Words cannot describe the feeling last night.
Wayne Gretzky deemed the New Jersey Devils franchise as a Mickey Mouse organization in the 1980's. At the time, he did not know that one day, a goaltender named Martin Brodeur, would come into the NHL and be the all time leader in regular season wins. On a night that was renamed "St. Marty's Day", the Prudential Center was a magical place.
I’ve been fortunate enough in my lifetime to have witnessed my hockey team win a Stanley Cup “live” from the venue and many other crucial high profile games. From jersey retirements to triple overtime Stanley Cup finals, Martin Brodeur breaking the NHL record and Patrik Elias becoming the all-time Devils leader in points is easily the top three best games I have ever watched in my life. It lived up to the hype.
When I got to the parking lot before the game, you could feel a sense of confidence that this would be a great night. The sellout crowd of 17,625 wanted to see this historical event, which may never be broken again in our lifetime. The energy of the crowd rivaled a Stanley Cup final because this game had a mission. And when the puck dropped, the crowd exploded with emotion after Jamie Langenbrunner scored less than a minute into the first period. You knew the Devils were going to win.
This means no disrespect to the Blackhawks. They put on a great formidable effort to make Brodeur and the Devils earn this victory. The game had some snarl and intensity. The home crowd was so loud at times that you could not hear the fan next to you. The whole hockey world was watching as New Jersey’s favorites were serenaded with “Mart-y” and “Patt-y” chants throughout the entire game. The fans loved every minute of it.
Mr. Vanderbeek and his ownership group got a test drive of what this new building would be like had this game been a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. This is as close as it gets. When the final horn sounded and Brodeur cut down the net, standing ovations roared and no one wanted the night to end. No one could hear Brodeur’s postgame interview with Steve Cangelosi over the PA system because of the deafening sound of joy.
New Jersey’s favorite adopted sons gave us everything we could ever hope for. This was more than a record. This was about the journey to an unimaginable place in the hockey world. Brodeur and Elias are now alone on top of their mountains.
All the reasons to be a proud Devils fan.
Hey NBC!
Everyone knows I have been griping about NBC not showcasing the Devils. I don't understand why NBC would bump the NHL's hottest team. So when I was asked to do an interview by an NBC affiliate outside the Prudential Center before the game, for the first time ever, I declined. Why? Well, stop bumping the Devils on NHL Sunday games.
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