....Older Devils Games....

Stanly Cup Week!!

It's over.......WE DID IT..... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY...I'VE CRIED, SWEATED, SWEARED, AND HAD GOOSE BUMPS OVER THE WHOLE THING. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THE DEVILS WIN THE STANLY CUP....THE DEVILS WIN THE STANLEY CUP!!!! THURSDAY WAS A PRETTY ROUGH ONE TO TAKE. IT COULD HAVE GONE EITHER WAY, BUT IT DIDN'T GO OURS. BOTH MARTY AND BELFOUR PLAYED UNBELIEVABLE IN WHAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST HOCKEY GAMES I HAVE EVER SEEN. MY HEART WAS IN MY THROAT MOST OF THE NIGHT. MARTY'S POOR WIFE WAS FEELING IT TOO. BUT IT WAS THE STARS THAT CAME OUT ON TOP. THEY STOLE THE MOMENTUM OF THE SERIES, AND THEY WERE TAKING IN HOME. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO WATCH GAME 6 WITH ANOTHER DIE-HARD FAN WHO WAS AS PUMPED UP AS I WAS (THAT'S YOU BILL,...THE ONLY READER OF THIS DAMN PAGE). NEIDER SCORED FIRST...AND OUR JOY LASTED FOR UNDER 2 MINUTES, WHEN THE EQUALIZER WAS SCORED BY DALLAS. THE TEAMS BOGGED DOWN...AND THE GAME SETTLED IN. THE DEVILS HAD THE BETTER CHANCES THOUGH..THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE GAME I THOUGHT, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET ONE BYE EDDIE. THE FIRST OVERTIME WAS NOT TOO FUN. WE HAD TONS OF CHANCES..BUT NONE WERE ABLE TO GET BY EDDIE. YOU HAD THAT FEELING THAT DALLAS WAS GONNA GET ANOTHER CHEAP GOAL...THAT'S ALL IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN. BUT IN OVERTIME #2...STEVENS FOUGHT TO KEEP IT IN THE ZONE..AND FORCED IT AROUND TO ELIAS, WHO BLINDLY THREW IT IN FRONT TO A WIDE OPEN JASON ARNOTT WHO ONE-TIMED IT INTO THE NET. THE DEVILS WON THE STANELY CUP....I WAS SCREAMING AND JUMPING LIKE A CHILD..AND WAS THEN SHOWERED IN BEER DURING THE CELEBRATION. IT WAS A NIGHT AND A FEELING I'LL NEVER FORGET FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. WHAT A SEASON THEY HAD, AND WHAT A FINISH. IT WAS A FAIRYTAIL... ARNOTT TURNED INTO THE PLAYER THE LEAGUE THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE, GOMEZ...FROM OUT OF THE WOODWORK...WILL WIN THE CALDER..ELIAS.. WHAT A YEAR...LED THE DEVS IN GOALS...SYKORA...COMPLETING ONE OF THE BEST LINES IN HOCKEY. MARTY PLAYED GREAT WHEN HE HAD TO , FTOREK WAS GREAT ALL YEAR...UNTIL THE END, WHEN ROBINSON TAKES THIS TEAM BACK FROM THE DEAD IN PHILADEPHIA, AND ALL THE WAY TO THE CUP!!!!STEVENS...WINS THE CON SMYTHE, AND RIGHTFULLY SHOULD HAVE. HE EARNS HIS "C" UNLIKE CAPTIANS ON OTHER TEAMS. HE IS THE APPIDIMY OF EXCELLENCE AND A HOCKEY PLAYER THAT THIS ORGANIZATION OWES ALOT TO. I'M STILL IN DISBELIEF.....THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE ALREADY...AND THE DEVILS WINNING JUST MAKES IT BETTER. My hat goes off, once again ...to News 12 New Jersey. They were the only news station that gave the Devils the coverage that they deserved. All year, Kurt Sieglen was there giving comprehensive reports on the Devils, and there was excellent coverage for the cup as well. As for the other networks...I can't say anything good about them. Some of them started their sports with baseball, on the nights when the Devils had a playoff game. To them I say....poooooor poooooor job. Stay tuned for one more week....the Parade at the Meadowlands is soon to come, and i'll be giving everyone an update as I will be attending. DEVILS WIN THE STANLEY CUP......THE DEVILS WIN THE STANLEY CUP!!!!

Week of June 5th

it's almost over......we'll soon know who the Stanley cup champion team is. This ride began in October,....and we are finally coming towards the end of it. I want more than anything to see the Devils' players on those ESPN commercials next year. I want them to show Stevens locked out of his car with the cup inside.....I want them to show Marty on the tilt o whirl with his three kids. But mostly, I'd love to prove that Barry Melrose wrong. Sure he "picked the Dallas Stars to win it all at the beginning of the year...". How can we forget such a bold pick Barry? You remind us during every intermission report we've ever seen from you. O ...by the way....I picked the L.A. Lakers to win it all at the beginning of the year. I guess I'm on the same level as you huh? Next thing I know, you espn guys will have Stuart " let the drumma get wicked" Scott doing the commentary on the games. Why not sign the Doc for the finals games? I don't hold any grudges against ESPN....I just figured they could use a little healthy criticism. The Devils are very, very close....and if they can win tonight...(gm4)...I'd be surprised to see it go to 6 games. Give Dallas their dues though....Lagenbrunner will be playing tonight...witch should lift their spirits..and they have had their backs against the wall many times in the past, and have somehow prevailed. Brett Hull.....is unbelievable. He's fast , he can shoot, and he has a great father. Eddie the Eagle has also played great. Games 2 and 3 were his to win..or lose. After coming out dull in game 1, he has shown everyone that it was indeed a fluke. The Ice in Dallas is soo shitty, it's really started to affect everyone's skating. When one of your players falls down right before he's going to shoot...you need to do something. Sure its hot there....but didn't this team generate enough revenue last year to make rink repairs? I think so. Marty has been strong when he needed to ....and the only goal scored in game 3 was a miscommunication between the Con Smythe winner and Marty. Nobody's perfect. But how nice was it to see them hold that one goal lead as long as they did? It reminded me of the Devils "D" of old. They shut it down. Who will win the remaining games .............who will win the Stanley cup............Will Barry Melrose have to change his predictions for next year........tune in next week to find out... .

Week of May 29th

I really don't know what I can say....it was the biggest win in franchise history. I had butterflies in my stomach from weds, and Fridays game was one of the greatest nights of my life....and no...I'm not exaggerating. I had some friends over to help celebrate....I screamed like a child....and cried like a child ( the crying part came after they left). I've said it before...and though I've had my lapses of faith.....this season reads like a book. I've learned alot this year on what it takes to be a champion. "Heaven" ...that's the name of the compilation video from their '95 cup run year. I was not as big a fan back then, and I regret not following the team as closely as I do now. I learned a valuable lesson that I vowed not to quickly forget. This year, the Devils look different. The have fire, and have won some pretty exciting games all year. And the players....whoa...we have everything. From that big OT win in Boston..to the last second goal in Florida.....to the continuation of "the Streak" against the Rangers. They dominated the league in late December...through most of January. They showed the critics nationwide who picked the Devils to be a 7 or 8th seeded team that they needed to re-evaluate their guesswork. It's been a rollercoaster ride from the start....and ending with losing the 1 seed to the now Lindros-less Flyers. But...they were rewarded by facing the Panthers...a team that slumped worse than NJ in the last few months. They needed to get out of the first round...and they did it with authority. They made history...coming back from a 3-1 in the series with the Flyers. Marty made some big saves, but with the game on the line...Elias scored the biggest goal of his life. It all started in the first period. The Devs were on the powerplay..and Elias from Sykora....a beauty that the rookie tender had no shot at stopping. We were up 1-0...but we all knew that the Flyers were going to score at some point. They did score....it wasn't a pretty goal...and I don't think it should have counted. But, this is playoff hockey...and the rough stuff counts. Recci got the assist...but the railroad track face didn't get a goal in the playoffs.(WAH) Lindros was skating down the center of the ice...stickhandling through the neutral zone, and into the Devils zone....where he was lined up for the shot of his life. Stevens....like he'd done to so many in the playoffs.....layethed the Smacketh Downeth on his candy ass. He crumbled to the ice looking like a dead man. Everyone was quiet....waiting for him to get up...but he couldn't without the help of his players. It was a clean hit...and thats hockey. This guy was simply not ready to return...he was skating with his head down....into a high-traffic area on the ice. No-one does that unless you are looking for a beat down. Stevens felt bad....but he shouldn't. Squash-head should not have been in there....and now he'll have to retire from his career to join his brother. Yes...it is sad that the league will miss a talented big guy....but his brain is mush. He can' t play anymore...its a rule. The story looked good,....I knew somehow that the Devils were going to win after that shot. They were outplayed most of the game....but I still knew it.....and with just over 2 mins left in the game......Elias.....!!! My house was rockin.... They also kept philly from having any offensive zone faceoffs in thereafter. That's impressive! Now...it's Dallas. We don't know too much about Dallas...but we do know that they won the cup last year...and they have some really great commercials on espn with the cup by their side. I want to see the Devils with those commercials next year. If they do lose the series...it will be for one reason only ......FACEOFFS. I've said this before....and I'll say it again. Faceoffs were a problem last year against Pitt, and we've gotten lucky thus far that they haven't burned us this year too many times. I thought for sure they would get a faceoff man this year...but they didn't. I hope it won't haunt us. My one friend said I should continue to be negative ....the Devs have responded well after I've mocked and ridiculed them on this page (they read it of course...and are motivated at the games with the aggression to kill me...!!!) Thats ok... My pick however.....is the Devils in 6. Cup champs again.....I love this game!! .

Week of May 27th

Well, this could be it...this could be the last week of play for the Devils. Sports can be cruel at times, it doesn't always make sense. St. Louis, with the best record in the league, loses in the first round. North Carolina goes much farther then expected in the tourney. The Jets, expected another run for the championship, lose their quarterback in the first game of the season, and finish just above .500 for the year. And the Heat, losing to the Knicks in game 7 for the 3 straight year, after being the favorites to win the east. Is sports fair? NO! The anomalies are endless. The Devils are a much better team than the flyers, and everybody in the league knows that the Philadelphia fans don't deserve any good fortune. In fact, they probably deserve a nice run of loses that streak into the next 20 years. The Devils, after going up 1-0 and looking like they could sweep the Flyers, have lost 3 straight and face elimination for the first time in the playoffs. Marty has not looked good in the last 2 games, and the Devils have followed his lead. This team is based and revolves around Marty. They play well when he plays well, and they play shitty when he plays shitty. They have only 1 win this season without him in net...thats a problem. He's the Lindros and the Bure that other teams must shut down. If you can score a "softy", you can own the Devils. Robinson, during the press conference on Saturday, said that the team stuck to the game plan for 2 periods, and then let it slip away. It was a ballsy statement for a new coach, but it was true. There a alot of veterans on the team who I'm sure are hard to coach. The team was led under Ftorek all year long, and then Robinson comes in, and the team is expected to follow his advice? C'mon...we're talking about adults here, not children. Everything is fine when they win, but now that they are losing, people have to start to point fingers and assign blame. Now, the face elimination I would like them to beat philly more than any team in the NHL. They can get swept by Col. in the finals, as long as they beat Philly. They suck. I hate them. What's gonna happen? Well, I think they could muster up enough courage and concentration to win 1 more, for some respect, but winning 3 in a row skating like they are in mud? It won't happen. I don't think they can turn it around. I'm sorry, really sorry. I'll be here next week regardless for a season analysis. May god have mercy on their souls.

Week of May 15th.......!!!

They lost the biggest game of the year, and then they won the biggest game of the year. I'm flying high right now. I can't believe that they pulled off that big win in Toronto. In a game which they didn't play very well in the first two periods, and trailed for quite some time, they showed character and courage and won it in the third. Everybody played great in the third...even..dare I say it....Malakov. Of course he doesn't deserve as much credit as Gomez for that sweet feed from around his back, hell, I could have put in an 18 footer with the goalie moving from side to side. Marty made the big saves when he had to, and he seemed extremely tired, sucking up major wind during the puck stoppages. All hell broke loose when Stevens took that hooking call with just under 2 minutes to go. Stevens did what he had to do, and so did the Devils as they weathered the onslaught. Marty even got into fisticuffs with a few Leafs players. The fans were irate at the Devils players, and according to a local newspaper, some tried to fight with the Devils as they were leaving. Now, the biggest game is tonight. Of course I have school and will miss this one, I'll have to somehow survive,...not gonna be easy. Philly looks like they'll win their series, and they are playing pretty good. Lindros got hurt again in practice, my god....he is sooo soft, like a woman. Dallas won last night, and they'll face-off against the Avalanche...thats gonna be a great series. So..not many teams left here...the Devs have their work cut out for themselves. Win tonight...get some rest....beat the Faggots in Philly, and then greet Andrechuck....with a stick to the forehead in the finals. I have it all planned out......life is pretty good......for a Monday.

Week of May first.......!!!

All knotted up.... and if those posts were a little thinner, we'd be up 2-0 right now. Marty was spectacular. He's the hottest when we need him the most. He's been getting ripped in the media the past few years that his succes was simply the product of "the trap" the Devs played so well. The trap is still around...but it has been changed since Lou left. Now, Marty faces a lot more shots, and because the defense is spread out more, it creates more offense for us. What Marty does better than any other goalie in the league...is play the puck. Toronto tried to dump the puck in tons of times on saturday night, but Marty was able to stop it from going all the way around, and play it out to the defense. He doesn't allow the team to dump and chase, a method that so many teams depend on. When Arnott took that double minor, I'm sure people were a little worried. "When we killed it off, we knew that the game was ours," Scott Stevens said after the game. The confidence level is extremely high right now with this bunch, and at just the right time. I predict another win tonight. It's the first second round home game in years for the Devils, the fans will be going nuts. Expect more scoring though, they'll take more chances with the crowd behind them. I would also like to predict a Power Play goal. Something that has been hard to come by lately. Toronto has been having a rough time lately.....The yanks dump the Blue Jays, the Knicks sweep the Raptors, and the Devs stole away home ice. How sweet it is......so far.

Week of April 24th...!!!

We've done it......!!! We've done it. We've got out of the first round. Mission accomplished. As long as we don't get swept in the second round, I'll be satisfied. I'm not greedy....I had tons of fun watching that first round, and I won't jump off the deep end if they lose in the second round. How awesome are things turning out though? A sweep...? who predicted a sweep? Certainly not me with the way the Devils have played before the playoffs. But, they turned everything around once the playoffs started. Our defense was the key. We had big goals by Stevens, Rafalski, and Neidermeyer. They were able to capatalize on Florida's mistakes, and finish the play. That's what the Devils couldn't do the past few years....FINISH the play. We got a couple of garbage goals, and a couple of bueaty's. All in all, it was a very exciting first round. The fact that they were able to keep Bure under raps was a huge statement. I would have thought that Bure would have been a big factor in the three 1 goal games, but he wasn't. Vernon was unreal in net, and really kept the scores closer than they could have been. But Vernon wasn't the Series MVP. I give those honors to Mr. Marty. Marty had a rough game one, but then he dug in, and had a brilliant series. A series that the Devils will need from him in further rounds. Hopefully, he's up to the task. It looks like we'll be playing Toronto, where mr Steve Thomas is what hocky is all about. What a first round this x-Devil is having. We haven't beaten them all year, so the mountain it a big one. We'll have the first 2 on the road, which is a first in many years. I felt good about the Panthers...notso good about the Leafs. Game 1...latter this week.

Week of April 17th...Round 1!!!!

Things are looking good. I'm very happy about the Devs winning their biggest game of the year thus far....and if you don't think it was a big one..you're way off. On the pregame yesterday, they showed a pretty unbelievable stat......since '94, the devs have won every series that they have won the frist two games in. When they split, they have lost every playoff series. Florida scrored first, and I'll admit it,....it looked like a carbon copy of the Devils of late. They worked their asses off, out shot, out hit, and out hustled the Panthers in the first..only to find themselves behind 1-0 after one. Vernon looked very good, as did Marty. The rookies were still playing great..which is the difference between this years Devils, and Last years Devils. They have quite a rivalry with this team...it's kept them playing angry. Once again it was our defensive players who stole the show. Stevens played incredible....he's put together the best two games I've seen him play all year. And Rafalski, under those rookie clothes...is a disciplined veteran so it seems. Bure was held in check in game one soley on Brian's efforts. Madden had a great game yesterday...with two big assists. The playoffs read like a story book....and the devils had an exciting chapter with the 5on3 goal against last night. What's in store for Chapter 3? Allow me to digress. Game three is a statement game. If the Devils have the guts to come out with the energy they've had in their previous two, I see a win. But, if Florida can come back and tie this series, it's theirs. The Devils still have those Skeletons in the closet....the monkey isn't off their back yet. They are still lacking the crispness that they'll need to battle Toronto (so it looks like...if the Devs can get there) they haven't beaten Toronto all year...and they will need everything working by then....but lets not look into the future yet. Mogilny.......shooooot moooore pleeeaaasse, Malakov...please show some hussle...please, Lemeiux.....how about that leadership that you were supposed to bring...(garrentee some wins or something)...and Robinson...for the love of god....STOP MIXING UP THE LINES!!!!....oh,...and Pavel...please keep trying too hard....it's working wonders for your +/-. Hopefully, my next post will be about our next opponent THIS year...not next year.

Week of April 10th...Round 1!!!!

......and then their were 16. The league just got smaller as the playoffs are about to begin. The Devs lost out on their $485,000 bonus dollars by blowing a season long lead of the eastern conference. But, we all know who got the 8th seed.....the Sabres. Philly was all happy yesterday as their soap opera team beat the Rangers...(wow)..and got control of the top spot...but what did they win..really? There are 3 teams in the east who can beat Philly, the Devs(ouch...they did it all season long), Washington(who will probably win the east), and Buffalo(who have done it in years past). So,....playing the role of the Devils this year in the playoffs......the Flyers. The Devs face-off against an opponent who's beaten them only 1 time in two years....the Panthers. (That O.T. win looks even bigger now). We gave up home ice to 3 teams by dropping to 4th, but remember what the Devils goal was for the year?......Make it past the second round. Nobody picked the Devils to do as well as they did....nobody. I think they can beat Florida...really. Florida has not been playing their best hockey lately....and Pavel has been quiet against the Devs (when Marty is in there). I see a 4-2 series win for the Devils. I'm optimistic ....(rare for me)...I have faith in them? Yes...i do. The Islanders actually beat this team over the weekend.....that should prove that anyone can. The 'Lanche are coming out of the west.....count on it....possibly to face Washington in the east. I fear Washington, and Toronto in the playoffs if I'm the Devils...we can beat anyone else. Have a good week.

Week of April 3rd

.....Old Memories Die Hard...... It's been a rough go the last few years for Devil's fans. I know I personally have gone into a shell for a month when they lost to the Pens. Will it happen this year.....I don't know. I hope not. You can't say that they haven't done anything to prevent it. First they got Lemuiex, then pulled the cord on Ode(thank god). They got the sniper that everyone wanted in Mogilny. And they toughened up their defense wit Malakov. When things still didn't look like they were gonna pan out...they fired their coach. WOW. This is not the same old Devils team. It was a rough loss in Pitts last week. The game would have really helped us gain a cushion against those nipping at our heels. I felt a little better to see Pitt win in Wash (to bad they couldn't do it in regulation). We beat up on the babies on Friday and then again on Saturday. Too bad we can't play them in the playoffs. That would be nice. With Washington and Philly losing this weekend, I feel like we can still win the east. We have some momentum now, and our snipers are primed(can you believe Elias has 35 goals?) Washington has shown some weaknesses in the armor, and Philly, we all know that Philly will lose in the first round no matter who they play. Tonight is the big test. Really big test. We're in Florida to face the panthers, with Terreri in net. The Devils struggle with this clown back there, and they also struggle on the back-end of back to back games. If we can win tonight.....i'll be very impressed. We'll see.

Week of March the 27th

Everyone......take out your proverbial forks and stick them in the Devils, cause they are done. What happened this season? Why can't we get out of this tailspin? We haven't beaten Toronto all year long....thats horrible. It's a log jam now up at the top of the eastern conference, and the Devils can really screw themselves here. If Philly can catch the Devs and pass them, the they'll drop to a 4th seed. That will deflate this team, and complete the slide that will end their season, and start their golf playing. They made a ballsy move by firing Ftorek last week. I was really surprised. Did i like him, not really. He avoided questions like a politician, made players sit out during landmark games in their careers, and pulls the bus out without the other coaches. The players didn't like him. I did like his fire though....throwing that bench out onto the ice was awesome...it showed me that he has heart. How will Robinson do? The same as Ftorek I presume. The Devs might make the second round this year...which is really what their goal was, and Lou will move to Colorado, leaving us hung out to dry. Its a sad ending here folks...No Tarheels here in New Jersey.(more like St.Johns). The loss in Carolina was a killer. If Terreri can't win out there...lets dump him and get someone else. I understand that its not easy to start after having weeks off....but this guy has like 1 win all year long. Thats just plain unacceptable. As you can see, I'm down in the dumps here...I'm very upset at the recent play(and predicted play) of the Devs,....Fret not....I'll be back next week. Hopefully with some better news. I guess the good news of the week is that the Rangers are finally toast, and the Flyers lost that baby Lindros for about a month. Other than that....go Tarheels!!

Week of March 20th

The warm weather brings flowers, trees and birds here in NJ. It has pushed up the daisys in the meadowlands too. The Devs have fallen apart the last few years in the playoffs, and they may have started earlier this year. They lost to Tampa Bay... in a game that meant something to the Devils, and nothing to the sucky Lightening, the Devs looked horrible. Nobody was in sync. All one team needs to have a Vezina goalie, is to play the Devils. They seem to make every goalie in the league look great. They rebounded last night with a desperation win though, so that makes me feel a little better. Philly, the Caps, and the Leafs are right up on us, and we could easily be the 4th seed when the smoke finally clears. This team needs to start winning right now. We need to finish our last 10 games 8-1-1. Luckily the Leafs and Philly both lost on Sat., but they won't loose like that every night. We've got the tools now. Mogilny is the sniper that the Devils never had. This team has the most depth, and most talent than any other Devils team in history. They should really be playing much better. I'll tell you what....if they get my hopes up and flop like they have done in the past few years.....i'm gonna be pissed. I'll change my page to the Islanders commentary page. (HAHAHA...you'd certainly see more bitch sessions) We don't need to worry about the 8th seed...let these teams scrap for the 8th, it will only wear them out. Sure i'd like to see a Devils/Rangers 1st rounder...with that monkey off of our backs, we would definetly win the cup. We'll see....my patients is thin though, and Devils fans are not going to stand another first round loss. Lou might be gone after the season, so this is the year....this is the time.

Week of March 13th

I wanna go home...... that's what the Devils are saying right about now. First, a 9-0 shellacking of the Thrashers. Wow....that was a different one. When was the last time you saw the Devils score 9 goals in the regular season? It only happened 1 other time. Their golf swing improved earlier in the week ( hopefully they won't be back on the green until late June this year), and apparently they found hitting a small ball into a small hole a bit more challenging than picking apart the leagues worst team(besides the Rangers :) But, they should have saved some of those goals for Saturday night, when they really needed them. They had a great opportunity to show the NHL that they are back to their winning ways...but it was the Caps who showed everyone that they are for real. In fact they are the hottest team in the east right now. What's really amazing about that team, is that the first few months of the season, they were awful, had no heart, and couldn't buy a goal with the Ranger's payroll. Now, things are working nicely for them. I've been on a tear with my predictions as of late(sooner or later it had to happen). The devs will win tomorrow, bringing their road trip record to 3-3-1(as I predicted). I'm going to give my Thousands of viewers a little treat....a little prediction. I'm picking the Avalanche to represent the west. They have the most confidence, and with their new acquisitions, they are my favorite. In the east, I like the Caps. NO...i'm not giving up on the Devils yet, but these predictions are based on the teams now, and unless the Devs can start winning again, they fall into the same rut they've fallen in to in the years of past. ...and as for Morrison, they might just keep him and bite the bullet when he leaves next season..time will tell.

Week of Feb 28th

The ugly train stops here. The Devs are back to their winning ways, and just on time. Last nights win was huge. Nobody wants to lose their last home game before a long road trip, and the Devs not only won, they shut up and shut out the Habs. It's been a bumpy ride lately, with the Devils winless streak hitting a high note of 5 games. It's actually their longest winless streak since 1995, and we all know what happened that year. Uncharacteristically, Terreri started games in Buffalo, and Toronto. Very characteristically, the devs lost both. It's nice that Marty gets a break back there...but Terreri has only 2 wins so far this year....that's just plain awful. Would they have won with Marty in goal? I say Yes. Marty provides leadership on a team that seems to somehow lack it. He's the best puck handler in the league, he's big, and o yah....he can stop the puck from going into the net, something Terreri seems to have trouble with. Nobody likes to see their team lose, but this was a healthy winless streak. I've done the math and checked the archives, the Devils needed this streak to stay hungry. Now they've got pressure from (cough cough) the Flyers, who seem to somehow start applying their all-star lineup to edge slightly closer to the leagues best. The Devils are aware of this, and it's a motivating factor. St.louis lost yesterday to the 'Hawks (thanks to a little help from former Devil Steve Sullivan) ...at home, so you can see that everybody has to loose, even to the leagues less fortunate. The big road trip is finally here, and this is a great test for the Devils. The line-up of teams isn't the leagues best, but its a tough time to go on the road. Playoff time is soon, and the scrubs are looking to get in. Every game counts, so the Calgary's, Pittsburgs and Cannucks will be tough ones. I predict a record of 3-3-1. We'll see.

Week of Feb 21st

......hey, even the Deathstar had a weakness. I'm not worried about the Devs' latest slump. It's a fact of life,.....Detroit lost to Chicago, Dallas lost to Nashville, and the Devs lost to the Islanders. That's ok, really. Don't panic. They have no been playing very good hockey lately. They tied Colorado on thurs. A real back and forth game that we could've easily lost. Then, they lost the game that I thought they were gonna lose....to the Mighty Islanders. At least the Islanders have been playing better lately....that lightens the blow. They lost last night to Buffalo, conceding 2 powerplay goals to the worst powerplay team in the league...not pretty. We seem to really suck when Terreri is in there. At least we beat Philly last week. If I had to pick a game to win...it would be Philly. We have a crucial road trip coming up next week, 7 on the road. It's really going to define this team. If they really want the Presidents trophy this year, they will have to win at least 4 of these games, maybe 5 depending on how well Detriot keeps playing. The Devils slumping is a good thing now......trust me. It'll keep them hungry next week, and I think that they are strong enough to overcome this adversity. I'm also happy that Ftorek is resting Marty a little more...that should continue.

......and they just keep winning. Don't you wish the playoffs started in March? Nobody would beat the Devs. The streak against the Rangers is now up to 19. I honestly thought that it was going to end in this mini-series that the NHL put together to make the Devils feel like it was a playoff series, and that possibly would have given them difficulties as they have had in the past. But, their strength prevailed. They tied the Rangers on Tues, in a game where I felt they were not getting any breaks...again. On Weds, they spotted the Rangers a goal again, and took too many penalties in the first, but played an incredible second period which was the difference in the game. (I'll wave "Good-Bye" to your season John Muckler). On Sunday, they played San Jose, and played a disciplined game, handing the Sharks an "L". The Devs still have the best record in the league, and if their good play continues, they'll win their first ever Presidents trophy. It's hard to feel bad for the less fortunate teams in the league, i.e. the Rangers, and Flyers. Some analysts predicted the Devils to finish somewhere around the 7th or 8th seed, where the Flyers and Rangers would be at the top with their veterans and experience. HAHAHA...i love it. Our rookies are skating all over them. I love it. Lou will make a trade before the deadline. We have too many great younger players that we'll lose to free-agency at the end of the season. And Santa, I'm still waiting for my Christmas wish to come true......TRADE ODELYN...

Back to work! The Devils had fun this weekend, going in to the All-Star weekend with the best record in the league. They kept the streak alive against the Ranger$ early last week. They won despite only playing 20 minutes of hockey, a good sign against a Ranger team that has been playing better as of late. They face off against them again on Tues. and Weds. They handled a Nashville team that should have been handled....4 to 1. We had 4 Devils in the All-Star game this year, and all of them represented well. Marty started the second period and gave up 2 goals, the first being the first shot on goal. He stopped a partial break-away by teammate Patrick Elias minutes later. Elias had 2 assists on the day, a fine showing by a game that showcases the worlds' best. Gomez was pretty quiet, but Stevens played very well, stopping a goal with his shin in the second period. So what's in store for the devils the second half? It's hard to say. I think that they will stay among the league's best, possibly finishing with the Presidents trophy. I actually wouldn't mind a lull in their play for a few weeks next month, and then pick it back up right before the playoffs. We'll have to wait and see. I don't think they'll win both games against the Ranger$ I'm sad to say. Not to worry though, they have their longest homestand of the year starting on weds,...hopefully they can increase their lead in the east.

Week of Jan 31st

Down but not out. The Devils dropped 2 straight games for just the second time this season. I expected a win on Weds against the Panthers....Elias with a almost unbelievable performance...scoring with less than 2 seconds left...Boy that must have hurt Panther pride. I expected Terreri in net on friday against the Canes...and I also predicted a tie or win. They got a point...so I'll count that as a bust. On saturday...they battled the leagues (2nd) best, and lost. They have had trouble winning the second game of back-to-back games this year. Hey, I really don't blame them...playing in Detroit is tuff enough without playing fatigued from the night before. Look for them to build character after losing these two....a team that always wins is commonly lethargic come the end of the year. And what's with Ftorek throwing a bench onto the ice after an apparent "No-Call" from the boys in stripes? I've never seen emotion like that from him before. You can't get anything from this guy during the pre-game, and now he's destroying pine benches? And, you can see where the Devs would be without Marty back there. Sure, you can make the argument that Terreri doesn't get enough playing time, but face the facts, he's not a good tender.....Marty .....please stay healthy....! This week I predict a win against the Ranger, and a win against the Predators. Enjoy the all-star game!

Week of Jan 24th

WOW....when does this crazy ride stop!! (not that I'm complaining). The Devils are still on fire. I love it and to all you fans out there....don't take it for granted. They outplayed Carolina on Monday ..had yet another 5 goal game. Chicago has been on a tear as of late...but the Devils beat them 4-1. Marty was key...outplaying his counterpart and really answering the call. Then, the Devs played the team to whom they lost to earlier this year. It was their most embarrassing loss thus far, and they all remembered it. Marty got his shutout as the Devils further increased their lead for the Presidents trophy. We had a milestone last week friends...Patrick Elias has a point in his last 13..setting a new team record. Its only the beginning of young Patrick's career, but already you can see that he will be a household name. The Flyers got Primeau...that sucks. They got rid of the aging Brind'Amour and got a legitimate player. I was hoping he would go to Phoenix, but no such luck. At least he didn't get traded to the Rangers. Speaking of the Ranger$..they have been playing better,,..and now all these fans are pulling their Jersey's out from the back of the closets and strutting around. Ya know what....they aren't even close to the Devils in any catagory...they are still pathetic. And please allow the mighty Devils to bring them down from their mediocre play next week by handing them 2 more losses....keeping the streak alive.

Week of Jan 17th

The Devils have the best record in hockey...how about those beans. They had another good week of hockey, and captured 5 out of a possible 6 points...thanks to the goal scoring fury that is Gomez and Elias. On Monday, they had a wild one down in Florida against a struggling Tampa Bay team, (at least Tampa has their football). They moved over the .500 mark for wins on the road as they out scored the Lightening 6-5. They had a let-down on Friday though. Terreri got the start,(as I predicted) and played well. Washington won in O.T. when Sourey got his pocket picked at the point which led to a breakaway. But...the big one was on Saturday. They beat the Philly-Cheese steaks on their own grill. The Devils came out smokin, and Philly was out of it early, snapping their 15 game home unbeaten streak. Philly isn't that potent without their big horse huh? Lindros sat again...I heard a stat that he has sit 25% of his pro career? Is this true? Maybe ESPN will give the Devs the respect they deserve now, (those Rudy-Poo's). I don't know what to expect this week..will they stay hot against some of the leagues coolest? Hope so..Have a great week.

Week of Jan 10TH

WOW! How awesome are the Devils playing lately? They are unbeaten in 8 games, and picked up 7 of 8 points on their road trip. They are in sole possession of the East, thanks to the Rangers giving Toronto some trouble. On Monday, they had a rare matinee game due to some Canadian holiday. They got 3 quick ones..and held on to win with the monster play of Marty. They totally shut down Jagr on Weds, and played the trap to perfection. Then they smoked Buffalo in a very exciting game. Sykora's penalty shot put the Devils ahead for good. And on Saturday, they beat Phoenix. I was really expecting a let down for this one. Many of the players had the flu and it would have been really easy to just let it slip away. But with a Toronto loss...first place was up for grabs, and grab it they did. The whole team has stepped it up...with Elias on a tear, and Gomez continuing his hot ways. Marty has also been electrifying. I think we take him for granted at times..this organization is a .500 club without him. Can they keep this pace up? I think so. We're heading down the second half of the season now, and it's crunch time. I'd like to see a trade, anything to get rid of Odelyn. (sure he's got the best smile on the team...but he's just too damn slow)

Week of Jan 3rd

Happy New Year All.. The Devils had a good week. They started it out on Monday against the Sabres. All day I had been hearing that the Sabres are a quick team that should pose some problems for the Devils...well, the Devils brought their "A" game and it was the kids who did the scoring. Sykora and Madden both had break-aways and both converted. They dominated the entire game. Boston came into town on Weds, and we all got to see Andreychuck again. He was by far the best player skating for Boston. He was fast and did what Dave does best...get in front of the goalie. This game was extremely entertaining. The lead changes seemed to come every five minutes, but in the end, it was the combo of Sykora and Elias that put the extra point in the standings for the Devs with a great "give and go" that put two veteran defensmen on their butts. On Saturday, they flew up to Boston for a rematch, and Boston played well again. They had lost to Ottawa 2nights before in o.t. too. The Devils came away with the point, and sent Boston's winless streak spinning out of control. This week will show how the Devils improved their road skills with all three games on the road, the first being today at 2:05pm. Gomez was named rookie of the month (shocker)...and the devils have an unbeaten streak of 4, and are 8-3-2 in their last 13.

Week of Dec 27th

The Devils had a good Christmas at home with their families, but failed to play hockey on Thursday night against the Leafs. They had a great game early in the week when they beat up on the Flyers, bringing their unbeaten streak to 7 games at home against the Flyers. They battled a weak Ranger team yesterday and managed to tie them. The had a quick 2-goal lead, when the Rangers battled back to bring the game to a final of 3-3. The unbeatin streak is still alive, which is really the most important thing here. When the streak ends...things will be very different. It will catapolt the Rangers through the standings, and have an adverse effect on the Devils ...(you watch...this will happen, and remember where you read it first). Gomez's family was on hand...and Scottie came threw with his first NHL hat-trick. Amazingly, Ftorek let Gomez play, with his family in town and all, its unlike him. Morrison will be traded soon. The Isle's want him, but he'll go somewhere out west within the month. We have Buffalo this week, and a Home-at-Home against Boston. I'll enjoy watching Andreychuck.

Week of Dec 20th

THE ISLANDERS.... I can't believe they lost to the Islanders. They were so close to having that perfect week. They finally won 3 straight, with Terreri in the net. Not impressive, but still 2 points. I have a serious problem with them losing to the Islanders. The Islanders....a team that hasn't won at home in nearly 2 full months. An Islanders team that scored 5 goals against one of the best defenses in the league. This is a serious problem. It's a coaching problem. It is the coaches responsibility to make his players play to the best of their ability. To get them to play with their full capability. If Ftorek can't get the Devils up for the Islanders...he deserves to be fired. I'm getting fed up with his antics...treating the players and the coaches with no heart. It's ok to be a dictator if the team is unbeatable and #1 in every category, but the Devils are not. I hold no grudge against the Islanders, but to be frank...they suck. They are a pathetic franchise that will not get better for a long time. They make no money, and they lost their most exciting player in Ziggy Palfy. The Devils should have won this game 7-0. There is no excuse whatsoever. They have their work cut out for them now..with the Flyers, and Toronto coming up on their schedule. I'm glad I don't have to go into 2 tuff games like that coming off a pathetic loss to the Islanders. I don't think I'm being harsh at all, there is simply no excuse. By the way....Merry Christmas you filthy animals.

Week of Dec 13th

The "Great Week" has eluded the Devils once more. I really thought that this was going to be the week. I thought the Devils would be able to take advantage of their soft schedule and put 3 wins together. They beat the Penguins early in the week, which was a huge moral victory for the team. Madden looked great, and of course, Marty was on his game. Then, they flew into Chicago to faceoff against the Blackhawks. This is the only team that Marty has never beaten in his career. So, he shut them out. He looked very sharp, and the Devils had the offense to match. So, all they had to do now was come home and beat the Oilers....but they couldn't do it. They came out flat and gave up 3 quick ones. The game was essentially over before the second period started. They took the Oilers too lightly, and they lost. Very similarly to the way they lost 7 days before to Calgary. This trend needs to stop. They need to establish some consistency. The east is competitive, and they need to finish the season with at least home ice in the first round. They won't catch the Flyers this year, but they need to finish above Florida and Ottawa. LA, Montreal, and the Caps this week ....we'll see. Have a great week.

Week of Dec 6th

We're still waiting for the Devils to put together that "Great" week. They had a great start to last week with a Big win over those horrible Rangers. They were in complete control of this game and the 2nd period was one of the best periods they have played all year. They had a great "come from behind" victory on Friday against Ottawa. They were down 3-1 and scored 6 unanswered goals. But Saturday, they fell apart. The Devils are horrible on the back end of these 2 game back-to-back games. I was weary of this game....I saw a let down coming. It put an end to the leagues best home unbeaten streak. They are very close to going on a tear. I'm anxious to see them put together a few wins in a row. They haven't won 3 straight all year long. I still think that they are going to be a very tough team to beat in the playoffs. We need to start wiping the slate with a win against the Penguins on Tues. They don't play a team with a winning record until they battle LA. next week, so I hope they can take advantage of the lite schedule.The big talk in all of the papers is the controversey surrounding Ftorek and his relationship with some of the veterens and the coaches. The bottom line is this....as long as the Devils continue to do well, Ftorek stays..even if Odelyn wants to whine. If they flop in the playoffs again...you can bet that Ftorek will be a goner for next year. Have a great week fans...

Week of Nov 29th

The Devils had their "West Coast Swing" last week. They usually don't play great hockey, but they didn't fare too badly this time around. They beat the Ducks last Weds. I watched this game on a blurry t.v.(or, maybe it was all those beers I had). They played good, old fashioned Devils hockey, and although we gave away a penalty shot, that's about the only good chances we gave them. As I expected, Terreri got the start in Phoenix, and they got beat badly. I don't blame Terreri (solely), but he had a lot to do with it. Marty is a leader back there...and without him, we're lacking. We managed to tie the Sharks on Sunday. They are a great team that I expect will be there in the end. We had the game won...until late in the 3rd when Nolan tied it up. They lost in O.T. with only 6 seconds left. I wasn't terribly upset due to the new rules (Devs still get a point). A point on the road is a good point. Let them have the extra point...it's not going to haunt us. On a more somber note...Odelyn is pissed about being benched for 2 out of 3 of the games out west. Lou may be looking to deal Lyle..his contract is up this spring, and with Ftorek heading the team...Lyle will probably sign elsewhere. Big game on Weds this week...the blueshirts are here. Lets see if we still dominate this team. Have a great week.

Week of Nov. 22nd

Sorry about the delay on the page this week...I've had alot going on. Off the topic, this weekend we're driving up to Indianapolis for our Jets road trip...my Jets page will have some new pics shortly. The Devils played pretty good last week. They beat Ottawa, which is a big step for them. Did you know they have the lowest goals against avg. in the league? Tell your friends. They have a brutal west coast trip which starts tonight at Anaheim. I would like to see them win 2 of these games..it's not probably though. They never fair too well playing out there. I hate to compare them to Philly, but they have an awesome record out there this year. Gomez is still smoking, and our defense looks like they have buckled down a little. Marty is playing the way we need him to. Don't be surprised if you see Terreri in there for one of the west coast games. Get ready guys(and gals)...next week we have the Rangers. It would be nice to continue our streak against that weak, pathetic team. Have a great turkey day...don't eat too much.

Week of Nov. 15th

Hope everyone had a great weekend...The Devils had a good week. On Tuesday, they battled with the Flyers. What a great game. The Devils proved that they can skate with the best in the league. This is a great matchup.The Flyers are always measuring themselves with the Devils. They are a great team, which will probably win the east. Don't fret though...finishing #1 isn't all that it's cut out to be. The Devils then beat up on the Thrashers, the way that they should have. The Thrashers beat Ottowa the night before...and were pretty pumped up. It was a game that the Devils should win ..and win big they did. They lost to Washington on Saturday, which I wasn't too happy about. It was a road game, so we'll let it go. The devils hold the Best home record in the league...they are undefeated. If they can improve on their road record..things will really be running smoothly. On a lighter note...my hat's off to Ottawa. By holding their ground on the Yashin situation, they are a stand-up organization. Lets hope that other teams can learn from Ottawa's conduct. If players have a contract, they should abide by it...they renegotiate after their contract is up. I hope Yashin has fun with Carol Alt, cause he's not playing hockey in my country, (or Canada either for that matter)

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