"The seat cushions in the Prudential Center figure to get a lot less wear this season with everyone on their feet most of the time. But excitement doesn't automatically translate into victories. In fact, the Devils' go-go-go style under rookie head coach John MacLean may soon be gone-gone-gone if they don't tighten up defensively. Goaltender Martin Brodeur is the first to admit he is excited about the prospects of watching Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise on one of the NHL's most explosive lines this season. But he couldn't have been thrilled about facing an odd-man rush in overtime that ultimately cost the Devils. Loui Eriksson scored after 1:36 of sudden death to give the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Devils last night, spoiling MacLean's first game as an NHL head coach. "I think this is what it's going to be," Brodeur said of the Devils' style. "It felt wide open because of the excitement of the game. But guys didn't have much room to make plays, especially in our zone. "It was just little turnovers that we created. We had the puck behind the net, we lose it and they turn around and score. Little things like that we have to clean up in our game. If we want to play a little more up-tempo, we can't give freebies." Not like the one they allowed in overtime. Playing 4-on-4, defenseman Andy Greene's shot went across the ice and Eriksson started a 2-on-1 in his own end with Brad Richards. Veteran defenseman Henrik Tallinder, playing in his first game for the Devils, took Richards to give Brodeur a clear view of Eriksson. "Greenie jumped in there offensively and tried to make a play," MacLean said. "They came out 2-on-1 and the guy made a heck of a shot on Marty there." Read more: http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/10/nj_devils_missteps_on_defense.html
