Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Special team struggles killing Devils
I am sure I am not the only one that was sick to their stomach watching the Devils give up another 3 power play goals Monday night in Philly. What made matters worse is when the game was on the line in the 3rd period and they were down by two they had 3 consecutive power plays, one of which was a double-minor, and couldn't even come close to converting on it. They eventually went on to lose the game.
I never thought I would see the day when I would acknowledge how much Colin White means to this team and our defensive corp. When he is out of the lineup, this is a much different team. Not nearly as physical or intimidating. He is definitely a calming influence back there and balances out or d-pairings perfectly. Additionally, with Patrik Elias being out, our lines looked jumbled and out of sorts as well. I hope both are back in the lineup Friday night when the Devils visit the Blackhawks.
This is definitely not the time to hit the panic button but our Penalty Kill has been working at around 55% percent over the last few games and that is just unacceptable, especially for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The team has a few days off and then will head back to practice tomorrow at The Rock before flying to Chicago for Friday nights game. Hopefully we can get some guys rested and get them added back to the mix on Friday. This team has been playing lights out since the beginning of January, a little bump in the road was bound to happen sooner or later. Lets just hope this is that bump and the team can get their heads on straight and back to playing Devils hockey heading in to the playoffs.
I never thought I would see the day when I would acknowledge how much Colin White means to this team and our defensive corp. When he is out of the lineup, this is a much different team. Not nearly as physical or intimidating. He is definitely a calming influence back there and balances out or d-pairings perfectly. Additionally, with Patrik Elias being out, our lines looked jumbled and out of sorts as well. I hope both are back in the lineup Friday night when the Devils visit the Blackhawks.
This is definitely not the time to hit the panic button but our Penalty Kill has been working at around 55% percent over the last few games and that is just unacceptable, especially for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. The team has a few days off and then will head back to practice tomorrow at The Rock before flying to Chicago for Friday nights game. Hopefully we can get some guys rested and get them added back to the mix on Friday. This team has been playing lights out since the beginning of January, a little bump in the road was bound to happen sooner or later. Lets just hope this is that bump and the team can get their heads on straight and back to playing Devils hockey heading in to the playoffs.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sky's The Limit
Sorry that I have been away for a little bit but I certainly have a few things to say about the current state of the Devils. The Devils have won 19 out of their last 26 games and are currently sitting in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference 8 points behind the conference leading Boston Bruins (with 2 games in hand) With the trade deadline having passed the teams are basically all set and we are ready for the fight down the home stretch.
For all intensive purposes, most people would say the Devils stood pat at the trading deadline. For those that say that, they should be committed to a mental institution. Although a minor deal, Niclas Havelid is exactly what this team needed. Unlike years of past, the Devils have the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the league. I think that guy wearing #30 between the pipes has answered any and all questions about the state of the goaltending situation in NJ. The only thing lacking was another solid, puck moving defenseman. Granted the trade cost the Devils a young promising D-man, but for this team, with all the aging veterans, the time to go for it now. Anssi Salmela is not that special of a player that you don't make this move. Lou Lamoriello has shown time and time again that he wants 7-8 solid d-man come playoff time and now we have that. We have a great mixture of young talent and old wily veterans.
Niclas Havelid was a +4 on a terrible defensive team in Atlanta and was their top pairing shut down d-man. Fortunately, the Devils have enough talent and experience where Havelid will not have to be the one relied on in all key situations, he can just step right in with no pressure and play his game. He had a tough game his first time out for the Devils against the Islanders but who on the Devils didn't? This was another shrewd move in a long line of shrewd moves by the mad genius we all affectionately call Lou.
Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones you don't make. In this case, I think trading away any piece of the puzzle this season would have been extremely detrimental. This team is as tight as any team I have ever seen. Constantly cracking jokes at each other in the media and I am sure behind closed doors. You can tell from every interview that is done, that it is all about the team and playing for one another. I have a really good feeling that this team is going to do something really special this season. I guess we will have to just all wait and see.
For all intensive purposes, most people would say the Devils stood pat at the trading deadline. For those that say that, they should be committed to a mental institution. Although a minor deal, Niclas Havelid is exactly what this team needed. Unlike years of past, the Devils have the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the league. I think that guy wearing #30 between the pipes has answered any and all questions about the state of the goaltending situation in NJ. The only thing lacking was another solid, puck moving defenseman. Granted the trade cost the Devils a young promising D-man, but for this team, with all the aging veterans, the time to go for it now. Anssi Salmela is not that special of a player that you don't make this move. Lou Lamoriello has shown time and time again that he wants 7-8 solid d-man come playoff time and now we have that. We have a great mixture of young talent and old wily veterans.
Niclas Havelid was a +4 on a terrible defensive team in Atlanta and was their top pairing shut down d-man. Fortunately, the Devils have enough talent and experience where Havelid will not have to be the one relied on in all key situations, he can just step right in with no pressure and play his game. He had a tough game his first time out for the Devils against the Islanders but who on the Devils didn't? This was another shrewd move in a long line of shrewd moves by the mad genius we all affectionately call Lou.
Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones you don't make. In this case, I think trading away any piece of the puzzle this season would have been extremely detrimental. This team is as tight as any team I have ever seen. Constantly cracking jokes at each other in the media and I am sure behind closed doors. You can tell from every interview that is done, that it is all about the team and playing for one another. I have a really good feeling that this team is going to do something really special this season. I guess we will have to just all wait and see.
Monday, February 23, 2009
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.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Devils march into Ottawa division leaders and win convincingly
Mark it down. That's 6 wins in a row for the Devils, their longest winning streak of the season. Another team effort, where the Devils were solid at both ends of the ice. Scott Clemmensen earned his 20th win of the season, the first time he has accomplished that in his career. Jaime Langenbrunner notched a pair of goals and Brendan Shanahan iced the game with a snapper coming down the wing for his 2nd goal in his return to the Devils.
Without a doubt the play of the game, and maybe the season for the Devils, came off the stick of who else, but Zach Parise. With the Devils leading 2-1 after two periods, it looked as if this game was going to be a tight one all the way to the end. That is until Jaime Langenbrunner fired home a pass from Zach Parise just 19 seconds in to the 3rd period. The goal wasnt the impressive part. It was the pass. Langenbrunner shot the puck and it was initially saved by Brian Elliott. Zach Parise cut through a maze of sticks and bodies to get to the rebound just to the side of the net. As he was getting to the puck, he ended up getting off balance and in the air. Before he hit the ice, he got his stick on the puck and fed it behind him to the waiting stick of Jaime Langenbrunner who buried the puck. Here is the video, you can judge for yourself:
Scott Clemmensen was stellar once again coming up with 21 saves for the win. Coach Sutter has to be happy with the win. The time off during the all-star break does not appear at all to have effected the roll the Devils came in to tonight's game on. Next up for the Devils is a visit to Boston to play the Eastern conference leaders on Thursday night. If Thursday nights game is anything like the game they played in late December we are certainly in for a treat.
Without a doubt the play of the game, and maybe the season for the Devils, came off the stick of who else, but Zach Parise. With the Devils leading 2-1 after two periods, it looked as if this game was going to be a tight one all the way to the end. That is until Jaime Langenbrunner fired home a pass from Zach Parise just 19 seconds in to the 3rd period. The goal wasnt the impressive part. It was the pass. Langenbrunner shot the puck and it was initially saved by Brian Elliott. Zach Parise cut through a maze of sticks and bodies to get to the rebound just to the side of the net. As he was getting to the puck, he ended up getting off balance and in the air. Before he hit the ice, he got his stick on the puck and fed it behind him to the waiting stick of Jaime Langenbrunner who buried the puck. Here is the video, you can judge for yourself:
Scott Clemmensen was stellar once again coming up with 21 saves for the win. Coach Sutter has to be happy with the win. The time off during the all-star break does not appear at all to have effected the roll the Devils came in to tonight's game on. Next up for the Devils is a visit to Boston to play the Eastern conference leaders on Thursday night. If Thursday nights game is anything like the game they played in late December we are certainly in for a treat.
Patrik Elias Fan Pages
Just a quick note. If you get a chance, please visit Patrik Elias' fan page. The links are on the right hand side of the screen under favorite links. There is a Facebook fan page and a website. It's very rare that a professional athlete tries to interact with the fan base and I certainly applaud Patrik and his efforts. Thanks
Smoking hot Devils visit Senators tonight
The Devils come in to tonights game against the Ottawa Senators winners of 6 out of their last 7 games. They went in to the all-star break with a very convincing 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. At the start of tonight's game, the Devils stand atop the Atlantic Division with 61 points and 3rd overall in the conference.
Both teams will come in to the game well rested with each team only having 1 player (Parise, Heatley) participating in this weekends All-star festivities. The Devils will obvious look to continue their winning ways. It appears as if Scott Clemmensen will be between the pipes again tonight and Jay Pandolfo will be the odd man out again. He is obviously upset but he is being the "loyal soldier" and not making a big deal about it in the media. Lets be honest, the Devils, for the most part, aren't a very young team, so the amount of the depth they have will afford them the luxury of resting players down the stretch, thus keeping everyone fresh for the playoff push.
Brent Sutter is very confident in the lineup he is putting out on the ice each night and he is rolling all 4 lines. Every single night he is getting production from each line. Maybe not on the scoresheet but definitely they are affecting the game. The last time the Devils had a team this deep was the 2000 season and we all know how that one ended.
Here are my players to watch tonight:
Travis Zajac has scored 5 goals in his past 7 games. Playing along side Zach Parise has certainly helped with his confidence. Almost as important as the production he is putting up, is how he is playing in all situations. Penalty Kill, Power Play, 4-4. And not only is he playing in those situations, he is playing extremely well. He obviously learned alot last season and has really carried that learning experience over in to this season already surpassing his goal total from last season.
Patrik Elias has hit a bit of a dry spell the last few games heading in to the break with only 1 goal in 6 games. He was getting opportunities, he just wasnt able to put them away. I expect that to change tonight. He has always played well against Ottawa and I expect tonight to be no exception
Johnny Oduya has been tremendous all season long and he appears to finally realizing some of his offensive potential. He has been taking more chances this season in the offensive zone and it has really made a difference with 4 goals and 14 assists and he is a +13.
Prediction: The game will almost definitely start out slowly but I expect the Devils to find their groove and begin to play their game early in the 2nd period. Scott Clemmensen will put in another stellar performance and the Devils will walk out of Ottawa 4-1 winners.
Both teams will come in to the game well rested with each team only having 1 player (Parise, Heatley) participating in this weekends All-star festivities. The Devils will obvious look to continue their winning ways. It appears as if Scott Clemmensen will be between the pipes again tonight and Jay Pandolfo will be the odd man out again. He is obviously upset but he is being the "loyal soldier" and not making a big deal about it in the media. Lets be honest, the Devils, for the most part, aren't a very young team, so the amount of the depth they have will afford them the luxury of resting players down the stretch, thus keeping everyone fresh for the playoff push.
Brent Sutter is very confident in the lineup he is putting out on the ice each night and he is rolling all 4 lines. Every single night he is getting production from each line. Maybe not on the scoresheet but definitely they are affecting the game. The last time the Devils had a team this deep was the 2000 season and we all know how that one ended.
Here are my players to watch tonight:
Travis Zajac has scored 5 goals in his past 7 games. Playing along side Zach Parise has certainly helped with his confidence. Almost as important as the production he is putting up, is how he is playing in all situations. Penalty Kill, Power Play, 4-4. And not only is he playing in those situations, he is playing extremely well. He obviously learned alot last season and has really carried that learning experience over in to this season already surpassing his goal total from last season.
Patrik Elias has hit a bit of a dry spell the last few games heading in to the break with only 1 goal in 6 games. He was getting opportunities, he just wasnt able to put them away. I expect that to change tonight. He has always played well against Ottawa and I expect tonight to be no exception
Johnny Oduya has been tremendous all season long and he appears to finally realizing some of his offensive potential. He has been taking more chances this season in the offensive zone and it has really made a difference with 4 goals and 14 assists and he is a +13.
Prediction: The game will almost definitely start out slowly but I expect the Devils to find their groove and begin to play their game early in the 2nd period. Scott Clemmensen will put in another stellar performance and the Devils will walk out of Ottawa 4-1 winners.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Down on the Farm
Every year my father and I take a trip up to Lowell to catch a game. I just returned home from this years trip. The Lowell Devils beat the Worcester Sharks last night 6-4. Rod Pelley recorded the Hat Trick while Barry Tallackson added an assist on each one of Pelley's trio of goals. Jeff Frazee stopped 36 out of 40 shots for the win. With that said, I am going to go through a few players that really made an impression on me last night. The best player on the ice for both teams is someone you might not expect.
The first player that really jumped out at me, which should be no surprise, was Nicklas Bergfors. His skill set seemed to be a level above everyone else. Though he only recorded 2 assists in the game he was creating opportunities the entire game and showed me something I really havent seen from him yet. A tireless work ethic on the ice. Regardless of which end of the ice he was in, he was like a bulldog with and without the puck. Just constantly fighting his way to the net and shooting from everywhere. I was a little on the fence about him because of his inability to crack the Devils lineup but after watching him last night, I have no doubt he has what it takes to make it in the NHL. I just hope in will be with the Devils some day.
The next player I would like to talk a little about is Alexander Vasyunov. He is a player that had some high expectations coming over from Russia and alot of us hadnt hear much about. What really impressed me about him was his nose for the puck and his smarts away from the puck. He only had 1 assist last night but had a lot of scoring opportunities. He made some very nice passes and something that is extremely important when trying to get into the Devils lineup, he was excellent in his own zone. He never lost a check and let his man get to the net. His positioning was excellent and he always made the SMART play to get the puck out of the zone. Like I said earlier, I didnt know much about him coming in to the game and have never seen him play, but I was thoroughly impressed.
Matthew Corrente is a guy I have been extremely high on since last season. He doesnt do anything flashy on the ice but man is he like a rock back in his own end. He always makes the smart play. Never gets himself out of position and is always willing to take the body. He was paired up with Mark Fraser which suprised me a bit becauuse both play a similar shutdown style, but they are certainly the definition of a shutdown D pairing. He recorded an assist in the game and was a +4. He played in both PP and SH situations and on the Powerplay, he was very smart with the puck on the blueline and has an absolute cannon of a slapshot. I know the organization is high on this guy and I certainly can see why.
Another player that really impressed was Patrick Davis. Lowell went down pretty quickly 1-0. About 8 minutes after giving up the first goal of the game, Patrick Davis and Nicklas Bergfors came into the zone 2-2. Bergfors drove the net and it looked like Davis was just going to take a wrist shot. Instead he toe-dragged the puck around the sliding defensemen and put a nasty move on the goaltender and roofed the backhander in to the top of the net. You could hear a collective oooooh from the crowd when he made the move. Later on in the game, he went 1-2 and made a move that I still cant describe in words. It was a sort of inside outside move and got around both players only to have the puck poke checked by the goalie. The 1 gripe I have about him is that he is always looking for the perfect shot instead of just taking the shot. He was fed a puck from behind the net wide open to the slot and instead of just ripping it, he stopped it and hesitated and the puck ended up getting knocked away from behind. Aside from that play, I really like his game. He is a big kid and has excellent hands and above average speed. He is one to watch in the future as well.
I cant continue any further without mentioning Rod Pelley. He, like I stated above, had a Hat Trick in the game and was just flying out there. His first goal came on a 2-1 after he came out of the penalty box. Tallackson took the shot and Pelley cashed in the rebound. 3 minutes after that goal, he circled the zone and was fed a brilliant pass by Tyler Eckford (I will get to him later) and walked right around the defenseman and went forehand-backand top shelf from a poor angle and beat Greiss topshelf. It was a thing of beauty. For the 3rd goal he was fed a behind the back pass from Tallackson where he stashed it in the yawning net. I was kind of down on Pelley after last season, just thinking of him as a John Madden clone, but he definitely has some offensive upside and whenever John Madden moves along, Pelley can slide right in to his position.
The much maligned Jeff Frazee is the next player up. The guy was simply amazing last night. I know giving up 4 goals doesnt exactly conjure up an image of an amazing performance but out of the 4 goals he had a chance to stop 1 of them and that was the first goal on the game. The rest of the goals came on deflections off stick and bodies from the point. He made 36 saves and out of the 36 saves I would say that 75-80 % were high quality scoring chances. His rebound control was outstanding. The one thing he needs to work on is his puck handling skills. To say they are poor would be an understatement. I can see him being Marty's backup in the very near future.
And last but certainly not least, the guy who impressed me by far the most was.....Tyler Eckford. Where do I begin?? How about he truly reminds me of a young Scott Niedermayer. He is always thinking offense but not at the expense of his responsibilities in the defensive zone. His hockey smarts are second to none. He knows when to pinch and when not to and his excellent pinch lead to Rod Pelleys 2nd goal where he pinched and made and outstanding saucer pass right on the tape to a streaking Pelley. He is an effortless skater just like Niedermayer. He has excellent position in his own zone and is not afraid to join in to the attack. He is the type of player the Devils are sorely missing. He is confident with the puck on the blueline on the Power Play as well. All game long I was just gushing about the type of game he was playing to the point where my father told me to shut up..lol. I had never seen Eckford play before but had heard good things about him from his college days. In my mind, he will 100% be a Devil in the very near future.
As for the rest of the team, they played very well. Honorable mention to Matt Halischuk. I know he is just getting in to form after missing a while with the knee injury and he showed signs and flashes of brilliance but you could tell his stamina isnt where it needs to be yet. However late in the 3rd period he got caught out on the ice for a long shift and the Lowell Devils were only winning by 1 goal at the time. His effort and determination were put on display for everyone to see. He hustled his ass off while the Sharks were on a 3-2. The puck got fed back to the trailing player who basically was 1-1 with Frazee. Halischuk never stopped skating and caught the player from behind and took the puck away and got it out of the zone. It's those types of plays that management looks for when evaluating talent. So that's all for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.
The first player that really jumped out at me, which should be no surprise, was Nicklas Bergfors. His skill set seemed to be a level above everyone else. Though he only recorded 2 assists in the game he was creating opportunities the entire game and showed me something I really havent seen from him yet. A tireless work ethic on the ice. Regardless of which end of the ice he was in, he was like a bulldog with and without the puck. Just constantly fighting his way to the net and shooting from everywhere. I was a little on the fence about him because of his inability to crack the Devils lineup but after watching him last night, I have no doubt he has what it takes to make it in the NHL. I just hope in will be with the Devils some day.
The next player I would like to talk a little about is Alexander Vasyunov. He is a player that had some high expectations coming over from Russia and alot of us hadnt hear much about. What really impressed me about him was his nose for the puck and his smarts away from the puck. He only had 1 assist last night but had a lot of scoring opportunities. He made some very nice passes and something that is extremely important when trying to get into the Devils lineup, he was excellent in his own zone. He never lost a check and let his man get to the net. His positioning was excellent and he always made the SMART play to get the puck out of the zone. Like I said earlier, I didnt know much about him coming in to the game and have never seen him play, but I was thoroughly impressed.
Matthew Corrente is a guy I have been extremely high on since last season. He doesnt do anything flashy on the ice but man is he like a rock back in his own end. He always makes the smart play. Never gets himself out of position and is always willing to take the body. He was paired up with Mark Fraser which suprised me a bit becauuse both play a similar shutdown style, but they are certainly the definition of a shutdown D pairing. He recorded an assist in the game and was a +4. He played in both PP and SH situations and on the Powerplay, he was very smart with the puck on the blueline and has an absolute cannon of a slapshot. I know the organization is high on this guy and I certainly can see why.
Another player that really impressed was Patrick Davis. Lowell went down pretty quickly 1-0. About 8 minutes after giving up the first goal of the game, Patrick Davis and Nicklas Bergfors came into the zone 2-2. Bergfors drove the net and it looked like Davis was just going to take a wrist shot. Instead he toe-dragged the puck around the sliding defensemen and put a nasty move on the goaltender and roofed the backhander in to the top of the net. You could hear a collective oooooh from the crowd when he made the move. Later on in the game, he went 1-2 and made a move that I still cant describe in words. It was a sort of inside outside move and got around both players only to have the puck poke checked by the goalie. The 1 gripe I have about him is that he is always looking for the perfect shot instead of just taking the shot. He was fed a puck from behind the net wide open to the slot and instead of just ripping it, he stopped it and hesitated and the puck ended up getting knocked away from behind. Aside from that play, I really like his game. He is a big kid and has excellent hands and above average speed. He is one to watch in the future as well.
I cant continue any further without mentioning Rod Pelley. He, like I stated above, had a Hat Trick in the game and was just flying out there. His first goal came on a 2-1 after he came out of the penalty box. Tallackson took the shot and Pelley cashed in the rebound. 3 minutes after that goal, he circled the zone and was fed a brilliant pass by Tyler Eckford (I will get to him later) and walked right around the defenseman and went forehand-backand top shelf from a poor angle and beat Greiss topshelf. It was a thing of beauty. For the 3rd goal he was fed a behind the back pass from Tallackson where he stashed it in the yawning net. I was kind of down on Pelley after last season, just thinking of him as a John Madden clone, but he definitely has some offensive upside and whenever John Madden moves along, Pelley can slide right in to his position.
The much maligned Jeff Frazee is the next player up. The guy was simply amazing last night. I know giving up 4 goals doesnt exactly conjure up an image of an amazing performance but out of the 4 goals he had a chance to stop 1 of them and that was the first goal on the game. The rest of the goals came on deflections off stick and bodies from the point. He made 36 saves and out of the 36 saves I would say that 75-80 % were high quality scoring chances. His rebound control was outstanding. The one thing he needs to work on is his puck handling skills. To say they are poor would be an understatement. I can see him being Marty's backup in the very near future.
And last but certainly not least, the guy who impressed me by far the most was.....Tyler Eckford. Where do I begin?? How about he truly reminds me of a young Scott Niedermayer. He is always thinking offense but not at the expense of his responsibilities in the defensive zone. His hockey smarts are second to none. He knows when to pinch and when not to and his excellent pinch lead to Rod Pelleys 2nd goal where he pinched and made and outstanding saucer pass right on the tape to a streaking Pelley. He is an effortless skater just like Niedermayer. He has excellent position in his own zone and is not afraid to join in to the attack. He is the type of player the Devils are sorely missing. He is confident with the puck on the blueline on the Power Play as well. All game long I was just gushing about the type of game he was playing to the point where my father told me to shut up..lol. I had never seen Eckford play before but had heard good things about him from his college days. In my mind, he will 100% be a Devil in the very near future.
As for the rest of the team, they played very well. Honorable mention to Matt Halischuk. I know he is just getting in to form after missing a while with the knee injury and he showed signs and flashes of brilliance but you could tell his stamina isnt where it needs to be yet. However late in the 3rd period he got caught out on the ice for a long shift and the Lowell Devils were only winning by 1 goal at the time. His effort and determination were put on display for everyone to see. He hustled his ass off while the Sharks were on a 3-2. The puck got fed back to the trailing player who basically was 1-1 with Frazee. Halischuk never stopped skating and caught the player from behind and took the puck away and got it out of the zone. It's those types of plays that management looks for when evaluating talent. So that's all for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.
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