Battle Of Hudson

In case anyone was wondering, I did have a new show debut on blogtalkradio last night. It’s appropriately called Hard Hits. Basically, I’ll cover any sport and give my input on things. Being that it was my first show, it was only half an hour long. Among topics covered were the Super Bowl along with a little Rangers and Nets mixed in and some A-Rod stuff as well. Anyway, here is my host page. The archive is below if you want to check it out. We’ll try to make some upgrades in future ones:

Hard Hits

No, this isn’t a misprint Steve. It’s the harsh reality of being a New York fan who bleeds a lot more Ranger blue than Knicks Orange and Blue and whatever that stupid ass song says which they stole from West Virginia.

But here’s the point:

With their win tonight over the Clippers, the Knicks improved to 22-28 and only two out of the NBA playoffs. Kind of sad, huh? But it also speaks volumes when the team put together by Isiah Thomas, who btw is despised much more than Glen Sather, is a much more exciting product than the other outfit I root for which hasn’t won in what feels like a century. Wins over the Bruins and Flyers don’t count.

When the Knicks are a much better watch, that says it all. Maybe next time, I’ll just watch them over the hockey club. I’ve had enough.

And if you want entertainment, listen to the NY Hockey Report tomorrow night. There are bound to be some fireworks:

NY Hockey Report

8:05-9 PM

See ya then.

Devils take the shootout by a final of 3-2. Not a great performance from New Jersey, but the Rangers are just hexed at this point, somehow you knew they couldn’t possibly close this one out. A 4-on-3 in the OT wasn’t gonna do it, you knew someone liked NJ tonight.

Goal scorers are Martin and Parise for the Devils, Rachunek and Jagr for New York. Gionta scores the only shootout goal and the Devils make it 2 in a row vs. NYR.

That’s all that can be said. That power play in OT was predictable. Same old tacky passes. The coach should be fired. He never changes personnel ever. Could he get a Hossa or Ortmeyer in there? At least they’ll get dirty and make Brodeur bitch about something. Real coaches have balls. Tom Renney doesn’t. He’s a nice guy but is not the right fit for this team. I’d still take him in my organization. But clearly, someone else needs to be behind the bench.

As for the shootout, could they have gotten any lamer? I feel sorry that Shanahan has to play on this loser team. This is what he chose over Detroit. Sorry buddy. If I were him, I’d ask for a trade. He deserves to play on a Cup contender.

From my vantage point, if you can’t beat the Devils when they play their C game and not even get a point against the Red Wings when they fail to show for the first two periods, you can’t be taken seriously. That is this franchise which is still living off last year’s run which ended in Torino. Mediocrity is the term. Other franchises such as the Devils, Wings, Stars, Sabres, Ducks, Sharks, Predators, Thrashers, Senators and Hurricanes aren’t satisfied unless they are holding the best trophy in all of sports.

It does speak volumes when Jaromir Jagr, the supposed team captain doesn’t even get to shoot in a game he actually scored in. Since I didn’t see it since I was watching two real teams, I will just assume it changed five different directions like The Magic Bullet Theory and magically hopped off Pandolfo, Madden, White and then popped in the air over Brodeur into the net so Chico Resch could make an excuse. Awfully nice of him to not even acknowledge Lundqvist’s big save on Gomez during that late NJ power play. The save allowed his team to get a point.

Honestly, with all the other teams winning, I’d rather just lose out. This team isn’t making the playoffs. They should rename it prayoffs cause that’s the only shot they got.

Since only one team is really worth discussing, a point on tonight’s epic showdown which should be renamed epic letdown:

Cam Janssen- 2 shifts, 1:53

Colton Orr- 7 shifts, 3:20

What’s the point?

And finally, two big hits (one by each side- Ward on Brylin and Lukowich on Prucha and somehow he got up) doesn’t make it nasty. This was a good game because the officials decided not to take over until that soft call in OT on Paul Martin. Yes, I’m acknowledging that that wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty given the situation. Not that Devil fans actually had to worry. If you have the Rangers a 4-on-1, they still would overpass and somehow manage not to score.

See ya’ll tomorrow.

The Rangers dominated the Devils about as much as you could since about the 10:00 mark of the first and still are losing because of a late goal by Zach Parise in the second.

This team sucks. They can outplay elite teams and still not take advantage. Then the Devils get one of their patented flukey bounces for a goal.

Will it ever end?

Martin scores on the 4v4 for the Devils, Rachunek answers back with a PowerPlay tally.

To be fair, they got that from VERSUS last night, and you can never trust them.

2 giveaways on the first 2 shifts which could’ve led to Devil goals. This team blows.

At least Avery is with Cullen and Shanahan and not buried on the fourth line yet. Otherwise, I’d just leave.

To note that according to FSNY, Public Enemy No.1 Sean Avery has drawn a league best 46 power plays. When Cam Janssen does that, let me know.

And with that, a little something to stir up this one-sided rivalry.

Steve will have the Devils winning recap after.

New York (25-24-4, 54 PTS, 4th Atlantic, 11th East)
vs.
New Jersey (32-15-6, 70 PTS, 1st Atlantic, 2nd East)

New Jersey – Beat Buffalo 3-2 on a 3rd Period Rally. (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=GameHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0790%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_790_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=790&sp=2)

New York – Lost 4-3 to Detroit on a 3rd Period Rally. (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24GameVideoViewer.%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=DailyHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0800%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_800_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=800&sp=2)

Last Meeting
Devils win 1-0 on a First Period Tally from Brad Lukowich. (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24GameVideoViewer_4.%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=DailyHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0690%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_690_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=690&sp=2)

Leading Scorers
New Jersey
#26 Patrik Elias 18-31-49
#14 Brian Gionta 24-18-42
#9 Zach Parise 20-21-41
#23 Scott Gomez 9-32-41
#15 Jamie Langenbrunner 18-21-39

New York
#68 Jaromir Jagr 19-44-63
#82 Martin Straka 24-34-58
#92 Michael Nylander 18-39-57
#14 Brendan Shanahan 27-24-51
#3 Michal Rozsival 6-20-26

Goaltenders
New Jersey
#30 Martin Brodeur 32-14-5, 2.08, .926%
#40 Scott Clemmenson 0-1-1, 3.60, .868%

New York
#30 Henrik Lundqvist 21-18-2, 2.75, .905%
#80 Kevin Weekes 4-6-2, 3.39, .879%

Prediction: Devils, 3-1.

Since Sean Avery is the hot topic and most likely will make his Ranger debut tonight in The Swamp, here’s an old interview the flambuoyant and often outspoken energizer did with Maxim:

Sean Avery Speaks

Do you feel like every team has someone gunning for you?
Always. I’m so used to it now, it’s just an assumption going into every game that somebody’s going to be up my ass.

Ever worry that if you get traded, you’re going to have to face guys you’ve badmouthed?
I’m sure at some point I’m going to have to look at these guys and say, “Hey, you know, no hard feelings.” Hopefully everyone will be cool with it.

On Nashville Predators forward Darcy Hordichuk:
“Hordichuk is the worst player in the NHL. He’s an embarrassment. He can’t even skate, he can’t shoot, and he can’t pass. Just look at the stats.”

On former NHLPA head Bob Goodenow, after the lockout ended:

“We didn’t get anything. We wasted an entire season. I am furious at Bob. Bob thought he was bigger than he was. Bob brainwashed players like me.”

To read the entire interview, please click on the link above. You won’t be disappointed.

And now an entertaining off topic chat I had with a Devil buddy who lives out in Phoenix:

Kovy274Hart [12:21 AM]: man i have the 90’s channel on
Kovy274Hart [12:21 AM]: and they’re playing that Jamie Walters song
Kovy274Hart [12:21 AM]: LOL
Stevens8204 [12:21 AM]: damn
Kovy274Hart [12:23 AM]: wasn’t he in what’s it called
Kovy274Hart [12:25 AM]: 90210
Stevens8204 [12:25 AM]: yeah
Stevens8204 [12:25 AM]: and did that corny song have you talked to an angel or something like that
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: lmfao
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: omg
Stevens8204 [12:26 AM]: didnt he play the guy that beat up donna too?
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: yes
Stevens8204 [12:26 AM]: now i know im old
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: man
Kovy274Hart [12:26 AM]: i don’t feel old
Stevens8204 [12:27 AM]: i dont either…but age wise…im gettin there
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: eh
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: don’t do that to yourself
Kovy274Hart [12:30 AM]: we are young at heart
Stevens8204 [12:31 AM]: thats true
Kovy274Hart [12:31 AM]: i got proofed yet again tonight
Stevens8204 [12:32 AM]: i still do…it cracks me up
Kovy274Hart [12:32 AM]: yeah
Kovy274Hart [12:32 AM]: it tells you a lot
Kovy274Hart [12:32 AM]: 🙂

I think what it tells you is that even when things aren’t always going the way you want, you can always feel good about something. It’s all about perspective. Still can’t believe some of the songs they’re playing on this 90’s station. Classic stuff!