Before I could even sit in my seat at the rock bottom Rock last night Tampa Bay had two goals past Jacob Markstrom. However, it was Luke Hughes to the rescue with a dazzling, spin-o-rama goal the bring the arena back to life. Then deflate gate began again, as the struggling Markstrom surrendered one of the softest backhand, five-hole goals I have ever seen, gutting the team and letting the regained air out of the building once again. Marky was pulled at that point, his night and the Devils momentum off of the win in Ottawa lasted under eight minutes. From there the team and fanbase buckled up for the onslaught.
Jake Allen came in for relief and Tampa quickly took out the wooden spoon and began to whoop him as well. It was five goals against on 28 shots for the other struggling Devils' net minder. Fortunately for me I only had to see one of those goals as I was on my way out of the arena at 4-1. If not for meeting some friends on the concourse for a quick therapy session, I would have been out the door before Jesper Bratt's 5-2 goal nearly sucked me back in. But I was not about to let the Devils fool me again. I was in the car and heading home before the second period even came to an end. I've never been a beat the traffic/leave early fan. I always stay til the three stars are announced. Not this time, not last night. The Devils have officially broke me. We look forward to these seasons, these games, these players. We spend money we probably shouldn't on merch, tickets, beers, parking, garlic knots in fucking goalie helmet...and just a few minutes into these games we are gutted.
We can't make a timely save, we can't score with regularity(when we do we don't defend), we can't kill a penalty, we can't win without Jack. It's the same story over and over for the Devils these last few seasons. It's time for Fitzgerald to step in here. He's been patient to this point in his tenure, but no more. A significant shakeup is needed, yesterday. I feel like Nancy Kerrigan after being attacked by Tonya Harding's henchman, lying on the floor, crying "Why me? Why me?"