The team delivered an 8-1 trouncing of the Ottawa Senators in front of a hollering capacity crowd during the Kraft Hockeyville Cup matchup at Credit Union Place Centre Monday night.
New Jersey made it clear that while it was an exhibition game, it would be far from a free skate with the team scoring five goals in the first period.
“We had a fortunate bounce in the first shift . . . and it got us going right away,” said New Jersey forward Drew Stafford while referencing linemate Marcus Johansson’s early goal at 1:07. “We were talking in the locker room after the first (period) . . . the game could go two different ways, we could stay on it and keep at it or take our foot off the gas. Being the preseason, it was one of those kinds of things where they could come back and make it a game.”
That never happened, with New Jersey scoring four more times in the penalty-laden first period.
Pavel Zacha scored twice on power plays in the period, while singles also went to Nico Hischier and Stafford.
Stafford said the team’s goal throughout the night was to work out some habits without getting “too fancy.”
“We weren’t even looking at the score, we were more focused on the smaller details and habits that we’ll continue to build throughout the rest of training camp,” he said.
The goal-heavy first period transitioned into a more defensive game in the second.
The period saw Ottawa get itself on the scoreboard, although not without giving up another pair of goals to Devils forward John Quenneville.
Quenneville scored a top-shelf goal during a five-on-three power play at 8:16.
Less than 30 seconds later, Quenneville managed to get another one through during the remaining five-on-four power play.
However, some of the biggest applause of the night came when Ottawa defenceman Thomas Chabot put the team on the board during their only power play of the game at 13:30.
However it was far from enough, with Stafford earning his second goal of the night in the third period to finish the game 8-1.
Stafford also praised the P.E.I. community, describing those he met in the province as “extremely friendly and accommodating.
“They did an unbelievable job here,” said Stafford. “The people, everything prepared here at the rink . . . all in all, it was a great experience for us and we thank everybody for putting this night on for us.”
