Johnny remembers the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals when Detroit played Carolina for the title and had an amazing 3 OT game at the RBC Center in game 3. It's loud. Not just regular loud but dare we say, hillbillies dranking bur all day loud (Johnny remembers a kid who was 13 at the time being interviewed about his Hurricanes--kid's name was Spanky Creech, like we said a hillbilly paradise). All three overtimes it rocked and rocked and got louder and louder. Of course the Wings won that night on a goal by Igor Larionov but the point is, the Devils will need some extra effort to carry them tonight especially with captain Jamie Langenbrunner out for at least both games in Raleigh with the dreaded 'lower body injury'.
So, who steps up? Who is the Devil that will be THE MAN today? Will it have to be Martin Brodeur? Will Zach Parise show his 40+ goal season was no fluke and put a couple in the back of the onion bag? Will Brendan Shanahan show off that veteran leadership and dent the twine on the powerplay? Hard questions await Devils fans, the answers will be known by bedtime.
Here's the Larionov goal by the way, 1:06 AM
IIIRRRR-BEEE! IIIIRRR-BEEEE!
ReplyDeleteBates Battaglia came out of Lake Superior - a good CCHA boy. He had good skills but still no match for the wily Playmaker Larionov. Igor was the model of patience. And Dandenault was quick to jump out of the crease - gotta love those well-trained Red Wings.
A Laker indeed. Battaglia played a very long time in the NHL I do beleive
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