The overseas NHL continued with the last game day of the week in the form of a 7-game schedule. Fans from the Tatras could especially look forward to an attractive start to the match between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the form of European time. In the lineups of their teams, there were a pair of defenders, Šimon Nemec for the “Devils” and Erik Černák for the “Lightnings” on the opposite side.
The New Jersey Devils welcomed the “Lightnings” from Tampa to the Prudential Center, against whom they failed in the previous two appearances. In the home team, he started in the 2nd defensive pair Simon Nemec together with Kevin Bahl, on the opposite side Erik Černák with Calvin de Haan. After a scoreless opening period, the guests from Tampa managed to take the lead, when they were already 2 goals ahead after goals from Victor Hedman and Brayden Point. Tyler Toffoli was able to answer with a power-play accurate shot, but it was the guests who took care of the key moment when Brandon Hagel scored with a backhand shot less than 10 minutes before the end. The Lightning could increase the score in the following minutes after the hooking of Šimon Nemec, who finally lasted a full 2 minutes on the penalty bench. Even the experienced weakness did not help the “devils” and during the final minutes Nikita Kučerov added a goal insurance to 4:1 into the empty goal. The experienced 30-year-old forward became the first player ever to reach the 100-point mark in the current season. Both Slovak defenders presented themselves with a great performance, when the draft unit from 2022 played more than 19 minutes and scored a blocked shot or one point. At the same time, Šimon Nemec became the only back of the home team who ended the duel without a negative point. Erik Černák spent 18 minutes and 48 seconds on the ice, making him the 2nd busiest defender of his team and one of the best players on the ice towards the back. In addition, he scored 3 successful wins of the puck or a given point. He also ended the meeting with a plus point.
Šimon Nemec’s statistics:
blocked shots: 1
bodysuits: 1
puck gains: 1
penalty minutes: 2
ice time: 24 substitutions / 19:07 min (of which 12 seconds in power-ups, 1:47 min in weakenings)
Statistics of Erik Černák:
+/- body: +1
bodysuits: 1
puck gains: 3
ice time: 27 substitutions / 18:48 min (of which 4:30 min in weakening)
2024-02-26 06:50:01
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