N.J. Devils: Hail Patrik and Hello Grabner Night at the Rock

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

PATRIK ELIAS

1995 ~ 2016

New Jersey Devils All-Time Leading Scorer

1,240 Games ~ 408 Goals ~ 617 Assists ~ 1,025 Points

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Patrik Elias Jersey Joins Those of Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Martin Brodeur, and Scott Niedermayer in the Prudential Center Rafters.

Tonight, Newark celebrates the twenty-year career of New Jersey Devils left winger Patrik Elias.

His jersey featuring number 26 is being hoisted up to the rafters this evening alongside those of Devils greats Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, Martin Brodeur, and Scott Niedermayer.

Elias is the club's all-time scoring leader.  He and Daneyko are the only two of the five to have played their entire careers solely in a Devils uniform.

A durable and great two way forward, Elias scored at least 20 goals in a season ten times and topped 30 goals four times.  In 2000-2001, he netted a career high 40 goals, and registered an NHL best plus/forty-five.

With a centering pass from the right corner, Elias assisted on Jason Arnott's Stanley Cup clinching goal in double-overtime of Game Six against the Dallas Stars.

TONIGHT

New York Islanders

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

THE ROCK

NEWARK

Michael Grabner sure does know his way around the metropolitan area.  Once they drop the puck this evening at Newark, and his skates touch ice, Grabner will officially become the eleventh person to ever play for all three local hockey clubs.

Led by Taylor Hall, the young New Jersey Devils have spent the regular season defying expectations.  With a 31-22-8 record and 70 points to date, Newark enters tonight's action in seventh place of the conference standings - five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders, both of whom are tied for eighth place with 65 points.  

Now with the acquisition of Michael Grabner, they seem to have all but silenced any lingering questions regarding their staying power.

Famous last words ...

Grabner, 30, is a good two-way player who was leading the Rangers with 25 goals and a plus-eleven through 59 games played.  Last season, he scored 27 goals in 76 games for the Rangers.  General manager Ray Shero sent the Rangers a second round draft pick and 20-year old defensive prospect Yegor Rykov in return.  Even if Grabner (a potential unrestricted free agent) only turns out being a springtime rental, it is a worthy price to pay.  

He will reportedly be lining up with Travis Zajac and Pavel Zacha.

It doesn't matter where they stick him.  This is a fine acquisition.

And who knows - being that Grabner is so familiar with the area, he just might give the Devils a required home town discount for sake of potentially fitting into their future plans.

This will be the Devils fifteenth straight game without starting goalie Cory Schneider - out since Jan. 23 with a groin injury.  The Devils have gone 7-7-0 in his absence.  Keith Kinkaid has made ten starts in his place; Eddie Lack has started three games; and Ken Appleby one start.

The streaky Devils enter this evening's game fresh off two straight home losses against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Josh Bailey's Six Year, $30 Million Dollar Contract Extension Better Mean John Tavares' Deal Is Next.

There's no way the Islanders would open a new arena at Belmont Park without him, right?

At least Bailey's deal is a sign of life.  People were beginning to wonder if Garth Snow was actually showing up for work.

Now how about getting on the phones and try shoring up this defense by the deadline, huh?  The team is fourth in the league in scoring for Lord Stanley's sake ... yet are near last in the league in goals against and the penalty kill.

Like the Devils, the more desperate Islanders are trying to snap a two game skid.

Dancing with the Devil: Martin Brodeur

From the desk of:  ALL MOTHERS LEEDS CHILDREN

New Jersey Devils 

MARTIN BRODEUR

1990         30         2014

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

All-Time Leader

GOALTENDER

Games            1,266

Minutes        74,439

Wins                  691

Losses               397

Shutouts            125

30-Win Seasons   14

Team Canada

2002 Gold Medal

(2009-2010)

Brodeur warming up at Madison Square Garden during

season he surpassed Patrick Roy with 552nd career victory.

This past Tuesday, Martin Brodeur became the fourth member of the New Jersey Devils to have his number/jersey retired and lifted to the rafters.  He follows those of former team mates Ken Daneyko, Scott Stevens, and Scott Niedermayer.

Now inside their 32nd year of existence, the New Jersey Devils were established in 1982-1983 after spending the organization's initial 8 campaigns as the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies. 

Martin Brodeur participated in all but 11 of those seasons.  During his 21-year NJD career, he led NHL goalies in wins 9 times, achieved 40 wins 8 times, and, of course, helped New Jersey win 5 conference titles and hoist three Stanley Cups.

Not bad for some Mickey Mouse outfit (as per Wayne Gretzky) - wouldn't you say?

Rangers vs. Devils: Battle of the Hudson - II

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS   &  ALL MOTHER LEEDS CHILDREN

Devils lead series 1-0

I - NJD 2; NYR 1

overtime

TUESDAY

New York Rangers 

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

The Rock

NEWARK

New Jersey Devils: With blunted pitchforks...

The Devils are presently on the outside looking in.  The standings say they are 9th in the conference, but tied at 55-points with (#8) Pittsburgh, and 31 games remaining after tonight.  If you want some pain to go along with that suffering, well then the Devils trail the Metropolitan Division leading Washington Capitals by 19 points. That said, who doesn't...

Few teams, though, are playing better defense than the Devils.  That said, despite a recent offensive outburst against the Flames and Senators, nearly the entire NHL is scoring at a higher rate than the Devils.   They enter Tuesday's game with a -4 point differential. There's your season to date.

It's been a campaign best characterized in terms of peeks and valleys, as Newark had their most recent 4-game win streak snapped when the Penguins shut them out in Pittsburgh.  The brief win streak, however, came after losing five of their first seven games of the new year.

At least the Devils still have Feb. 9 to look forward to.  That's when the organization will retire, and raise Martin Brodeur's #30 jersey to the rafters, where it will join company with Ken Daneyko's #3 and Scott Stevens' #4 jerseys.

On Feb. 9th, they'll play against the Edmonton Oilers, but that comes a night after playing the Rangers, again, and will cap off a five game stretch in an eight day span.  Just saying....

Entering tonight, the Devils have what the Rangers do not, which is a 20-goal scorer in winger Kyle Palmieri.  With 24 assists, Michael Cammalleri is Newark's leading scorer with 38 points.  In fact, he'll be the leading scorer among either team hitting the ice tonight.

If anyone, the Devils have Cory Schneider to thank for their standing.  He ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 Sv%, 4th with a 2.03 GAA, ranks 6th in wins (just one behind Henrik Lundqvist), and is 4th with four shutouts.

FINAL

Rangers  2

Devils      3

Look what Newark did to the Rangers.., again.

There's a point on that pitchfork after all... and they stuck it right to Tex's Rangers.  Two points to be exact, which placed the Devils within one point of the Rangers for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won, however, and so the Devils #9 standing in the conference remained unchanged.

The Devils were out-shot by the Rangers 33-25, but Cory Schneider outlasted J.T. Miller and the Rangers with 31 saves.  Henrik Lundqvist faced 25 shots, but surrendered three goals.

J.T. Miller scored twice for the Rangers.  He opened the scoring in the 1st period.  After Lee Stempniak's 15th goal (PP) of the season tied it in the 2nd period, J.T. Miller put the Blueshirts back in front within another two minutes of play.

Joseph Blandisi tied the game shortly thereafter, and another power play goal by David Schlemko midway through sent the Rangers home defeated.

There ya go..  The Devils were 2/2 on the power play, and the Rangers were 0/4 on the man advantage.

Oh yeah..!  And Mike Cammalleri was a scratch to boot.

With no Dylan McIlrath on the ice, I also saw the Rangers get hit, and otherwise pushed around.   Newark was clearly focused on throwing their bodies around, to which the Rangers never answered back.  Kevin Hayes paid a heavy price late in the game and skated off the ice in pain.

As a cherry on top, Newark dominated face offs too.

Signed, 

an increasingly perturbed Rangers fan.

Rangers vs. Devils: Battle of the Hudson - I

From the desks of:  

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  ~ ALL MOTHER LEEDS CHILDREN,
and (FIVE FOR FLATBUSH)

Battle of the Hudson - I

TODAY

New Jersey Devils

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

8th Avenue Ice House

NYC

NJD: Life After Lou Lamoriello Leaves New Jersey Devils Without a Pitchfork.

That's probably premature to say...., but I doubt it.

These are no longer the goblins Lou Lamoriello nurtured to maturity and unleashed upon the NHL. That team fired up five Eastern Conference titles, and three Stanley Cup championships. 

These New Jersey Devils enter Madison Square Garden this afternoon in search of goals, points, their first win of the season, a new identity, and...  

You get the picture.

After nearly three decades as head demon in charge, Lou Lamoriello retired from the New Jersey Devils, but worse, joined up with the (original six) Toronto Maple Leafs.  That development will spell trouble for the rest of the NHL in short time.

For now, the finishing touches on his brilliant career will come when the Devils raise Patrik Elias' jersey to the rafters, and unveil the statue planned in honor of Martin Brodeur's status as one of the NHL's greatest goal tenders of all-time.

Today, the Devils have a new triumvirate with which they're attempting to move forward.

• General Manager - Ray Shero.
• Head Coach - John Hynes.
• Team Captain - Andy Greene.

Sure, some familiar names remain - depending how old you are, that is.  Adam Henrique, Adam Larsson, Travis Zajac, and a few others lend a familiar feel to things, while Cory Schneider is now well beyond being Martin Brodeur's heir apparent.

But, after four games played, the Devils have yet to record a win, and have posted all of one point.   They've been outscored 12-6 in regulation, and most recently lost a shoot-out in San Jose.

Today they get the Rangers...

In hindsight, when the Devils defeated the Rangers in the 2011-2012 Eastern Conference finals, the teams were ironically headed in contrary directions.  The Rangers transitioned away from John Tortorella, and sustained their competitive play under Alain Vigneault.

The Devils, meanwhile, lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Los Angeles Kings.  The flames that once stoked New Jersey hockey simply flickered out with sudden haste, while years under Lou Lamoriello are now mere ashes on the mantelpiece of Devils history.

Lou arguably waited too long in breaking up the Devils after 2012.  Many would suggest he should have initiated a rebuilding right then.  After all, the Devils have failed to reach the post-season in each of the last three seasons.  Two seasons ago they dropped to 6th in the Metropolitan Division, then slipped further last season to 7th place.  Last year was also New Jersey's second losing season in their last five.

It's hard to pile criticism on Lou Lamoriello now - not after what he accomplished in the under-funded, if not handi-capped, shadows of New York City.

Much of their downfall also revolved around money, of course, and their inability to retain premium talents such as Zach Parise and Brian Gionta, just to name two.  And who knows what the hell Ilya Kovalchuk was thinking (or Lou for that matter, for giving him that absurd contract, although it almost paid off in 2012).

All that is just water under the Tappan Zee Bridge now.

As a Rangers fan, I confidently say Lou Lamoriello was the greatest hockey executive this town has known in my lifetime.  

That says much considering Bill Torrey's brilliant 20-year career with the New York Islanders.  I'm damn near reticent to even suggest such a thing.  In short time, Torrey piled Stanley Cups high on Long Island like an obelisk rising over ancient Egypt - his dynasty was powerful and enduring.  It took an unworldly Wayne Gretzky and the overly talented Edmonton Oilers to deny Long Island's Drive for Five.

Alas, Lou Lamoriello's tenure was longer.  During his 27-year career, the Devils made the playoffs 21 times, and played for Lord Stanley's Cup five times.  His first Finals appearance came in 1995, and within the span of nine years New Jersey appeared in four.  His last appearance in the Finals came 19 long years after his first, when the Devils bowed to the L.A. Kings in six games.  All of which, regardless of outcome, lay testament to his longevity, hockey integrity, adaptability, financial creativity, and above all, his executive mastery.

Between 1987 through 2012, the Devils failed to qualify for post-season play a mere three times.   Then starting in 1997 through 2010, they ran off 13 straight playoff appearances, with the only interruption coming in 2004-2005 during the NHL's imposed lockout.

For all of his years, it was either his way or the highway.  And one usually played for Lou at his price as well.  In the age of player entitlement and financial windfalls, that was perhaps Lamoriello's most amazing feat of all.

His propensity for firing and hiring head coaches was also legendary, but there's little debating his greatest appointment was Jacques LeMaire.

He did all this on the grandest stage of all - the New York metropolitan area.  Just like Bill Torrey did with the Isles, Lou Lamoriello took charge of an outlying organization playing deep in the heart of New York Rangers country and transformed the Devils into an NHL power, and turned them into a historical franchise in their own right.  On that note, both teams out-achieved their big city brothers whom supposedly own the high ground.

I met Lou Lamoriello during the pre-game skate at a Rangers/Devils games at Madison Square Garden a few years ago.  I'm happy, and feel fortunate that I did.  He signed my game ticket that I proudly display on my wall.

Okay...

There ya go.

It's time to drop the puck.

Let's go Rangers.

N.J. Devils: A Thousand Cheers for Elias

From the desk of:  ALL MOTHER LEEDS CHILDREN

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: In Recognition of Two Local Greats... Patrik Elias Recently Achieved Milestone Numbers, and Goalie Martin Brodeur Officially Retired.

LW - Patrik Elias

1995 - present

Devils All-Time Leader:

Season: Most Points

Career: Goals, Assists, Points

Playoffs: Goals, Assists, Points 

400 GOALS

600 ASSISTS

1000 POINTS

G - Martin Brodeur

1991 - 2014

Led NHL in Wins 9 Times

Vezina Trophy Winner 4 Times

NHL ALL-TIME LEADER:

Wins - 688

Shutouts - 124

40-Win Seasons - 8

Mike

Devils fall to Rangers in season's first Battle of the Hudson

From the desks of:  

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  &  BRICK CITY DEMONS

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

Game One Final

Rangers   4

Devils       3

overtime

New Jersey Devils: Life After Marty....

Life after Martin Brodeur has begun in Newark.

With Cory Schneider in net, the Devils opened the season with 3 straight victories.  But after last night's O.T. loss to the Rangers, the Devils have now dropped 3 straight.

As a result, the Devils have slipped behind the Islanders and Rangers in the local area standings.

Islanders   4-2-0   8 pts.

Rangers    4-3-0   8 pts.

Devils       3-2-1   7 pts.

The Devils goalie for most of the last 21 seasons, Martin Brodeur is stuck at 688 career victories - just 12 away from an increasingly elusive 700, but with no team to play for.  He is yet to strike a deal with any team, and none seem to be beating down his door for an autograph either.

The latest rumors have Brodeur connected with Colorado.  That would be something, huh? - if Brodeur wound up playing for Patrick Roy (the goalie whose record he broke).

Jaromir Jagr will turn 43-years old in February.  Last season, he played in 82 games for the Devils, averaged 19:10 minutes per game, and scored 24 goals - his most since the 2007-08 season with the Rangers.

Tuesday night against the Rangers, Jagr scored his first goal of the season, and the 707th goal of his career.  He is presently 7th on the NHL all-time list.  Old Rangers favorite Mike Gartner is next at #6 with 708 career goals.  Within potential reach this season, are #5-Phil Esposito (717) and #4-Marcel Dionne (731).

And then there was one....

When the Devils originally came to town in 1982-83, I was 16-yrs old, and all my (Rangers fan) hatred was already directed towards the Islanders.  So, by the Devils arrival, my attention was piqued more than anything.

The Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies failed, which of course opened the door for Mr. John McMullen to buy the franchise and relocate them.

At the time, the Nets were only recently resettled into the Brendan Byrne Arena, the New Jersey Generals (USFL) were kicking off, and the New York Cosmos were immensely popular.  So, it was perhaps a good time to blend into the Meadowlands and greater metropolitan area sports scene.  I merely felt that a big sports metropolis was just getting bigger.

I came to appreciate guys like Pat Verbeek, Brendan Shanahan, Bruce Driver, John MacLean, Kirk Muller, a rookie named Ken Daneyko, then Peter Stastny.

Had the Devils defeated the Rangers in the 1994 conference finals, and not the other way around, I'm sure I would feel very differently about New Jersey's team today.  For instance, my son's hatred is primarily directed at the Devils, and less so towards the Islanders. That's understandable considering both team's respective histories ever since the Isles last competed for the Cup.

The Rangers won the Cup in 1994, and so I saw no harm in continuing to appreciate certain Devils players, and the overall success they enjoyed through 5 Stanley Cup appearances, and 3 Cup victories (just as long as they weren't playing the Rangers, because you can't be great, without great opponents).

Besides, with the Rangers, Devils and Islanders, it was just cool to be able to watch hockey (in general) every night.

The thing is, you just can not discount the Devils as some Mickey Mouse organization, as Wayne Gretzky once famously did.  And if you're a metropolitan area local of my age, then you watched their entire history (unlike the Islanders, whose earliest years escape my knowledgeable range).

Through those years, Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, MacLean, Daneyko, Scott Niedermeyer, and a few others held my respect.

Lou Lamoriello is easily among the greatest executives NY/NJ teams have ever known.  Scott Stevens is perhaps the toughest defensemen I ever saw play.  Martin Brodeur only become the NHL's all-time wins leader, while John MacLean initially set the organization's offensive records.

And then there was one....  

Patrick Elias is the man who broke John MacLean's club records, and continues to reset the organizational bar.  He is perhaps the last Devil I retain an interest for.  He may also be the last.  For me at least, what started with Pat Verbeek, may end once Patrick Elias retires.

Was I ever a Devils fan?  When they play the Islanders, sure.  Otherwise, no.  Regardless, my son is intolerant of whatever I call it.

Devils wins and losses have never, and do not factor in my life, or general disposition the way the Rangers/Giants/Mets can, and do.  

I'm just a guy who enjoys his surroundings.  Heck, I wish the Islanders were good again just to rekindle that rivalry, and elevate area hockey overall.

New York Rangers: Power Play Finally Lights The Lamp...

Yes, my team.

(sigh)

Just the opposite of the Devils, after losing 3 straight, the Rangers have won 3 in a row.  They entered Tuesday's game on the heels of an impressive 4-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

The Blueshirts scored 3 unanswered goals against the Devils to gain an (elusive) overtime victory.   Of course, that would not have been possible without Rick Nash's game tying goal in the 3rd period. It was his NHL leading 8th goal of the season.

The Rangers also finally scored on the power play - twice in fact, against the Devils.  They broke an 0 for 17 streak, and are now 2 for 20 on the young season.

Next stop, a true test against the Montreal Canadiens.

Derek Stepan has not skated yet.  Dan Girardi was back on the ice.

Mike

N.Y. Rangers: Lundqvist Passes Giacomin; Nash Rumbles On

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

#50

Goalie Henrik Lundqvist 

Sets New Rangers Franchise Record With 50th Career Shutout

Ed Giacomin - 49 Career Shutouts

NEW YORK RANGERS: The King Notches His 5th Shutout Of Season; Surpasses Ed Giacomin On Club's All-Time List.

....and it came at a most crucial time, with the Rangers clinging to third place in the Metropolitan Division with just 10 games left in the regular season.  The Rangers are now winners of three in a row, but are just 6-6 in the Ides of March.

With 82 points, the Rangers lead 4th place Washington (79 points), and 5th place Columbus (78 points) in the Metropolitan standings.  The Rangers are currently 6th in the Eastern Conference, two points better than 7th seed Toronto, and three points better than both Detroit, and Washington.

Saturday night in Newark, Rick Nash continued playing inspired hockey.  He opened up the scoring midway through the 2nd period, on assists by Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider.  Rick Nash and Derek Stepan both led the Rangers with 4 shots on goal.  Stepan gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead with a power play goal in the 3rd period, and with his 2 points against the Devils, he now has 50 points for the season.

In the end, that was all the Rangers needed.  Henrik Lundvist handled the rest.  He made 21 saves in shutting out the Devils.  It was also Henrik's 50th career shutout, breaking the Rangers franchise record set by the great Eddie Giacomin.

The Rangers also played a disciplined game, allowing the proficient Devils power play unit just one opportunity.

This may have been the last time Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur faced off against each other with their respective teams.  Martin Brodeur, 41, is a free agent at the end of the season. They have gone head to head 41 times in their careers.  Brodeur's record against Lundqvist is 15-21-5, while Henrik's record against Brodeur is 26-10-5.




Mike.BTB

Rangers vs. Devils; Battle of the Hudson - V

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  &  NEWARK SINNERS ON SKATES 

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON - V

Devils Lead Series 3-1

I - NJD 4; NYR 0

II - NJD 3; NYR 2

III - NJD 4; NYR 3

IV - NYR 7; NJD 3

TONIGHT

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

New Jersey Devils

FROM

The Rock

Newark, N.J.

New York Rangers: Their Kindness Has Been A Weakness. Playing Hockey With A Bad Attitude Is Exactly What They Needed.

Rick Nash Finally Lashes Out

There's more to just salvaging a second win in the season series against the Devils.  Despite being seven points ahead of today's rival, the Rangers must avoid having Newark close to within five points.  It sounds simplistic, but remember what the Devils did two years ago.

Last night's gritty victory over Columbus gave the Blueshirts a mere 24-hours of breathing room.

The Rangers enter tonight's game against the Devils tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference, and only sit in third place of the Metropolitan Division by two points over the Blue Jackets.  So, for the Rangers, everything can still change on the drop of a dime.

There are 22 points up for grabs before the regular season ends.  The Rangers need to secure as many of them as possible.  After tonight's game, the Rangers will host Phoenix, then welcome the #5 Philadelphia Flyers (81 points) to Madison Square Garden.  That game will be paramount, as the Rangers will then hit the road for a four game swing through the Western Conference.

Did last night's game in Columbus awake a sleeping giant?  Rick Nash finally played with the fury someone of his size and skill should be skating with.  The man needed an edge, and the Blue Jackets may have finally sharpened his.  His team mates also responded in kind, with great tenaciousness, push-backs and fists, and goals.  Games like yesterday's were meant to propel teams forward.  What effect it will have on the Rangers with just 11 games left in the season remains to be seen.

New Jersey Devils: Will This Be The Last Time Martin Brodeur Squares Off Against Henrik Lundqvist?

The #11 Devils trail the #8 seeded Columbus Blue Jackets by five points.  With 12 games remaining in their schedule, an outside chance to reach the post-season still exists.  The Devils have a more Eastern Conference heavy schedule left than the Rangers.  They need all the help they can get, but it won't hurt to play like a bunch of crazed dogs.

The Devils are also coming off a 4-3 OT win over the Jackets.  It snapped a three game losing streak.  In fact, the Devils have been converting more overtime games into victories lately, which was something that stymied their standing very early in the season.  The Devils lost their first five extra time games this season.  They are now 9-13 for the season in extra innings.

Entering tonight's game against the Rangers, the Devils own the NHL's 3rd best power play, and are tops on the penalty kill.  They also rank 11th in goals against.  The Rangers are 6th on the PK, 14th on the PP, and 6th in goals against.

Jaromir Jagr continues his years long swan song.  He is currently posting a triple crown, leading the team with 23 goals, 37 assists, and 70 points.  Earlier this season, he became only the 7th player in NHL  history to surpass 700 goals in a career.

The match-ups between Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist are coming to an end.  Who knows when the next time might be.  Therefore, I for one, will be watching this game with great interest. Both teams will be desperate for a positive outcome tonight.

Henrik Lundqvist recently gained his 303rd career victory.  Martin Brodeur more than doubles him, with 686 career victories.  He only needs 14 more wins to reach 700, and the Devils should give him the opportunity to achieve that next season (then make him retire!).

Mike.BTB

New York City's NHL Stadium Series

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS  ~ THE BRICK CITY DEMONS ~ BROOKLYN'S FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

Sunday, January 26, 2014

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

AT

YANKEE STADIUM

Bronx, New York

Scene From Sunday Afternoon

FINAL

New York Rangers   7

New Jersey Devils    3

The standings remain a problematic situation for all three local teams.  Heading into tomorrow night's showdown in the frozen tundra of Yankee Stadium, a mere four points separate the Rangers from the Devils, and nine points separate the 2nd place Rangers from the last place New York Islanders.  The Devils play tonight.

After all these years, the Devils still have us asking ourselves - how do they do it?  But the answer is a different this time.  For starters, they have one identity during regulation time, but another beyond that.  New Jersey has 11 OT losses, good for 2nd worst in the league.  If they start converting some of those OT situations, the Blueshirts had better look out.

During Sunday's first period, it looked like New Jersey's geezers had Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers off their game.  Patrick Elias, the all-time Devils scoring leader, who will turn 38-years old in April, opened the afternoon's scoring with a goal 5:36 into the match.  After Dominic Moore tied the game, Elias scored again on a feed from Jaromir Jagr.  Travis Zajac then made it a 3-1 game on another feed from Jaromir Jagr.

Patrick Elias now has 384 goals in his long Devils career.  However, the Devils leading scorer this season is, of all people, Jaromir Jagr, who will turn 42-years old next month.  In the game, Jagr passed his one time former team mate Mario Lemieux, and now owns the 10th spot on the NHL's all-time assists leaders board, with 1,035 for his career.  He has 44 points in 53 games this season, while his 16 goals give him 697 for his career.  Only six players in NHL history have scored 700 or more goals in a career.  Jagr most recently passed Mark Messier on the list.  Since returning in 2011-12, after three years playing in Russia, Jagr has scored 51 goals in 171 games played.

Another Devil chasing the number 700 is Martin Brodeur.  He is 18 victories away.  He was respectfully given Sunday's start at Yankee Stadium.  But his first start ever in an outdoor game, turned into one of his worst.  After the Devils jumped out to a 3-1 lead Sunday, Brodeur went on to allow five unanswered goals, for a total of six on the day.  After the game, Brodeur complained of very poor ice conditions, and the Rangers coach agreed.  Nonetheless, instead of gaining career victory number 683 Sunday, Brodeur earned his 392nd career loss.  Marty will turn 42 years of age in May.  At this stage of his Devils career, there is no getting around the fact Cory Schneider is the better net minder, or, has been playing that way. Schneider started in each of the last five games prior to Sunday.  Perhaps Brodeur will agree to come back next season in a back-up role.

For the Rangers, Michael Del Zotto drew the ire of two coaches, and was dispatched out of town.  Rick Nash is playing with the consistency originally expected of him, but collectively, Henrik Lundqvist and the team were giving up more goals than scored...., until Sunday that is.  They exploded for seven goals in total.

Henrik Lundqvist is arguably having his worst season as a Ranger.  In my view, his newly minted contract, his play this season, and the play of Cam Talbot have created an interesting dynamic.  It will be interesting to watch this unfold.  It's a good thing you haven't heard from me in a month.  You don't want to know what I was really thinking.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

New York Rangers

vs.

New York Islanders

From

YANKEE STADIUM

On Sunday, Rick Nash scored for the 5th straight game.  He now has 27 points in 37 games played, with 18 goals and 9 assists.  Wednesday night, he'll square off against the Islanders John Tavares.  The Isles star has 64 points this season, with 23 goals and 41 assists. Kyle Okposo joins him with 23 goals and 57 points, and Thomas Vanek now has 38 points in 39 games played.  Brad Richards leads the Rangers with 38 points. There's a punchline in there somewhere.

What's with the NHL scheduling three NYR/NYI games in January?  Freakin' brilliant!  I'll be at the game.

Brrrrrr!

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Rangers vs. N.J. Devils - Battle Of The Hudson - II

From the desks of:

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY DEMONS

 

 

 

BATTLE of the HUDSON

 

 

Devils Lead Series 1-0

NJD 4; NYR 0

 

 

TONIGHT

 

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

FROM

Madison Square Garden

33rd Street and 8th Avenue

New Jersey Devils

Tonight's starter between the pipes, Marty Brodeur is coming off consecutive shut out performances, and now has 123 for his Hall of Fame career.  The last time these teams played Cory Schneider authored a 4-0 white washing in Newark.  That game was New Jersey's first victory of the season.  Since then, the Devils have gone 5-5, which included a pair of shoot-out losses.

The Devils have benefited lately from the return of Travis Zajak, but Patrick Elias will miss tonight's game with continuing back spasms, while Bryce Salvadore and Ryane Clowe remain out of action.

It doesn't surprise me that Jaromir Jagr leads the Devils with five goals.

LOCAL STANDINGS:

#3  N.Y. Rangers     9-8  18 pts.

#5  N.J. Devils      5-7-5  15 pts.

#6  N.Y. Islanders  6--3  15 pts.

 

 

 

New York Rangers

 

With no current toughness to speak of, cheap shots keep finding their marks and costing the Rangers dearly.  Taylor Pyatt remains out, and joins Rick Nash with a concussion.  And twice this season, teams have taken runs at Derek Stepan's head.

They've managed to outlast injuries to Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan, and despite their increased lack of physicality, the Rangers continue to turn their early season woes around.  With Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers, the Rangers own a 9-8 record, breaking the .500 mark for the first time this season.  They have gone 7-2 in their last nine games to recover from a 2-6 start.

The Rangers have also upped their offensive output, averaging 3.4 goals in their last 7 games, scoring 24 times.  They've scored four or more goals in four of their last five games.  With a goal against the Panthers, Brad Richards now has six goals this season.

Henrik Ludqvist has faced off against Martin Brodeur 36 times in the regular season, and owns a 24-7-5 record against him.  The playoffs are another matter however.





Mike.BTB

Martin Brodeur Tops Hockey Night In Metropolitan Division; NJD, NYR, NYI

Hockey Night In Metropolis

 

THURSDAY FINAL STANDINGS:
N.Y. Rangers   8-8   16 points
N.Y. Islanders   6-7-3   15 points
N.J. Devils   4-7-4   12 points
 

From the desk of:

RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

vs.

Columbus Blue Jackets

From

Some Arena In Ohio

FINAL
Rangers        4
Blue Jackets 2
 

• Here come Tex's Rangers!  They began Thursday night's play with a 7-8 record, and 14 points.  They had achieved one more victory, but one less point in the standings than the third place N.Y. Islanders.  The Rangers posted a 5-3 record in their last eight games entering tonight, in which they limited each opponent to a pair of goals or less.  This evening, they continued their positive streak, with another 3-2 victory.  Two more points gives them 16, which thrusts them into third place of the Metropolitan Division.

• The Rangers visited Columbus to face the Blue Jackets and catch up with old friends.  For Derick Brassard, John Moore, and Derek Dorsett, this was their first time back in Columbus.  For Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik, it was a chance to welcome old friends to their new home arena.  Rick Nash, unfortunately, could not attend the reunion.  But it was an even older blast from the past who had something to say.  Former Rangers defenseman Fedor Tyutin scored in the first period to tie the game at one each.  Carl Hagelin opened the scoring with his third goal at the 4:16 mark.

• The game got very chippy in the second period.  Fedor Tyutin leveled Taylor Pyatt with an elbow to the head.  Pyatt left the ice.  Brandon Dubinsky was taking runs at J.T. Miller.  Ryan Callahan answered everyone with a PP goal off a strong effort in front of the net, and a  deflection.  It was Callahan's second point of the game and fifth goal of the season.  Later in the period, and within a minute of each other, both teams traded goals to make it a 3-2 Rangers lead.  Car Hagelin scored his second of the game unassisted.  Ryan McDonagh scored on an empty net to cap off the evening, and seal a 4-2 Rangers victory.

• The Rangers have 20 goals in their last 6 games.

• Cam Talbot started in net for the Rangers.  He faced 34 shots and made 32 saves - some very big ones.  Cam is now 3-1 this season.

 

From the desk of:

BROOKLYN'S FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

 

New York Islanders

vs.

Carolina Hurricanes

From

South of the Mason Dixon Line

FINAL
Islanders     0
Hurricanes  1
 

• The Islanders began the evening with a 6-6-3 record, and 15 points.  As mentioned, that placed them third in the Metropolitan Division.  They were 3-3 in their last six games heading into Carolina.

• Thomas Vanek has played four games since being traded from Buffalo, and has one goal and a pair of assists.  The Captain, John Tavares is not the club leader in points, goals or assists.  The distinction of points and assists leader goes to Kyle Okposo, who has 19 points and 14 assists.  Frans Nielsen is the team leader with 8 goals.  Tavares has 7 goals and 10 assists, and is tied with Frans Nielsen with 17 points.

• The Islanders are teetering though.  Including tonight, they have allowed more goals (36-40) than they have scored.  General manager Garth Snow needs to take a concerted look into shoring up his blue line.

 

• Defense wasn't necessarily a problem on this night, but offense was.  The game remained closely contested after Radek Dvorak put Carolina ahead 6:39 into the first period, and remained that way heading into the third.  But John Tavares had one shot on goal all game, as the Isles mustered 21 shots, but couldn't generate any scoring.  There were no rebounds to be had, as Hurricanes goalie Justin Peters pitched a clean shutout.  The Islanders were 0/3 on the power play.

• Young Kevin Poulin started between the pipes again.  He earned his first victory of the season against the Boston Bruins.  Late, with 2:52 left in the third period, Poulin made a HUGE save to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Hurricanes, but the offense failed to compliment an overall very solid effort.  Poulin faced 24 shots and stopped all but one.  His record drops to 1-3 on the season, but certainly looked sharp.

 

• The Islanders loss allows the Rangers to slip past them in the standings.  The Long Islanders  are now 6-7-3 on the season.

From the desk of:
 BRICK CITY DEMONS

 

New Jersey Devils

vs.

Philadelphia Flyers

From

Broad Street

South Philly

FINAL
Devils  3
Flyers  0
 

• The New Jersey Devils entered tonight's game in a bad way.  They are still without Bryce Salvadore and Ryane Clowe.  Martin Brodeur is even on record saying he'd consider waving his no-trade clause if that would help the club.  The Devils entered tonight's action in seventh place of the Metropolitan Division with 3-7-4 record and 10 points.  One of those victories was a 4-0 drubbing of the Rangers in Newark.  After losing their first seven games of the season, they started tonight's game in Philly with a 3-4 mark since.  That's a start.

• Philadelphia fans serenaded their team to a chorus of boos as they skated off the ice at the conclusion of the second period.  The visiting Devils led 1-0 on a first period Eric Gelinas (2) goal just 1:57 into the game.  In truth, the Flyers couldn't have played any less inspired.  During the third period, the scoring was changed on the goal by Gelinas.  Adam Henrique (5) was credited with the goal instead.

• Recently called-up Cam Janssen scored in the third period to give the Devils a 2-0 lead just 3:01 into the third period, and the boooo's continued to rain down upon the Flyers.  When Jaromir Jagr scored New Jersey's third goal of the evening on an empty net, the Flyers fans really let their team have it.

• Marty Brodeur started in net for the Devils, and added to his pair of NHL all-time records.  He earned victory #672 of his career, and notched shutout #122 as well.  For the Devils, their 4th victory of the season, and 12th points of the season.  Marty faced 22 shots and stopped them all, for his third victory of the season.

Three Stars of the Night:

1) - Martin Brodeur
2) - Carl Hagelin
3) - Philly Crowd!



Mike.BTB

Devils vs. Islanders - IV

From the desks of:   THE BROAD STREET DEMONS  &  BROOKLYN's FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB

Saturday Night Hockey

 

New Jersey Devils

vs.

New York Islanders

From

Long Island, N.Y.

 

 

Devils lead Series 2-1

I - NJD 2; NYI 1

II - NYI 5; NJD 4*

III - NJD 3; NYI 0

*overtime

New Jersey Devils - David Clarkson and Patrick Elias Continue Giving Atlantic Division Hell.


Friday night, David Clarkson continued his assault upon the Atlantic Division.  At 10:43 of he third period, his redirection goal put the Devils ahead 4-3, after falling behind 3-1 to Philadelphia in the first period.  Travis Zajac opened all scoring just 0:40 seconds into the game.  Then Philly scored three unanswered goals before the period was through.  The Flyers took eleven first period shots against Martin Brodeur.  However, Brodeur regrouped, and kept Philly off the scoreboard the rest of the way.


Just 0:26 after dropping the puck on the second period, Alexi Ponikarovsky made it a 3-2 game.  At 15:40 into the period, Patrick Elias scored his fourth goal of the season to tie the game at three all.  Ilya Kovalchuk assisted on all three Devils goals.  In the second period, Martin Brodeur faced another eleven shots, with far better results.


Midway through the third period, David Clarkson struck for his club leading tenth goal of the season.  With a minute and a half left in the game, Steve Bernier put a feather in the Devils cap with his fourth goal of the season.  Patrick Elias picked up two assists in the period.


Philly out-shot the Devils by a 28-19 margin.  David Clarkson led the Devils with six shots on goal in twenty four shifts.  With three points on the night, Patrick Elias now leads the Devils with eighteen points, and fourteen assists.  The Devils have three forwards with double digit points.


The Devils are now 9-2-3 for the season, and winners of six of their last seven games.  They still lead the Atlantic Division with twenty one points; one point better than Pittsburgh; and own the best goal differential in the division.  Martin Brodeur won his seventh game of the season, and the 663rd of his career.


B'Klyn/New York Islanders - Rumor; Wang Wants To Sell Team.


On Saturday, the New York Post reported owner Charles Wang might possibly be selling the team.  This latest development comes on the heals of the Islanders not being able to secure an arena deal in Nassau County, and announcing the team will move to Brooklyn to play in Barclays Center beginning with the 2015-2016 season.  The club has not commented.  But why shouldn't he sell?  The Islanders have lost/cost him a fortune to operate.  One man can only take so much.  With his hopes to build the Lighthouse Project in Nassau County long extinguished, there really is no reason for him to hold onto the team anymore.


On the ice, the Isles snapped a five game losing streak Thursday night, with a comeback, shootout victory over the New York Rangers.  The Rangers jumped out to an early 2-0 first period lead.  But the Islanders stormed back in the second period to take a 3-2 lead.  John Tavares scored the tying goal.  In shootout, he beat Marty Biron for the game clincher.  John Tavares has eight goals and eight assists to lead the team.


The Islanders are 5-7-1 (11 points) this season, and currently occupy last place in the Atlantic Division; ten points behind the Devils.



Mike.BTb

N.J. Devils: Newark Wrestles First Place From Penguins

From the desk of:   THE BRICK CITY DEMONS


NEW JERSEY DEVILS - Look Who's Number One!


At just 0:44 of the opening period, David Clarkson got whistled for tripping.  Thirty nine seconds later, the Penguins' Brandon Sutter scored on the power play giving Pittsburgh an early lead.  Martin Brodeur then proceeded to stop the next twenty four pucks Pittsburgh shot on net.


While Marty Brodeur kept the Penguins scoreless the rest of the way, the Devils got goals from unlikely heroes.  In just his seventh NHL game, Stefan Matteau; the son of THAT Stefan Matteau-Matteau-Matteau; scored his first ever goal in the second period for the team that fell victim to his father's goal almost twenty years ago.  If you do the math, Stefan Matteau the Younger wasn't even born yet.


Midway through the third period, Adam Henrique gave the Devils their first lead of the night with a power play goal.  Then a little under three minutes later, 2013 acquisition and seldom used Bobby Butler scored his first goal as a New Jersey Devil, to seal Newark's 3-1 win over the Penguins.
 


Bobby Butler had two points on the night.  Ilya Kovalchuk and Andy Greene each had two assists. Pittsburgh won the face-off battle by a 32-28 margin.  But Newark won the shots on goal battle by a 28-25 difference.


Pittsburgh was content committing penalties.  The Devils had ten power play opportunities, and converted twice.  There's your difference in the game.  Marty Brodeur took care of the rest.


With this victory, the Devils wrestled away first place of the Atlantic Division from the Penguins.  The Devils now have seven wins and seventeen points on the season versus sixteen points for the Pens.  The conclusion of this home-and-home set with the Penguins moves to Pittsburgh Sunday evening.  The game will mark the exact one-quarter point of the Devils season.



Mike.BTB

N.J. Devils Take First Battle of the Hudson

From the desks of:   RAISE GRESCHH WITH THE GREATS  &  BRICK CITY DEMONS

Battle of the Hudson

 

Final:

Rangers  1

DEVILS 3

 

 

Look what the Devils did to the New York Rangers...again.  Martin Brodeur, Patrick Elias, and David Clarkson were most responsible for denying the Rangers a measure of revenge against the team which eliminated them from last season's Eastern Conference finals.

 

 

After allowing three third period goals against Pittsburgh, and getting the next game off, Martin Brodeur returned fresh to stop twenty four of twenty five shots and earn the 660th victory of his career.  Other than a Chris Kreider shot and score from point blank range, the NHL's all-time wins leader made a series of remarkable saves reminiscent of last years playoff effort that had the Rangers so frustrated.

 

 

Devils fans no doubt must be happy with the return of Adam Henrique.  He quite literally picked up where he left off against the Rangers - celebrating a goal.  In just his fourth game back, he opened up the scoring Tuesday night with a first period goal; his second of the season.  Patrick Elias picked up the primary assist.  It was the first of three assist the Devils all-time winger would accumulate Tuesday night which tied a career game high.  That raises his team leading total to eight for the season.

 

 

The second assist on Henrique's goal went to David Clarkson.  Just yesterday I made mention of Clarkson's quick start.  Coming into the game, he led the Devils with five goals and nine points.  After dispatching the Rangers, David Clarkson skated off the ice with seven goals and twelve points in just nine games.  The Devils need Clarkson to replicate his breakout 30-goal season he had last year.  For the moment, the Devils couldn't ask for more.
 

 

For the game, Devils forwards made a first period mess in front of Henrik Lundqvist that the Rangers goalie had a hard time cleaning up.  The Devils were 1 for 4 on the power play.  The Rangers were held scoreless in five opportunities.
 

 

The Devils win their fifth game, and gained their thirteenth point of the season.  Pittsburgh defeated the Islanders, and therefore the Devils could not gain ground on the Atlantic Division leader.


Meanwhile, the Blueshirts malady continues.  At The Rock in Newark, "Rangers Suck!" was the anthem of the night.  For starters, Dan Girardi was scratched from Tuesday's game.  He is suspected to have suffered an injury against Tampa.  Then to literally add insult to injury, the Rangers had four first period power play opportunities and came up empty each time.  Marian Gaborik led the Rangers with five shots on goal.




Mike.BTB