I was supposed to be accompanied for watching this game by a Rangers fan. It would have provided some interesting bickering matches, and maybe some colorful comments, however, a busy day has elected him to keep his blue skirt in his closet and stay home.
Interesting note thanks to Tom Gulitti: Martin Brodeur has not beaten the Rangers in regulation since Feburary 27th, 2007. This is fantastic news considering Brodeur has had his head up his ass since April of last year. Maybe tonight will finally be the night he removes it.
I said it Saturday night while posting on a Devils message board, and Doc and Eddie Olczyk pointed it out on their opener for the Versus telecast, Marion Gaborik will be a handful tonight. He’s been clicking very well with Brandon Dubinsky so far, and there is obvious chemistry there.
Marty needs to bring his A game, the rest of the team, ESPECIALLY the power play unit, also needs to step the heck up and remind us fans that they can actually compete in the Atlantic Division, let alone the rest of the NHL. If they don’t, it could foreshadow a long, empty season at The Rock.
Ikka Pikkarainen may get his first NHL start tonight. If he does, expect Andrew Peters to be the one sitting as a result of his selfish double minor penalty, midway in the 3rd period of Saturday’s game.
1st Period
-Devils come out firing early, and nearly net the opening goal, moments after Oduya allows Brandon Dubinsky to walk in uncontested.
-GOAL- Rob Neidermayer from Pandolfo and Clarkson. Super Jay hustles to the puck, sets up Neids who goes top glove corner beaing the "King".
-Zubrus loses an edge and almost takes out Lundqvist. Prompting Torts to call a time out, 1 minute 24 seconds into the game.
-One of the loudest 'Lets go Devils' chants I've heard in a while once Rozsival gets called for interference.
-Pikkarainen gets some time on the 2nd PP unit. They proceed to give Boyle a shorthanded chance on Brodeur.
-Langenbrunner wasted a chance to get a shot on goal, instead electing for a risky pass to Zajac, resulting in a turnover and narrowly avoiding being an odd-man rush. Power play over.
-Hooking call on Pikkrainen. Nice game thus far, Rook....
-Brodeur with a nice save after a shot kicked off the back boards and nearly was perfect to be tapped in.
-GOAL-The PK falls apart, loses track of their men, Del Sotto nets a PPG.
-Discipline falling apart for the Devils at the moment, Rolston takes a penalty for holding, and they go right back on the PK.
-Zajac and Oduya break out shorthanded, Zajac opts to pass rather than shoot, opportunity lost. but they do kill the penalty.
-Dubinsky takes a holding penalty, Devils back on the PP.
-GOAL- ZAJAC FROM CLARKSON AND PARISE. AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ACTUALLY SHOOT! OPPORTUNITES ARRIVE! Parise to Langs for a one timer, blocked in front, Parise recovers the puck, the dances free, feeds Clarkson in front who no-look back handed pass on the tape to Zajac who goes top-shelf in a virtually empty net, 2-1 Devs.
-Mottau creating chances from the blue line by throwing the puck on net and allowing Lundqvist to give up juicy rebounds.
-First real aggressive scrum breaks out. Pelley going for blatant tripping, but no one else gets tagged from the skirmish.
-Mottau with a solid defensive play as he intercepts a crossing attempt. Rangers get away with a too many men.
-Chris Drury knees Paul Martin and he is promptly taken down by Johny Oduya. While I didnt agree with it at the time, does anyone wonder why Chris Neil went after him high while he was playing for the Sabres?
A text from my Sabres fan friend "I think he wet himself when he turtled like a bitch"
-GOAL-Rangers get a powerplay as a result, and then score off the draw, Kotalik from the point. There is still no explanation how the Rangers got a powerplay. Gotta love how they got away with an obvious too many men, then Drury knees Martin, Oduya stands up for his teammate, and yet the Devils end up shorthanded. Oduya got a double minor for roughing which leaves me as well as many of my friends to promptly say "huh?"
-Prospal takes a roughing penalty with under a minute to go in the period. Devils back on the PP. Hopefully they learn from PP #2 and actually shoot more. Period ends without a shot on goal, they tried to get too fancy and elected to pass through the high slot where 2 Rangers were.
-First commercial after the horn sounds is the NHL 2K10 promo. Not only does the acting and accents suck, but the graphics of the game itself is horrific.
THOUGHTS ON THE FIRST - The Devils need to stay out of the box. The Rangers' best chances have come on the powerplay, as have both of their goals. While I fully agree with what Oduya did, and I blame the officials for screwing up the missed call and giving Oduya a double minor, it cost them the lead.
2nd Period
-One of the times I'd prefer the pass over the shot, Martin shoots from a crowded point while he had Parise open in the left faceoff circle.
-The second unit continues to be horrendous. They're out of sync, unfocused, might as well ask for a one shift powerplay.
-GOAL- Gillroy beats Broduer on a very, very soft goal. Brodeur gets lazy and doesn't drop the right leg all the way to the ice and the puck sneaks in. Yet another rookie beats the future Hall of Famer.
-Colin White proves he's completely useless and heartless. Callahan crashes into Marty, White stands there looking at him.
-Devils get a late power-play, under a minute again, and the second unit starts off and proves, yet again, unable to generate a legit scoring chance.
3rd Period
-Devils get a gift of a 5 on 3, but as the story goes so far this season, they are unable to convert on it. Their best chance came off the stick of Zach Parise who deflected a Rolston shot that hit the post.
-A lot of action in the Rangers zone, but still no goals.
-Coincidental minors: Clarkson and Voros with roughing minors. 4 on 4 to ensue. Last time the Devils had a chance like this, they really exposed the Rangers. Hopefully this time they'll find the back of the net.
-Rangers keep getting icing calls, yet the Devils cannot capitalize on the long shifts. Even the announcers are saying that they need to get to the circle quicker.
-With the net empty the Devils couldn't even set up an offense in the zone. Their best chance came when Langenbrunner crossed a pass to Zajac with about 11 seconds left. Rather than ripping a one-timer at the net, Zajac hesitated for a clean shot, and gave Kotalik time to get back in position to knock the puck into the corner.
Rangers 3 - Devils 2
Devils fall to 0-2-0 on the season after a much better effort than Saturday night.
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