Contrary to recently wide-spread rumors; I am, in fact, alive.

What’s even better is that there is an update coming. I know, hard to believe. I’ll have some fresh stew for y’all before tomorrow.

My 70-Hour work week is finally over, and I have the whole weekend to enslave the entire Internet community.

No Pressure.

Until then, I leave you with THIS.

With the season 3/4s of the way over (where did it all go so fast?), I got to thinking recently.  I got to thinking about where I thought this season would be going early on, and what’s really going on.  And man was I ever off.

I predicted 20 sellouts at the Rock (oops), that Andy Greene would be essential to the Devils success, and that John Madden was losing it.

Confuscious I ain’t.

So while thinking about these things, I started to ponder all the things I’ve said this year that I never thought I’d say of the Devils circa ‘07-’08.  And here they are.  In list form:

Things I Never Thought I’d Say Of The Devils Circa ‘07-’08 (great title, I know)

I love the offensive abilities of our defense.

Oduya and Martin are plus 19s, Martin is seventh on the team in points, and the defense in general is putting up two points a night over the last 20ish games.  What the hell happened here?  Where did this production come from?  I don’t care, as long as it continues.

I’m 100% comfortable with Martin Brodeur playing every night. 

Kevin Weekes seems like a good guy.  He totally deserves playing time and I hope he sees some soon.  At the same time, Brodeur does not help this team on the bench.  Just a month ago I was saying that Marty needed to get rest in on this stretch where the Devils have back to back games seven of eight weekends, but you know what?  Maybe he doesn’t.  Marty’s always played a ridiculous amount of games, and it’s foolish to think that would change this year.  I’m not sure I entirely believe that a well-rested Brodeur will be all that different from a 75-games-played Brodeur come playoff time.  If Weekes gets one or two more starts before the playoffs, I’m perfectly comfortable with Marty between the pipes the rest of the time.

Did you see that awesome Johnny Oduya goal?!

If, at the beginning of the year, you said that you thought the highlight goal of the Devils season so far would have come from Johnny O-friggin-duya, I probably would have smacked you upside the head.  For real.  I am a huge Oduya sympathizer, but no way would I have even considered an end-to-end, through-four-opposing-players five-hole Orr-like goal a possibility for any Devil, least of all Oduya.  And yet, there it was.  It was magic.

Did you see that awesome Johnny Oduya assist on that Patrik Elias goal?!

Then again, after the game in Philly in late January, maybe we should have seen that goal coming.

 I don’t miss Cam Janssen.

That’s hard for me to say, but seriously, I don’t think I miss him.  We have Clarkson, Rupp, Asham, and hell, even Mottau on occasion to throw down.  Clarkson and Vishnevski have the heaving hitting handled, and his awesome offensive contributions have been made up in spades by the afformentioned defensive awesomeness.  I miss you, Cam, but really…I don’t.

I’m sorry I ever doubted you, John Madden.

While I still loathe to see him get a breakaway (has he scored on one yet this year?), the fact that he can create that chance for himself by playing his same style of defensive hockey is a testament to his abilities as one of the top defensive forwards in all the league.  He still shuts down who he needs to shut down, and he scores some goals to boot.  I should have never doubted you Mad Dog, you definately have not crapped out.  Thank you.

We really don’t mean to abandon this site.

I swear.

Things have just been hectic for the 2MA Crew, whether it be totaling cars, getting job promotions, or going on massive drug binges, we’ve been busy.

Just kidding about the drugs.

2MA totally doesn’t condone (heavy) drug usage. I swear.

Anyway, we will be back. The TRADE DEADLINE (in caps!) is coming up, and that’s always a holiday ’round these parts, so I assure you all, we will be posting our tails off in the coming weeks.

Deal?

Deal.

My bad.

9:38 PM ET: That’ll do it for me tonight gang, goodnight!

9:36 PM ET: WHOO!!!  Devils weather the ridiculous pressure at the end and Marty even gets a few seconds with the puck to seriously consider shooting it.  Devils win it, 3-2, and pick up sole possession of first place in the Atlantic and are two points behind Ottawa for first place in the conference.  Good rebound game by the Devs after that awful loss to Atlanta.

9:34 PM ET: Someone shoots at the empty net from way to far away and misses, icing on the Devils and the faceoff is by Marty with 40ish seconds left.

9:32 PM ET: Sens net is empty with 1:16 left to go. Gulp.

9:30 PM ET: I need a Tums…

9:26 PM ET: Now THAT’S the Colin White I know and miss! White just wrecks Spezza with a huge hit behind the net. You need to do that more often, Colin. I miss that so much.

9:25 PM ET: Oh dear god, Heatley just walks through THREE devils defensemen. Luckily Marty’s there for the poke sweep/stop.

9:22 PM ET: Crap. Chris Kelly stuffs home a pass from behind the net from Vermette and it’s 3-2 Devils. Oh dear.

9:19 PM ET: Period’s half over already. That’s a good thing.

9:13 PM ET: Clarkson wrap-around try! Nothing coming of it, but I have to bring it up at least.

9:11 PM ET: HEY! Vish even lines up an open-ice hit and takes out his man without falling on his own ass! Nice!

9:09 PM ET: Emery AGAIN stones Langs after a good centering pass by Parise. Drats.

9:07 PM ET: Now they’re playing The Pretender at ScotiaBank Place. I, again, approve.

9:06 PM ET: Brodeur with a big stop and then Commodore misses the net, though a random Senator does find himself in the back of the net. Just without a puck. Still 3-1 Devils.

9:01 PM ET: Third period on. It’s been a real good game so far, let’s close it out now maybe…?

8:44 PM ET: BIG saves by Brodeur on Spezza and Heatley, followed up by a huge stop on Brylin by Emery to bring the second period to a close. That was a fun period, all kinds of up-and-down hockey and neat chances and stuff. We’re not treated to that kind of stuff often here in Devils-land. Second intermission is on, see everyone in a few.

8:42 PM ET: That was a bad one to give up, it’s suddenly loud in Ottawa and the Senators finally seem to care.

8:39 PM ET: Oh jeez. Marty caught out of his net trying to play the puck, turns it over to Alfredsson who centers it and Spezza stuffs it in, 3-1 Devils. That sucked.

8:36 PM ET: Penalty up, 3-on-1 for the Devils, nothing doing, 2-on-2 for Ottawa and Heatley makes a beautiful move but Marty stones him, Langenbrunner gets a shot off at teh other end and can’t get it to go and finally a stop in play. That was kinda fun!

8:35 PM ET: 4-on-4 up, Senators power play on.

8:33 PM ET: And now a penalty on the Devils after a nice save by Emery. These refs are not allowing for much guff. Shame, really. 4-on-4 for 38 seconds. Zubrus to the box.

8:31 PM ET: Another Senators penalty, and Phillips hits the box for hooking. Devils PP is 1-for-5 tonight and gets it’s sixth shot right now.

8:29 PM ET: ‘Nother fight! Asham V. Chris Neil, as Asham goes for some kind of Super Gordie Howe Hat Trick. Lots of wild punches by both early on. In the end Asham…well, he doesn’t do so hot. Edge: Neil.

8:28 PM ET: The refs are being very strange tonight. Schubert bumps Marty and knocks the net off it’s moorings, an, to quite Doc, “play continues…?” For a good ten seconds, before a whistle.

8:24 PM ET: The Devils opt to dump-and-chase quite a bit this PP. It, naturally, does not work at all.

8:19 PM ET: Ottawa is completely imploding. Redden goes away for a hook and it’s another Devils PP. Sweet.

8:18 PM ET: WHOO! Parise misses a WIDE OPEN net but atones later in the power play with another wrist shot over Emery and the boys are up 3-0! The goal is not a 2 MAN ADVANTAGE goal as it’s scored just as the first penalty expires. A power play goal nonetheless though.

8:16 PM ET: ‘Nother Ottawa penalty, and the Devils will get 1:08 of a 2 MAN ADVANTAGE. Only good things can happen. ‘Cause 2 MAN ADVANTAGEs are awesome.

8:14 PM ET: Penalty to Gionta is up, and Chris Neil goes away for holding Mike Mottau, so now the Devils hit the power play. Neat.

8:12 PM ET: Madden and Pando with a nice 2-on-1 shorthanded, can’t get it through. Elias also gets a shot. Ottawa didn’t get the message that they’re the ones on the power play.

8:12 PM ET: …And Gio goes off for a hook.

8:11 PM ET: HOLY WHATEVER! After a HUGE kick stop by Marty, Asham winds up and CRANKS one past Ray Emery for his second of the game! 2-0 Devils!

8:09 PM ET: They’re playing Icky Thump at the ScotiaBank Place. I approve.

8:05 PM ET: Second period is on in Ottawa, Devils on a 20 second power play, held over from last period. Which is now over, as I typed that sentence.

7:47 PM ET: Vish penalty up, Vermette penalty still on, period over. 1-0 Devils, and Jersey has a short power play to start the second. See y’all in seventeen.

7:45 PM ET: Loose puck just sorta hanging out in Marty’s crease, havin’ a sammich, takin’ it’s time. Eventually it’s cleared and Ottawa takes a cross-checking penalty, and we got 4-on-4 hockey for a minute and a half.

7:43 PM ET: Vish goes away for apparently the biggest trip in history, the way Heatley reacts. Yeah, maybe he got clipped, but it looked so cartoony, I couldn’t help but think dive too. Refs didn’t think that though.

7:39 PM ET: A-HA! First Devils goal does NOT belong to Madden, but to Asham. What appeared to be Madden’s stick tipping it into the net was actually Daniel Alfredsson. Oops. Also, a goal in which he didn’t actually put it in the net? How very “whatever” of Asham.

7:36 PM ET: A trend that I grow weary of: Vishnevski lines up a big hit, then winds up bouncing off like the other dude’s made of rubber.

7:35 PM ET: Penalty to Rachunek is up, score remains 1-0 Devils.

7:33 PM ET: Some kind of weird clock issues have slowed this game up quite a bit. Puck’s back in play now though.

7:30 PM ET: Chico just used my favorite word when he said the Devils, leading up to Rachunek’s penalty, got discombobulated.

7:28 PM ET: Rachunek with the trip, and the Sens hit the power play following the TV time-out.

7:26 PM ET: Asham (whatever) with a blast, gets his own rebound and sets up Madden in front, and the Devils in the lead, 1-0! Mottau also tallies an assist.

7:19 PM ET: Some Senator crashes into Brodeur, and then on the other end of the ice we have an completely unrelated FIGHT! Clarkson V. Commodore, and the red-headed wonder looks huge compared to Clarkie. A couple of shots for each, not much interesting, really. Eventually Clarkson drags the man who should be wearing #64 down and it’s over. Edge: No one, really.

7:16 PM ET: Aaaand our awesome power play continues to be awesome and does absolutely nothing.

7:15 PM ET: If ever a line needed a catchy name, it’s Alfredsson/Spezza/Heatley.

7:13 PM ET: Devils hit the powerplay as…someone trips…someone. I need an HD TV. Oduya blasts one into Volchenkov’s face. That could suck for Anton.

7:12 PM ET: Puck’s on the ice at ScotiaBank Place.

7:10 PM ET: Though it has nothing to do with tonight’s game, I’d like to mention to those who may not have heard, Richard Zednik was released from the hospital today following that horrible skateblade accident last week in Buffalo. Here’s to a quick and successful recovery, Zeddie.

7:06 PM ET: How in the hell did that happen?! If the Devils win tonight in regulation, the boys in black and red are only two points behind the other boys in red and black for first in the CONFERENCE. I obviously have not been paying attention.

7:03 PM ET: See what I mean about “possibly against my better judgement?” I decide to cap, and I get Cangelosi instead of Doc. This isn’t a good start.

7:02 PM ET: First I was, then I wasn’t, now I is again. Livecap on the way, possibly against my better judgement. Two games in two nights wears ME out and I’m only watching ‘em. I wonder how Brodeur does it.

9:56 PM EST: That was a freakin’ finger workout right there. Don’t they know I’m trying to live-cap this shiz? Geez. Well, a bummer of a loss, Devils blow a 2-0, and a 3-2 lead before losing it in the 300494th round of the shootout. I’m out for the night. As always keep it here to find out who we think should be shipped out of town based on their poor performance in this game. Spoiler Alert: basically everyone except Madden, Elias, Parise and Brodeur.

9:53 PM EST: Pascal Dupuis breaks the deadlock and Aaron Asham practically hits the jumbotron with his shot. Thrashers win 4-3 in the 10th round of the shootout. Great tense game, but a heartbreaker of a loss for NJ.

9:52 PM EST: Thorborn and Brylin both whiff. 10th freaking round!

9:52 PM EST: Enstrom goes high. Rachuneck sucks it up. 9th round.

9:51 PM EST: Madden can’t put it by, and we’re headed to the 8th round!

9:50 PM EST: Holik is stopped by Marty! Still 2-2! Woo!!!

9:49 PM EST: Recchi, Zubrus, Todd White and Zajac are all stopped. Still going at 2-2!!!

9:48 PM EST: Captain Langs puts it home with a beauty of a deke! 2-2!

9:48 PM EST: Hossa blows another by Marty 2-1.

9:48 PM EST: Parise gets stuffed.

9:47 PM EST: Kovalchuk blows one by Marty, 1-1.

9:47 PM EST: Elias goes five-hole and it’s 1-0!

9:46 PM EST: Brodeur stops Kozlov head on, still 0-0.

9:45 PM EST: Hedberg stones Gio on the backhand.

9:45 PM EST: No goal for Perrin.

9:44 PM EST: Eric Perrin to shoot first for Atlanta.

9:44: PM EST: Gio, Elias and Parise set to shoot for the Devs.

9:42 PM EST: I’m placing my bets right now. Parise lifts a leg, fakes and goes to the backhand for his shot. 1o bucks on the table.

9:41 PM EST: Wow, that was tense. Marty is at the top of his game and has carried the Devils into the shootout.

9:39 PM EST: Marty with a huge glove slave on Kovalchuk! He’s once again the only reason the Devils are in this at this point. Thrashers have dominated the play here in OT.

9:38 PM EST: Yikes. Kovalchuk trips over a Devils stick and a penalty is called with 90 seconds to go. 4-on-3 hockey.

9:36 PM EST: White smacks the alliterative and now very angry and bloody Ken Klee. No penalty and Klee is pissed. And bloody. Devils escape with no penalties. Klee looks like he’s going to kill someone.

9:35 PM EST: Brodeur is sprawled out on the ice for nearly 15 seconds and somehow Atlanta can’t push it home. Replay shows that Brodeur ROBS Slava Kozlov from a very shot range.

9:34 PM EST: Heavy action in the Devils zone.

9:33 PM EST: We’re underway in OT. Elias starts it off with a riser that nearly takes Hedberg’s head off.

9:30 PM EST: A mad scramble all over the Devils zone but the Thrashers get the best of it. Hossa smacks in a bouncing puck in the crease and we’ll be headed to OT in just a few. No good.

9:29 PM EST: Thrashers net is empty. 1 min left.

9:28 PM EST: Was there a rule written at some point that you have to play at least half of the Jock Jams CD at every hockey game?

9:23 PM EST: Vishnevski just went Rambo on a couple of the Thrashers in behind the Devils net. He is a large, angry man.

9:21 PM EST: The Devils are really running and gunning here in the third. Zubrus gets a big chance on a partial breakaway but is stuffed by Hedberg. Zubrus looks a little shaken up after crashing into the boards.

9:19 PM EST: Hedberg gets super lucky just seconds later as Parise redirects a point shot from Langenbrunner that clangs hard off the post. Hedberg pulls his best cadaver impression and covers the puck.

9:18 PM EST: John Madden is turning into an offensive juggernaut. Madden breaks in on a 1-on-1, pulls out the spin-o-rama and only barely can’t put it past Hedberg.

9:14 PM EST: Wow they show a replay of the Madden goal and it was some piece of luck and skill. He throws it at Hedberg, it ricochets off his stick, then off the edge of his blocker and passes through his legs into the top shelf.

9:12 PM EST: More solid play by Parise and Elias. Elias banks one off the post just seconds after Madden gets his goal. Not to be left out, Cap’n Langs (the third member of the line) is having a good game too.

9:10 PM EST: Johnny Madden!! I don’t even know how that happened! Mad Dog pulls a banana shot from the goal line and it lands nestled in the top shelf. 3-2 hockey game!

9:04 PM EST: Aaaaaaaaagh! Madden makes a picture perfect pass across the ice to Paul Martin who gets robbed by Hedberg short-handed. Hotchey-motchey that was close.

9:03 PM EST: Pando takes a tripping penalty and the Devs will be on the PK for two. Pando’s got an angry streak in him this year.

9:01 PM EST: Rupp charges in behind the Atlanta net and gets absolutely stuffed by Garnet Exelby.

8:57 PM EST: Alright I’m full of curry and ready to roll for the third. Puck drops and we’re underway.

8:38 PM EST: The second period ends with neither team really dominating the play, but both competing hard. I’m gonna get me some dinner and I’ll see ya in 17!

8:31 PM EST: The Devs look like they’ve righted the ship for the moment. Good back and forth hockey.

8:29 PM EST: Elias and Parise look like they’ve developed some solid chemistry. But I can only assume Sutter will break them up before the game’s over, leaving Patty to go into another mopey slump.

8:28 PM EST: The Thrashers have new life with seven minutes to go. The Devils are literally falling all over themselves. Get it together boys!

8:26 PM EST: Boooooo. Mark Recchi and Todd White combine for a very efficient, quick power play goal and we’re tied up. They show Holik on the bench looking like an evil caveman genius.

8:23 PM EST: Clarkson picks up his second penalty of the game, a holding call on Holik for 2 minutes. Less penalties and more wrap-arounds Clarkie!

8:20 PM EST: Brodeur with a monster save after Eric Perrin storms in on the breakaway. Perrin swatted it out of the air and stormed in but was absolutely stonewalled by Marty. Still 2-1.

8:18 PM EST: Devils are controlling the play here in the second and draw a hooking call. PSE & G Power Play coming up!

8:17 PM EST: Langenbrunner spins out in the slot after just missing a golden opportunity out front. Still 2-1.

8:11 PM EST: Kovalchuk beats home a rebound for his 40th goal of the season. Madden takes a swipe at Kovy after he puts it home, but alas, it’s 2-1.

8:09 PM EST: A fight breaks out between Rupp and Eric Boulton at center ice. Boulton keeps asking Rupp to come at him, but keeps backing up when he does! They stalemate for a while before Rupp gets taken down by Boulton in the end. Edge - Boulton.

8:07 PM EST: Wooo! Gionta makes a case for staying in NJ with a laser from the point past Hedberg. 2-0 NJ.

8:05 PM EST: Todd White takes a two minute tripping minor and we’ve got a power play! Pascal Dupuis breaks in on a 2-on-1 that Brodeur eats up. Play’s a lot more wide open here in the start of the second.

8:01 PM EST: And we’re back with 4-on-4 action here in the second. A lot of talk in the intermission about the possibility of trading Gio over the next 1o days.. we’ll have a lot more on that in the coming days though. Gio for Havlat though? Please.. dude would probably break his wrist signing off on the trade.

7:42 PM EST: Langenbrunner is taken down near the Devils bench and a scuffle ensues with 13 seconds left. Roughing penalties to Boulton and White cancel and we’ll play the first few minutes of the second 4-on-4. See ya in a few!

7:38 PM EST: Strike that last play and reverse it, Parise puts a rebound in off a point shot from Elias and we’ve got a 1-0 game! Zach attack!

7:37 PM EST: Parise with a beautiful feather-soft pass to Elias out front who can’t put it past Hedberg. It’s official, the Devils have a pulse.

7:32 PM EST: Commercial break with a few minutes left to go. This Geico commercial might be the most interesting thing that’s happened so far. This is a sloooow start.

7:27 PM EST: Oduya tosses away a loose puck in the crease that Marty lost sight of briefly. Solid play. Oduya for president!!!

7:25 PM EST: Solid kill by the boys, kept the Thrashers confined to the outside. Back at even strength with eight to go here in the first.

7:23 PM EST: Thrashers look like they’ve woken up here. Clarkson takes a man down and the Thrashers control the play for a minute before a penalty is called.

7:21 PM EST: Not a lot of energy here in the first from either team really. Back at even strength after a weak power play by the Devils.

7:15 PM EST: Interference on Holik and we’ve got our first Devils power play of the game!

7:12 PM EST: Rupp throws former-Devil Ken Klee into the boards and he looks hurt, may have tweaked an ankle. Slow start to the game otherwise.

7:10 PM EST: Doc and Chico are talking up the possibility of Marian Hossa being traded… Hossa for Rod Pelley? Maybe throw in a nice fruit basket? It could happen. or..you know…not.

7:08 PM EST: And we’re underway!

7:05 PM EST: Brodeur facing off against Hedberg tonight and poor Weeksie will once again sit out. Come on Brent! Give the guy a start already, it’s Black History Month for crying out loud! It’s beginning to look as though we’ll never be able to use our laser-beam Weekes photo ever again. Le sigh.

7:02 PM EST: Showing highlights of Gio’s game-winner the other night. Let’s hope that’s the start of a trend and he doesn’t disappear for another 15 games.

6:52 PM EST: Devils/Thrashers live-cappery coming your way in just a few minutes so stay tuned!

9:35PM EST: GIONTA WINS IT!!!!  Ladies and Gentlemen behold the power of 2MA’s graphics!!!  A fantastic effort and a well earned victory for Black ‘n Red!  The slump is over for Gio!  Oh happy day!

Boy will this be a helluva rematch come Saturday in Ottawa.  That’s it for me tonight, I’m off to celebrate.  With a good night’s sleep.  Goodnight all!

9:30PM EST: Overtime has begun, Senators control off the face-off.

9:29PM EST: Well this game had it all in regulation, and Overtime will probably have even more. I’m stoked for the next five (or less.) Both teams earn a hard-fought point.

9:27PM EST: Madden gets robbed again. Last minute of the third….Yikes.

9:25PM EST: Three minutes separating these fellas from workin’ a little OT. As much as I despise the loser-point, both of these teams truly deserve a point each tonight. I’ll bet they play it safe until the extra period.

9:23PM EST: Gionta gets a shot off right outta the box and puts it righ into the bread basket of Gerber. Where have I seen that before?

9:19PM EST: Senators have taken another penalty, Devils will benefit from another man-advantage. Schubert to the box. This is starting to worry me. The Devils are getting gift-wrapped opportunities to take control of the game, yet we’re still tied. I will be angry if this doesn’t work out in our favor. Brian Gionta has ruined all the fun by taking a tripping penalty, thus nullifying the power play. Thanks, buddy.

9:10PM EST: Good chances for the Devils but they’re unable to get the job done on the PP. Sens back to full strength.

9:09PM EST: Sergei Brylin catches a stick up high after some dogged work in the corners. Dany Heatley is the culprit. No blood from Brylin, Heatley only gets two, but nonetheless this is a huge opportunity for the Devils.

9:04PM EST: Both teams playing it safe here in the third, only one shot between them through the first six minutes. Big points, fellas, big points.

8:54PM EST: Chico’s segment on food at The Rock has me starving, so I will be enjoying this third period with my favorite Subway sandwich! Pucks on the ice, let’s get to it!

8:38PM EST: No dice on the power play for New Jersey as time dies on the second period. The third period is going to be an absolute dog fight for two huge points. Shots stand 25-18 in favor of New Jersey. See you in 17!

8:33PM EST: Hooray for power plays! Devils back on the man-advantage thanks to Mike Commodore’s insatiable need to commit Holding penalties.

8:31PM EST: Randy Robitaille scorches one over the shoulder of Brodeur, just as I was posting the “not too shabby” pic. I now know the definition of irony. Game tied, 4:00 minutes left in the second.

8:26PM EST: Oh. My. Martin Brodeur with the save of the season on Chris Kelly. If you don’t have access to a TV right now, remember to Youtube “Brodeur” and “Kelly” tomorrow morning. Unreal save.

8:20PM EST: Devils with some fantastic puck movement but are unable to put another one in the back of the net as the power play expires. Just over 8:00 minutes remaining in the second period.

8:18PM EST: Gerber flips one up into the mesh and the Devils will get another powerplay!

8:17PM EST: Rachunek scores!! A 4-on-4 goal and the Devils are up 2-1! I didn’t have a chance to elaborate on the penalties yet - Gionta and Neil were involved in a scrum, each earning a two minute minor. Neil got an extra two, and then Paul Martin decided to move into the penalty box and took another hooking penalty. So much happening so fast!

8:11PM EST: Devils applying some hellacious pressure and nearly put themselves in the lead! Looks like the boys finally woke up.

8:09PM EST: Meszaros gives one away and Lagenbrunner rips one through the pads of Gerber! A short handed goal from the captain ties the game for New Jersey!

8:07PM EST: “If Amy Winehouse’s hair had a child with Donald Trump’s hair, you’d get Mike Commodore’s hair.” - Sheri Ross. Oh, Devils will have to kill another penalty. Martin to the sin-bin for hooking.

8:02PM EST: Devils kill of the remainder of the penalty and force the Senators into an icing.

7:59PM EST: Underway with the middle period. Mind you that the Senators will have a man-advantage for the first minute. The Devils will need to continue their intensity from the end of the first in order to be successful.

7:44PM EST: Madden somehow shakes Redden and is absolutely robbed by Martin Gerber on a shorthanded breakaway. Awesome move by Mad Dog but just couldn’t send it home. Time runs out on the first period with 1:02 of carry-over PP time for Ottawa.

7:41PM EST: Elias put a feed from Langenbrunner right into the pads of Gerber… Elias was ready to celebrate but no dice. Parise is whistled down for a Goaltender Interference penalty with :55 seconds remaining.

7:35PM EST: Finally the Devils are able to put an attack together, Rupp puts one over an open net. Well, it’s a start!

7:29PM EST: Power play comes to an end. Despite Ottawa’s woes on the PK, the Devs weren’t able to muster much here. 7:00 minutes remaining in the opening frame.

7:27PM EST: Volchenkov pulls down Zubrus as he comes around the Ottawa net and he will get two for hooking! Devs off to the (PSE&G) power play.

7:25PM EST: Devils have a 3-on-2 thwarted effortlessly by the Ottawa D. Yeah, we suck.

7:20PM EST: Devils are showing they’re overpowered with a second consecutive icing. This is what happens when you give this team three days off. Lame-o.

7:16PM EST: Ottawa’s early dominance pays off as Richardson puts the Sens up 1-0 with a skipper from the point. Damn thing must’ve bounced about three separate times before beating Brodeur through the arm and body.

7:11PM EST: Much of the first two minutes of play have been in the Devils own end, Ottawa seems to be dictating the tempo thus far.

7:09PM EST: Puck hits the ice and we’re underway from New Jersey. Brodeur & Gerber the men in the paint.

6:55PM EST: Thanks to the lack of a pre-game show, I’ve been stuck watching a depressing documentary about Dale Earnhardt for the past half-hour. Doc & Chico should be taking over the airwaves shortly, and I’ll be taking over your monitor! Mwahahaha!

So, does anyone ever get excited to play Ottawa anymore? Well, with their recent dominance I can’t say I blame you.

The Devils don’t have a choice, though, as they welcome the Senators into their new home for the first time since opening the building against them back on October 27th. At that time the Senators were a team possessed. It looked like they would absolutely obliterate the entire league all season long. Turns out that honor went to the Red Wings, but there’s no surprise there.

The Senators, however, have been somewhat imploding over the weeks and have recently made a trade with Carolina, acquiring Cory Stillman and Mike Commodore — two players that were on the ice when the Devils spanked Carolina 6-1 this past Saturday. Goaltending continues to be their Achilles, with Ray Emery and Martin Gerber being alternated on different nights. Gerber is expected to get the nod tonight.

The Senators remain the class of the Eastern Conference, but the Devils need to take smaller steps before they can worry about catching Ottawa in the standings, like regaining the Atlantic Division lead from Pittsburgh. But, since Ottawa is the opponent tonight, they’ll probably go for a win anyway. Just my prediction.

A win for the Devils tonight will be a true testament to just how far they’ve come this year. In the early portion of the year it looked like New Jersey would be a team that wouldn’t have much success at all during the season, but instead have once again established themselves as one of the East’s elite. Ottawa is the top o’ the mountain, and to beat them would give the Devs a great deal of bragging rights. Bragging rights aren’t exactly as good as a climb up the standings, but hey, they sometimes go hand-in-hand!

Action gets underway from The Rock shortly after 7pm EST tonight. If you can’t make it to the game, cure those mid-week blues by hanging with us at 2manadvantage for a live-cap the likes of which you’ve never seen. Alright, maybe you have seen a few of them but trust me, it’ll be fun.

We’ll see you all just before puck-drop!

So, have you heard the news? You haven’t? Well… Sheldon Souray is done for the season.

Yup. You read right. After signing a five-year $27 million dollar contract with the Edmonton Oilers this past summer, the veteran Defenseman will be collecting that salary from unemployment for the remainder of the season due to arthroscopic surgery he had on his injured shoulder.

So, how does this pertain to the New Jersey Devils? Well, it doesn’t. But it could have had a major affect. (Listen, just bare with me, I’m trying to cure my writer’s block!)

For those of you that remember, and I guess those of you that don’t, Mr. Souray was “this-close” to signing with Black ‘n Red over the off-season. It didn’t happen, we got pissed, and NHLline.ca lost what little credibility it had to begin with. Well, I can safely say that everything happens for a reason.

Could you imagine the condition the Devils D would be in if they threw the dough at Souray? Perhaps the weakest blue line in hockey right now would be bruised worse than Nik Khabibulin’s Ego. The funny thing is, I can’t say I’m really all that surprised.

I was much an advocate for signing Souray over the summer, but I now realize that it was more for that cannon of a slapshot that man possesses, which really took over my brain and made me forget about how injury prone the dude really is.

Well, I guess the bottom line here is: better them than us.

Kevin Lowe, will you ever learn?