On behalf of the 2MA Crew, I would like to say that our prayers are with Richard Zednik, his family, and the entire Florida Panthers organization and its fans.

I know we joke around a lot here, but there’s nothing funny about what happened last night.

There will be much said about last night’s spectacularly awesome 6-1 Devils victory with 2 Man Advantage in the building in the near future. But for now, I feel an obligation to at least post this:

Stories, shenanigans, and praise for those who don’t usually get praise, coming up in the next 24 hours!

Meet the 2MA Crew tonight at the Prudential Center as the New Jersey Devils take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

Patricia, Joe, Josh, and Steve will be siting in section 124, row 10 and will be giving away free 2MA stickers. It’ll be good times! Stop on by, have a chat, make fun of our hairstyles and then punch us in the faces!

Really, what could possibly top that?

Well, that sucked.

I murdered Joe last night so I could write the preview.

True story.

Anyway, Black ‘n Red are playing the Anaheim Niedermayers tonight.

Good times.

Sure, there’s the tiny detail that Scott Niedermayer will be making his (triumphant) return to New Jersey for the first time since ripping the collective hearts of the organization out and eating it for a late lunch as he laughed in the faces of Devils fans far and wide.

But really, I hold no grudges.

Hey, I hold no hate towards the fella. He did what he had to do. Did it completely eff the team over? Well, sure. Was that his intent? I believe not, Mr. Holik, I believe not.

Niedermayer, Scott did a helluva job for the team when he did don the glorious black and red. That’s fo’ sho’. No one can deny that.

Well, I suppose Peter Worrell may disagree, but I think he’s still a little dizzy from getting bopped over the head with a stick by Mr. Nidermayer eight years ago.

Oh memories…

Let’s be serious here. Though I won’t be attending tonight’s game on account of sustaining a nifty hip injury after being run over by a car a mere one week ago (digression much?), I would like to say that had someone been willing to help my injured-self to the game, pay for my ticket, help chew my food, and wipe my bum when I had to go poo (too much information much?), I would not boo the bastard when he first skates onto the ice and touches the puck during play.

Oh God, that sentence is an English major’s nightmare. I blame the codeine.

Okay. Let’s find a point here.

What I’m trying (and failing) to convey with my witty banter is the fact that without everything Scott Niedermayer did for us, this team would likely not have tasted as much success.

Quick tangent: Same goes for you, Mr. Friesen. Sorry you sucked so bad after your short stay with the boys. Enjoy retirement, thanks for everything you’ve done for Black ‘n Red, us fans are forever grateful for all you’ve done!

Back on track here.

I’d hate to hear a lot of booing in the stands tonight. I know, we fans can be sensitive little buggers, and when we feel slighted by a player who did so much for us, we tend to get angry. And hurt. And betrayed.

Please, folks, let it go. The lad did all he could do here. Would it have been wonderful for him to finish his career here? Of course. Would it have helped this team tremendously? That’s a given. Then again, having to choose between Karel Rachunek and Scott Niedermayer is quite a difficult decision…

If you’re going to the game, I ask that you either cheer the man, or don’t cheer at all. Oh, that cliche piece of advice holds quite true in this case: if you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.

Granted, if I really held true by that motto, this site probably wouldn’t exist, now would it?

NOTES: Mike Mottau and Rod Pelley ain’t playing tonight. In their place? The wonderful Andy Greene and Arron Asham. It should be noted that I came up with this piece of information entirely on my own and I did not steal it from any other blogs out there.

Oh, I’m just kidding, Mr. Gulitti. You the man.

Unfortunately folks, the perils of work have struck me again, and I don’t think there will be any live cap of tonight’s game (unless one of our fantabulous writing staff wants to pick up the shift!).  I had held out hope that I’d be able to get off in time until today, but it’s just not in the cards.

If anyone wants to send my publisher a letter on the importance of live-capping to the 2ma readership please do so.  Actually, check that. Him not knowing that I write for someone else is probably for the better.

On the bright side, in addition to handing out stickers and receiving free beer (please?) at tomorrow’s game, we’re going to try our damndest to get some kind of commentary on the site between periods, and I’m sure some post-game pictures and rants will be in order.

So, in recap, Queens newspaper overlord = bad. 2ma field trip = Woo!

Okay, so, uhm, I don’t like Brian Gionta anymore.

Granted, he actually had a relatively decent game for the first time in, oh I don’t know, maybe 12 years, but what the crap was that garbage he pulled in the shootout?

Skates in. Takes a wrister from far out. Right into the pads. Game over. Devils lose.

Well, Brian, that was certainly a brilliant attempt on your end.

Really.

And when I say really, I actually mean that you are a waste of space on this team and I do not like you anymore.

Yeah, it’s a tad extreme on my end, but I’m sorry — I can’t take this garbage from the supposed Rochester Rocket no mo’.

If you ask me, the rocket may have turned out to be a dud.

Come on. I know we all tend to be “what have you done for me lately” types of fans, but the question really does beg to be asked here: what has Gionta done for Red ‘n Black lately?

While he certainly played hard tonight, his effort has been entirely inconsistent lately. This saddens me. Saddens me greatly, in fact. When’s the last time Gionta has bullied a seven-foot-tall defender out of his way while cementing himself in front of the net? No clue. When’s the last time he crashed the corners and actually didn’t get beat on the boards? No clue. Or, when’s the last time he made a dandy of a pass instead of taking a weak wrist shot himself, resulting in an easy save for the opposing netminder? Okay, so he did do that one tonight at least, but, well, he’s not doing it nearly enough. And this, my friends, frustrates the poop out of me.

Let’s look at the stats here. Mr. Gionta has so far tallied 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points — one of those helpers coming tonight on Karel Rachunek’s dandy lil’ goal. In his last 10 games, though, the two-foot-tall winger has a total of four points. Oh, and those four points are all assists.

When did he score his last goal? Good question, I say. Look all the way back to January 10th. Yeah. That’s almost a month ago.

That’s yucky.

I know, I know: this team isn’t exactly known for its amazing ability to score 9000 goals in a game (hey, we’re no Detroit), but something’s gotta give here. Patty The Former Cappy has really stepped up as of late, and though Zach “I’m Awesome” Parise had been struggling a bit, he seems to be cracking his pesky slump. Okay. Not bad. But Gionta?

He ain’t done squat.
So, what’s the answer?

I say, trade the bugger. He has value, that’s fo’ sho’, and it’s entirely possible that Black ‘n Red can get a nice puck-moving defender out of the deal, or maybe even a forward whose efforts will actually translate into goals. Who could we get? Oh, I don’t know. But we sure need someone, and I fear that someone is not Brian Gionta.

Ya feel me on that one?

Hey gang. Contrary to the neat-looking livecap schedule graphic that I posted a few days ago, there will NOT be a livecap tonight.

The reason for this is quite simple - I’m dying.

Well, not DYING dying. But I have a sinus infection (or something like that) that totally feels like I’m dying. And since I want to be 100% for 2MA night at the Devils game (see previous post), I’m actually bucking up and going to the doctor at 7, which happens to be the same time as the Devils/Sabres matchup tonight.

I’m terribly sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause, but rest assured that we’ll be back with another cap in the very near future.

And don’t forget to come visit us during Saturday night’s game to get free 2MA stickers!

Yes, we have exciting news.

Isn’t that exciting?

I think it’s exciting.

…okay enough of that.

Anyway, on THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, THE ENTIRE 2MA CREW WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER AS THE DEVILS TAKE ON THE CAROLINA HURRICANES!

Wanna meet us? I think you do. We’ll be in SECTION 124, ROW 10. We will also be GIVING AWAY FREE STICKERS to all who stop by.

What can be better than that? You’ll be A) meeting your idols (that’s not at all egotistical, no?), B) You’ll get to talk smack with each and every crew member, and C) free stuff! Who doesn’t love free stuff?

So, come by and say hello! Grab a free sticker, have a good time with Joe, Josh, Steve, and myself! Buy us lots of beer and popcorn even!

Kidding. About the popcorn. We want beer though.

Really.

Beer. Preferably good beer.

Got it?

See you there!

9:38 PM ET: The goal was under review for no reason whatsoever that I can figure. It counts, of course. Edit: Also of note, Marty Brodeur gets the assist on the game winner for his first point of the season. BIG win for the Devs tonight. By virtue of the OT win, we’ve got that previously-mentioned three-way tie atop the Atlantic, 63 points apiece. Parise with the game-winner and two assists, Elias with a goal and two assists, Clarkson with a goal and a fight, and a big rebound from a two-goal third period deficit. Nice. That’s all for us tonight, goodnight everyone!

9:36 PM ET: WHOOO! Parise tips home an Elias point shot and the Devils win it, 4-3 in overtime!

9:33 PM ET: And we’re going to overtime! Both teams with a point, which currently puts Pittsburgh into a first place tie with Philly in the Atlantic, with the Devs a point behind. As mentioned earlier, if the Devs pull it out, there’d be a three-way tie for the Atlantic lead.

9:32 PM ET: Stoppage in play as Gionta plays the puck with a high stick. Gionta and high stick in the same sentence amuses me. It’s ’cause he’s short, y’see.

9:29 PM ET: Now it’s the Penguins on their heels as the Devils are pushing hard, couple of nice shots on Conklin but nothing doing…less than three left in the third

9:27 PM ET: Pandolfo hasn’t played at all in the third. Still on the bench, I assume it’s just to rest him in his first game back…? I hope so, anyway.

9:25 PM ET: My mistake, Colby Armstrong’s penalty was an unsportsmanlike conduct. Either way, the 4-on-4 is up and we’re down to the last six minutes of regulation.

9:22 PM ET: Colby Armstrong and Vitaly Vishnevsky take corresponding roughing minors to make it 4-on-4 for two minutes. Considering how tight this game is, a little open ice could be a good thing.

9:16 PM ET: TIE GAME! Clarkson with the wrap-around attempt (’cause, it’s Clarkson), rebound out to Oduya who fires it deep and Clarkson stuffs it home! 3-3!

9:14 PM ET: Patty Elias! Parise with a nice screen on Conklin and Patty weaving in shoves it home to bring the deficit to one! 3-2 Penguins.

9:09 PM ET: I miss the Kings. Can we play them eight times a year instead of the Penguins? That’d be sweet…

9:02 PM ET: Ugh. Staal left alone at the side of the net, taps in the cross-ice feed from Talbot and it’s 3-1 Penguins. Dammit.

9:00 PM ET: Malkin feeds Sykora in front of the net and Marty ROBS Sykora on the point-bank shot. They play My Hero by Foo Fighters, and I approve.

8:58 PM ET: Some nice pressure by the Devs on the PP yields no goals. Ironic that the good PP can’t produce but the crappy PP at the end of the second produces a goal. Odd. Penalty on Clarkson now and the Penguins will hit the power play.

8:56 PM ET: Third period on, penalty to the Pens and the Devils to the power play.

8:37 PM ET: And that marks the end of two, 2-1 Penguins. Shots on goal 24-13 Penguins, so the offense is still pretty anemic, but a goal late always helps. See you soon for the third.

8:36 PM ET: LANGS! Nice pressure by Parise and Langebrunner on an otherwise awful-looking power play and it’s 2-1 Penguins late in the second.

8:33 PM ET: A BEAUTIFUL tap-passing play from Elias to Langenbrunner to Parise, and Parise can’t stuff it past Conklin! Best chance the Devs have had a night. Slight silver lining: Hooking call on the Pens, Devs to the PP.

8:27 PM ET: Simultaneous doings: Laraque and Clarkson slam hard in the boards and kinda hang out having a slumber party on the ice while Madden and Pando break out on an odd man rush, which again is stoned by Conklin.

8:26 PM ET: The Devils have spent pretty much the entire second period on their heels. Not good, guys, not good.

8:20 PM ET: Petr Sykroa blasts one past Marty and it’s 2-0. I missed it entirely so I can’t tell you what it looked like, but 2-0 Penguins doesn’t look good anyway. 600th point of Sykora’s career.

8:18 PM ET: Pelley and Rupp with a two-on-one break. But seeing as it was Pelley and Rupp…yeah, no goal. Good hit by Pelley by the Devils bench not long after on Orpik.

8:13 PM ET: Shots on goal currently sit at 20-7 in favor of the Penguins. Attention Devils: More offense, please, gentlemen. Thank you.

8:10 PM ET: Oduya storms out of the box and gets a one-on-one with Sydor. Oduya works his way in and finds Madden behind the net, who finds Langs streaking in in front of the net, and for all the work…a nice save by Conklin. Drats.

8:08 PM ET: Jeff Taffe tries kicks the puck in soccer sty-lee. It doesn’t work that way in hockey though, and the ref waves the goal off.

8:06 PM ET: Here we go with the collective team freakout. Oduya goes off for tripping Malkin and the Devils are back on the PK.

8:05 PM ET: Damn. Malkin throws one at the net that Marty gets, Malone on his knees in front of the net stuffs it home. 1-0 Penguins via the power play goal.

8:04 PM ET: Marty blocks down a hard shot with his glove. That’s the second time tonight he seems to have been stung by a shot. That is not comforting. At all.

8:02 PM ET: Patty Elias goes away for interference behind the play. Boo. Penguins back to the PP.

8:01 PM ET: Period #2 on. Maybe this period #2 will be as spectacular offensively as the last period #2 the Devils played…? One can only wish.

7:44 PM ET: And end of period one as well. 0-0 is the score, 10-6 Pens is the shot total, Hot Pockets and leftover soup is what I’m making for dinner during the seventeen minute break!

7:43 PM ET: Nice set-up but Martin can’t shove home a nice rebound of a Gionta shot. Dang. End of PP.

7:40 PM ET: Devils PP hits the ice as Christensen heads to the box for hooking.

7:36 PM ET: Fight! Clarkson Vs. Malone. Each get a few good rights in early, including one rough-looking simultaneous shot. Eventually they wear each other out and the linesmen break it up. Edge: Malone, slightly, for tying up Clarkson near the end. Good fight.

7:31 PM ET: Marty’s workin’ tonight. Eight or nine shots on goal for Pittsburgh, and most of them quality. Conklin? Not having to work quite so hard, only three Devils shots on goal.

7:26 PM ET: Penalty kill’t!

7:23 PM ET: Couple of nice saves by Marty and a loud PING!-style post shot as well. Whew. Devils drive towards the other end and force a face-off in the Penguins zone while shorthanded.

7:22 PM ET: ‘nother Devils penalty. Let’s give the Penguins power-plays, that’ll win us this game! Slashing on Parise. Dang.

7:18 PM ET: I entirely didn’t realize that tonight’s game is the first nationally-televised game since moving into The Rock. Neat!

7:16 PM ET: Penalty time’s up, and Marty takes a puck off the mask. Seems okay though. Marty’s head is a rock.

7:13 PM ET: Mottau high-sticks George Laraque. Laraque doesn’t bleed, two minutes only. Pens on the PP.

7:10 PM ET: Entertaining stuff early. Pando’s officially playing, for the first time in 28 games. Welcome back Pando!

7:05 PM ET: Hockey’s on! Atlantic Division showdown. Doc’s interesting point of…interest for the evening: If the Devils win in extra time tonight, there’s a three-way tie for first in the Atlantic. Winning in regular time would be better, though.