New Jersey Devils loss over NY Islanders
New Jersey Devils loss over NY Islanders, continued their preseason impressive, with their second win at the Brooklyn 2-1 win.
Mostly veteran lineup, several who didn’t play in either game Monday, due with some physical play from the youngsters who likely won’t make the opening roster but do want to leave an impression.
But Beauvillier first isles camp, didn’t back down during the Islanders 2-1 win at Barclays Center, he finished the game with two hits and five shots on goal. Only 18-year-old, Beauvillier first test against big-men and NHL-caliber players. Beauvillier has lot to learn, obviously he was nervous ahead of his first games on Monday against Philadelphia and far more on Wednesday night against New Jersey.
“Whatever it takes to make the team,” Beauvillier said. “Here I’m playing more of a support role, just get under the skin of the opponents. It’s part of my game sometimes, so I showed it today.”
The Islanders traded up to draft the highly-skilled Beauvillier 28th overall in June’s draft. He scored 42 goals and 52 assists for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, but the Islanders also liked that he asserted himself on the ice.
“He plays big,” head coach Jack Capuano said. “For me tough is taking a hit to make a play, winning your battles in those small areas of the ice and he’s done that. He’s a gritty guy, he goes to the dirty areas.”
“It’s harder than junior for sure,” Beauvillier said of Monday’s game against the Flyers. “I felt comfortable after the first period. I think I played well. It was nice playing against those guys like [Claude] Giroux and [Jakub] Voracek. I enjoyed it.”
Fellow prospect Michael Dal Colle compared the jump to the NHL level to the first year in junior, when the 16-year-old rookies have to go up against players as old as 20 – and can be significantly more physically mature.
“There were some big players in junior too,” Dal Colle said. “I remember when I came in at 16, I was only 170, so I’m pretty used to playing against bigger guys.”
And captain, John Tavares, he is in mid-season form, saying “I think you can see the chemistry. We’re a hardworking group, guys have been pushing themselves to be ready for game one. “We want to win a cup. It’s a process. It’s a journey. Keep playing at a high level & keep growing.”
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