Lindy Ruff didn’t disguise his frustration with Damon Severson’s turnover that led to the eventual game-winning goal for the Flyers in Thursday night’s loss in Newark.
The Devils head coach, clearly agitated with the decision making by his veteran defenseman, called out the “unacceptable” play that led to an open breakaway for Travis Konecny, who easily beat Vitek Vanecek to give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead with 8:14 left in the third period, sending New Jersey to its fourth straight loss.
“That play, it’s a play that’s just not even in our playbook,” Ruff said. “We talked this morning about getting pucks to the net, comes off the wall, one-time it, make a play like that.
“They didn’t have a chance in the period. I had just went down the bench and talked about making sure we create the chances that are there, that we don’t play high-risk. You get in a game like this, you might have to hang around for overtime, but to make that play, and trap the people, totally unacceptable.”
It was a period that had been otherwise dominated by the Devils, who finished the night with 48 shots on Carter Hart, but Severson’s errant pass in the attacking zone killed any momentum New Jersey may have had. Ruff, who had preached putting pucks on net, watched as Severson settled the puck at the point, with Miles Wood between the circles ready for a deflection. It was a situation made for a shot toward the net, but instead, an indecisive Severson turned and pushed a lazy pass right between the sticks of a surprised Dougie Hamilton and Dawson Mercer, and right into the lap of Konency, who took off the other way and sent the Devils on their way to another loss.
It was a play that clearly frustrated Ruff, but a more nonchalant Severson shook off the play when discussing it after the game, though acknowledged it was not a decision he should have made.
“I’m trying to make a play there,” Severson said. “Shouldn’t have made the play. Sucks it ended up in the back of our net, but you just have to move on. I’m an offensive player that tries to make plays, and unfortunately, that one didn’t work out. Should have just kept it more simple.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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