Devils get off to fast start, skate by Islanders

DEVILS 2
ISLANDERS 1

After an 113 day lockout that cost almost half the 2012-2013 season, the New Jersey Devils were finally back on the ice to begin defense of their Eastern Conference title from last season.

The Devils out-hustled a very young New York Islanders team, beating them 2-1 in a game that was really never that close. The Devils out-shot the Isles 28-19, and at one point held New York to only nine shots on goal through two periods of play.

The Devils got big opening night performances from: Ilya Kovalchuk, who looked crisp after spending the lockout playing in Russia; Travis Zajac, who inked a brand new deal earlier in the week, as well as veterans Patrick Elias and David Clarkson. Even rookie Stefan Matteau looked good in his first game in red and black, taking three shots on goal.

Midway through a scoreless 2nd period, the Devils struck gold, when Kovalchuck sped around Islanders Evgeni Nabokov, passed the puck to Zajac who punched it in for the first goal of the night.

However, the Isles soon responded when Travis Hamonic scored the tying goal 7:21 into the third period to tie the game.

The tie lasted only 1:05, as Clarkson scored the eventual game winner with an assist from Elias and Mattias Tedenby.

Goalie Martin Brodeur got his first win of the season, saving 18 shots on 19 attempts.

While the Devs might be old on paper, getting off to a fast start in a 48 game season is imperative to any success. New Jersey hosts Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Islanders host Tampa Bay on Monday.