Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek and GM Lou Lamoriello has a sad today. They both believed in Ilya Kovalchuk enough to trade away talent, draft picks (including a #1) to the Atlanta Thrashers now the Winnipeg Jets Redux. They were penalized by the NHL a #1 draft pick for a ham handed attempt to circumvent the salary cap. They inked Kovie to a 15 year $100 million dollar contract of which he was three years into. Yesterday he "retired" from the Devils and the NHL, only be reported to sign a deal Monday to play for SKA St. Petersburg in Russia's KHL.
The great Harry Neale, former NHL head coach and brilliant CBC Hockey Night in Canada analyst, said it best when he said sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Boy is he right.
But Johnny, how did it come to this? Why would Kovalchuk retire from the NHL, leave the Devils devoid of offense and sign to play in Russia? Let us count the ways.
Kovalchuk's mother was asked by Yahoo if he had enjoyed his time playing in the KHL during the lockout last year:
Did he like SKA during the lockout?
“Of course. Otherwise this question about leaving the NHL wouldn’t even be raised. And so it happened… Besides, there were some problems in New Jersey. You know there will likely be a change of ownership there. It’s unclear how everything will turn out.”
Wow, he only liked it because he got to try it. Yes the tax free thing is nice but again he wasn't hurting for money here.
So, what caused the lockout? Let's ask Gary Betteman and better yet Jeff Vanderbeek. Vanderbeek argued for the lockout and that's when Kovalchuck fell in love with the KHL. In love so much when told by Lamoriello to report to the 'hurry up there's a season training camps', Kovalchuk decided to stay behind in Russia and play in the KHL all-star game. Ruh ro.
Ya know that 100 million dollars you reached deep and found for Kovie, Mr. Vanderbeek? If you'd have spent that better and paid Zach Parise a portion of that in renegotiations he'd still be a Devil. You knew Parise would never bolt in the middle of a contract. HE was a leader. While we're speculating if you'd have taken another portion of the $100 million you'd still probably have David Clarkson.
So now the Devils have nothing. No offense. A huge risk in Ryane Clowe after his concussion issues. Maybe one more year from Marty Brodeur. Ownership is in let's call it, flux. Money is needed. Ticket sales will suffer because of the product on the ice. The new playoff format is even more foreboding and unforgiving. Kovalchuck saw this too and did what Ilya Kovalchuk has done everywhere he's played, soiled his wittle baby diaper and left.
Showing posts with label zach parise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zach parise. Show all posts
Friday, July 12, 2013
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
This time it's official, Zach Parise signs with Minnesota Wild
No rumors this time kids, just facts. Zach Parise has signed a 13 year deal worth $98 million dollars with the Minnesota Wild. The Wild also broke the bank to sign free agent defenseman Ryan Suter as well.
Both players have cited it being important to be close to family and friends; Parise is from Minnesota and Suter is just an hour east in Madison Wisconsin. That's great. We are happy both will be able to get rich and play in front of family and friends for a long time. But Ryan and Zach, do NOT tell us you signed in Minnesota to win a Stanley Cup. YOU. DID. NOT. No, you told us you didn't want to play under the white hot spotlight of Detroit or Pittsburgh or even Chicago, all cities that have recently won the cup. You don't want the pressure or the hassle of winning the cup? You've made the right choice. Enjoy obscurity and an occasional #7 or 8 seed in the playoffs and an early exit back to your family and friends.
Both players have cited it being important to be close to family and friends; Parise is from Minnesota and Suter is just an hour east in Madison Wisconsin. That's great. We are happy both will be able to get rich and play in front of family and friends for a long time. But Ryan and Zach, do NOT tell us you signed in Minnesota to win a Stanley Cup. YOU. DID. NOT. No, you told us you didn't want to play under the white hot spotlight of Detroit or Pittsburgh or even Chicago, all cities that have recently won the cup. You don't want the pressure or the hassle of winning the cup? You've made the right choice. Enjoy obscurity and an occasional #7 or 8 seed in the playoffs and an early exit back to your family and friends.
Monday, July 2, 2012
BREAKING NEWS: Parise to the Penguins
Johnny's sources have alerted him Zach Parise will be calling a presser momentarily to announce he is signing with his BFF Cindy Crosby and the Penguins.
Well, OK , nothing more on this rumor. It should now be noted as such, Rumor and apologies
Well, OK , nothing more on this rumor. It should now be noted as such, Rumor and apologies
Sunday, July 1, 2012
NHL free agency dawns
Well, as much as something can dawn at noon. Zach Parise, Marty Brodeur, Bryce Salvador are the big names in play for the Devils while the Rangers are rumored to be dangling Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Del Zotto and picks for the Blue Jackets' Rick Nash. As a Red Wings fan Johnny is more than interested in today's goings on. Suter, Semin, Doan, all names that could fond new homes today and in the next little while.
What say you hockey fans, who lands where and which if any of their free agents do the Devils re-sign? Tell us your thoughts in comments.
What say you hockey fans, who lands where and which if any of their free agents do the Devils re-sign? Tell us your thoughts in comments.
Friday, June 29, 2012
WOW, just WOW, is Martin Brodeur getting ready to leave the Devils come Sunday?
According to TSN.ca's NHL insider Darren Dreger, the Devils have done next to nothing to re-sign, and have had little discussion with unrestricted free agent and team legend and first ballot hall of famer Martin Brodeur. The living legend Devils netminder is said to have hired Pat Brisson to represent him and WILL test the free agent market some Sunday.
Dear Devils management, and this comes from a Red Wings fan, what the hell is wrong with you? To pull this (and even if he did sign why did it take you ANY time to re-sign him?) on Marty Brodeur, the face of your franchise, winner of 3 Stanley Cups and 5 Eastern Conference titles let alone the individual awards and stats is just plain, well, it's bush league. You simply don't treat people whom you KNOW you'll retire their number in such a fashion.
Certainly if Zach Parise had any interest in resigning with New Jersey this will make him feel a little bit discomforted. Unless Roberto Luongo or Tim Thomas come walking in the door at the Prudential Center the Devils will be taking a big step back in net next year.
Free agents come and go and good ones like Parise sometimes do leave. But treating Martin Brodeur this way is disappointing.
Dear Devils management, and this comes from a Red Wings fan, what the hell is wrong with you? To pull this (and even if he did sign why did it take you ANY time to re-sign him?) on Marty Brodeur, the face of your franchise, winner of 3 Stanley Cups and 5 Eastern Conference titles let alone the individual awards and stats is just plain, well, it's bush league. You simply don't treat people whom you KNOW you'll retire their number in such a fashion.
Certainly if Zach Parise had any interest in resigning with New Jersey this will make him feel a little bit discomforted. Unless Roberto Luongo or Tim Thomas come walking in the door at the Prudential Center the Devils will be taking a big step back in net next year.
Free agents come and go and good ones like Parise sometimes do leave. But treating Martin Brodeur this way is disappointing.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Devils vs Rangers, Game 1 tonight!
Sure the Rangers have won 4 of the 5 playoff series between the two clubs. This, however, is a different era of Devils and Rangers team from the ones who have played before. Yes guys like Brodeur and Elias and Sykora were around for the wars but this is the Parise/Kovalchuk vs. Callahan and Lundqvist era.
Johnny is on record saying the Devils will win in six games. Here's how he arrived at that number. The only thing saving the Rangers thus far is how tight they pack their defense around Lundqvist and block shots. The question will then become can the Devils get shots to the net that simply aren't perimeter shots and shots from along the wall. In the last series, Alex Ovechkin, who can move his feet and create shots got quite a few through to Lundqvist. With Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk and to a lesser extent Adam Henrique can all work free and create good shots. By no means will the Devils offense look as sharp and tic-tac-toe as the Philly series but they have more than enough offense.
If the Rangers can't forecheck their offense can go missing for loooong stretches. The Devils defense has been unheralded all playoffs long for their abilty to clear the zone with no drama. Having a netminder with immaculate puckhandling skills has helped them. The Fyers tried three ways from Sunday to keep the puck in corners on shoot-ins and away from Brodeur but still the Devils defense were up to the task. Which brings us to the point of WHY this series will be won by New Jersey. No team that has played game 7s in the first two rounds has won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers defense are dog tired. Their top three defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh all have averaged over 25 minutes a game. They have played more playoff hockey than anyone else. Hard minutes. Crash bang minutes. The Devils have been hanging their hats on hard forechecking, bottling up the opposing team in center ice and letting their speed dictate play. This can and will wear the Rangers defense out slowly but surely. The Rangers defense are good, but they are also human.
One advantage Johnny sees right now for the Blueshirts is scoring from the defense. The Devils will have to stay out of the box (or in this series take someone with them) and the forwards MUST KNOW when guys like Del Zotto are jumping into the play. One goal in these games can make the difference, lose your guy for a second and it could be disastrous.
Netminding, the Living Legend vs The King. Marty Brodeur has had a very quiet yet very solid playoffs. His 2.05 GAA isn't Lundqvist's 1.68 but it's in the ballpark. It's within a one shot total. Right now Johnny would have to concede that yeah, if given the choice he'd take Lundqvist but that's it. It doesn't mean Brodeur can't or won't win the series, he most likely will. As mentioned above Brodeur for his age gives the Devils something Lundqvist can't help on shoot ins and play the role of a third defenseman with the puck. Both have their plusses, but it would stand to reason the longer this series goes the less help Lundqvist will be getting from his defense corp as they chase the Devils around with their speed advantage.
Speed, frontline offense, aggressive forechecking and an underrated defense are going to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in SIX games.
Tonight the Rags may well start out like a house afire, they just got done with another emotional series and it may give them some bounce in the first period. This in fact is a game the Rangers may in fact win. The Devils have been off a few days and the old rule of thumb around hockey is one day away from the rink the players notice, two days away the coaches notice sand three days away the fans notice. In whipping Philadelphia in five games the Devils haven't been playing for their lives. Johnny is confident however the Rangers surge will hit a wall. the Rangers as a team will then slowly hit the wall and in a week and a half the Devils Army can go loot Madison Square Garden for scrap.
Johnny is on record saying the Devils will win in six games. Here's how he arrived at that number. The only thing saving the Rangers thus far is how tight they pack their defense around Lundqvist and block shots. The question will then become can the Devils get shots to the net that simply aren't perimeter shots and shots from along the wall. In the last series, Alex Ovechkin, who can move his feet and create shots got quite a few through to Lundqvist. With Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk and to a lesser extent Adam Henrique can all work free and create good shots. By no means will the Devils offense look as sharp and tic-tac-toe as the Philly series but they have more than enough offense.
If the Rangers can't forecheck their offense can go missing for loooong stretches. The Devils defense has been unheralded all playoffs long for their abilty to clear the zone with no drama. Having a netminder with immaculate puckhandling skills has helped them. The Fyers tried three ways from Sunday to keep the puck in corners on shoot-ins and away from Brodeur but still the Devils defense were up to the task. Which brings us to the point of WHY this series will be won by New Jersey. No team that has played game 7s in the first two rounds has won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers defense are dog tired. Their top three defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh all have averaged over 25 minutes a game. They have played more playoff hockey than anyone else. Hard minutes. Crash bang minutes. The Devils have been hanging their hats on hard forechecking, bottling up the opposing team in center ice and letting their speed dictate play. This can and will wear the Rangers defense out slowly but surely. The Rangers defense are good, but they are also human.
One advantage Johnny sees right now for the Blueshirts is scoring from the defense. The Devils will have to stay out of the box (or in this series take someone with them) and the forwards MUST KNOW when guys like Del Zotto are jumping into the play. One goal in these games can make the difference, lose your guy for a second and it could be disastrous.
Netminding, the Living Legend vs The King. Marty Brodeur has had a very quiet yet very solid playoffs. His 2.05 GAA isn't Lundqvist's 1.68 but it's in the ballpark. It's within a one shot total. Right now Johnny would have to concede that yeah, if given the choice he'd take Lundqvist but that's it. It doesn't mean Brodeur can't or won't win the series, he most likely will. As mentioned above Brodeur for his age gives the Devils something Lundqvist can't help on shoot ins and play the role of a third defenseman with the puck. Both have their plusses, but it would stand to reason the longer this series goes the less help Lundqvist will be getting from his defense corp as they chase the Devils around with their speed advantage.
Speed, frontline offense, aggressive forechecking and an underrated defense are going to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in SIX games.
Tonight the Rags may well start out like a house afire, they just got done with another emotional series and it may give them some bounce in the first period. This in fact is a game the Rangers may in fact win. The Devils have been off a few days and the old rule of thumb around hockey is one day away from the rink the players notice, two days away the coaches notice sand three days away the fans notice. In whipping Philadelphia in five games the Devils haven't been playing for their lives. Johnny is confident however the Rangers surge will hit a wall. the Rangers as a team will then slowly hit the wall and in a week and a half the Devils Army can go loot Madison Square Garden for scrap.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Tonight make it a 7 and 7
The Tri-State's remaining two hockey franchises who actually try and compete at the NHL level have their seasons on the line tonight.
First the Devils who are in Homestead Florida (Game 7 in Homestead Florida sounds so bad, Game 7 at Centre Bell or TD Garden or even Joe Louis Arena sounds like it's a BIG 7th game unlike, well, Homestead) tonight hoping to steal a win and advance to the conference semi-final. During the regular season the Devils set an NHL record in success at killing off penalties. During the playoffs the Panthers power play has been nothing short of imposing. They are over 30% on their success rate. So Devils fans, as if you weren't there already let's say the Devils chances tonight grow exponentially if they can keep the Panthers from scoring up a man. We're going to go ahead and call the netminding tonight even. Yes Martin Brodeur is a first ballot hall-of-famer but that does nothing tonight. He's been shaky but for a couple starts in this series. He's no longer the guy you trot out in a huge game and just expect to win. Those days are over. Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore don't exactly fill the crease with the hologram of Terry Sawchuk either so do not despair Devils fans. Johnny thinks the Devils have too much pride and enough of an old guard from days of yore they can sneak past Florida tonight. We'd bet one of the Devils vets like Elias or Sykora could have a huge hand in winning tonight. Of course if Parise or Kovalchuk decide to have a three point night who is to quibble?
Why the Devils will win: The Devils have the guys who have been there before and the Panthers don't.
Why the Devils won't win: Marty Brodeur is shaky.
The #1 seeded New York Rangers play their game 7 vs Ottawa tonight at Madison Square Garden. For all the consternation of NY hockey pundits and radio lackeys, the problem with the Rangers is pretty obvious; scoring. Marian Gaborik isn't going to become the playoffs leading scorer anytime soon. It's really great that the Rangers have built their team and reputation on hard work. Fantastic. Hard work gets you so far then you need guys to put pucks in the onion bag. Lundqvist is a very very good goalie who hasn't gotten the offensive support he's needed. TWO Rangers have showed up to play offense against the Senators. Any guesses? Yes, one is Mike Richards who was paid big cash to score big points. Richards has 5 points in 6 games. Who is the other? Captain Ryan Callahan? Former cup winner Ruslan Fedotenko? Regular season 17 goal shooter Derek Stepan? Nope, the Rags second leading playoff scorer is Anton Stralman with FOUR points. Johnny thinks tonight will truly be won or lost by the goalkeeping. Craig Anderson has been very strong for Ottawa. Lundqvist is fast becoming a hard luck goalie come playoffs.
Why the Rangers will win: It's King Henrik in MSG
Why the Rangers won't win: The road team in these playoffs has been winning at an alarming rate, ie see the Boston vs Washington game last night if you'd like to see the blueprint as to how Ottawa will play tonight.
Devils and Rangers win the Devils will play Philadelphia (Ask the New Jersey State Police Commissioner if you too can get a police escort south to Philly for games 1 & 2) and the Rangers will host Washington. If the Devils win and the Rangers lose it'll be the Devils actually HOSTING the Capitals.
So it's a 7 and 7 night with the Rangers puck drop at 7 pm and the Devils starting at 8:30 pm.
First the Devils who are in Homestead Florida (Game 7 in Homestead Florida sounds so bad, Game 7 at Centre Bell or TD Garden or even Joe Louis Arena sounds like it's a BIG 7th game unlike, well, Homestead) tonight hoping to steal a win and advance to the conference semi-final. During the regular season the Devils set an NHL record in success at killing off penalties. During the playoffs the Panthers power play has been nothing short of imposing. They are over 30% on their success rate. So Devils fans, as if you weren't there already let's say the Devils chances tonight grow exponentially if they can keep the Panthers from scoring up a man. We're going to go ahead and call the netminding tonight even. Yes Martin Brodeur is a first ballot hall-of-famer but that does nothing tonight. He's been shaky but for a couple starts in this series. He's no longer the guy you trot out in a huge game and just expect to win. Those days are over. Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore don't exactly fill the crease with the hologram of Terry Sawchuk either so do not despair Devils fans. Johnny thinks the Devils have too much pride and enough of an old guard from days of yore they can sneak past Florida tonight. We'd bet one of the Devils vets like Elias or Sykora could have a huge hand in winning tonight. Of course if Parise or Kovalchuk decide to have a three point night who is to quibble?
Why the Devils will win: The Devils have the guys who have been there before and the Panthers don't.
Why the Devils won't win: Marty Brodeur is shaky.
The #1 seeded New York Rangers play their game 7 vs Ottawa tonight at Madison Square Garden. For all the consternation of NY hockey pundits and radio lackeys, the problem with the Rangers is pretty obvious; scoring. Marian Gaborik isn't going to become the playoffs leading scorer anytime soon. It's really great that the Rangers have built their team and reputation on hard work. Fantastic. Hard work gets you so far then you need guys to put pucks in the onion bag. Lundqvist is a very very good goalie who hasn't gotten the offensive support he's needed. TWO Rangers have showed up to play offense against the Senators. Any guesses? Yes, one is Mike Richards who was paid big cash to score big points. Richards has 5 points in 6 games. Who is the other? Captain Ryan Callahan? Former cup winner Ruslan Fedotenko? Regular season 17 goal shooter Derek Stepan? Nope, the Rags second leading playoff scorer is Anton Stralman with FOUR points. Johnny thinks tonight will truly be won or lost by the goalkeeping. Craig Anderson has been very strong for Ottawa. Lundqvist is fast becoming a hard luck goalie come playoffs.
Why the Rangers will win: It's King Henrik in MSG
Why the Rangers won't win: The road team in these playoffs has been winning at an alarming rate, ie see the Boston vs Washington game last night if you'd like to see the blueprint as to how Ottawa will play tonight.
Devils and Rangers win the Devils will play Philadelphia (Ask the New Jersey State Police Commissioner if you too can get a police escort south to Philly for games 1 & 2) and the Rangers will host Washington. If the Devils win and the Rangers lose it'll be the Devils actually HOSTING the Capitals.
So it's a 7 and 7 night with the Rangers puck drop at 7 pm and the Devils starting at 8:30 pm.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Devils drop opener to Dallas Stars 4-3 in OT
The Devils dropped their season opener in overtime to Dallas 4-3 tonight in Newark. In what could best be described as a surprisingly good game for an opener, there was a lot of ebb and flow for both teams. The lack of those annoying holding and hooking and tripping calls often prevalent in the opening games of a season allowed for some open play. The Devils jumped out on top early 2-0 in the first period on goals by Travis Zajac and Zach Parise (Both powerful names on a Scrabble board). Dallas responded to tie it at 2-2 by the end of the first period. Dallas had the jump in the second period outshooting the New Jersey Six 12-5 yet allowed a Jason Arnott goal before scoring seconds later to tie it at 3.
It WAS troubling to see a third of the building empty on opening night. The Devils have some offensive skills people. Those who love offense will enjoy John MacLean's hockey club. Johnny is actually of the mind that adding a true offensive defenseman would benefit the Devils immensely. On the game winning Dallas rush it began with Andy Greene mistiming a jump up into the play which sent Dallas the length of the ice on a 2-1 which Loui Eriksson held onto and snapped past Martin Brodeur. Johnny thinks the Devils need a real whip smart offensive quarterback who knows when to jump in and when to stay back. A guy who can start New Jersey's lightning quick forwards up ice with a sharp first pass. Volchenkov was a brilliant signing in the offseason. A tremendous defensive defenseman who is always at the top of the blocked shots stats and eats major minutes.That aspect is covered. An offensive defenseman will be needed to play MacLean's up tempo style.
We'd love to hear what exactly the brouhaha was in the upper level midway through the second period. SOMETHING big was going on to the point the Dallas bench was fixated on whatever was happening. Their backup goaltender couldn't take his eyes off of it. If you know please pass it along.
It WAS troubling to see a third of the building empty on opening night. The Devils have some offensive skills people. Those who love offense will enjoy John MacLean's hockey club. Johnny is actually of the mind that adding a true offensive defenseman would benefit the Devils immensely. On the game winning Dallas rush it began with Andy Greene mistiming a jump up into the play which sent Dallas the length of the ice on a 2-1 which Loui Eriksson held onto and snapped past Martin Brodeur. Johnny thinks the Devils need a real whip smart offensive quarterback who knows when to jump in and when to stay back. A guy who can start New Jersey's lightning quick forwards up ice with a sharp first pass. Volchenkov was a brilliant signing in the offseason. A tremendous defensive defenseman who is always at the top of the blocked shots stats and eats major minutes.That aspect is covered. An offensive defenseman will be needed to play MacLean's up tempo style.
We'd love to hear what exactly the brouhaha was in the upper level midway through the second period. SOMETHING big was going on to the point the Dallas bench was fixated on whatever was happening. Their backup goaltender couldn't take his eyes off of it. If you know please pass it along.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Devils are really up against it tonight in Raleigh...
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
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
Monday, February 9, 2009
New Jersey Devils 3, New York Rangers 0
Well sports fans, the New Jersey Devils knocked the New Yawk Rangers down and took their lunch money at the Prudential Center bus stop tonight by a score of 3-0. It was quite apparent the Devils were bigger, stronger and more determined to make something of their lives. Zach Parise was a stud for the Devils scoring twice and was a constant threat in the Rangers end all night. The Rangers defense, when they weren't making horrid outlet passes were losing battles for loose pucks in the corners.
A lot is made about the Broadway Blue Shirts lack of offense, and the forwards have come under a lot of media scrutiny lately but take it from this in-the-know hockey fan, the problem with the Rangers forwards is their defensemen. The Rangers have nobody making good outlet passes hitting forwards with speed out of their own zone, their D to D passes are slow and lazy in their own end and they lack the ability to pick up the pace of the Rangers attack. They also don't have the defensemen to make a quick tape to tape pass on a neutral zone turnover. When you're New York and you have forwards named Drury, Gomez, Naslund, and Zherdev you have two good scoring lines. No, what you're lacking is the back end to help them shine.
The Devils defense on the other hand, while lacking a superstar DO make the smart outlet passes. They dig hard in the corners and take opposing forwards off the puck with smart positioning and moving their feet. Even though he wasn't named one of the three stars tonight, Devil Paul Martin did a great job at holding pucks in the Rangers zone, he won battles for loose pucks and was a smart +1. Martin also led all Devils in ice time with a yeoman-like total of 24:03.
We'd be remiss to not mention amazin' Scott Clemmensen's first shutout in the NHL since March 26, 2004 with Atlanta. He didn't give the Ranger many second chances on rebounds and really has been the lifeline the Devils needed this season. He'll get zero votes for league MVP, but there hasn't been a player more valuable to his team this year. A guy who was third on the Devils netminding depth chart heading into this season, Clemmensen now sports a cool 23-11-1 record.
So, the Devils have opened up a 6 point lead on Sillydelphia and an 8 point bulge on the Rags in the Atlantic Division.
New Jersey is home for an abysmal Islanders team Wednesday, and then the competition gets bigger and better with Boston coming to town Friday and San Jose on Sunday. Speaking of the Sunday game, Johnny will again be there patting kids on the head, and signing autographs under the big old Bon Jovi mural in his Charlestown Chiefs sweater.
A lot is made about the Broadway Blue Shirts lack of offense, and the forwards have come under a lot of media scrutiny lately but take it from this in-the-know hockey fan, the problem with the Rangers forwards is their defensemen. The Rangers have nobody making good outlet passes hitting forwards with speed out of their own zone, their D to D passes are slow and lazy in their own end and they lack the ability to pick up the pace of the Rangers attack. They also don't have the defensemen to make a quick tape to tape pass on a neutral zone turnover. When you're New York and you have forwards named Drury, Gomez, Naslund, and Zherdev you have two good scoring lines. No, what you're lacking is the back end to help them shine.
The Devils defense on the other hand, while lacking a superstar DO make the smart outlet passes. They dig hard in the corners and take opposing forwards off the puck with smart positioning and moving their feet. Even though he wasn't named one of the three stars tonight, Devil Paul Martin did a great job at holding pucks in the Rangers zone, he won battles for loose pucks and was a smart +1. Martin also led all Devils in ice time with a yeoman-like total of 24:03.
We'd be remiss to not mention amazin' Scott Clemmensen's first shutout in the NHL since March 26, 2004 with Atlanta. He didn't give the Ranger many second chances on rebounds and really has been the lifeline the Devils needed this season. He'll get zero votes for league MVP, but there hasn't been a player more valuable to his team this year. A guy who was third on the Devils netminding depth chart heading into this season, Clemmensen now sports a cool 23-11-1 record.
So, the Devils have opened up a 6 point lead on Sillydelphia and an 8 point bulge on the Rags in the Atlantic Division.
New Jersey is home for an abysmal Islanders team Wednesday, and then the competition gets bigger and better with Boston coming to town Friday and San Jose on Sunday. Speaking of the Sunday game, Johnny will again be there patting kids on the head, and signing autographs under the big old Bon Jovi mural in his Charlestown Chiefs sweater.
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