Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

I "BELIEVE" in The Devils Supporters Section; Intern Mike's Game Preview

March 17, 2011, 12:16 PM ET [ Comments]
Sam Woo
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I will be in Montreal this St. Patrick's Day weekend and on assignment. My intern will be filling in for the next few days.

I "BELIEVE" in The Devils Supporters Section

The New Jersey Devils remarkable run thus far has been deemed by many in the media as a "miracle". But what you don't ever hear about the true story of the true Devils fans that support their team, no matter what their record is.

Give kudos to the parties involved.

I remember browsing through the Devilsrule.com message board and reading about a group of Devils fans wanting to form a group to support their team. I am all for fan solidarity and little by little, they worked together to form a group called The Devils Supporters Section.

For me, this is a dream come true.

I am one of the first generation Devils fan that grew up in New Jersey and was never a New York Rangers fan at a time when the Devils didn't exist. All I really ever known was the New Jersey Devils as being Jersey's team. Quite frankly, the Rangers are grandpa's team and not mine. Moreover, it is so great to see the younger generation of Devils fans all grown up and taking the proactive initiative to cheer for the team and state they love.

At the time they were organizing, the Devils were not so great and looked like a lost ship at sea. It would have been so easy to give up and write off the season, but these group of fans were determined to make their mark. And now, it is growing.

The Devils Supporters never gave up. So when they asked on their Facebook page about creating "Believe" signs a month or two ago, Devils fans from all over the world were sending in their pictures and printing them up at the game. For those in the Devils army and these fans that spend their time to organize a section that does nothing but believe, I salute you:

SamuelPWoo


Good hockey reads:

Many dump-ins need to be dumped
Central Division is back to status quo

Title: Pre-Game Post: Looking at the Devils Going into Tonight by Mike Luciano

Tonight, the New Jersey Devils face off against the Ottawa Senators, which marks the first of three games the Devils will play in four nights. The last time the Devils played the Senators, they came up short in a 2-1 loss. Hopefully, the Devils learned not to take such teams lightly, if the Devils want their playoff hopes to be taken seriously. A Devils win and Maple Leafs loss would put the Devils back in tenth place and leave them only four points out of eighth, which is currently occupied by the Buffalo Sabres.

Going into tonight, the Devils are in a good position with the team's they're competing for the eighth and possibly seventh playoff seed. They have two games in hand over the Leafs, Hurricanes, and Rangers. They have a game in hand over the Thrashers and Sabres. Obviously, those wins are essential no matter who they play. Tom Guliti reported yesterday that Martin Brodeur is probably going to start tonight. At this point in any other season, I'd say it would be pointless for Brodeur to have any playing time in a game against a bottom dwelling team but since the Devils need all the points they can get right now, I think it's a necessity.

Since I submitted my first post on here, one of the concerns I wrote about was the Devil's lack of goal scoring over the recent stretch. In their past two games, they've tallied seven goals. Hopefully they can build on that in these final, twelve, thirteen games. Obviously, finding offensive momentum is a huge plus at this time of year.

The trio of Mattias Tedenby, Jacob Josefson, and David Clarkson has been very productive for the Devils over these past two games. The line has averaged about fourteen, minutes of ice time and was able to notch eight points (three goals, five assists). Two goals were scored back-to-back by Josefson. It's only been two games, but the production is encouraging. It would be nice if the Devils found three reliable scoring units (Kovalchuk/Zajac/Palmieri, Rolston/Elias/Zubrus, Tedenby/Josefson/Clarkson) from here on out. I'll give the Tedenby/Josefson/Clarkson line a five game trial before determining their legitimacy.

I hate to keep bringing up Devils playoff scenarios, but it is still mathematically possible for the Devils to finish as high as fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Realistically however, I can't see them finishing any higher than seventh. Looking at the Standings, the Devils would open the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers if they secure the eighth seed, or the Washington Capitals if they finish seventh. The Devils have only faced the Flyers once since they stopped sucking and defeated them 3-1. They're 2-3 against Philly in the season series and play them once more. The Devils complete their season series against the Capitals tomorrow night at the Rock and are 1-2 against them this season. Tomorrow night will be the first time the Devils face the Capitals since their epic turnaround began.

So I have a few questions for you to shed some insight on...

Should the Devils make the playoffs, who would you rather see them face if top seedings go unchanged, Philadelphia or Washington? Is a series against either team winnable for the Devils?

Is the Tedenby/Josefson/Clarkson trio legit?

How should Martin Brodeur be handled over the final thirteen games of the season as far as playing time is concerned?

Which game do you think is going to be the most significant out of the team's final thirteen?


"The Devils are truly built for this time of year."

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
E-mail: [email protected]
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Sam Woo
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Over Take The Hurricanes In Standings?
» PODCAST: Devils Clinch, Now Phase Two
» RAISING HELL: Timo Scores Twice, Devils Get Point In Shootout Loss To Tampa
» RAISING HELL: Will The Devils Spring Forward This Week?
» RAISING HELL: Devils Squeak by Caps With Meier’s Shootout Game Winner