Well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect that.
After incredible wins against our top rival and the defending champions, the Devils squared off against the lowly Islanders and played like…well, the lowly Islanders. Only worse. So on a night when they could have–SHOULD have–grabbed back a share of first place, they slog through a 4-2 loss to one of the worst teams in the league.
It’s absolutely amazing how the Devils continue to play down to the level of their competition when facing the league’s weaker teams. Even more amazing is the fact that this phenomenon has continued year after year, coach after coach, and no one has figured out how to stop it.
I really wish I had something profoundly insightful to say here. Or at least something dripping with the diabolically clever humor you’ve come to expect in this space. But I’m really just sitting here scratching my head on this one. So instead I’ll say something diabolically clever on another topic:
Deflections:
If Chris Berman did hockey, do you think he’d come up with
Curtis “Glengarry” Glencross?
Stand-up Guys
OK, enough complaining. On to the good stuff, because there was plenty of it the past couple of days.
One of the most encouraging things about Friday’s win against the Penguins was the way the Devils stood up for each other physically. When Craig Adams nailed Martin Skoula with a hit from behind on an icing call, Bryce Salvador was right in his face, with David Clarkson next in line. When Chris Kunitz started hacking at Kovalchuk, Jamie Langenbrunner drove him through the boards…literally, as the door to the bench burst open. And when Mike Rupp took liberties with with Marty Brodeur, slapping at his ex-teammate’s glove after the puck was covered, Devils were lining up to take him to task for it.
THAT’s the kind of intensity we need to bring game after game, night after night, if we’re going to re-establish ourselves as one of the league’s elite teams.
Deflections:
Am I the only one who, upon hearing the name of Senators defenseman
Brian Lee, feels the uncontrollable urge to say “ch”?
Koval-schmuck?
Sorry Ilya. I just had to say it.
It’s not like I’m ready to label the Kovalchuk trade a bust just yet. And I’m certainly not about to start booing the guy, because he is clearly giving 110% out there. In fact, if anything, he’s pressing too much, and I’ll take that any day over a player giving less than full effort (as I was telling Vladimir Malakhov just the other day). But if we’re going to make any kind of noise in the playoffs, we’re going to need Kovy to be the game-changing force he is capable of being.
He’s shown flashes of it, for sure. Tonight’s third-period goal was a case in point. But before you could say “Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond,” a very tired Kovalchuk committed a defensive miscue that resulted in Sean Bergenheim’s game-clinching shorty.
So here’s my 3-part plan to get Kovalchuk going and get the Devils to the finals:
1. Get him off the point on the power play. Sure, he can bring it like nobody’s business, but we have 2 other guys in Rolston and Langenbrunner who also have wicked slapshots–and are more reliable defensively. Another good option is Andy Greene, who is looking more and more Rafalski-esque every day.
2. Keep him on a line with Elias. Great move, putting the ultra-creative Czech at center on Kovalchuk’s line. Why didn’t someone think of that sooner? Oh yeah, someone did…scroll down to my 2/4 post.
3. Knock off this “come off the ice whenever you feel like it” business. I think telling Kovalchuk to stay out for entire power plays is adding to the pressure that’s so obviously weighing him down. The Devils are not the Thrashers, and he does not have to carry this team all by himself. He is just one piece of the puzzle–but until Jacques Lemaire starts treating him as such, he’s going to continue to grip that stick just a little too tight.
Following the model that brought the team’s lone Stanley Cup of the past 70 years, the New York Rangers have acquired several key members of the Montreal Canadiens’ 1956-1960 dynasty.
Becoming Broadway Blueshirts just in time for the 2009-2010 playoff push are forwards Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, and Bernie “Boom Boom” Geffrion. Jean-Guy Talbot and the iconic Doug Harvey will anchor the defense, while 5-time Vezina winner Jacques Plante will join the inconsistent Henrik Lundqvist in goal.
“We’ve always been a team that’s just a guy or two away from the big prize,” noted head coach John Tortorella. “It’s great to see that Slats is committed to putting those final pieces in place,” he said, referring to general manager Glen Sather.
Sather, whose 1980s Edmonton Oilers juggernaut was reconstructed in New York just in time to secure the 1994-1995 Cup, recently commented on the acquisitions.
“F#%k it,” said Sather. “I’ve paid my dues in this league. Now it’s my turn to coast along on someone else’s hard work.”
When pressed further by reporters, the architect of the league’s last legitimate dynasty continued, “Messier, Anderson, Lowe, Graves, Beukeboom, MacTavish, Tikkanen…it takes a lot of hard work to assemble all that talent. Just ask Neil Smith.
“Hell, it took him another coupla years to finally land Gretz and Kurri, which just goes to show.”
The most notable of the new Rangers, Richard revolutionized the offensive game before his death in 2000. The Rocket set the standard for goal scoring when became the first NHLer to net 50 goals in a single season and 500 for a career. He also captained Les Habitants to 4 Stanley Cup wins while contributing to 4 others.
“Eight Cups. Wow. Not even Moose can say that,” said Sather in reference to Mark Messier, who won 5 Cups with Sather in Edmonton, and captained the Rangeoilers to their 1994 championship. His orgasmic spasms on Garden ice over a decade and a half ago remain the most enduring image of the Rangers’ Cup celebration.
The Plante move raised some eyebrows among Ranger faithful for 3 key reasons: Current goaltender Lundqvist is considered one of the cornerstones of the franchise; Plante’s outspoken nature and a divisive personality have made him a cancer in the locker room; and the fact that he actually succumbed to cancer in 1986. So why the move?
“Hank has been good at times, real good,” said Tortorella of his current netminder. “Other times, let’s face it, he’s been pretty bad. It’s that inconsistency that keeps him just a notch below the Plantes and Brodeurs of the world,” the coach noted. “Oh crap, did I say that out loud?” he added, casting a covetous eye westward toward the New Jersey Devils’ all-world netminder. “You can edit that out, can’t ya?”
The other new Rangers include Talbot and Harvey, seasoned blueliners who are expected to mentor young Ranger defensemen like Dan Girardi, Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto. Beliveau, Moore, and Geffrion helped carry the championship torch from the Richard/Plante years into the Guy Lafleur/Larry Robinson/Ken Dryden era. Rangers brass hopes they can fill a similar role on Broadway, as they continue to act as though their decade-and-a-half old championship is still fresh. Of course, compared to the 54-year drought that preceded it, it is.
“If you had to pick another team to try and reconstruct when your own feeble attempts at scouting, drafting, and developing home-grown talent fail year after year, you could do a lot worse than the Canadiens of the 1950’s,” said noted hockey historian and unabashed Ranger-ass kisser Stan Fischler. “This is a team that could have hoisted Lord Stanley’s grail 8 consecutive times, were it not for the league’s decision to suspend Richard for the 1955 playoffs.
“Richard had an altercation near the end of the season where he punched a linesman 2 times during a game,” Fischler explained. “So league president Clarence Campbell had no choice but to suspend him for the playoffs. That decision touched off the famous Richard Riots in Montreal, and cost the team the 54-55 Cup,”
“Punching an official…twice! Ya gotta love that grit,” said Sather, beaming like a proud papa. “You just can’t teach that. Of course, with all the money this team has, combined with the League’s desire to have a strong team in the Big Apple, we don’t have to teach anything.”
The preceding is a work of fiction, intended solely for entertainment value. All quotes have been fabricated by me, and while the historical facts are accurate, the Rangers have not in fact reached the level of desparation implied herein…yet.
What an absolutely fantastic 2 weeks of hockey we just witnessed! Of course, things in Vancouver didn’t end exactly the way those of us in the US wanted. But as hockey fans in general, and Devils fans in particular, here are 3 things we have to be thankful for.
The Bronze Medal: Hockey remains Canada’s game
I know…that sounds strange. Maybe even un-American. And definitely out of character for someone who spent last Monday reminding anyone within earshot that it was the 30th Anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. But hear me out.
A T-shirt I bought in Toronto probably sums it up best: “Canada is Hockey. Hockey is Canada.” And Sidney Crosby is both. Humble. Unassuming. Down-to-earth. Polite. As much as Gary Bettman does not want to admit it, THAT is what hockey is all about. So when The Kid potted the Gold Medal-winning goal for Canada, my disappointment was tempered by a strange feeling that all is as it should be.
Look, everyone knows how Bettman’s ex-boss David Stern took the NBA to new heights by hyping its best players as larger-than-life, rock star-like cult heroes. And we see the NHL’s attempts to do the same with its superstars. But it’s not going to work, because by and large, hockey players are not basketball players. As much as I love watching Alex Ovechkin between whistles, his over-the-top goal celebrations and off-ice publicity grabs are not good for the game.
Sidney Crosby. Jarome Iginla. Ryan Miller. Wayne Gretzky. Men who exude class, humility, and dignity. Hockey players.
Congratulations, Team Canada, and thank you!
Deflections:
“Hayley Wickenheiser” is the coolest hockey name
since “Zarley Zalapsky.”
The Silver Medal: Zach Parise shines on the international stage
Flashback: October 5, 2005. The Devils/Penguins game on Opening Day of the 2005-2006 season marks the NHL debut of a couple of youngsters we’d heard some good things about. Zach had a point that night, Sid did not. And while I confess I just had to check my Devils Media Guide to dig up the date and the final score (5-1 Devs win), I will never forget the chant I and 19,039 others bounced off the Meadowlands walls that night: “Parise’s better!(clap clap clapclapclap) Parise’s better! (clap clap clapclapclap).”
The chant was tongue in cheek, of course. But the thought behind it was right on the money: Devils fans now had our own superstar in the making.
Fast-forward 4 and a half years. On a night when Sid’s star just soared to epic proportions, with his game-tying goal in the waning seconds Zach Parise also etched his name into the tableau of international hockey history. And he did it with a hard-working, never-say-die goal that was oh-so Parise-esque.
Congratulations, Zach, and thank you!
Deflections:
Am I the only one who, upon hearing Brooks Orpik’s name,
flashes back to that DB Sweeney flick about the hockey-player-turned-figure skater? (”Toepick!”)
The Gold Medal: Marty gets a much-needed rest…and a chip on his shoulder
I said it before he got pulled and and I’ll say it again: as much as I love the guy, seeing Martin Brodeur on the bench just warmed my little Devils fan heart. Two reasons:
First–and he can deny it all he wants–Marty does need to rest at some point during the season. And having it happen now, just before the stretch run, is perfect timing. So thank you, Mike Babcock, for doing what Jacques Lemaire has not had the guts to do.
Second, and more importantly, Marty now needs to show the world that he is still at the top of his game. I ask you, Devils’s Legion: is there anyone as unbeatable as Martin Brodeur with a chip in his shoulder? Think about how well he plays in the next start after a sub-par game. Now multiply that times 10, and that’s the kind of netminding I expect from Marty as we drive for Cup #4.
Brian Burke may be the GM and Ron Wilson the coach of the US Olympic team in Vancouver. But Devils GM/President Lou Lamoriello’s fingerprints are all over this team and their 5-3 win over Canada on Super Sunday.
Let’s start with…well, the start. The US opened the scoring just 41 seconds in on a goal by former Devil Brian Rafalski. Here’s a guy who was undrafted and playing in Sweden several years ago when he was discovered by Devils superscout David Conte’s minions and brought to the NHL. Two Cups with the Devils soon followed, then a third with the Red Wings, and he’s now recognized as one of the best defensemen in the league. Had the Devils not brought the Michigan native home, who knows? He might very well be skating in Vancouver with the Tre Kronor on his chest.
Ralffy’s first goal was set up by some excellent work down low by Zach Parise (against another former Devil, Scott Niedermayer), while Jamie Langenbrunner was also instrumental in the opening shift. Great to see our current Devils making a statement tonight, as I thought they kind of underachieved the first 2 games. I was wondering why it took Ron Wilson that long to put Langer and Zach together. Seems like a no brainer to me, since these guys have played on the same line in New Jersey for the better part of 3 years. Better late than never, I guess.
Deflections:
More than one quarter of the US team is named Ryan.
Count ‘em: Miller, Malone, Kesler, Calahan, Whitney and Suter.
That’s 6 out of 23 guys…7 if you count New Jersey native Bobby Ryan.
When Rafalski scored his second of the game, guess who was on the ice? Langenbrunner and Parise. Then in the third period, the only thing that kept Rafalski from getting a hat trick was Langenbrunner, who deflected the 4th US goal behind Devils teammate Martin Brodeur. Oh, and the super slo-mo replay showed that, had the puck not hit Langer’s skate, Parise’s stick was in perfect position to deflect the shot past Marty.
And speaking of Marty…if Roberto Luongo or Marc Andre Fleury gets the next start in goal for Canada, I’d be neither surprised nor disappointed. Sure, I love Marty and wish him all the success in the world, but not at the expense of my country. And putting on my Devils fan hat, if he gets embarrassed by a poor showing in Vancouver, how sick do you think he’ll play for us in the stretch run and Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Deflections:
You think next time Jack Johnson gets the puck
at the blue line, Doc will say he’s “Sittin’, Waitin’, Wishin’”
for someone to pass to? Yeah, probably not.
Let’s get one thing straight. This was NOT Miracle on Ice 2, despite what some clowns in the media, who don’t know a blue line from a clothesline, might be trying to sell you. This was a minor upset of a great team by another really good team, a well-constructed squad assembled by a shrewd GM and a brilliant coach. Burke and Wilson are 2 excellent hockey minds who learned their craft, by the way, playing at Providence College for a guy named Lou Lamoriello.
Short shifts: notes on the rest of Sunday’s action
My teeth are still hurting from that hit Ovechkin put on Jagr. They said Ovey was going to make a statement during these Games; that was certainly a great opening paragraph.
Three words to Mr. Elias: Patty, too pretty! Your deft little touch passes are nice to look at, but in an intense situation like the Olympics, sometimes you just have to put your head down and shoot!
One American who has not been on top of his game, I think, is TV analyst Ed Olczyk. But Edzo redeemed himself with that Burt Hooton reference in the third period. Nice!
Well, I ended my last post with, “Let the Kovalchuk era begin!” So far, it looks a lot like the pre-Kovalchuk era.
Exhibit A: On Saturday, The Living, Breathing Embarrassment Wearing #16 For New York (hereafter known as LBE-W16, as I will NOT sully my blog by typing his name) goads another Devil star into losing his cool when we need him the most. Been there.
Exhibit B: Monday marked the fourth game in a row with a total collapse in the second period. Done that.
Exhibit C: Anssi Salmela gets absolutely freight-trained by Jeff Carter after scoring a goal Monday night. Losing consciousness as he helicopters through the air, the Devils D-man smashes his face on the ice and remains motionless on the ice for 5 minutes before leaving on a stretcher.
The Devils’ reaction? Not a blessed thing.
I’m sorry, folks, but you just don’t let something like that happen to one of your teammates without taking the culprit to task. You want to argue that Carter wasn’t headhunting, that Salmela’s hunched posture is what put his melon in harm’s way? You could make that case. But it doesn’t matter.
One of the things that makes hockey great is the unwritten rules by which players police themselves. And one of them says, when you take a run at one of our guys, you have to answer for it. Colin White did it when Dion Phaneuf tried to make a Parise Pancake in Toronto. Young bucks Mark Fraser and Matt Corrente both stepped up for teammates as well earlier in the year. And I thought this team was finally growing a set.
I was sadly mistaken. Monday, in an important game against a hated rival, it was back to the same old, turn-the-other-cheek Devils.
Deflections:
If Steve Cangialosi says the word “collects” one more time, I’m gonna slit my wrists.
(That said, I actually like Cangy. He’s the Yann Danis of broadcasters: does a nice job when he’s in there, but he’s usually stuck on the bench behind one of the all-time greats)
Burn their stripes There were a ton of great storylines entering into Saturday’s Rangers/Devils game. Kovy’s first game as part of the rivalry! Jokinen and Gaborik skating together! Brodeur and Lundqvist back at it after last month’s epic 0-0 battle!
What a shame that the story of the game was shoddy officiating.
Right off the hop, Parise catches a stick in the face…an accidental stick, sure, but the rulebook makes no distinction: if your stick ends up in another guy’s face, you sit for 2 minutes…4 if it draws blood. Not if you’re a Ranger, apparently.
But wait. The ineptitude was equally dispersed. A few minutes later, LBE-W16 got 2 minutes for a love tap on Kovalchuk. Then, after Zubrus got 2 minutes for…um, I’m still not sure…Drury gets the gate for having the audacity to try and steal the puck from an opposing player. All that in just the first period!
Thankfully, none of these blown calls had a hand in the game’s outcome. Sadly for Devils fans, the hand in Lundqvist’s catching glove did.
Deflections:
Am I the only one who, upon hearing Brandon Dubinsky’s name,
feels the uncontrollable urge to say “Fawn’s roomate”?
What’s in a name? Sadly, a hyphen.
If this disturbing trend of men with hyphenated surnames continues, can it be long before a guy named Brandon Wheat-King makes his NHL debut?
OK, I realize only about 1% of you will get that. But I betcha that 1% is rolling on the floor right about now, aren’t you?
My 12-year-old taught me a new word today. Driving home from school, he told me his latest iPod app was “beast.”
Today’s acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk by the Devils is BEAST.
Here’s why: In today’s NHL, it’s not enough to have just one superstar on your roster. Crosby has Malkin. Datsyuk has Zetterberg. Ovechkin has Backstrom. And Thornton has Marleau. Or is it Heatley? I don’t know, we’ll figure that out when we play the Sharks in the Stanley Cup Finals. Because with this pick-up, that’s exactly where the Devils are heading.
See, Zach Parise is knocking on the door of the Best-Players-in-the-NHL-Not-Named-Crosby-Ovechkin-or-Malkin Club. Now, he’s now paired with a guy who is its Grand Poobah. Kovalchuk may be a rent-a-player, ready to bolt when his contract’s up at the end of the year. And his superstar persona may not mesh well with the culture or defense-first philosophy of the Devils. But I kinda think these things crossed Lou Lamoriello’s mind before he pulled the trigger, and he’s got a plan to address them.
So while Lou figures that out, I’d rather think about this: ZZ Pops back together on the first line…Elias at center between Kovalchuk and Clarkson…Pandolfo, Niedermeyer and Zubrus as our shut-down unit…Rolston, McAmmond and Zharkov as a fourth line with more offensive punch than most. (Swap in Peters and/or PL3 for those games when you literally need more “punch.”)
Would Elias take to a full-time center job? He’s been lukewarm about it in the past—which blows my mind, because he’s one of the most creative, skillful passers in the league. You’d think that having one of the game’s elite scorers on his wing would be enough for him truly embrace the second-line center role. Clarkie would bring a nice physical presence to that line, doing the dirty work that creates the space the other two need to work their magic. And he’ll probably pot more than a few rebounds as well.
Deflections:
I’d love to see the Devils pick up the recently waived Brendan Witt.
But until he gets a haircut, we’re gonna have to call him Brenda.
Another nice thing about this new Devils lineup is that it puts Zubrus in a supporting, rather than starring, role. (See my last post for more on that topic.) A drawback is that it relegates Rolly to the fourth line. But now it’s a fourth line that can play a regular shift, which helps keep everybody fresh. Plus he’ll get plenty of power-play time to put that wicked shot to good use.
Look at what we gave up, and the trade looks even better. Johnny Oduya was a nice player for us, but hardly irreplaceable. (Cory Murphy is a proven NHLer who can round out the top 6 until Paul Martin returns, while Tyler Eckford and Matt Corrente proved they can provide depth on the blueline.) Niclas Bergfors has lots of potential, but there’s no guarantee he’ll produce with any consistency at this level. And Patrice Cormier punched his ticket out of New Jersey, if not professional hockey, the second his elbow smashed into the head of that poor kid on the Quebec Remparts.
Add it all up, and this is a huge deal for the Devils. Let the Kovalchuk Era begin!
It was a rough couple of days for the Devils, both on the ice and off. We’ll get to the on-ice woes shortly. But slumps are slumps—you’ve got to expect a couple over the course of a season. It’s the off-ice happenings—or, to be more accurate, non-happenings—revolving around the defensive corps that have me bummed.
First, Dion Phaneuf gets traded…and not to us. This is EXACTLY the kind of guy we need on our blue line. I know what you’re thinking: 29 other teams could say the same thing. But if there’s one thing that separates the Devils of today from the Scott Stevens-led Cup teams, it’s that dominant defenseman who strikes fear in the hearts of opposing forwards.
I love Bryce Salvador. His pickup was one of Lou’s best moves in recent memory. But he’s just not that #1, shut-down guy that Stevens was for us. Or that Colin White was supposed to be before his eye injury. No, I see Sal as more in the Ken Daneyko mold—the perfect guy to ride shotgun to a stud like Stevens, or Phaneuf, or Sheldon Souray.
Sheldon Souray, eh? Now you’re talking. Big hitter, heavy shot from the point, and an ex-Devil to boot. He’s on the trading block, right? Wrong. He’s on the shelf, courtesy of a broken hand that’ll keep him out of the lineup until well after the trade deadline. That’s bummer #2.
And completing the hat trick of Blueline Bummage, Paul Martin just withdrew from the Olympics. This decision essentially tells the world he’s still several weeks away from a return to our lineup.
On the plus side, there’s plenty of time before the trade deadline. And Lou always seems to have something up his sleeve to help the team (last year’s acquisition of Niclas Have-A-Goal notwithstanding). But I can’t help but feel like a couple of great opportunities to improve our defense just went by the wayside.
Deflections:
If I had a rock band, I’d call it “Toe Drag”
So what’s going on with the team’s on-ice performance? A week ago, I was of the opinion that this team, which has battled through so many injuries, was simply returning to Earth after playing way over their heads for about a month. Three road losses in a row to struggling teams? Not good, but understandable.
But in their last 5, they’ve not only returned to earth…they’ve gone underground.
First they lose to Ottawa and Buffalo. Then they blow a 2-goal lead to a struggling Maple Leafs team Friday, before winning in OT. They follow that with an implosion in the final 1:40 of the Kings game that was all-too-reminiscent of last year’s playoff exit. OK, you say, those were the Brent Sutter days; Jacques Lemaire will read ‘em the riot act and get them back on track for the next game. Uh, no…said “next game” is a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the lowly Leafs.
To be fair, the Leafs played an inspired game. They had about a half-dozen players making their debut, including goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and the afore-mentioned Mr. Phaneuf. And the rest of the team had to be playing scared at the prospect of being sent south on the QEW the next time GM Brian Burke’s phone rang.
Amazing what a big trade or 2 can do, eh?
Deflections:
Am I the only one who, upon hearing Lee Stempniak’s name,
feels the uncontrollable urge to say “Stempy, you eeeeee-diot!”?
Has ZZ found a new Pops?
How good did Zubrus look playing with Zack and Zajac tonight? His best night in a Devils sweater, said some guy sitting 2 rows in front of me in section 109. Lots of us agree, Mr. Muzowdzsky…Mzdrxzxusy….whatever that 18-letter name stitched on the back of your jersey was.
Unfortunately, the one thing we can count on from Zuby is inconsistency. That’s been his M.O. since the Flyers drafted him 15th overall in 1996, and it’s the reason we can’t pencil him in as our everyday second-line center.
Maybe he played so well on the top line because, as left wing, he didn’t have a center’s defensive responsibilities. Maybe he skated gangbusters because he’s got fresh legs after an IR stint–and saw how many guys in Lowell are ready to take his job. Or maybe it was a little bit of #9, who always gives 110%, rubbing off on him.
Whatever the reason, don’t expect this stellar play to last. The guy’s got a world of talent, but like so many before him, he seems to turn it on an off. Or maybe I should say “on and OV”…as in Malakhov and Kozlov.
Dept. of Redundancy Dept. When someone purchases a Devils sweater, would you say they just bought a new New Jersey jersey?
I know it’s tough to play goal for Toronto, but this is ridiculous… Just minutes after Jonas Gustavsson was pulled for allowing 3 goals in half a game, a puck left the playing surface and flew up into the protective netting. Not content to simply drop straight down like a good little rubber biscuit, this puck continued to roll sideways before running out of nylon and dropping…right onto the head of some guy in the first row.
That unlucky fan’s attire? A Leafs sweater sporting the name and number of the just-benched Swedish netminder. If only the puck found the real Gustavsson as easily that night…
Props to someone on the Leafs’ bench, who immediately threw a towel over the glass to this gent. It may have helped stop the blood flowing from his lacerated scalp, but couldn’t save him from suffering the same fate as the man whose sweater he wore: He, too, left the game well before it ended.
Dude, where’s my “R”? Didn’t a guy named Alexei Pornikarovsky break in with the Leafs a few years back? Today, the guy wearing sweater #23 is named “Ponikarovsky”—without the first “R.” So what gives?
I’m thinking he got sick of the nickname “Porno” in his first incarnation. Either that, or someone in the Leafs’ PR office finally figured out how to properly translate those wacky Cyrillic symbols.
Nah, I like the first explanation better. Don’t you?
It has been a particularly good 2009 for the Devils. Except for the 2009 playoffs and the stumble at the end of games 6 and 7, everything has been amazing. Marty came back from injury and broke the all time wins record, that stood since Roy’s retirement. He broke a ton of other records as this season progressed…
After an uneventful off-season, which followed the disappointing playoffs the experts put the Devils on the bottom of the Atlantic Division. Everyone was saying it was the end of a dynasty, that they wouldn’t make the playoffs after their long run…WELL…The Devils proved them all wrong, and are off to the hottest start in franchise history. Lemaire got the Devils to 50 points faster than any other season since they moved from Colorado.
With no big trades, no big signings and other than Brodeur and Parise no other REAL big names they turning it into an impressive season. The young guns have started to make names for themselves, for example Niclas Bergfors. The team has been amazing…
There is nothing more to say than 103…That’s one of the last records in the book for Marty to reach. After 7 and half weeks since he got 102, with time and patients 103 finally came. With 104, he will push Sawchuk to the side in the record books and have the wins, shutouts, games played along with his gold medal and 3 Stanley Cups… As just a huge fan of the goalie position all my life, I never thought I would see all Roy’s records broken and the other goalies records broken, let alone be Marty my favorite goalie. Nobody plays the position like him anymore, players go down earlier and earlier while Marty waits in his half butterfly waiting for just the right time to go down and get the save. Nobody can play the puck like him PERIOD. Its just amazing to have watched tonight and man I wish I was in Buffalo for it…
The team is really coming together, they seem to be clicking on all cyclinders right now and the injuried are starting to make a come back. Just already I can see a difference on defense with Oduya back there in the last two games. Pandolfo came back and is playing just as solid as if Madden was there right next to him. Parise is continuing with point after point and he did kick one in tonight, yes it doesn’t count but it was still a sweet kick (maybe the USA National team will do some recruiting for that first game against England in June). Niclas Bergfors continues to be an outstanding rookie and Zharkov is playing like veteran just 5 games into his NHL career. As players keep coming back I can only see this team getting better and better, he comes 1 in the standings, within grasp now…
On another note I just want to throw my opinion out there about the debacle of the BCS system. TCU playing Boise St. is the biggest load of BS I have ever seen. And I officially hate the system, NEVER in the past have I been big on hating the BCS system but this season is the proof it sucks… As a Big Easter myself in going to Syracuse before moving to Florida, the conference is competitive and the fact that Cinci can’t play for a chance at sweetness is just ridiculous. Back to TCU and Boise, what are the bowl people thinking, put them up against a big name conference, watching the upsets happen, the Broncos and the Horned Frogs can keep up with any team in the country I believe, let them prove it, don’t put them up against each other, don’t repeat the same thing as last YEAR! Put the Cinci up against TCU and put Florida against Boise, those would be great match-ups! I feel like Jim Rome, and this is burning on me, but I can’t do anything about it. I am not a huge fan of Obama, but if he made a playoff in college football, I would show him A LOT of respect…
I know its a long shot people, but pray with me haha
