To All Hockeybuzzers:
I love being your Devils hockeybuzz.com blogger. I enjoy it and I try to do each blog with some different insight. For awhile now, I have been wanting to find a blogger, who would be a partner in Devils blogging on this website, and for someone to give a different opinion or insight. As you know, my girlfriend Krissy filled in for me a few times.
My new partner is DevilsAdvocate, already a fellow HockeyBuzzer. I want everyone to give him a warm Buzz welcome, as he will be getting his feet wet in the coming months. Furthermore, I still will be blogging about the Devils along with him. I hope you enjoy reading our blogs and hope this will enable to give better coverage and opinions about the New Jersey Devils.
0-3… is this a new trend?
That is the Devils’ record versus its rivals, the New York Rangers, this year. Can a new pattern/streak be forming after the Devils had a stronghold over their rivals for years?
Last night the Devils welcomed the Rangers for the first time to the Rock beginning a new era in their rivalry. The outcome was far from acceptable as the Rangers are now 3-0 versus the Devils.
Jamie Langenbrunner’s two goal game in his first game back were not enough as the Rangers were the best team tonight. Langenbrunner’s opening and closing scoring sandwiched four Rangers goals from Nigel Dawes, Brandon Dubinsky, Jaromir Jagr and Marc Staal’s first career NHL goal. Former Devils Scott Gomez, booed every time he touched the puck, had two assists in the victory. The Devils really never seemed to get into the game until late in the 3rd period. They have not been able to consistently play 60 minutes of hockey day in and day out which is something frustrating and uncharacteristic.
Stat-wise the score sheet seemed pretty level in the faceoff, hits, penalties and shot departments but the Rangers put it all together getting nice contributions from Rookies Dawes, Dubinsky and Staal. They made a difference this game and something the Rangers have not had the luxury for quite some time; timely and quality rookie contribution.
Marty Brodeur, for the second time, was denied of win #500 which according to him is simply a number at this stage, ''Right now we're a .500 team (7-9-2), win one, lose one. It's not fun,'' Brodeur said. ''We had a great opportunity here with the Rangers in town to get over that hump. We just couldn't do it. ''I just want to win. There's an emphasis that everyone puts on (500 wins), not me. I don't prepare differently.'' Brodeur trails only hockey legend Patrick Roy in all-time wins by a goalie. Roy retired with 551 wins. Marty will just have to wait for the inevitable.
Now the good…
Langenbrunner’s return is very welcome and needed. Two goals are encouraging because the Devils do need scoring, aside from their checking - turned scoring – turned doing a lot of everything line of Madden/Pandolfo/Zubrus. We have missed Jamie for the first 17 games. Colin White, out with an eye injury, may not be far behind.
Andy Greene and Karel Rachunel played 24 and 23 minutes respectively doing a nice job.
The bad…
The Devils are struggling on the Power Play and with lack of distributed scoring we need this to work. 0-5 in 9 Power Play minutes vs the Rangers and 3 for the last 50 Power Play chances. Very bad.
Patrick Elias not looking comfortable - still. Frustrating for him, frustrating for Coach Sutter. Perhaps he is trying too hard (you saw the relief on his face when he scored the game winner last game versus the Penguins). Paul Martin left the game early in the first and did not return. Reported as a lower body injury he will be reevaluated today.
Food for thought…
Which two teams need a trade badly? Dallas Stars and Devils, who have been trading partners before (Jason Arnott and Randy McKay for Joe Niewendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner).
With flamboyant Brett Hull now co-GM in Dallas and the team struggling I expect a statement to be made soon.
This day in hockey history…
Hartford's Ron Francis played in his 358th career game as the Whalers beat the Oilers 6-2. Francis surpassed Blaine Stoughton's club record for career games played.
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