Mon 26 Nov 2007
Flashback: November 16th, 2007: The Devils have just been shut out by the New York Islanders on their own ice, their fifth blanking of the young season. From my seats I had a Jersey Devil’s-eye-view of Brent Sutter holding his hands on his eyes, with good reason. His team had fallen to 7-10-2 and was in danger of being buried and forgotten about in that musty Atlantic Division basement.
Judging by the many similar performances of this years New Jersey Devils squad, one wouldn’t exactly be jazzed to see the Devils board a plane with a four-game road trip as their destination. In an even more humbling realization, that four-game trip pit New Jersey against teams that boasted such names as Briere, Crosby, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Hossa, Lecavalier, and St. Louis, just to name a few. Despite word that Colin White would rejoin the team on that trip, no, I was none too excited about the upcoming string of Devils hockey. Boy, were Devils fans across the nation in for a surprise.
The Devils surprised many in the hockey world by sweeping that feared road trip — a perfect 4-0, all in regulation time. It seemed as if something changed in that Devils core when they boarded that plane to Philadelphia, their first stop on the swing. They emerged landslide winners, 6-2 in their first contest. The snowball effect was set.
After pasting the Flyers, the Devils would go on to take down Pittsburgh (2-1), Atlanta (3-0), and Tampa Bay (3-2). A perfect road trip, if I do say so myself.
I don’t know exactly what caused the Devils to play like men possessed. Maybe the chemistry finally clicked, maybe it’s the new goatee I’ve been sporting. I bet that’s probably it. But, you have to look at the game within the game to really appreciate the performance the Devils put forth.
To begin with, Special Teams have been a nightmare for Black ‘n Red before the trip, as they allowed at least one PPG in 16 of their previous 17 games. During the trip, the Devils killed 15 of 16 shorthanded situations. Jason Ward’s goal in the third period at Tampa marks the only tally. The Devils power play was equally effective. The boys also displayed that they are, in fact, actually capable of clearing the zone when the urgency presents itself.
Martin Brodeur put forth his best performance of the season at Atlanta, a game in which it would have taken a monstrous effort to put anything by him. It was in that same game that he would go on to record his first shutout of the season. Should he have anymore games like that one, there will be many more goose eggs to follow for the Devils opposition.
With the road trip over, and the Devils record jumping to 11-10-2, I’m dancing the happy dance before and after (and sometimes during) every shift I work. We are finally witnessing the Devils team that everyone (well, most of us) expected to see at the season’s open. The effort is there, the bounces are going their way, and the results are reflecting all the things they are doing right.
The Rangers and Islanders may be 3-0 against the Devs thus far, but something happened on that trip, and I’m not just talking about the eight points they earned.
The Devils are back, and the rest of the division should take notice.
How you like ‘dem apples?
November 26th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Very well written, Joe. You just get better and better!
YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT — 2MA TEAMWORK!
November 26th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Hell yeah, make way for the devils!
November 26th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
What Us panic? We all knew that they would sweep a 4 gm road trip, and suddenly get their crap together, they had their opponents all the way. But seriously, great article well written, I hope that this turn of events can keep going for a while. Someone please pass the coolaid.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
know that I think about it..I’m positive it’s the goatee.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
There was an article in The NY Post that talked about Johnny Mac being yelled at by Sutter for trying to argue with The Refs on the too many Men call that they were going to make, Sutter said that only 1 man behind the bench has the right to talk to The Refs and that is Him, and that He is The Head Coach no one else.Ouch. If this is actually true and just not typical NY Post bull, then there could be trouble in paradise behind the bench.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
hell yeah that was entertaining to read quick. i feel the devils are finally coming out of their half-ass’ed attitude shells and are really starting to click. This is a great article just make sure you send it in an e-mail to elias cause i’m not sure if he know’s about the changes you speak of. Is this true shari? that’s some bs comin from sutter cause johnny mac was correct and displaing a very passionate attitude at that moment. He wasn’t mouthing off potentially resulting in a crosby type penalty. He’s been with the organization like 15x as long as sutter and sutter needs to step down form that pedistul and respect Johnny mac’s sincere passion for his team.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I think we’ve now finally id’d the culprit for that bench minor a number of games ago that gave the other team a 5-3 PP. He better cool off.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I did read that NY Post article, which btw was written by none other than Mark Everson. As you should with any NYP-related article, take the details with a grain of salt.
Also, thanks to all the readers who have given me kind feedback on the article… its always a pleasure to know you’re enjoying yourselves at 2MA!
– Joe
November 27th, 2007 at 8:26 am
The Post tends to how do you say, lie, about things. Although I do believe this happened. At the sametime, so what, he’s right. But I don’t think he said it in a bad way towards John. I guess we’ll have to soon see. But its also like the Post to stir something up for another team except if its the Rangers.
Going Wednesday, hopefully Patty will be back, I don’t like dressing 7 Dmen. That’s a short term fix. I’d prefer to dress Rupp when Patty’s out and have him get work, than I would an extra Dman. But its worked out, so I can’t complain too much.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Big Bird took the rap for the for that bench minor a few games back, He said He did it and I think thats why Sutter may (if that article was true)have said something to Johnny Mac about not letting another Asst Coach get a bench minor. I Love that a bunch of true, passionate, and knowledgable Dev’s fans have a place all of their own to go to.