More Columns

The New Jersey Devils closed out November by taking three of a possible four points in their weekend home-and-home set with the NHL-leading Montreal Canadiens.

In New Jersey's 3-2 victory on Saturday night in Montreal, the Devils trailed the Canadiens, 2-0, in the third period. But Patrik Elias scored his first goal of the season with just under nine minutes remaining and Kyle Palmieri tied the game with 21.8 seconds left to force overtime. John Moore scored to give New Jersey the victory.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, excluding shootout victories, Saturday night's win was only the third time in franchise history that the Devils won a road game in which they trailed by two goals in the final 10 minutes of the third period.

The Devils' last such road win was also in Montreal, a 4-3 regulation-time victory on April 18, 2006, in the final game of the regular season. The victory gave New Jersey its 11th straight win and the Atlantic Division title. Their only other comeback victory of this sort was an 8-7 overtime win at Edmonton on November 25, 1987.

Cory Schneider made 30 saves in the win in his first career start in Montreal. Schneider is the first Devils goalie -- other than Martin Brodeur -- to get a road victory against the Canadiens since Scott Clemmensen, who was in goal for a 2-1 overtime win at Bell Centre on December 6, 2008.

Devils Goalies' Regular-Season Wins in Montreal:
· Martin Brodeur: 22 (First: 12/8/93, Last: 1/14/14)
· Cory Schneider: 1 (11/28/15)
· Scott Clemmensen: 1 (12/6/08)
· Chris Terreri: 1 (1/29/92)
· Sean Burke: 1 (10/21/89)
· Chico Resch: 1 (1/14/84)
· Ron Low: 1 (3/12/83)

Moore scored the first overtime goal of his NHL career to give New Jersey the victory. It was the fifth time the Devils beat the Canadiens in OT in the regular season, and the third time in Montreal.

· 11/28/15: NJD 3 at Mtl 2 -- John Moore
· 1/9/10: NJD 2 at Mtl 1 -- Zach Parise
· 12/6/08: NJD 2 at Mtl 1 -- Zach Parise
· 12/6/06: Mtl 1 at NJD 2 -- Patrik Elias
· 10/23/97: Mtl 1 at NJD 2 -- Petr Sykora

The Devils dropped the first game of their home-and-home set with the Canadiens, 3-2, in the shootout Friday night at Prudential Center.

It was just the third shootout between the two clubs since the tiebreaker was introduced in the NHL for the 2005-06 season. None of the first 96 shootouts the Devils participated in were against the Canadiens.

Three of their last 25 have now been against Montreal. and all three have been in New Jersey:

· 11/27/15: Montreal 3 at Devils 2 -- Sven Andrighetto SHO winner
· 4/3/15: Montreal 2 at Devils 3 -- Patrik Elias SHO winner
· 12/4/13: Montreal 4 at Devils 3 -- David Desharnais SHO winner

Schneider took both of the shootout losses and Keith Kinkaid had the lone Devils' shootout victory over the Canadiens. Peter Budaj (1-0), Dustin Tokarski (0-1) and Mike Condon (1-0) have been the three Montreal goalies.

The Devils lost to the Blue Jackets, 2-1, in New Jersey Wednesday night. Elias began his 20th season in the NHL that night after missing the first 20 games of the season with a knee injury. Elias has spent his entire NHL career with New Jersey after debuting with the Devils for one game in the 1995-96 season.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Elias is the 18th man in NHL history to play at least 20 seasons for one franchise, and the third to do so for the Devils. He joins Ken Daneyko (20 seasons) and Brodeur (21).

Elias also notes that there are only two other NHL teams who have had at least three 20-season players. The Red Wings had four with Gordie Howe (25), Alex Delvecchio (24), Steve Yzerman (22) and Nicklas Lidstrom (20). The Bruins had three with Johnny Bucyk (21), Ray Bourque (21) and Dit Clapper (20).

Eleven players have appeared in at least 12 seasons with the New Jersey Devils:

· Martin Brodeur: 21 (1991-92 to 2013-14)
· Ken Daneyko: 20 (1983-84 to 2002-03)
· Patrik Elias: 20 (1995-96 to 2015-16)
· John MacLean: 14 (1983-84 to 1997-98)
· Sergei Brylin: 13 (1994-95 to 2007-08)
· Scott Niedermayer: 13 (1991-92 to 2003-04)
· Jay Pandolfo: 13 (1996-96 to 2009-10)
· Scott Stevens: 13 (1991-92 to 2003-04)
· Tommy Albelin: 12 (1988-89 to 95-96 & 2001-02 to 05-06)
· Bruce Driver: 12 (1983-84 to 1994-95)
· Chris Terreri: 12 (1986-87 to 1995-96 & 1998-99 to 00-01)

Plus: Jacob Josefson -- The Devils' center scored New Jersey's only goal in the shootout Friday night, improving to 4-for-5 this season and 9-for-15 (60.0 percent) for his career.

Minus: Jacob Josefson -- The Devils' center has not scored a goal in regulation or overtime in 23 games played this season.

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