First Win

3 games in...first win....something has to be said for fighting to the last second (literally)...can't help but think there is a ALOT of work to be done for this team to just keep pace in the Atlantic Division....but its still very early and this team still has to gel....lets see where they are at the end of October.

Stay above the water line

Yeah I know its been a long time since I posted but honestly has there been much to talk about..lol..yes the Devils have a lot of important injuries that is why they need to keep their head above that playoff line in the conference...if they can hover around that 7,8, 9 spot until Brodeur gets back they should be ok....but they need to learn to play 60 minutes...this has been their problem last year and its carried over to this year...if they can play hard consistent hockey to till March..they get a healthy "rested" Brodeur to make a playoff run and maybe make take it deep this year

BOUNCE TO VICTORY

ok so im an honest guy..... I didnt want to post after game 1 and 2 because my frustration level had hit an all time high...I know ill get the "you should post no matter if they win or lose" but its my blog and I do what i want....just kidding...lol....but back to the matter at hand..yes it was a big win last night but ALOT of bounces went their way and to a point deservedly so..this whole series has been about bounces and the Devils cashed in theirs last night...some quick observations...the devils need to bump and throw Henrik off his game a little...the rangers are doing it to Brodeur so they Devils should return the favor....Brian Gionta is in a slump in the worst way..but if he continues to play with Zubrus he might put one in the next game...If the devils are going to go after rebounds or try to stuff a cross crease pass..LIFT THE PUCK...Henrik is waaaay to good on his pads down and it seems like his stretches are comparably to an eagles wing span...the defense has been better on the boards but they need to tighten up in the slot...I like the fact that the defense carried the puck up the ice more last night it seemed to get the devils in the rangers zone a little easier...and finally Sean Avery looked like a 5 year old trying to get his mommy to buy him candy with his interesting screening technique...I would love to see someone clean his clock...Here's to more bounces and a tied series after Wednesday night...GO DEVILS!!

The Battle for Bragging Rights

And here we go....Devils Rangers...Round 1 Game 1...I gotta be honest I dont know where to stand on this series...The Devils have not been playing good hockey for about a month, they have not won in regulation since March 15th, and they are giving up leads like they are going out of style...but if there is one series to fire them up and change their ways of late this is it...we all know what the Rangers did to the Devils in the regular season but outside of 3 games...they were all close and could have gone either way...For the Devils to win this Series they need Gionta, Madden and Pandolfo to be the x factors...if Gionta doesnt find that scoring grit that netted him 50+ goals a few seasons ago then the Devils are a one line team that will be shutdown...Keep on an eye on the Zubrus, Rupp, and Clarkson line..they remind me of the old Crash Line from 95 ...I was not to happy to hear that Vitaly Vishnevsky will be sitting in favor of Salavador...Andy Greene has been horrendous in the last month and I thought for sure he would be the odd man out.. maybe Sutter knows something we dont....I hope.

First Place!!....Really?!?...How???

I wish I had an answer to that question but im just as shocked as everyone else...I thought they would be above average at best and be middle of the pack come playoff time...The fact the Devils are in the first place in the conference having lost 10 of 11 against the Islanders and Rangers (Devils finally beat the Islanders on sat...about time..lol) is absolutely insane...remember this is a team that lost too big pieces to free agency last summer..Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski...they have a first year coach and not to mention a mix of new and first year players...lets not forget starting slow due to a 9 game road trip to open the season and they were barely .500 in the middle of November...this team continues to amaze me year after year...every year it seems people predict the end is near for the devils and they prove those people wrong every year...I can only hope they finish the year strong, hit the playoffs on a high note and please...please...please...give Brodeur a game or two off...whats the point of playing 60 to 70 games a year to just be tired for the playoffs?? Lets see some Weekes action!!

Gaps and Cushions

What a nice win last night...even though once again they started a little slow they were able to get it together and pull out a very important win....and win that puts them 1 point away from the division lead and gives them a 5 point cushion from the 8th spot in conference (which by the way is a tie between Boston and the Rangers...just wanted to make that point clear..lol)...I did see one very good stat last night about the defense and their contributions on offense over the last 17 games...the defense has about 13 goals in that stretch...like I stated in the last post this could help the Devils move deep in the playoffs if the defense continues to contribute like this.

Lucky Number 6

So I was in attendance at saturday nights game against the Hurricanes and I remember saying please start off fast...and they did in a big way...a final tally of 6 goals and 4 of those goals by a defensemen (including a great end to end Niedermayer-like goal from odyua) thats something I felt was one of the reasons they couldn't stay in the playoffs last year..the lack of defense joining the play...I hope that that trend continues well into April and May and hopefully June...there is no bigger test than tonights matchup against the east leading Senators...and the fact that the Rangers dont play till saturday this is the time they can get some cushion points and close the gap for the division lead....the keyword here is "CONSISTENT" this team has to learn to play their game for 60 min every game...if they do that..they are hands down one of the best in the league.