Four days later, the loss still stings.
Not because it was against Philadelphia, and the fact their fan base is having a field day poking fun at the absolutely abysmal performance that their opponents put forth, but because there was so much more potential in this team that was never realized.
Off to an incredible start, the Devils looked primed to make a solid run at the Stanley Cup, something which had eluded them since 2003.
However, when the calendar turned from 2009 to 2010, the edge was gone.
Crisp passing, accurate shooting, and the hop in their step seemed to vanish and gave way to mediocre performances.
Then in February, the Devils made a very un-Devils-like move by trading for winger Ilya Kovalchuk. Giving up a top 2 defenseman in Johnny Oduya, third line winger Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first round pick, the Devils seemed to send their fans, as well as the rest of the league, that they were ready to make a serious run at Lord Stanley.
While he managed to average a point per game with his new squad, the team as a whole still struggled to come close to their level of success during the first half of the season, as their record from the February 4th trade until the end of the regular season was a disappointing 12-9-5.
It seemed as though the Devils were content with simply playing to the level of their competition rather than creating their own identity of taking over games, especially against teams not in contention for the playoffs.
This created an air of doubt in many fans heads as the playoff picture began to unfold, especially when it became clear that the Flyers would be a potential first round matchup if a perfect storm of scenarios played out.
Going into the final day, the bottom 2 playoff spots were still up for grabs between 3 teams, as were the seeding for second and third in the conference.
The Flyers, Rangers and Canadiens all vied for the final spots, with the Habs having only positioning to worry about, the Rangers and Flyers would square off in the deciding game. It was simple for both teams, win and you’re in while the loser is left to wonder.
The Devils and the Buffalo Sabres both had a stake in interest for this game as well, since the loser would play the 6th seeded Bruins while the winner could face the Flyers or Canadiens.
While sitting in a bar in Buffalo with three Sabres fans and one fellow Swamp Rat, the topic of who would you rather face was a frequent topic of conversation. Then different scenarios began to play out.
“Well if the Flyers win, I hope the Sabres win so that they get Philly and we get Boston. But if the Rangers win, I hope we win so we can get the Canadiens.” Was just one of the many comments made through the duration of the contest.
As soon as Olli Jokinen’s shootout attempt was turned aside by Brian Boucher, the reality had begun to set in, it was almost fate sealing the kiss of death with Travis Zajac’s 25th goal of the season to tie the score in the 2nd period.
Buffalo would need to net another goal behind goaltender Martin Brodeur during the 3rd period for the Devils to avoid a team which they had gone 1-4-1 against during the regular season.
The Sabres would try to pull out all the stops to clinch the 2nd spot in the east, but with under 2 minutes to go, fate reared its ugly head again as the Sabres took 2 penalties in succession leaving them two men down. Coach Lindy Ruff in a last ditch effort to steal a win, pulled his goaltender Patrick Lalieme following the Mike Grier which I know I wished the Devils could have declined.
When Jamie Langenbrunner had his open look from the offensive blue line, he ripped a shot to prevent an unnecessary overtime, but put a seed of dread into the pit of my stomach.
Two weeks later, the seeds of dread had sprouted and become full flowers of disappointment.
After a hard fought loss in game one, and a very spirited victory in game 2, the Devils had seemed to find themselves.
The motivation and high of exuberation lasted until the overtime of game 3 when “noted sniper” Dan Carcillo took a nifty pass across the crease from Mike Richards and deposited it into the gaping 4x6 behind Brodeur who was protecting the post against a wraparound.
While not a soul stepped up in this game other than Brian Rolston and Martin Brodeur, Mike Mottau forgetting to pass off his man, Travis Zajac forgetting that Mottau tried hard all series to do everything he could to kill the Devils chances, and Colin White not being able do a simple chip over Richards’ stick all contributed to the horrendous goal.
Game 4 started off promising as Kovalchuk would net his first goal of the postseason when a goaltender was in his crease. However, the 2nd period proved to be an almost Twilight Zone as the Devils would not only surrender the lead but fall behind.
20 minutes away from having to perform a miraculous comeback in the exact same fashion as they had done ten years previous, one would have thought that the Devils would come out flying [no pun intended] in the 3rd period.
What happened next, I believe, was the personification of the past 3 months, the Devils did not show up. Coming out flatter than road kill on the Jersey Turnpike, the Flyers sniper Dan Carcillo struck again just 4 minutes and 10 seconds into the period.
The Devils were dead to rights, and when Jeff Carter scored on a power play just over 5 minutes later, the heart left the team as well.
There was no fire in the team, no desire to comeback and give the fans who were planning to support them in Game 5 at the Prudential Center a glimmer of home.
Even with a sellout crowd trying desperately to will them on, the Devils game out in game 5 just as sloppy as they had left game 4. The Flyers capitalized on their early powerplay opportunity, something the Devils failed to do consistently throughout the series, with a Daniel Briere goal just 3:16 into the competition.
It came as no surprise that the Devils would again have a horrific second period, and in a game they needed to have, they would not be able to muster a single goal past a goaltender whose last playoff experience game five years prior in mop up duty for the San Jose Sharks.
What followed in the next day and a half was almost more horrific than the embarrassing performance put on by the team during the series. There was almost no one holding themselves accountable for the losses.
Constant quotes of “we didn’t execute, we tried, we just didn’t have it” became staples from the players all the way to their General Manager. Even the head coach did not address the team following the game 5 loss.
The only real fire game following game 4 when General Manager Lou Lamoriello allegedly threw a jar of jelly across the locker room in a tirade.
Sure, many said they were disappointed, but with this being the third straight year they have not only were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but losing on home ice, no player truly seemed upset over having to trade their hockey equipment in for golf clubs.
As fans, we seem to hold our team to a higher standard than they are being held to by the front office, Owner Jeff Vanderbeek aside. The air of content with winning the Atlantic Division and being KO-ed by the 7th seed is not only nauseating but beyond frustrating.
Having given up a significant amount of talent for 30 games from Ilya Kovalchuk and not getting out of the first round is embarrassing.
There’s no guarantees he will even consider an offer from the Devils before July 1st, and going off past history of hard-nosed negotiating tactics, an offer from this organization might not even be in his ballpark, leaving many to feel at this point the deal may have been a waste by not coming home with our 4th Cup in 15 years.
Knowing that Jacques Lemaire will be returning as head coach signals another season of constant line juggling and a more defensive slant than offensive.
Watching the playoffs outside of the NJ-PHI series, one thing that was constant is the lines remaining the same. At no point do you hear commentators saying “here are the lines, but as we know it can and more than likely will change.”
Players cannot be treated as interchangeable parts, it is not the industrial revolution out there, there needs to be chemistry. Players need to be able to anticipate what their line mates will do in a given situation and without that, there will be an uphill battle to find success.
The Devils have a laundry list of needs to address this offseason, starting with the critical need for NHL level talent on the blueline.
Over the next few weeks, I will be brining to you, the reader, my offseason analysis, where I feel the Devils need to improve, what they can do, what I wish they will do, what is realistic that they will do and the deals which will probably be done because of past history which most likely leave many scratching their heads, if not palm slapping themselves in the face, as the organization makes the same mistakes they have been since the lockout, refusing to adapt to the new NHL.
Do not get me wrong, I love this team, but when an organization seems so set on recreating their success from the 90s when it is clearly a different game, I cannot help but be pessimistic that we will suddenly learn from previous mistakes.
When the GM blows up at the coaches during a series, but then says all of their jobs are safe, that is not a good sign, especially going from absolute disappointment to feeling content. The almost robotic and automated responses in his press conference also do not paint an optimistic picture for the fan base.
When it is no secret that there was open tension between the captain and the head coach, and a temper tantrum playing out through reporters by said captain, and yet there is a feeling of no need for a change anywhere in leadership, there is something critically wrong with your organization. Allowing insubordination, especially from someone in as high of a leadership position as Captain, proves there is no accountability for other players in the team, thus allowing for room to slack off and for heartless performances.
Free Agency opens July 1st, but the Devils could start to retain players now, especially certain ones whose contracts expire a year from now (I’m looking directly at the guy wearing number 9).
For now, we’re left hoping maybe a lightning bolt of New NHL Knowledge will fall from the heavens and strike at least two people in our organization right in the melon.
Enjoy the remainder of the playoffs, since any series out there will be better than ours was.
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