Sorry..

Sorry for not keeping this up to date as of late. A whole bunch of things came up this week and I wasnt able to blog. I will try to get it back up and running this week.

Devils host Kings tonight in Newark

The Devils come in to tonight's match-up winners of 10 out of their last 12 and a 5-1 route of struggling Atlanta. Conversely, the kings stroll in to town winners of 5 out of their last 6 games and 6-3-1 in their last 10 road games. Both teams have been scoring goals in bunches and I am really excited to see this match-up. The only other time these teams have played this season the Devils went in to LA and put a 5-1 beating on the home town team. This is a much different Kings team then the last time these teams met. The Kings are getting some great goaltending from Jonathan Quick and are scoring some goals as well, 2 things that were lacking during the first meeting.

Dustin Brown, the captain of the young king squad, has been on fire as of late with 12 points in 7 games. For the division leading Devils, Zach Parise has been just as hot with 11 points in his last 8 games and has a point in each one of those last 8 games. His linemates havent been too shabby either. The captain, Jamie Langenbrunner has 9 points in his last 5 games 7 goals in that span. The center for that line is Travis Zajac and he has been been just as hot as the other 2 players on his line with 9 points in his last 6 games and is an astounding +10 over that span.

The Devils are firing on all cylinders right now. In last night's game Colin White was struck in the hand with a puck and left the game and did not return. When speaking with reporters after the game he kept his hand in his pocket the whole time and said it will be re-evaluated today. Does not sound good at all. If he can't go it will be Jay Leach filling his spot on the blue line. If White misses any significant time, I fully expect Lou to start working the phone and getting a veteran defenseman in here...*cough*Niedermayer*cough*.

Players to watch:

Patrik Elias has been playing well all season but hasnt potted a goal in 3 games and is due for one tonight. He is doing all the little things and made an outstanding pass to Zach Parise for a goal last night. I fully expect him to get on the score sheet tonight.

Johhny Oduya has been outstanding at both ends of the ice this season and is really developing in to a top pairing D-man in this league. He has 4 goals and 16 assists this season and is an impressive +14. Coach Sutter has moved him around with different partners this season and he never misses a step. Look for Johnny to continue to jump in to the offense and get on the scoresheet tonight as well. 2 assists sounds about right.

Scott Clemmensen played what can be considered his worst game of the season Tuesday night against Washington. After the night off last night, he will be ready to go tonight and be eager to shake off the last start. With the Hall of Famer lurking in the wings now is the time for Clemmer to make the most of the time he has left. Like I have been saying all along, he just needs to keep his team in the game and let the offense do its work and for the most part, he has done that all season long.

Prediction: Devils continue to roll in this one. They will go down early but fight back and earn an exciting 3-2 victory. Elias 1 goal and 1 assist, Parise 1 goal, Zajac 2 assists.

Devils hope to take out the Thrash

It's time to put the game against Washington behind them and move on. The Devils are visiting Atlanta Friday night to face one of the worst teams in the league. However, the Devils have struggled against them this season for some reason. The last matchup between these two teams was by far the Devils worst performance of the season where Kari Lehtonen blanked them 4-0 in front of a none to please Prudential Center crowd. Hopefully that was just an off night. The Devils have won 3 straight games at Phillips Arena,

All signs point to Scott Clemmensen getting the nod between the pipes again Friday night. I personally, disagree with the decision and think Kevin Weekes should get the start but the only thing I can think of is that Coach Sutter is hoping to restore Clemmensen's confidence after a shaky game Tuesday night against the Caps. With games Saturday and Monday, I would think Weekes will get the start in at least one and my guess is that it will be Saturday night against the Kings whom he's has already beaten this season.

Up front, I dont expect any changes even though Brendan Shanahan has not been practicing. The team is stating that they are just keeping him fresh, and I agree that it is a great move. No reason tiring him out. He has been around long enough to be able to not practice and still perform at game time. The hot line continues to be the ZZ-Pops line (Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner). They have been on fire as of late especially Jamie Langenbrunner who has 7 goals in his last 4 games. That is not to slight the Elias-Zubrus-Gionta line who has been just as good. It seems like every other night it is a different line doing all the scoring and that is a great sign for a team that has Stanley Cup hopes.

The defense will also remain the same. For a no-name defense, they sure have done a hell of a job. The media has been writing this team off since the offseason because of the lack of experience and "talent" on our blue line. I think it is safe to say they have shut those clowns up at this point. The Devils own the 5th best GAA in the league and have given up only 128 goals (5th best in the NHL). Part of that is the solid play of Scott Clemmensen but he can't do it by himself and he has been getting alot of help.

Players to Watch:

Zach Parise has 7 goals and 4 assists in his last 12 games against Atlanta and look for that to continue. Zach had a ton of excellent scoring chances against Washington and just couldnt get one to go in. Zach is a pitbull on the puck and will continue to get his chances. With hands like his it's only a matter of time.

Travis Zajac is playing his best hockey as a professional. He is consistently getting scoring chances on the PK and is keeping the opposing PP on their toes. He is winning 51.7% of his faceoffs. He has 15 points in his last 11 games and has been a +15. He is quickly developing in to the playmaking center the Devils have lacked since the departure of Scott Gomez. Coming off a sophomore slump Travis has really gotten his act together - 15 G - 28A - 43P - +26

Brian Rolston scored his 5th PPG of the season Tuesday night. The Devils are looking for more from him. He scored against Atlanta earlier this season before leaving the game with the high ankle sprain that put him on the shelf for a while. Power Play goals are great but we need more out of him even strength and I think he will show up on the scoresheet in this one as well.

Prediction: Devils come out on fire looking for some payback for the 4-0 beatdown they took in January. Devils win 5-1. Parise with 2 goals, Zajac with a goal and 2 assists.

State of the Devils

Coming off an 8-game winning streak, where do the Devils go from here? They play in Atlanta Friday night. They have had some difficulty with Atlanta this season and this should be a decent test for them. Based on how Clemmensen played last night, I have a hunch Weekes will get the start Friday night, especially since the Devils are playing 3 games in 4 days.

Only time will tell really how good this team is but one thing is for certain, they will not lost because of lack of effort. Brent Sutter has really instilled something in this team and you can really tell they trust him this season. Last season was a feeling out process for both sides but not this season. Everyone is playing for each other and giving 100% each shift. As a coach and as a fan, that is all you can ask for. We are virutally in every game and sometimes you get a bad break or a bad call (*cough*Mcreary*cough*) and you lose a game. You can't win every game but you can take away positives from every game which is a good sign.

Last night the positive of the game was the conitinued great play of Jamie Langenbrunner and his entire line. Zach Parise had a lot of chances again last night but couldnt cash in. Travis Zajac is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous short handed players in the league. It seems like every game he gets 2 or 3 excellent scoring chances short handed.

The defensive corp as a whole has really developed nicely and everyone understands their role and where they fit in and just does their job. Bryce Salvador has been rock solid back there this season. Johnny Oduya has been ourt best two-way defenseman as well. People are clammoring for a trade for a veteran defensemen and the only player I wouldnt mind seeing replaced is Andy Greene. He has been inconsistent since coming back from injury and that is not something that can happen with this team. This team can not rely on a few players, it takes a team effort and every man doing their job to get the result they are looking for.

Scott Clemmensen has been a great story this season and has been extremely solid and has done his job almost every night. His job is to keep his team in every game and he has done that with the exception of last night against Washington. He let in a few that were just backbreakers. A report came out that Martin Brodeur is targeting February 26th as his return date. I fully expect him to be eased back in to the lineup and Clemmer will continue to play. Come playoff time Marty should have the rust off and be ready to go.

Regardless of last nights result, this team has the makings of something special. I revel in the fact that people are doubting the Devils and underestimating them. We play the best as the underdog and under the radar. When the end of the season comes and the Devils are in the top 4 of the eastern conference again, there will be no sneaking up on anyone in the playoffs and the Devils are going to have to come correct. Based on what I have seen from this team, I dont feel any trades need to be made and the sky is the limit for these guys.

Devils blow 2 goal lead but show heart of a champion and win it in OT

WHAT A GAME!!!!!! I dont even know where to start with this one. Jaime Langenbrunner recorded his second straight 2-goal game, one of which was the OT winner in the Devils thrilling 4-3 OT win in Boston tonight. This game had everything you would expect from a 1-2 matchup.

The Devils lead 2-0 heading in to the 3rd period and seemed to have the game in complete control. A miscue behind the Devils net lead to the goal by Chuck Kobasew that cut the lead in half. Shortly thereafter, Boston tied it up on a goal from Marc Savard. With a little over 6 minutes remaining Dennis Wideman looked to have delivered the death nail when he ripped a one timer from the deep slot through the legs of Scott Clemmensen to give Boston the 3-2 lead. Most teams would have folded like a cheap suit, but not the Devils. Not this team. Once again, the Devils showed the heart of a champion and began to attack the offensive zone in waves. Then with a little under 2 minutes remaining and the Devils on a line change, Johnny Oduya made an excellent pinch and kept the puck alive long enough for Brian Gionta to scamper from the bench to the puck. Patrik Elias made a bee-line from the bench to the net. Gionta threw it in front, hit Elias' leg/skate and tied the game up. The Devils would not be denied tonight. 1:11 in to the overtime period, Jaime Langenbrunner cashed in on a rebound in front of the net to seal the deal for the Devils and give them their 7th consecutive win.

Every team needs wins like this, where you snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It's games like this where the heart and determination of the team is tested and they continue to pass the test. Some will say it wasnt a great win because the Devils gave up the lead but to come back like that, on the road, against the top team in the league, shows what type of team this is and what they can accomplish when they play their game. This was a measuring stick game for both teams and the Bruins came out on the short end of this one.

Devils visit bean town for a showdown

If the Devils have visions of catching the Boston Bruins, tonight's the night it has to start. The Devils currently sit in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with 63 points, 12 points behind the Bruins.

Boston has been almost unbeatable at home posting an 18-3-2 record at TD Banknorth Garden. However the Devils come in to tonights tilt with the 2nd best road record in the league (16-6-2) The only other time these 2 teams met this season was a 2-0 shutout for Tim Thomas. Few will forget the acrobatic diving save he made on Patrik Elias to preserve the shutout.

The Devils are riding a season high 6 game win streak and coming off another impressive road victory on Tuesday night where they were 4-1 winners over a recently resurgent Ottawa Senators team.

Both teams are playing extremely well and have the offensive firepower to put up a ton of goals. It all depends on how they want to play the game. This game can be looked at as a measuring stick game for the Devils to see just how good they really are.

Players to watch:

Zach Parise has scored 6 points in his last 4 games. He has not gone more than 3 games the entire season without scoring a goal. He did not score a goal Tuesday night against Ottawa and will look to do so tonight. With his tireless work ethic and dogged determination I see no reason why Zach wont put more points up on the board tonight.

According to Tom Gulitti at the Fire & Ice Blog (http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/) Scott Clemmensen will be between the pipes again tonight. Scott spent his college career playing for the Boston College Eagles, where he led them to the national championship in 2001, so this is a bit of a homecoming for him. He has been playing lights out over his past few starts and I expect more of the same tonight.

Dainius Zubrus is playing extremely well night in and night out but not getting on the scoresheet as much as he and the Devils would like. He has gone 5 games without a point. With linemates like Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta that should not be something that happens. I am looking for him to break out of his slump and get on the scoresheet tonight.

Prediction: Devils continue to roll and prove to themselves and the rest of the league that they are for real. Devils win 3-2.

Pat Burns - Great coach and even better person

After hearing the news that Pat Burns was diagnosed with cancer for the third time, it hit me in the stomach like a sucker punch. I can only imagine how hard it must be for him and his family. Pat was only in New Jersey for a relatively short time but was responsible for bringing the 3rd Stanley Cup championship to the Devils and their fans.

There was always something about Pat Burns that drew me to him. To this day, he is my favorite coach in Devils history. I know that is blasphemous in some circles and Jacques Lemaire should be my favorite coach, but thats jut not the case. It will always be Pat Burns.

I will always remember the press conference when he was hired and the way he described Lou Lamoriello coming to his home in Canada and speaking with him. You could just tell in his voice how grateful he was for the opportunity. When the Devils were looking for a coach Pat Burns' name was never even mentioned and the entire hockey community was shocked when he was tabbed as the man to lead the Devils. The hiring of Pat Burns signaled a change within the team. Pat was more of a disciplinarian than the players friend, and that was something the team needed. People always said that Herb Brooks was the right man at the right time when talking about the 1980 US Olympic team. Well Pat Burns was the right man at the right time to run this team.

The real tribute to the kind of guy and the kind of coach Pat Burns is and was, if you ask any player that played for him what they think of him, to a man, they will tell you they would run head first through a brick wall for that man. He is a natural born leader and a model human being. You never hear a bad word about him. As a fan, I always watch the coaches press conferences and just watching him talk, you could always tell he was being sincere and genuine, regardless of what the subject was. Winning the Stanley Cup always creates some sort of bond between the players and coaches in the fans. I will always remember Scott Stevens hoisting Lord Stanleys Cup for the first time in 1995. I will always remember screaming and yelling in the early hours of the morning when Jason Arnott fired that puck past Ed Belfour. And I will always remember the joy and happiness on the face of Pat Burns when he lifted that Stanley Cup over his head. For a man that rarely smiled during that 2003 season, you couldnt wipe that grin off his face.


After reading some quotes from Pat Burns over the last week or so, he is preparing for the worst and just worrying about living his life and enjoying every moment that he has left. He is choosing to not undergo chemotherapy to treat the cancer that has spread to his lungs. If there is anyone that can beat this horrible disease for a 3rd time it is that man. I wish him and his family the best of luck and my thoughts and prayers are with them.