N.J. Devils: Newark Spoils Seattle Kraken First Visit to Metropolis

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

TUESDAY

KRAKEN   2

DEVILS     4

FINAL

On Tuesday, the Seattle Kraken made their first-ever visit to the metropolitan area, but it did not go well.

Rookie Dawson Mercer scored five minutes into the game. A little over a minute and a half later, defenseman Damon Severson gave Newark a 2-0 lead on feeds from Jack Hughes and Ryan Graves' second assist of the period.

Seattle scored midway through the second period, but that was answered at 14:48 when Jimmy Vesey beat (G) Joey Daccord on feeds from Andreas Johnsson and Colton White.

The Kraken scored a power-play goal at 14:41 of the third period, but Pavel Zacha put the game out of reach with 0:20 left in regulation.

Newark's centermen joined together on five points and accounted for 18 (54%) of their 33 shots.  Devil defensemen accounted for four points.

Newcomer Jonathan Bernier earns his second win in as many starts.  Signed as a free agent, Bernier goalie stops 27 of 29 shots, and the Devils blocked 17 other attempts and escaped with 4 of 5 penalty kills.

The Devils open the season 2-0-0 at home, their first victory coming against the Blackhawks with four goals scored in each game.

Battle of the Hudson: Rangers Hand Devils Fifth Straight Defeat

From the desks: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE of the HUDSON

Rangers lead Devils; 5-2

I - NJD 4; NYR 3

II - NJD 5; NYR 2

III - NYR 6; NJD 1

IV - NYR 6; NJD 3

V - NYR 3; NJD 0

VI - NYR 4; NJD 0

VII - NYR 6; NJD 3

VIII - SUNDAY

Pavel Buchnevich Scores First Career Hat Trick on Birthday

Things are winding down to an interesting conclusion.  Not only are the Rangers a mere four points behind the Bruins with twelve games left to play, but the final two regular-season games are at Boston.  

I wonder if this is indeed the reason why the Rangers didn't trade Chris Kreider.  Of all the players purged these last few years by Jeff Gorton, I remain surprised they A)-signed him to a prohibitive contract, and B)-by the simple fact he is still here.  

Chris Kreider scored the Rangers' sixth and final goal of Saturday's match against the Devils into an empty net, that is.  It marks his first point in six games and his first goal since Mar. 28 at Washington.  Since scoring a hat trick on Mar. 4 against these very Devils, Kreider has just three points through nine games in April and just five goals in his last 23 games.

That won't jive in the playoffs.  Just saying ...

Pavel Buchnevich opened the scoring at 7:26 of the first period on feeds by Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.  The Rangers then scored on consecutive power plays, first by Ryan Strome at 10:27 with assists from Panarin and Zibanejad, then again by Pavel Buchnevich (K'Andre Miller, Colin Blackwell) at the 11:48 mark for a 3-0 Rangers lead.

Artemi Panarin scored within a New York minute to open the second period with assists from Ryan Lindgren and Ryan Strome for a commanding 4-0 lead.  The Rangers appeared on their way towards a third straight blanking of the Devils, but Michael McLeod ended that notion at 12:37 of the second period with his seventh goal of the season.

Into the second intermission, they went. 

A little over five minutes into the third period, P.K. Subban scored his fifth of the season on feeds from Yegor Sharangovich and Jack Hughes.  One minute and four seconds later, Yegor Sharangovich made it a 4-3 game off another feed from Hughes.  But that's where Newark's comeback stops.  The Devils gambled when they pulled goalie Aaron Dell from the net, but the house won.  Pavel Buchnevich scored into an empty net at 18:39, and Kreider followed likewise one minute later.

Pavel Buchnevich scores a hat trick on his 26th birthday!

Artemin Panarin had three assists and one goal; Ryan Strome and Mika Zibanejad score three points each.

After a tough overtime loss against the Islanders, Igor Shesterkin bounces back with back-to-back shutouts of the Devils.  In each of the first two games of this series, he stops 27 and 16 shots on goal.  On Friday, he faces an increased 33 SOGs and allows three goals even-strength (.. but that's because Coach Quinn took his foot off the pedal).

New Jersey played beyond seven periods against the Rangers before McLeod's second-period goal.  The Devils are 1-5 since trading Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac with 15 goals for and 27 goals against.  They are likewise 0-5 against the Rangers since winning the first two games of the season series.

N.Y. Islanders: Lou Lamoriello Reinforces The Ranks

From the desks: THE LONG ISLAND NOMADS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

LOU LAMORIELLO MAKES SNOW DAYS 

A DISTANT MEMORY

Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri Dealt to Long Islanders

With centerman and captain Anders Lee out for the season, Lou Lamoriello acquired winger Kyle Palmieri and center Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for AHL prospects A.J. Greer, Mason Jobst, this year's first-round draft pick, and next year's fourth-round pick.

The Islanders add smart veteran depth and talent.  Palmieri scored no less than 24 goals in each of his first five seasons with the Devils and three times achieved at least 50 points.  This season to date, Kyle Palmieri has eight goals and 19 points through 34 games with Newark.  Meanwhile, Travis Zajac's time in New Jersey comes to an end after 15 full seasons and over 1,000 games in a Devils uniform.  To date, he has seven goals and 18 points through 33 games.  I expect each of them to fit seamlessly into Barry Trotz's system.  

Palmieri is 30-years old, and Zajac is 35-years old, and both will become unrestricted free agents at season's end.  In return, the Devils acquire another high draft pick.  It was the prudent thing to do as something is always better than nothing.

THURSDAY

Devils   6

Sabres   3

FINAL

Thank goodness for Buffalo.  Newark snaps a four-game skip with Thursday's commanding 6-3 victory out in Western New York.  The Devils scored three times in the first period, then three more times in the third period.  Pavel Zacha netted two power-play goals, Jack Hughes scored his eighth goal of the season, and Yegor Sharangovich scored his ninth.

THURSDAY

Flyers    2

Islanders 3

FINAL

SHOOTOUT

The Islanders put up two quick goals in the first period.  But Philadelphia ground out a two-all tie after two periods.  After a scoreless third period and overtime, the Islanders finally defeat the Flyers in a shootout.  Both Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac played their first game as New York Islanders, mustering just three total shots in goal.  The Islanders got goals from Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle.

N.J. Devils: Look What the Capitals Did to Newark, Again

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

FRIDAY

Capitals 2

Devils   1

FINAL/OT

Devils Woes Against Capitals Go Unchanged; Fall to 0-7 in Season Series

Just brutal ... like being jabbed with your own pitchfork.

Mackenzie Blackwood had just made a brilliant save against T.J. Oshie to keep overtime moving along.  At the other end, Jack Hughes was likewise denied a game-winning opportunity by Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek.  Washington then recovered the loose puck and promptly headed the other way.  With just 0:21 seconds left in the extra session, Dmitry Orlov, from the left circle, wristed a high shot past Blackwood's right shoulder for the win. 

It seemed somewhat inevitable.  Like an omen, Orlov proved problematic for the Devils throughout this game.  Tied with Alex Ovechkin, he co-led the Capitals with six shots on goal.  In fact, both Washington goals came courtesy of defensemen.

After a scoreless first period, Washington's John Carlson opened the scoring at 8:22 of the second period.  Within four and a half minutes, Michael McLeod tied the game at one.  But the Caps and Devils would again duel through a scoreless third period.

The Devils had their chances.  They put three shots on goal during overtime versus two by the Caps.  But whereas Vitek Vanecek stopped all but one of Newark's 23 shots on goal, Mackenzie Blackwood was peppered with 40 shots on goal by Washington.  Both goalies turned in stellar performances, relatively speaking, that is.  Otherwise, for Blackwood, this was as tough luck as they come. 

Meanwhile, forwards Yegor Sharangovich and Travis Zajac, along with blueliners Ty Smith, Damon Severson, and P.K. Subban, exit the ice with a minus-one. 

Newark is yet to defeat the Capitals in seven games now.  This game marks their second overtime loss against them.  The Devils are also trending again with four losses in their last five games.

N.J. Devils: Straight Out of the Playbook

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

THURSDAY

Penguins 2

Devils   3

FINAL

As if by design ... I'm sure this was more along the lines of what Lindy Ruff and Tom Fitzgerald had in mind.

New Jersey's 2019 number one draft pick Jack Hughes opens the scoring midway through the first period on assists from Ty Smith and Kyle Palmieri.  After which, the big-name import, P.K. Subban scored on the power play at 8:42 of the second period from feeds by Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes.  Just over a minute later, Newark's long-time veteran, Travis Zajac puts the game out of reach at the 10:19 mark of the second period with his third goal of the season assisted by Damon Severson.

Goalie Scott Wedgewood takes care of the rest.   It's hard to say the Devils were lucky to come away with the victory because that just isn't the truth.  Jake Guentzel scored during a Penguins power play with a mere 0:13 seconds left in the second period.  Then, with just 0:05 seconds left in the game, Bryan Rust scored making it a 3-2 game and the final margin of victory for New Jersey.  Otherwise, Scott  Wedgewood faced a season-high 42 shots on goal en route to his third win of the season.  Sidney Crosby accounted for eight shots (and no points).  It's the second time in the last eleven days Wedgewood needed to make at least 40 saves in a game, as this contest harkens back to Wedgewoods's 1-0 shut out of the Bruins.

New Jersey's 2018 first-round pick, Ty Smith picked up his twelfth assist of the season, and with two points, Jack Hughes now has 16 points in 27 games.  Now in his 15th season with over 1,000 games played with the Devils, Travis Zajac with an assist picked up point number 543 of his career.

With victories over Buffalo and now Pittsburgh, the Devils win back-to-back games for the first time in a full month, when they defeated the Rangers and Bruins in their first two games back on the ice after returning from COVID quarantine protocol.

N.Y. Rangers: Chris Kreider Hat Trick Hastens Devils Disappearing Act

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

Devils lead Rangers; 2-1

I - NJD 4; NYR 3

II - NJD 5; NYR 2

III - NYR 6; NJD 1

SATURDAY

Rangers 

vs.

Devils

FROM 

NEWARK

Filip Chytil's Return Impacts Team in More Ways That One

The beleaguered Mike Zibanejad for major portions of Thursday's game at Newark was withheld from Coach Quinn's ice.  There's no controversy; it was well deserved, in a manner of speaking.  He is otherwise usually out there for the most shifts and ice time.  But despite two points in his last two games and the primary assist on Alexis Lafreniere's third-period goal, everyone knows Mika is struggling with just two goals and eight points through 21 games.  Last season through the same number of games, Mika scored at a torrid pace with eleven goals and 13 assists for 24 points.  Said another way, he is presently scoring two-thirds less than last season.

Meanwhile, Filip Chytil is two games into his return from injury and already has a point, his fourth in only seven games played this season.  But there's a rub.  During Filip Chytil's seven games played, Mike Zibanejad also registered four points.  In Mika's 14 games played in Chytil's absence, he registered only four points.  Now that Chytil is back, he and Zibanejad scored a point in the same game for the third time.  I'm inclined to think none of this is mere coincidence.  

So, what's a head coach to do?  Does Quinn bump Filip Chytil up to the first line and either bump everyone down a spot or leave Ryan Strome on the second line and drop Zibanejad down on the third line?

In the continuing absence of Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, and Kaapo Kakko, the onus is on Blueshirts veterans to pick up the slack.  Pavel Buchnevich has five points in his last four games, and Chris Kreider is in the midst of one of those mind-boggling streaks we've witnessed so many times before.  With a natural hat-trick against the Devils, Kreider now has seven goals in his last nine games, including two hat-tricks.  He now has 13 goals and 15 points for the season.  Let's enjoy it while it lasts because history says these bursts of brilliance come and go.

Here comes Alexis Lafreniere!  After notching just two points in his first 16 games, the Blueshirts teenager now has two goals and five points in his last four games while finally playing consistently alongside the Rangers' other top-five forwards.

Igor Shesterkin was brilliant, that is, until succumbing to a non-contact leg injury with just under 6:00 left in the third period.  He left the ice, clearly favoring one leg.  At the same time, it confirms the need for depth within the pipes.  No confidence was lost with having Alexandar Georgiev minding the net.  But Igor was indeed winning the day.

Moreover, if it wasn't for Igor, the Rangers, in all practicality, should have lost Thursday's game.  The best centerman on the ice, Jack Hughes, opened the scoring at 7:12 of the first period.  But Shesterkin performed cartwheels in shutting out Newark the rest of the way.  Newark won 16 more faceoffs than the Rangers, which correlated into 36 shots on goal versus just 19 shots for the Rangers.  Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled early in the third period of Thursday's game.  At some point, the Devils effectively stopped playing in front of him.  

Blackwood is otherwise sporting a .912 Sv% and 2.77 GAA through eleven starts.

After a quick start to the season, the Devils have now lost seven of eight since returning from COVID hell.  Losing two of three against the Sabres is most troublesome.  They were also playing Thursday yet again, minus their captain Nico Hischier, who is now in concussion protocol, not to mention suffering a broken nose/sinus fracture.  He will not be returning soon. 

Second-year Jack Hughes has five goals and 13 points in 19 games, and despite Newark fortunes, Miles Wood and Ty Smith continue to impress as well.  Wood leads the team with seven goals, and Smith leads with nine assists.  

Should Wood and particularly defenseman Ty Smith be having betters seasons than Kyle Palmiere?  That's a discussion worth having.  The Devils are no doubt strong up the middle, unlike the Rangers.  Bit whereas the Rangers appear string on the wing, the Devils do not.  

But aren't they too a rebuilding team?

On that note, Coach Lindy Ruff doesn't seem to be winning over the masses either.  Rangers fans know what that's like from when he coached the Broadway blueliners to certain fan dissatisfaction.

N.J. Devils: New Captain Cannot Fend Off Defeat

From the desk: BRICK CITY STYX

Travis Zajac 1000 Games

SUNDAY

Devils     3

Capitals  4

FINAL

Nico Hischier Named Captain

After having five games canceled and upwards of seventeen players under mandated quarantine, the Devils rank and file are back in the fold.  However, their return to action has, to date, proven to be a mixed bag of goods.  After shaming the Rangers and turning back the Bruins, they've since followed with consecutive losses against the Sabres and most recently against the Washington Capitals.

Because of an unanticipated delay in his return to action, scuttlebutt and speculation regarding Nico Hischier's injured knee increased.  But after missing eleven games, the Devils centerman made his long-awaited return to the ice against Buffalo, this time sporting a big "C" on his jersey.  

Unfortunately, after Sunday's loss, Nico Hischier is now 0-2 as Captain.

Newark went up 2-0 against the Capitols on Andreas Johnsson's first period power-play goal, then on Jack Hughes' fourth goal of the season at 3:55 of the second.  After John Carlson tied the game at two in the third, two ensuing penalties would spell the Devils' demise.  Kyle Palmieri got whistled for holding midway through the period, and T.J. Oshie answered with his second goal of the game.  Then Ryan Murray got caught tripping Carl Hagelin.  In the blink of an eye, Alex Ovechkin scored his sixth of the season.  Nikita Gusev scored with just 0:12 seconds left in regulations giving this game a 4-3 final score in favor of Washington.  

The Devils penalty kill continues playing on their heels.  Washington was 3 for 4 on the power play.  No surprise, as the Devils are bottom tier at 15.8% through 13 games.

For Jack Huges, his fourth goal and team-leading eleventh point of the season.

CONGRATULATIONS 

TRAVIS ZAJAK 

CAREER GAMES 

1000

N.Y. Rangers: Devils Cleared to Resume Play

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE of the HUDSON

TUESDAY

DEVILS

vs.

RANGERS

FROM

Eighth Ave Ice Hut

Brick City hadn't played since Jan. 31, when they defeated the Sabres at Buffalo.  After which, their next five games were postponed.  Upwards of nineteen players were placed into COVID protocol.  Eight more players have recently been cleared to play.  If any of the remaining five players tests negative on Monday, they will be made available to play Tuesday night.  Jack Hughes is cleared to play as it presently stands, but Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac are not.  Through nine games, the Devils established a 4-3-2 record.  The rest of the league to date has generally played anywhere from 13 to 17 games.  New Jersey defeated the Rangers on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden.

After practice, Coach Quinn listed Artemi Panarin as out for Tuesday's game.  Sure, that puts Coach in a bind, but his decision to start Colin Blackwell on the first line with Mike Zibanejad and Chris Kreider is somewhat questionable.  We'll see in the next few games to come whether or not this decision is in reaction to recent slippage from Pavel Buchnevich.  Meanwhile, the teenagers Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere will be joined together and centered by Ryan Strome - that's intriguing.  But I still need more Brendan Lemieux on the ice.  Let him play this game with Buchnevich and perhaps Brett Howden or Kevin Rooney.  

Of course, I won't get my way.

N.Y. Rangers: No Shot Against Devils Mackenzie Blackwood

From the desks: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

Battle of the Hudson - I

TUESDAY

Devils       4

Rangers    3

FINAL

The Rangers commit one of the cardinal sins of hockey: allowing a goal inside the first two minutes or the last two minutes of a period.  Entering his fifteenth year with the Devils, Travis Zajac does just that, scores within the first 32-seconds of the game.  Thus, the Rangers play from behind all night.  

At practice, Coach Quinn implored his team to take more shots.  That translated into fifty shots on goal against the Devils.  The problem is Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 47 of them.  New Jersey's goalie stopped 33/34 shots at even strength, and 14/16 on the penalty kill.  Said another way, the Rangers averaged 2.6 shots per power play, but cashed in twice, first by Chris Kreider early in the second, then midway through the period by Mika Zebanejad.  Filip Chytil scored the Rangers' lone even-strength goal seven minutes into the third.

There's still no getting around the fact Blackwood and (centerman) Jack Hughes were for all intent and purpose the best two players on the ice.  Hughes, the Devils 2019 number one overall draft pick scored two goals within five minutes of each other in a back and forth second period and later assisted on another.

Alexandar Georgiev made his second straight start.  However, this one didn't go as well as his first.  Georgiev faced just twenty shots, stopping only sixteen, all at even strength.  Coach Quinn relieved him with Igor Shesterkin for the third period.  Meanwhile, the Rangers afford the Devils just two power-play opportunities.

gee I wish the #NYR had drafted a center ... just saying.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) January 20, 2021

Rangers vs. Devils: Battle of the Hudson Resumes

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE of the HUDSON

TUESDAY

New Jersey Devils

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

The 33rd Street Ice House

DEVILS PUSH BOSTON BRUINS TO OUTER LIMITS

Playing for new head coach Lindy Ruff, the young New Jersey Devils wrapped up two tightly contested games against the Bruins.  Last Thursday's season opener saw the Devils fall behind late in the first period on a power-play goal by Brad Marchand.  Miles Wood ties the game at the 8:51 mark of the third.  After yielding a second power-play goal to the Bruins, Ty Smith ties the game at two, and into overtime, they go.  After a scoreless extra session, Newark comes up empty in the shootout.  Brad Marchand once again finds the back of the net against Mackenzie Blackwood.

On Saturday, the Devils answer back.  Miles Wood opens the scoring at 16:15 of the first period.  But the Bruins tie late in the second on a short-handed goal from Patrice Bergeron.  After a scoreless third period, the two teams once again head into overtime.  Mackenzie Blackwood pitches a shutout, and with just 0:01 left on the clock, KHL vet and 22-year old NHL rookie Yegor Sharangovich scores his first career goal with the Devils ... game over.

• Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, through two games, has faced 65 shots on goal, with 62 saves.  All three goals against have come on special teams.  
• Jack Hughes, through two games, has assisted on all three N.J. goals.  
• Travis Zajac begins his fifteenth season with the Devils.
• Nico Hischier remains out with a leg injury.
• The Devils and Rangers will play four games straight game in April.

A LOOK BACK AT RECENT DRAFTS

• 2017 - Devils select (C) Nico Hischier with the number one overall pick; Rangers select (C) Filip Chytil with the 21st overall pick.
• 2018 - Devils select (D) Ty Smith 17th overall.
• 2019 - Devils select (C) Jack Hughes with the first overall pick of the draft; Rangers select (RW) Kaapo Kakko with the very next pick (second overall).
• 2020 - Rangers select (LW) Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick of the draft; Devils select (RW) Alexander Holtz with the seventh overall pick. 

Alexis LaFreniere and Kaapo Kakko are both just nineteen years old.  Selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, K'Andre Miller is about to join 2017 first-round pick Filip Chytil as the team's resident 21-year olds.  Otherwise, the Rangers have fifteen players age twenty-five or younger and just two players over thirty years old.

ISLANDERS ADMINISTER OPENING NIGHT BEATDOWN

In last Thursday's opener against the Islanders, Igor Shesterkin faced 33 shots and made 29 saves, allowing two power-play goals and two at even strength.  At the other end of the ice, Semyon Varlamov faced just 24 shots by the Rangers, stopping them all for the shutout.  The Rangers' shot total is a direct result of affording the Islanders eight power-play opportunities.  You can't generate offense if you're too busy killing penalties.  Mika Zibanejad, who battled COVID, led the Rangers in shifts and with five shots on goal.  No other Ranger exceeded two shots on goal.  Once the Islanders achieved a 4-0 lead in the second, all they needed to ensure was the Rangers stayed in their playpen.

REMATCH: RUGRATS STRIKE BACK

As if with a flip of a switch, the Rangers roll the Islanders in likewise fashion on Saturday.  This time, the Isles afford the Rangers seven PP opportunities, who convert once in the third period.  Conversely, the Rangers limit the Islanders to four opportunities.  The Islanders still won face-offs 31-25, but unlike Thursday, the Rangers played more even-strength hockey and thus put more shots on goal.  Pavel Buchnevich sent an early message with an opening goal at the 2:12 mark of the first.  Artemi Panarin made it a 2-0 game midway through the period.  Buchnevich scored his second goal in the second period, and youngster Kaapo Kakko scored his first.  Panarin capped off the Rangers scoring in the third also with his second goal of the game.  

The performance in goal was similarly like night and day.  Alexandar Georgiev made the start.  He faced 23 shots and stopped them all for the shutout.  But unlike Thursday, the Rangers played far more competently in front of Georgiev than for Igor Shesterkin.

N.Y. Rangers: Battle of the Hudson Resumes

From the desks of: 

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON - I

New York Rangers

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

It's time I welcomed myself to the 93rd season of New York Rangers hockey.  It's also high time the Rangers hoist Ron Greschner's #4 to the rafters!

Thank you very much ...

Even though the front office hastened the rebuild, I enter this season with few expectations.  But, boy, am I a happy camper!  The triumvirate of John Davidson, Jeff Gorton, and David Quinn, along with this collection of young talent, has elevated my enthusiasm to levels not experienced since 1992 (Roger Neilson withstanding).  Sure, they financially capped themselves like a jar of marmalade, but I don't care.  Everyone I want in a blue shirt is present and accounted for right down to Anthony DeAngelo's last minute signing.

DROPPING PUCKS

• I mean Mika Zibanejad no slight, but I like the idea of entering the season without a captain.  The Rangers are in a good place.  Let some of these players distinguish themselves first.  If everyone takes the ice with the characteristics of a captain in mind then eventually one will materialize.  But make no mistake, Zibanejad has a big fan in me.

• Henrik Lunqvist's playing time is a big concern.  At this stage of his career perhaps less is more.  Two seasons ago Henrik started 60+ games for the eighth time in his career.  Last season he was limited to 52 starts.  In March he turns 38-years old.  Not one bit do I mind him chasing down career milestones.  In fact, I'm rooting for him.  But closer to the point, I just want Alexandar Georgiev receiving representative minutes in net.

• What is Chris Kreider still doing here?  He is the last person I expected to survive Gorton's purge.  But since he still dons a blue shirt, how about some consistent play for a change.  If Kreider ever gets his head screwed on straight could be a top forward of the league ... but it isn't, and he's not.

NYR - Kaapo Kakko

(2019 #2 overall draft pick)

vs.

NJD - Jack Hughes

(2019 #1 overall draft pick)

And let us not forget Nico Hischier, the 2017 first overall pick of the 2017 draft.

Point being, the next ten years of metropolitan area hockey is shaping up to be a lot of fun.  Just don't say that too loud.  Newark is off to a ponderous 0-4-2 start, and giving away multiple goal leads like candy on Halloween.  With the return to full duty of Taylor Hall, and the big acquisitions of P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds, no one anticipated such a start as this.  All I'll say for now is that coach John Hynes deserves to see this through.

Raise Gresch With The Greats