The Devils are 12w and 3l in their last 15 games.
We have scored 3 or more goals 8 of those last 15 games.
Parise leads the team with 40 points. Tied for 4th for total points in the NHL.
Elias looks like his old self.
Our mediocre D has stepped up as a group (even Brookbank is contributing up front playing wing) and are playing well despite losing key players for parts of the season so far.
Clemmensen traded professional poker for a goalie gig in the NHL and has not disappointed hopefully earning him a longer contract with a legitimate shot at a starting job.
Our defensive style appears to have loosened up a bit and line matching seems secondary as every line has a scoring punch, some grit, defensively responsible guys – A well balanced team.
We have managed to step it up as a team while missing Marty Brodeur.

Who would have thought??!! I can still hear the echoes of the Devil-haters calling for our demise when the unthinkable long-term loss of Marty happened.

This Devils team is HOT!

Yesterday’s tilt vs the Flyers was a good one. I was disappointed we lost a 2-0 lead (the Devils have not done a good job holding onto leads as we once did) but found a way to net the extra point. The one point we conceded to the Flyers can be valuable especially since we are chasing them.

I think our PP was moving the puck well, a little too well. We generated a lot of opportunities but we need to find a way to improve the special teams and capitalize thus improve our PP % as we are #20 in the NHL right now.

Our PK, despite being one of the least penalized teams in the NHL, is uncharacteristically #26 in the NHL right now. Again, special teams can be critical in the playoffs so an improvement will reward us when it counts.

I think much of the success has to do with Coach Sutter. Perhaps towards the end of the year the loss of Marty as well as key injuries so far this season would earn Coach some recognition for the job he has done as a Coach. I also think he has done a good job transitioning and growing into an NHL coach since his rookie season last year.
The Devils, with much of the same core, have been transforming right in front of our eyes. Goals are coming a little more often and a new style has added excitement to the game on the ice.

Perhaps Brodeur’s injury is a blessing in disguise. The Devils were forced to play without that mental guarantee in goal, some may call it complacency. Other teams have confronted the Devils as less threatening without Marty in goal and we still have managed to work successfully.
Will be interesting to see what a well rested Marty in goal come playoffs, assuming he is back to his old form after the longest break/injury of his career. I would also be interested to hear his take on the team playing in front of him after hes been back for 3-5 games or so.

I was paying a lot of attention to Zach Parise during the game. What a gem of a player.
What stood out to me was his positional play and his vision.
He goes into the corners, mixes it up but almost always gets himself positioned first which gives him the leverage needed to escape with the puck, pass the puck, etc…
Watch his game off the puck and pay particular attention how he enters plays. It is a thing of beauty.

Now what? The Bruins tomorrow, another great test to see where we stand as a team. The Bruins are hot as well and exceeding expectations, despite a tough loss to Bergeron to yet another concussion.

Lets go Devils!


On another note…

As I ready myself for the holidays with my family I wanted to take some time and extend well wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous new year to all HockeyBuzzers. (Even Rangers fans lol)

This has been an interesting year, each and every one of us has felt some effect of the happenings so far this year. Lets keep in mind the less fortunate and the ill during this time as well.
Lets give thanks for the little or much we have, and hope for a new chapter come the turn of the year.

Thank you all, for allowing me to write (thank you especially for those who actually read what I write! lol) and express myself here. Thank you to Eklund and the entire HBuzz staff who put a lot of time and effort for you all.


Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate

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