The Devils scored eight goals yesterday to get back into their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Hurricanes, the most goals scored by a team so far in this year’s playoffs. Last year’s high was nine goals, by the Flames against the Oilers… while the Oilers also scored eight against the Kings and gave up eight to the Avalanche.
Big goal totals do happen in the playoffs, but the Devils became the first team in 11 years to put a snowman on the scoreboard when they were behind in a playoff series? Last time, I (Jesse) was actually there, at the absolutely bonkers 10-3 Penguins rout of the Flyers, which avoided a sweep but didn’t stop Philly from advancing in six games. That was the third straight game with eight-plus goals in that series, as the Flyers scored eight apiece in Games 2 and 3.
Two years earlier was the last time a team got down in a series, scored eight in a game, and went on to win the series. I was at that one too — Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, when the Bruins, after a pair of one-goal losses in Vancouver, destroyed the Canucks, 8-1, in Game 3.
For the Devils? Their last — and only previous — eight-goal playoff game was a 10-4 pounding of the Washington Capitals in the 1988 Patrick Division Finals, including hat tricks for Patrik Sundstrom and Mark Johnson.
Beating the Capitals got the Devils a date with the Bruins in the Wales Conference finals, and that was the series that gave us “have another donut,” from Jim Schoenefeld to Don Koharski, 35 years ago this past weekend.
We Can Pod It Out 106: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)