9:42PM ET: BREAKING NEWS: How’s this for a cosmic alignment? Despite spontaneously combusting on a night when all five Atlantic Division teams were in action, the Devils will keep their first place spot in the Atlantic Division going into the All-Star break. The Islanders fell 4-1 to Boston, the Rangers, well, don’t matter, and the Philadelphia Flyers just put away the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. The Devils and Flyers are now tied for first place, with the Devils holding the tie-breaker via the wins column. Even after the ass-kicking they received two nights ago, the Flyers found enough good in their heart to help out the boys in Black ‘N Red. Ain’t that sweet?

I’ll see you in Church.

9:32PM ET: Wow. Langenbrunner takes a penalty with twenty seconds left. If there has ever been a disastrous end to a game, this is right up there with the best of them. Oduya dubs a shot as time expires, the Habs have won it. If you’re as disgusted as I am, you’ll understand why I’m ducking outta here for the night.

Thanks for joining me tonight, keep it at 2MA as we’ll be buzzing during the entire All-Star Weekend. Thanks again, and goodnight!

9:31PM ET: Mottau races back to touch up an icing, Devils get their timeout. :52.6 remain.

9:29PM ET: Following suit for the night, the Devils are able to get Brodeur to the bench but then go offside on the ensuing rush. Have fun dwelling on this one for four days, guys. Brent Sutter’s time-out has been denied. 1:15 left.

9:28PM ET: 90 seconds remaining, boy is this going to take a miracle.

9:26PM ET: Yet another completely unnecessary penalty to the Devils. Mr. Rachunek takes down Kostitsyn and he will sit for a trip. Oi.

9:19PM ET: Unreal. Chris Higgins scores a power play goal and the Habs lead it 4-3. It really is uncanny how the Devs dictated the play for the better part of 2 whole periods, and have completely imploded in this third, and most crucial period. Needless to say, I’m none too happy.

9:16PM ET: Hey, why not dig yourself a little deeper? Devils gift-wrap another power play for Montreal. Boy, have they really mailed this one in or what?! Clarkson off for a hook.

9:12PM ET: Just as the penalty expires the Canadiens have tied the game… or have they? Goal is under review and will likely be called back. Koivu got a stick on a Mike Komisarek shot but it was very high. Don’t move folks, this will be a helluva call!

…And this one counts. The Canadiens have taken advantage of a Devils team that basically fell asleep in this period and let the lead get away.

9:09PM ET: Patrik Elias has lost some of his awesome-value as he takes a Goaltender Interference penalty. The Devils continue to hold the door open for Montreal. Habs PP with just under ten minutes left.

9:06PM ET: More sloppy play from the Devils, can’t even get past the red line. (Hey, wait a minute…) Looks like they’re starting the all-star break one period early.

9:02PM ET: Brylin out of the box, an effective power play from the Habs but Brodeur keeps them at bey.

8:58PM ET: Further proving my point, Sergei Brylin will sit for two as he is the proud father of a minor penalty. MAD scramble in front of Brodeur but he’s able to keep the puck out!

8:57PM ET: The concessions at The Rock are going to have to start offering antacids with those $1.00 hot dogs if the Devils keep this kind of play up! Not a way to defend a lead, boys!

8:52PM ET: Smolinski the barbarian strikes again, Habs jump out of the gate quickly, back to a one goal game with much, much hockey to be played. I’m regretting that pizza now!

8:51PM ET: Puck drops on the third period, Devils looking to protect the two-goaler and put this baby to bed!

8:35PM ET: Well, the Devils power play unit shows us they are, indeed, human. 5-on-3 expires as does the 5-on-4 and the Habs are back to full-strength. The dying seconds of the middle frame tick off and the Devils will head to the room with the two-goal lead in tact!

8:33PM ET: And the Montreal Canadiens have gone off the deep-end. Unsportsmanlike Bench Minor called on Carbonneau and the Devs are back on the 2MANADVANTAGE! Ohhh yeah!

8:31PM ET: The wussification of the NHL continues, Steve Begin to the box for Cross Checking.. and Langenbrunner Scores!! Before I can even inform you that the Devils had a 5-on-3, Langenbrunner unleashes a hellacious shot right through Huet, Devs back up by two!

8:28PM ET: Tomas Plekanec becomes a victim of a weak slashing call, Devils will go back on the pee-pee with a little over two minutes remaining in the second period.

8:24PM ET: Brian Smolinski has done the unthinkable and scored on Martin Brodeur.. while wearing a Montreal uniform! Run to church right now, the apocalypse is upon us! Devils lead cut to 2-1, just over five minutes remaining in the second.

8:17PM ET: Mad scramble in front of Huet but the Devils can’t make good on the chance, Habs back to full-strength.

8:14PM ET: Canadiens can’t get anything done on the power play, and now they will try their luck on the PK as they are called for a Too Many Men penalty, Devils power play!

8:09PM ET: Kovalev gets tripped up by Gionta along the Devils bench, Montreal back to the double-p.

8:06PM ET: Elias strikes again! A lovely give-and-go as Mike Mottau breaks in and sends one across the ice to Elias who fires it home on bended knee. 2-0 Devils early in the second!

8:01PM ET: Second period underway, Devils take care of the rest of the PK.

7:51 PM ET: (Intermission Report): Cangialosi and Daneyko are joined by Jeff Vanderbeek. Word comes that the Devils have already had FOUR official sell-outs this season, they also lead the league in increased attendance figures. Excellent news!

7:44PM ET: That’s it for the first period! The Canadiens not able to get much going on their powerplay, of which the Devils will have to kill :05 seconds when the second gets underway. I’ll be back before the puck hits the ice (again)!

7:38PM ET: The Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner line giving the Habs fits in their own end. Perfect cycling but Montreal is able to get the puck out of their own end.

7:32PM ET: My oh my what a deflection in front by Brian Gionta, Huet is lucky to have that one as John Madden was already celebrating a goal. Goalpost giveth, goalpost taketh away!

7:27PM ET: Elias Scores! Steve Begin turns one over and Elias fires a twisted-wrister off the pipe into the cookie jar, Powerplay goal and the Devils lead it 1-0! …Wait, goal is under review. Not exactly sure why. Goal counts, apparently Elias can shoot the puck at the speed of light and cause refs temporary blindness.

7:25PM ET: Kostitsyn takes down Mottau, Devils will put that murderous powerplay to the task!

7:24PM ET: Langenbrunner finds himself the beneficiary of a crazy bounce off the boards and fires one that is turned aside by Huet. Shots 3-2 in favor of New Jersey as we reach the mid-way mark of the opening frame.

7:19PM ET: Steve Begin tries to toe one up on Johnny Oduya, but the defensive wizard denies him. Much of the banter between Doc & Chico has been about Brodeur’s dominance over the Canadiens, which always gets me paranoid.

7:15PM ET: Kovalev turns one over in his own end, Madden gets a chance in the slot and hits the side of the net. Good to see he’s back to his old self!

7:13PM ET: A scrambly pace to start the contest. Langenbrunner fires a shot just inside the line that gets deflected to the netting.

7:09PM ET: Aaand we’re underway! The Habs putting their league-best road record against New Jersey’s potent home record. Rupp-Pelley-Asham get the start for Black ‘N Red.

7:04PM ET: Mike Emrick makes a ridiculous Oduya-related pun. Hilarity ensues. Highlights of the victory over Philadelphia are being rolled, much to my amusement. Almost time!

6:54PM ET: Alright, folks, we’re moments away from puck drop. Well, actually, moments away from mindless banter courtesy of Chico Resch, then we’ll be moments away from puck drop. Annnyway, you wanted a live-cap, you got a live-cap! See ya in a few!