Battle Of Hudson

I got the Sabres-Devils game right. I said 3-2. I just didn’t say who would win. Teppo Numminen gave Buffalo life with under 5:00 left but the Devils were just too good in their end to allow the Sabres to tie a game they had no business being in.

How dominant were the Devs in the third? Aside from the three goals they got to turn the tide, they peppered Miller with 15 shots while Brodeur only saw five. Brodeur btw only needed to make 15 saves for his NHL-leading 32nd victory while counterpart Miller stopped 34. Did Chico say anything about this Steve? About all the saves Miller made to at least give his team a chance?

Stars from this one:

Madden, who stuffed home the tying goal
Langenbrunner, who scored his 18th goal and assisted on another
Parise, who scored the winner and notched an assist

The Devs are now four behind Buffalo for first in the East with both remaining contests left at HSBC Arena.

Lightning btw finish off the Rangers, who should’ve been beaten much worse if not for Henrik Lundqvist (38 saves). Tom Renney’s undisciplined club was called for 10 penalties in response to Shanahan’s plea. Meanwhile, the Lightning were called for half that. But they were the superior team. Why? Cause they’re a playoff calibre team who has younger legs and is more detail oriented. Hey coach! You get a late power play and your PP is nothing to write home about. So pull the goalie for a 6-on-4 right away, right? Wrong. You wait until there’s less than a minute and never even get a shot. That btw sums up this Broadway Blueshirt edition. They suck.

My new motto: Lottery here we come!

If this team were smart, they’d trade some of the players as the deadline nears. Six points out and fading much like the other seven Ranger teams which failed from 1998-04. My plan would be simple:

Michael Nylander- gone
Marek Malik- gone
Brendan Shanahan- gone
Karel Rachunek- don’t let the door hit ya on the way out
Kevin Weekes- gone

These are some of the players who they should consider moving. You can even workout handshake agreements with Shanny and Nylander if they want to comeback. It’s time to get what you can for them. The golf course awaits.

About how paranoid a few Swamp fans are. Their team came ready and has dominated the third period scoring three goals in less than a 4:00 span to control things up 3-1 against Buffalo.

And there they are making the obligatory chant, “Marty’s Better.”

Oh really? How many shots has he faced tonight? 14. Meanwhile, Ryan Miller who was 1st Star the last time these two teams met has already faced 32. And shots are 10-2 in the third as Miller’s team decided not to show thinking they had it wrapped up apparently.

If not for Miller despite the commentary from Doc and Chico that the teams were evenly matched defensively, it would’ve been about 8-1 because that’s how many holes were in that Buffalo D. Two words guys. Swiss cheese. How many break-ins did Zach Parise have in the first two periods? Or how many wide open Devils were there in front Steve? If you watched, then you know what I’m talking about.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are on their way to another defeat. Oh. They were in the game but the Lightning have surged ahead thanks to power plays. I wonder if Shanahan regrets complaining about how Jagr is treated yet. It’s 7-2 Lightning on the PP and they are up because of it. Btw…Jagr hasn’t drawn anything either. So it hasn’t helped.

P.S. The Ranger D has been just as brutal as predicted. Only Daniel Girardi has looked reliable.

Stat of the Night coming from CAA: 6 of the 7 Buffalo penalties are hooking. 8 of 10 btw in that game are hooking. That’s the new NHL for ya.

That’s it in a nutshell folks! In two games that involve metro area teams it’s on display yet again how pathetic this league has become. Whatever happened to passion? Battles anyone? Nowhere to be found. And why? Because this new NHL which I and many others advocated is nothing but an utter disgrace!

I have had enough of the ticky tac garbage calls that that freaking nerd’s corporate sponsors want in the game. Hockey is not that kind of game. This isn’t the NBA where every handcheck or shove is called for the game’s stars. Hockey is a game of intense competition. It’s skating. It’s fastpaced play. It’s hitting. It’s backchecking. But when you see what’s gone on tonight, it’s not there.

Before I make a couple of observations from the Rangers-Lightning game which is knotted at two apiece after two thanks to a Michael Nylander power play tally late, I want to point to the Sabres-Devils Eastern battle taking place at The Meadowlands. I’ve caught most of that as well between breaks and such. In the first, Buffalo again got superior netminding from Ryan Miller (15 saves) and a timely goal from the red hot Chris Drury (30th of season) to go ahead. But also, as pointed out by the FSNY production truck, Brian Gionta setup Patrik Elias on the doorstep during a power play and Miller made what looked like an unbelievable glove save. But as I watched, I immediately said they should go upstairs and look at it cause it looked dangerously close to the goal line. And anytime you have that situation, you should review it. But instead, the referees dropped the puck right away and the Devils failed to convert that man-advantage. It was a few minutes later where FSNY confirmed our worst fears. That indeed Elias’ shot looked to have crossed the line before Miller pulled it back. In an ultracompetitive battle between two solid teams with much at stake, that should never happen. One goal could be the difference. And as we write this, Buffalo still has that one-goal lead headed to the third.

Now to the ticky tac calls we’ve seen. Oh. It’s happened in both games. Marginal hooks or even clean shoulders are now penalties. MSG’s Joe Micheletti was irate over a call on Brendan Shanahan basically going on to conclude it wasn’t a penalty. Not long after, Matt Cullen was whistled for “interference.” That’s if you conclude that a shoulder tap is. It was an absolutely atrocious call. Meanwhile in New Jersey, you’ve seen more battles but also a few penalties. On some of those battles, there could’ve been legit calls on either side. But that was let go. Meanwhile, tacky hooking calls such as the ones on Maxim Afinogenov and Zach Parise were made. It makes me wonder what game they’re watching. You have to let these guys battle. There are instances where penalties should be called.

It would be nice if the officials knew the rulebook. But what the hell is the point? It may as well not even exist thanks to that great commish who celebrated his 15th anniversary running this league into the ground.

I’m ticked!

Well, I’m not going to make this long. But out West there also is a huge match-up similar to Sabres-Devils (or Slugs-Satans if you want to go that route). It will be the other slug the Nashville Predators hosting the Anaheim Ducks in a big Western Conference showdown. With the most points in the league, the Central-leading Preds (36-14-3, 75 points) enter three points better than Pacific leader Anaheim (32-12-8, 72 points). They also put the NHL’s best home record (18-3-3) on the line against a depleted Ducks team which might still be without Dynamic Blueline Duo Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. It’s worth noting that the Red Wings trail the Preds by three points for the division while the Sharks, already 4-2 winners over Chicago have closed to within three of Anaheim. So whoever wins can maintain a nice margin in their division.

Just a couple of notes:

I want to correct something I posted the other day about the Flyers losing 14 straight at home. NHL Siberia hasn’t sunk to that Titanic level yet. The 6-5 OT defeat to the Devils was their franchise worst 12th consecutive loss. They still have some work to do or maybe that’s not the right description.

I also said during our NY Hockey Report show this past Wednesday that Toronto trailed the Rangers by two points. They were in fact tied and with the win passed them in the standings.

Also want to correct myself as Ron did on that show that last Saturday the Devils were at Florida when they fell 4-2, drawing a miniscule rating of 0.1 as mentioned during our show. They played Tampa the night before with Brodeur posting his league-best ninth shutout and career No.89. It still is alarming that New York’s lacrosse team the Titans could outdraw both the Devils and Islanders on a Saturday. And don’t forget the Isles had that great third period comeback win over the Sabres. Yikes.

I also noticed that the league set an attendance record for January. Whoopty do. The question is how many were real diehards? The league is pushing towards a different audience. They can slice it anyway they want. But if you really like the direction they’re headed, then you must love the fact the NHL was extended through 2011 on a network hardly anyone can find in Versus. I liked them better as Outdoor Life Network. At least it made sense. What else do they show aside from Survivor repeats, Ultimate Barbecue competitions, etc? They do have tennis. But I’m not sure how many events they’re covering.

As also pointed out on our show by yours truly, the Australian Open women’s final which was a rout by Serena Williams over “It Girl” Maria Sharapova drew a 1.6 rating on ESPN2. It was the highest rated tennis match they had since Serena won the same Grand Slam two years prior over Lindsay Davenport. What do you think the NHL would give for that kind of rating on any given night? Just wondering.

I was on the new yahoo site which I think stinks (not everything new is always better). But I did happen to come across an interesting article. As you might know, the Pens and Habs played the other night in an exciting affair which wound up 5-4 Penguins in the shootout at the outdated Mellon Arena. Apparently, there was a cheapshot from Pens’ forward Colby Armstrong which Montreal coach Guy Garbonneau wasn’t too pleased with:

Carbonneau Upset

It’s interesting to note that in the same game which the Montreal coach was upset with a call that one of his players committed a similar cheapshot which wasn’t even penalized:

On the opening face-off, Montreal centre Maxim Lapierre looked to have butt-ended Sidney Crosby in the stomach. Crosby got him back moments’ later by tripping Lapierre on a face-off. Neither infraction was called.

Interesting indeed. Even TSN’s Pierre McGuire was at a loss. I saw it and according to The Hockey Professor between the glass, the two had a history that dated back a few years to when they competed in juniors. For those wondering, the rematch is set for tomorrow on Super Bowl Sunday when Montreal hosts the Pens in what now amounts to a game which separates the clubs by two points. It should be interesting.

Kudos to Steve for his Sabres-Devils preview. Nice job putting up those links from the clubs’ recent victories!

As I construct this post, the 11th place Islanders (54 points) and 4th place Canadiens (62 points) were tied at two until the rejuvenated Trent Hunter lasered one by a shocked Cristobal Huet to put the Isles up with 8:00 approaching. Hunter has been the best Islander lately and now suddenly has 14 goals including the last two in this crucial Eastern tilt. If the Isles win, they’ll be just two out of the last spot depending on tonight’s games. It would also be another game they got points in since the All Star Break.

Well, it looks like it will be a huge comeback win for them as Miroslav Satan got his second off another careless Habs’ turnover. Kind of similar to Hunter’s go-ahead minutes earlier. This is why you can’t take the Canadiens seriously as a playoff contender. They are too jittery in their end. This was a game they led 2-1 entering this period and since I flipped it on, it’s been all Fishsticks. Btw…for those wondering why the Islanders would be a dangerous first round opponent if they got in, they now have outscored opponents in the third period 61-47. We’re just wondering about top defender Radek Martinek, who left this contest on a stretcher. He makes a huge difference. Hopefully, it’s not too serious.

And while we’re checking matinee scores, the Pens won for the sixth consecutive time, this time shutting out Washington 2-0. That btw is impressive when you consider the firepower of super sophomore Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. The Penguins made a second period Ronald Petrovicky goal stand up until Calder hopeful Jordan Staal potted the empty net with 38 seconds remaining to ensure Marc-Andre Fleury of the shutout. Fleury btw stopped all 30 shots. And yes, Sidney Crosby didn’t record a point. But it didn’t matter. So does anyone still think this Pittsburgh team can’t make the playoffs and give someone a huge scare? They’re coming together at the right time. And with the kind of young crop of talent and gamebreakers they have, that’s not a team I’d want any part of.

There are two other afternoon games taking place out West. Colorado leads Edmonton 1-0 and Chicago and San Jose are knotted at one.

As the Isles wrap another impressive road win, there’s a big game tonight between conference leader Buffalo and Atlantic Division Groundhogs New Jersey. I figured it would be appropriate and all referring to that damn team as a Groundhog since they always see their shadow and remain atop the division and are a royal pain in the ass. Can you tell I am bitter much? I freaking hate that team. I guess you can’t blame me being a Ranger fan and all. It’s part of an intense rivalry. The Devils are like the CCCP. They are a cult. And after giving up tons of goals the last three games, you know tonight’s contest which separates them by six points with Buffalo is going to be like a game of chess.

So, I figured I’d give a little preview of what’s at stake:

The Sabres (35-14-4, 74 pts) have led the East since the beginning of the season when they set a league record for best start. For the past month though, they have been very up and down which is why a once huge double digit lead has dwindled to six making the top seed a race again with about 30 games remaining before the real season begins. Too bad my pathetic team won’t be participating.

So what’s the key for Buffalo? With back-to-back wins over the hapless Bruins in a rare home and home, they’re now 16-1-1 when top defenseman Henrik Tallinder plays. That means that when he hasn’t played, they’re only six games over .500 (19-13-3) if you go by new NHL rules. The 28 year-old Tallinder is the Sabres’ tower of strength on the blueline. Going 6-4, 213 pounds, he is rock solid in front of his own net and keeps pests such as Devils leading goalscorer Brian Gionta (24 goals) honest. If Tallinder is in again, look for that to be a key match-up.

The Devils (31-15-6, 68 pts) take an eight point lead over the red hot Pens into this pivotal home tilt against one of the four teams they actually have lost to at Continental Airlines Arena. As Steve and many of you know, they’re one of the best home teams in the league, bringing a 17-4-4 record into tonight’s contest with faceoff set for about 7:38 PM. They just concluded a four-game road trip with a wild come from behind 6-5 OT victory over NHL Siberia Philadelphia. Just like a couple of other games played at Wachovia Center, the Devs rallied to tie it late. In two other wins, it was Brad Lukowich shorthanded (remember this name) and the clutch Rochester native Gionta who forced extras before they wound up winning. The other night, this time it was splendid soph Zach Parise notching his 19th with about 41 ticks left before the immortal Lukowich morphed into a superstar and redirected a Brian Rafalski shot in front with about 49 seconds to go giving them another improbable triumph. And you want to know what Coach Claude Julien’s reaction was: That the defenseman was out of position for the winner. Hahaha…god. You won! I swear the very quiet coach looks like a librarian.

As stingy a team as they are (125 GA and Martin Brodeur’s league best 9 shutouts, 31 wins), the Devils are probably the best comeback team in the league. No lead is safe against Julien’s bunch. Probably because of the team chemistry they have with a core mostly intact, it makes it easier for them to get a late goal. That’s the baffling aspect of this defensive juggernaut. They certainly possess enough skilled players to open it up and get goals. But that’s never the mantra. It’s to bore the opposition and fans alike from other teams. Just kidding Steve. Truthfully, they’re a very disciplined team who pays attention to every detail. That’s what makes them such a tough opponent and is why no matter what any Devil fan will tell you, Brodeur’s life is much easier than most other netminders. Because they aren’t going to allow many odd-man rushes or clear scoring chances in front. Most are contested. And when they do breakdown, the future Hall of Famer comes up with the big saves which turn Chico Resch into a 7 year-old kid.

If you want to see a contrast in styles, watch this game tonight. I’ll probably watch it over Rangers-Lightning since I already know the result. It’s a battle between the two best Eastern teams. The Sabres btw are the opposite of the Devils in that they like to open it up and take chances utilizing their supreme team speed and skill. When they breakdown, it’s usually All Star goalie Ryan Miller who has to deal with 2-on-1’s, 3-on-2’s, etc and make the huge stops. The Sabres aren’t a lockdown D. Don’t believe me? If you missed their 3-2 win in New Jersey back in the second week of December, Miller stoned the Devils several times in the first and was the best player on the ice. The question is will he be back in goal? Reliable backup Martin Biron started the last two and played well. Will Lindy Ruff ride the hot hand? We’ll see. But I’m expecting Miller to return to his starting role.

If you like offense, the Sabres already boast five 20+ goal scorers in Chris Drury (29), Thomas Vanek (25), Jason Pominville (23), Maxim Afinogenov (21) and Daniel Briere (21). That kind of talent will be on display. But it is point leader Briere (65 points) and Drury (51 points) who set the tone. The problem for opponents is that Afinogenov plays with one of these pivots. He is probably the most explosive skater on the ice. Last time, it was his gamebreaking speed which killed the Devils. He scored twice.

What makes Buffalo so tough is that underrated performers such as Jochen Hecht, Derek Roy, Ales Kotalik and Paul Gaustad can all contribute. From the backline, All Star Brian Campbell can be lethal jumping in.

So the Devils will have their hands full trying to keep Buffalo at bay. They’ll hope that team captain Patrik Elias can make it three games in a row with a goal after a lengthy drought. They’ll also look for the North Dakota connection of Parise and promising rookie Travis Zajac (10 goals) to continue their sound play after breaking out of slumps. Ditto linemate Jamie Langenbrunner (17 goals). All Star defenseman Brian Rafalski (19 PP points) is particularly dangerous when he jumps into the play. They’ll also need an inspired game from top playmaker Scott Gomez (32 assists). The question is who will Julien match the Pandolfo-Madden-Brylin unit with probably Colin White and Rafalski against? Briere or Drury? That’s what makes this such an intriguing match-up.

With it being a potential four-point swing game, look for it to be hotly contested and tight. A Sabre victory gives them some separation. But a Devil win closes the gap to four with two huge games left to take place up in Buffalo at HSBC Arena.

I’m thinking this one is decided by a goal. I’ll say the score is 3-2. But I am not picking a winner. It should be a fun game and possible Eastern Conference Final preview.

New Jersey (31-15-6, 68 PTS, 1st Atlantic, 2nd East) vs. Buffalo (35-14-4, 74 PTS, 1st Northeast, 1st East)

7:30 PM
The Swamp
TV: FSN NY/inHD
Radio: WFAN 660

Last Game
New Jersey: 6-5 OT Win over Philadelphia on Thursday (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24GameVideoViewer_0.%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=DailyHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0772%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_772_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=772&sp=2)
Buffalo: 3-1 Win over Boston on Thursday (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24GameVideoViewer.%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=DailyHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0771%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_771_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=771&sp=2)

Last Meeting
Dec. 12th, on national TV at The Swamp, Buffalo gets 3 unanswered after a scoreless 32:05 to start the game. Devils answer with 2 in the final 40 seconds, but it’s not enough as Buffalo wins it 3-2 (Watch: http://www.nhl.com/video/app?component=%24GameVideoViewer.%24NHLDirectLink_0&page=DailyHighlights&service=direct&sp=S%2F20062007%2F02%2F0444%2FIH_NHL_2006_2007_444_2_700K_continuous.wmv&sp=20062007&sp=444&sp=2)

Leading Scorers
New Jersey
#26 Patrik Elias 18-31-49
#14 Brian Gionta 24-18-42
#23 Scott Gomez 9-32-41
*9 Zach Parise 19-20-39
#15 Jamie Langenbrunner 17-20-37

Buffalo
#48 Daniel Briere 21-44-65
#61 Maxim Afinogenov 21-34-55
#23 Chris Drury 29-22-51
#26 Thomas Vanek 25-26-51
#29 Jason Pominville 23-19-42

Goaltenders
New Jersey
#30 Martin Brodeur 31-14-5, 2.08, .926%
#40 Scott Clemmensen 0-1-1, 3.60, .878%

Buffalo
#30 Ryan Miller 24-10-3, 2.70, .912%
#43 Martin Biron 11-4-1, 2.90, .902%

Tonight:
Shoutout to friend of the blog and NJDevs poster LOTCB ( Legend of the Clown Banner for the unenlightened) but a warning that his Sabres will go down tonight. Expect Marty to bring the A-game after giving up 4 to Blueland and 5 to Siberia. Expect the Devils to be ready to go and win it 2-1.

I know the deal with Chico Steve. As a former production assistant, he is a good guy. Even mentioned my name once on air giving me proper credit for a hat trick stat I discovered when the Devils hosted the Thrashers back in 2000-01.

It’s just hilarious listening to the former three-time Vezina runner-up on the 70’s Isles go ga ga whenever a goalie makes a decent stop. I don’t remember it being as nuts back then when I worked for FSNY.

So, I see the Ranger season officially ended today as they placed MSG whipping boy Marek Malik on IR with a bum shoulder and recalled Bryce Lampman from Hartford. Last year it was Tom Poti. As it turned out, Poti was better than any Ranger supporter would want to admit. He now has become a vital part of the Islanders D and logs 25-26 minutes a night. Malik catches flak because he’s not physical for his size. But truth be told, he’s one of the team’s most reliable defenders and can log a ton of minutes along with Michal Rozsival, who btw is still a question mark for tomorrow night at Tampa Bay.

When you see that Karel Rachunek is still logging major minutes along with Thomas Pock, you know there’s problems. Now Lampman will be part of it. Honestly, if Malik and Rozy are no go, the best D on the team becomes Daniel Girardi. Yes, he’s shown more in three games than sophomore disappointment Fedor Tyutin and vet Aaron Ward. Yet the clueless coach was afraid to use Girardi in the third the other night summing up things well. No guts.

Now the fans who think Malik is so brutal are going to have to watch as the Lightning skate circles around these guys. How many points will Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier combine for? The over/under is at six.

I’m going to make one thing clear regarding Brendan Shanahan and the league backing off fining him. I don’t care if he was an integral part of the rule changes. If he speaks out against the officiating the way he did the other night even if he has a good point, he has to get some kind of fine. I admire how Shanny has carried himself this season as a Ranger. He’s been a model citizen and a leader on and off the ice. Ask fans who the real captain of the team is and they’ll tell you. It’s easy to respect how he goes about things. I understand going to bat for Jaromir Jagr. But again, I will reiterate that it wasn’t why they fell short. There was still an opportunity to win. The bottom line is they didn’t get it done even if the officials didn’t call a great game. Sometimes, you have to dig deeper and overcome that stuff.

Honestly, this Ranger team just doesn’t win me over like last year’s. They aren’t consistent and can’t win on home ice. You can’t do that and you may as well pack your golf clubs this Spring cause that’s where it’s headed. They can say whatever they want. But anyone can see the writing on the wall. They’re not good enough this time. It’s going to be a huge step back. Who is going to blow it if not them? Montreal? Tampa? Pittsburgh? Carolina? Toronto? Those teams show me more.

A couple of days ago, I tried posting a link to the last NY Hockey Report, only it didn’t work. This link should take you to this past Wednesday’s edition in which among other things, the Islanders loss to Detroit, Martin Brodeur’s shutout chase, the Rangers’ issues and why the NHL gaffed by scheduling the All Star Game in primetime last week were covered by Gary, myself, Patrick, special guest Ron and Joe:

NY Hockey Report 1-31-07

Hope ya’ll check it out.

I only saw the last few minutes of thursday’s game, but cmon Derek, everyone knows you have to take whatever Chico says with a grain of salt. The guys loves Brodeur and DiPietro for that matter. He loves all goalies, except maybe Lundy bridges.

-NBC can’t give a clear answer. On NBCSports.com it says they will air both the February 11 Blue Jackets-Blackhawks and March 25 Blues-Blue Jackets game. NHL.com says they’ve dropped the latter. NBC’s Universal Media Village says they aren’t airing either.

Neither affects our area, as the Devils host the Lightning on 2/11 and Rags-Isles showdown 3/25, but the NHL should give a clear, concise press release if they’re doing something like this.

Signed,
Steve (Official Member of the 736 Club)

There’s no other way to say it. For as much as you can say that the Devils showed their usual resiliency, it was the NHL Siberia Flyers inventing a new way to blow a game in their own building and lose. For those keeping score, it’s been over two months since the Cheesesteaks won a home game, last doing so last November 24.

If you saw this wild 11-goal affair between the two former Turnpike rivals, then you know this was the night the losing streak which I believe is now 14 should’ve ended. Back and forth the clubs went trading goals. And when it was 4-3 Devils, you figured it was over. Except the Flyers not only got the tying goal but went ahead.

The time ticked down. 2:00…1:30…1:00 as Devil alarms sounded off as to which player would tie it and turn the Flyers into a more fragile opponent than Glass Joe in Tyson’s Punchout. The drama was building. 45 seconds to go until NHL Siberia ended their losing streak. As the clock hit 40, that’s when I knew the game would be tied. With all sorts of time behind the net, loser defenseman Denis Gauthier had his head down and apparently didn’t watch HNIC Coach’s Corner around the holidays. And here’s basically what Don Cherry said:

“If you can lift the puck out, you’ve done something really good.“

So many NHLers don’t do it though. Especially when protecting leads. You lift it out and an attacking opponent has no chance of stealing it and tying the game. Gauthier didn’t listen and panicked as the Flyers usually do. Ironically, a couple of weeks ago they were 21 ticks away against the same team until Brian Gionta pulled his last minute magic to tie it and then Chico Resch probably orgasmed about the heart of THESE DEVILS in that voice. Oh. You know it. It’s the same one he always uses to describe any Martin Brodeur save even if it’s routine. Who could forget that priceless, “Nobody does that better rant” on a routine block before the Islanders tied it with 0.8 left. Maybe Chico should’ve given it rest for once.

So there was Gauthier with head down behind the net and not one Devil anywhere near him. All he had to was look up and lift the puck out. But no. Instead, he waited until he saw Patrik Elias coming and tried for the boards. Not surprisingly, Elias’ stick knocked it down and then came the usual Flyer fold job. As Jamie Langenbrunner recovered the puck, he saw what everyone else did except the Flyers out there. Not one bothered to take Zach Parise for what essentially was a gimme. Before Antero Niittymaki could flinch, the puck was in and he shook his head in disgust. He knew. That was it. Game. Set. Match. No reason to play OT. Little Zach got a goal so easy, almost any pee wee hockey player could’ve scored it.

Like taking candy from a baby. That btw describes the Flyers to a tee. How can a team that made the playoffs so many years in a row be so dreadful? They are stuck on 30 points which of course ranks last, way behind the Kings. I think it’s 13 but you and I both know they’re not going to catch them. After out of all people Brad freaking Lukowich tipped home the winner with maybe 40 seconds left, the Flyers still were stuck on three home wins. How pathetic is that? Oh. Well, they still got at least another 15 or 16. So, there’s still time to pickup much anticipated Win No.4. I bet every Flyer fan if they haven’t committed suicide or jumped can hardly wait!

Now let’s give the Devils full marks for never quiting. If there was 0.8 tenths of a second left with a faceoff at center ice, they still might believe they could tie it. That’s the power of this team. They’re like a cult. A machine. You can’t really describe it unless you loathe them. Despite that, it’s easy to respect what they’ve accomplished. Few draft and develop players better and integrate them into the protypical Devil. What does that consist of? Probably some of Satan’s blood.

I want to go back to something Resch concluded with about a minute left in OT. No, not the ridiculous homerism exhibited by him when Brodeur didn’t have complete control of a rebound where Jeff Carter tried for it. And no. Definitely not Resch’s praise that the saves the Hart hopeful made in OT might make him the game’s first star. Come on Chico. Yes, he made some good saves with his best coming on Mike Knuble with no room in front. In a game where that many goals are scored, it’s a good bet neither netminder is getting tabbed a star. And oh btw…after The Franchise made his 22nd straight start (you’d think he might have Julien axed if he dare misses one), that’s nine goals allowed in the last two games. Is he getting tired? Would it be wise for him to actually let his coach sit him out the next one? I bet Scott Clemmensen is praying for that chance. Who are we kidding though? He’s got the luckiest job and it pays pretty good. So I doubt the former BC standout is too upset. It’s like stealing money.

Getting back to what Resch concluded and this is what I actually said at the same time:

“I don’t know Doc but if I’m John Stevens, I take my timeout and let Forsberg go back out there for this shift. He was just dominating.“

Basically stole my thought through the set. Is that even possible? That btw is how dominant the much discussed Forsberg was. It didn’t look like that foot was bothering him at all. Unbelievable would be one word to describe the Swedish playmaker’s play on his shifts in OT. The Devils who are so good defensively had no answer. Zero. They couldn’t stop him. NHL trade deadline teams, take note. The price just went up.

So the rookie NHL coach screwed up by not using that timeout. Instead, he sent the Kyle Calder unit out. Not long after, the Devils did what they had to do and got their first sustained attack. And when Elias setup Brian Rafalski, you figured like myself that it was Gionta in front for the winning tip-in. Wrong! It was Lukowich. A freaking defensive defenseman. This same two-time Cup winner also scored a tying shorthanded goal against the Flyers earlier this season in the same building with about 2:00 left before the Swamp Rats predictably won. And that tells you all you need to know about these two franchises. One never seems to lose momentum and is a pain in the ass to play. The other went from being a classic Cup tease to being the worst freaking team in the league. A flat out disgrace to the Flyer jersey. Almost 40 years later to when they debuted, this franchise is lost.

At least they still got Rocky.

Just a note for anyone who missed it, the Pens won their fifth straight by outshooting the Habs 5-4. Evgeni Malkin won it. I believe Sidney Crosby had three more points increasing his league-leading total to 82. That’s 13 better than second place. Can you say the Super Soph is raising his Hart stock. If the Pens continue to win it’s a two-horse race between the best forward and the best goalie. Fasten your seatbelts. It should be an exciting final couple of months.

We’re going to cover a few topics. The first is a follow-up to frustrated leading finisher Brendan Shanahan, who voiced his displeasure over the lack of respect team captain Jaromir Jagr gets. Here is what the 38 year-old future Hall of Famer who was an integral part of the game’s restructure emphasizing obstruction/interference and hooking had to say courtesy of the Post’s Larry Brooks’ recap appropriately entitled Shanahan Snaps:

“I don’t know what it is, if there’s some sort of prejudice or what the deal is. I’ve never seen a superstar player treated with so much disrespect in this league as Jaromir Jagr. He gets mauled every game. Mats Sundin goes down in the first period and gets a penalty call. Jaromir Jagr carries players on his back all season long and doesn’t get calls.“

“He gets hit late, gets hit high, gets hooked on the hands. He doesn’t complain. He just plays and plays and plays. The referees seem to have a different set of rules for him, not just tonight’s (Dan Marouelli and Wes McCauley), but all season long. The NBA doesn’t let Michael Jordan get grabbed around the waist when he goes up for a jump shot. I’ve been around a long time, I’ve played with a lot of superstars, and I’ve never seen anyone get treated with less respect than Jaromir.“

“Not since [Slava] Fetisov came over from Russia have I seen a star player ignored like that, and I know why they were ignoring him. I don’t know if it’s because Jaromir has the puck all night and if they were to make the calls, they’d have to call five or six penalties a game that he draws.“

“All I know is that there’s a different set of rules when it comes to him.“

What Shanahan is asserting is that there is a bias against No.68. Is there? Hard to say. Does he get hacked at times and slowed down by opposing players illegally? I’d tend to say yes. And it’s because Jagr is so tough to defend in the corners. Unless he’s being double or triple teamed the way the Devils execute it, there’s no way he can be covered one-on-one.

I just don’t like the fact that Shanny used this forum to complain after a tough game which the Rangers still should’ve won. How will this strong commentary affect future Ranger games which are officiated in a tight playoff race?

Is it really smart to take this tact? Obviously, Shanahan will receive a hefty fine for his choice words. I am just not sure whether it will benefit his club the remainder of the way as they attempt to qualify for a second consecutive postseason. We’ll know soon enough.

Another hot topic was the interesting SI writer E.M. Swift’s Top 10 All-Time Goalies. Here is how he ranked them:

10.Turk Broda-5 Cups, 2 Vezinas and a 1.98 GAA in the postseason
*9.Dominik Hasek- 1 Cup, 2 Harts, 6 Vezinas, Olympic Gold
8.George Hainsworth- 2 Cups, 1.91 career GAA, 94 shutouts, won first 3 Vezinas
7.Glenn Hall- 1 Cup, 7-time 1st Team All-Star, NHL record 502 straight games
*6.Martin Brodeur- 3 Cups, 2 Vezinas, Olympic Gold, 89 shutouts, 1.89 playoff GAA
5.Terry Sawchuk- 3 Cups, NHL record 104 shutouts, 447 career wins, 4 Vezinas
4.Patrick Roy- 4 Cups in 3 decades, 3 Vezinas, all-time in reg. wins (551), postseason wins (151) & postseason shutouts (23)
3.Jacques Plante- 6 Cups and 7 Vezinas, 1st ever goalie to wear facemask
2.Vladislav Tretiak- 3 Gold medals, 10 world championships, 1.78 GAA in 98 international games
1.Ken Dryden- 6 Cups, 5 Vezinas, Calder, 46 shutouts in just a 7+ year career

So what do we think? It’s not a bad list. But you have to question whether some other great netminders could’ve made the cut. Tony Esposito, Bill Durnan, Clint Benedict, Johnny Bower, Bernie Parent and even Grant Fuhr come to mind.

Whenever putting together such an exclusive list, it’s always subject to debate. Should Dryden be ranked No.1 even though he had such a short career? Would Hasek rank higher if he hadn’t began his NHL career until the age of 25? And don’t forget The Dominator was buried behind Ed Belfour in Chicago and didn’t become a full-time starter until he was 28 after a trade with Buffalo, winning his first Vezina in 1993-94. It’s amazing that the soon to be 43 year-old continues to be one of the NHL’s best netminders backstopping the Red Wings near the top of the Western Conference. Here are Dom’s career stats:

The Dominator

We’ll never know how many more wins and shutouts he could’ve had.

As Devil great Martin Brodeur chases down Sawchuck and Roy into the record books, one has to wonder if he would’ve had company. Here are Brodeur’s career numbers:

Martin Brodeur

There could be some potential exciting news for Penguin fans as they’re said to be extremely close to completing a new arena deal for the franchise to stay in Pittsburgh. It could be announced very soon. Stay tuned!