When you live somewhere 5 hours behind Eastern Standard Time, following American sports and the NHL in particular can be a demanding pastime. Sure the internet has made things a little easier, but there is still the little detail of a 7pm face off time translating to Midnight BST.
I first got into hockey in 1989. My dad, a big NFL fan since it had hit UK television in 1982, was keen to do something different on a Sunday evening the weekend of the bye week before the Super Bowl. “Ice Hockey” was suggested and off we went to the local pre World War II rink, one of only a handful or so fit for semi-pro hockey in Scotland at the time, to see a match between the Murrayfield Racers and the Ayr Bruins. I was immediately hooked. The arena was around two-thirds full and I had no idea how much noise 2000 people could make. Through buying programmes at subsequent matches I attended, I realised there was a league in the US and Canada. The match programme would feature results from the NHL. No dates, no match reports, no standings even, just results.
Getting information about a league over 3000 miles away back then was not easy. There was no internet and very little TV coverage. Ice hockey is very much a minority sport in the UK and unfortunately the old clichés about the sport being boxing on ice still exist here today to a certain degree. Newspaper coverage was minimal, almost non-existent with only the broadsheets carrying 2-day old results daily with standings once a week. There was Teletext* which I’m led to believe is a little like Telidon in the U.S. which gave results and standings. That was the best way to keep track of the season and work out the playoff format from seeing which teams played each other in the first round. (*Teletext was how I found out that the Devils had lost Game 7 of the Conference Finals to the Rangers in 1994. “New York 2 New Jersey 1, OT (New York win the series 4-3)”. That was all the information I got. No details, just the horrible news in a blunt, primary colour format.)
As cable and satellite TV became more widely available in the UK in the early 1990’s, the potential for seeing NHL games increased. Before that time we only had 4 channels available and they closed down after midnight. The only TV exposure I had to hockey before that had been Saturday afternoon re-runs of ‘He Shoots, He Scores’ featuring the Quebec Nationals, a fictional team with a distinctly non-fictional logo. Eventually we started to get an NHL ‘Game Of The Week’ which would be a one hour show of highlights from a game from the previous week. My first live TV NHL experience came in the 1990/91 season, a Saturday afternoon face off between the Devils and the Flyers from the Meadowlands with Doc Emrick commentating. Whether it was the novelty of seeing a ‘proper’ live hockey game on TV, even at a time when live soccer games were rare, or the fact that Kirk Muller scored after just 12 seconds, who knows. My decision was made. “That team, the Devils, I like them”.
The 1991 and ‘92 Stanley Cup Finals were broadcast on cable and I prayed in vain for the series to go 7 games so I could keep watching (which is probably why I have an irrational hatred of Mario Lemieux to this day). In 1993 we were down to a one hour show 24 hours after each game of the Finals and by 1994 TV coverage had disappeared altogether (hence the Teletext story above). My dad discovered the NFL on the Armed Forces Radio Network broadcasting from Germany on an old 80’s style hi-fi system he had. During the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, I decided to try my luck and was rewarded with play-by-play of Game 1. I had to turn the whole thing South-East to get the best reception and for some reason the already unpredictable reception used to fade gradually as the sun came up. The 1am starts during the Finals combined with a 4:30 sunrise during June conspired to make the reception fade completely before the end of the 3rd period. Consequently, I missed the last 3 minutes of the deciding Game 4.
The NHL moved to ‘Terrestrial’ TV in the UK in 1999 which showed 2 live games a week (on Wednesday and Sunday nights) and all the Stanley Cup Finals games live. Great, until you reach game 6 of the Finals between Buffalo and Dallas. Because the game overran its time slot by a good 2 hours due to triple overtime, Channel 5 had to cut away for good at 6am to revert to regular programming starting with the News, resulting in UK viewers missing the Cup winning goal by Brett Hull. The reason for the cut-away was because the two programmes used the same studio.
In 2000, I managed to see every second of the Cup Finals involving the Devils and the Dallas Stars including the marathon game 5 which ended at around 6:00 am BST. That was until I decided that the intermission between the 1st and 2nd overtimes of Game 6 would be a good time to ‘rest my eyes’. I woke up during the player celebrations with Scott Stevens about to be handed the Stanley Cup and I still can’t watch Jason Arnott’s Cup-winning goal to this day. One of the best moments in Devils history reminds me what an idiot I am. I think I must be the only Devils fan in history who has said, ‘Oh no!’ on discovering his team had won the Cup.
Finally in 2003 I got to see a Devils Stanley Cup win. Third time’s a charm. In 2002 a channel completely dedicated to North American sports (NASN, now called ESPN America) started up on cable which now shows live games virtually every night and 2 on Saturdays for Hockey Night In Canada. We can now also access espn360’s NHL Center Ice package online (for around $140 a season), so it is now possible for me to see every Devils game in a season, something which seemed unfathomable 15 years ago (hell, even 5 years ago).
In my 20 years of following the Devils, I have visited the States and Canada 6 times, taking in a dozen Devils games in the process, meeting some really cool people and having some fantastic times. The highlights include:
• Getting tickets to a Private box in the Air Canada Centre after a chance meeting with the President of the Devils fan club at the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 2001.
• Sitting beside and chatting to Mrs Pandolfo and Mrs Mottau during Opening Night at Prudential Center in 2007.
• Sitting 9 rows from the glass during the 2003 banner-raising ceremony in the same corner of the arena that the banner was raised from.
• Being chased through the streets of Toronto by irate Maple Leafs fans for waving a Devils banner after the Devils eliminated the Leafs from the 2001 Playoffs.
• Having an irrational hatred of Michael Nylander after he scored the winning goal in Calgary’s 2-1 win at the Meadowlands in November 1995, ruining my first Devils game.
• Meeting Scott from this very site in December 2009 and sitting in the legendary Section 209.

And this game has even more meaning tonight, and yeah this story will take a bit to get to properly but here goes: as some of you know I have a zero-type relationship with my father, long story I ain’t looking for pity, it doesn’t give me a reason for anything in my life and it hasn’t turned me into any kinda headcase….but anyway, my sister found him and he found me and in the process I am getting to know my two half-brothers and two half-sisters and its been good….so in that process I was talking and hounding the oldest about watching some olympic hockey, and finally she caved and watched the 3rd period of the gold medal game….and when parise scored she was like, who was THAT?? I’m like oh he’s one of ours and she goes back, you have season tickets right?? Now three of the four are watching tonight

– Nice touch having free falling on for one of the old Scott Stevens light em up hits!!
– Kovy down in the corner but as he gets up we resort to Ivan Drago type lines for him declaring revenge on svatos!!
“Brent, I must break you!!”
–I kinda wish we still had bergfors for tonight so he could score flip off Sutter and yell fuck you and your 45 seconds of ice time ball bag!!!!!! ….though Andy could do the same here!!!

(1-0) Parise[29] (Langenbrunner, Greene) {13:37}
Oh andy you’re back!! ….nice play at the point to keep turn and shoot, Langenbrunner in front tips it
but kicks it over the net…and its ahhhhhh Parise!! Rebound, scwar!!!

– all in all a fun first period, very high tempo, and it was nice to see Brian Rolston play like he gave a fuck and a half tonight (even drawing a penalty!!)

– second period, not so good a start :p

(1-1) Langkow[12] (Higgins, Kotalik) {1:43}
Wow white and Mottau on for a goal against?? Just for you Brent! Higgins
behind the net….cycles in front….Mottau doesn’t and Langkow spin-a-roonies
it past mb30 (not his fault)

- we’re halfway t where we want ‘em now, get them up 2-1 with 90 seconds left and we’re GOLD!!
– so Staios can pile drive kovy into the boards, but they call him on the reacharound?? CMON!!
– hrrmm, kipper’s pads look bigger, compensating for an American beat down, fuck yea!!
– well our guy didn’t do too well on the US either…

(2-1, Cgy) Glencross [15-sh] (none) {5:41}
Man Kovy got owned at the point and had a breakaway so clean
he could map 50 ways to score on mb30 on this one and he owned
him like a blonde drunk with a keg of Coors light!!
(clearly the turning point of the night)

– got ‘em right where we want ‘em kids!! Now we wait!!!
– clarkson fights for the Clark-a-like behind the bar!!! Two punches a take down and stunner!!!! Now give Sutter double digits!!!!
– me “dammit kovy you owe us one for the oopsie before”….ten seconds later rob texts “kovy owes us one eh?”
– man the flames are all over the front of the net, when did Brent learn coaching 101??
– umm, 15 years of recaps and I’m stunned….

(3-1) Nystrom[7] (none) {16:04}
Canada’s favorite punching bag makes a nice poke check to stop the puck,
has it with his glove but loses his balance and moves, exposing the puck and
hellllooo empty netter, feeling our age are we mb??

– wow, they quit on Sutter this time, irony ….least that period is over!!

– things went ok in the third, but not for long…

(4-1) Stajan[19] (Bourque, Iginla) {9:29}
Flames not getting much preesure but it only takes one shift….
Bourque rips a nice shot that mb gets the shoulder on but the
rebound was beefier and this one’s DONE….

– seems goalie interference doesn’t exist anymore

(5-1) Moss[8] (Hagman, Backlund) {10:02}
Moss all but puts his junk in mb’s mouth while totalling
busting into the crease, gets the rebound and holy shit….
Least this goal is Bob Backlund approved, eh?

– well least Clarkson whipped some ass, to think I almost went to this :p
– speaking of blowing even a Brent Sutter team can’t blow this!
– well I guess we can make em squirm…

(5-2) Parise[30-pp] (Langenbrunner, Zajac) {16:08}
Heh, seem familiar kipper??? Parise the long pass across to
Langs who bombs it, unlike in a Finn jersey, Kipper stops it
but beefy rebound du jour is there for Zach to tip home…aahhh??

– well it IS Brent Sutter!!

(5-3) Kovalchuk[34] (Elias, Zubrus) {17:26}
Well I was about to say if they get one here they can make em sweat….and Kovy walks over the line…shot…squeaks….through…Kipper and stops just over the goal line!!!

– make em sweat fuckers!!!!
– and our best goalie’s in there….empty net!! But it was not meant to be….oh well, they did make it interesting at least…..

(well unless anyone wants to guest host the Oilers game…. no more recaps till the Wednesday Ranger game… but i’ll try to pop up something to give some kind of discussion on the board…. wanna keep the place active after all!!!)

However that rant aside, I have almost a year of pent-up anger to shoot off at old coach prune-face in Calgary so I can see me doing some kinda write-up to shoot off on him now ruining my second favorite team as well….. but if you got something to say… holy hell… just SAY IT, I’d say email it to the 2man email…. but… umm…. I don’t think I know the username and password (again if you knew the awkwardness of being handed the keys to the site but I can’t check under the hood or even open the trunk, it’s kinda weird)
so if you want…. email through the facebook site ( http://www.facebook.com/twomanadvantage ) or just devangel@hotmail.com, I tend to check that enough on my cell phone…. so it’s all good…..

And oh yeah… get the hell back out there Paul Martin (and CMON LOU, we need a defenseman!!!)
Let there be NHL Hockey again!

We mostly know the US Story by now… unless you live in a ditch…. or South America (but she ain’t gonna read this anyway, it’s over 25 words)… so it’s pretty simple… Ryan Miller… timely goals and away they went! The Finns are similar but different, they play a more smothering old-school NJ Devils type of hockey, defense, defense and more defense (but yet no player EVER in Olympic hockey has more points then their own Teemu Selanne)…4 goals allowed in 4 games and 2 shutouts… yeah that’s pretty tight, and Kipper is maybe the best goalie in hockey that no one talks about…. so this should be an epic battle today!!!

(I like this way or writing a little better… it adds some flow and the jokes make a bit more sense this way… opinons??)
– Slow start to the game but loved Ryan Miller coming out and putting a courtesy check on a Finn to clear the puck, I love when goalies do dumb things like I do!…. and just as I talk about dumb shit that I do in goal….

(1 – 0, USA) Malone[3] (should be Kipper, and Kessel deserves one too… but no one gets one) {2:04}
Malone chips it out and off goes Kessel to come fetch it….Kipper comes WAY out to get it and makes a TERRIBLE pass that goes right to Malone… sweeps the shot past and it’s one-zip just like that!!

– and the next few shifts after, the Americans turn up the heat (Rafalski all over the damn place)… not a good sign for the Finns when you NEED to answer the bell after such a gaffe!!
– and people PLEASE stop texting me that Kipper pulled a Scott… I’d have cleared the zone on the bonehead pass, thanks!!
– the Finns look VERY nervous here… alot like the US Women did last night….
– Man the US speed and forecheck is all over the Finns and it drew an interference call…and right off the faceoff!!

(2 – 0) Parise[3-pp] (Statsny, Rafalski) {6:22}
AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Rafalski’s shot is blocked, but the Finn who gets a stick on it kicks it right to Statsny who waits and cuts the pass through three people and right on Parise’s stick… holds… flips… TOP SHELF and the Finns are in it and DEEP already!!!!

– and the Finns now doing their best team Russia impression and US right back to the pp

(3 – 0) E.Johnson [1-pp] (Pavelski, Malone) {8:36}
Kipper can’t handle the dump in and punches it to the corner…Malone hustles and gets to it… pops it behind the net… Pavelski to it… throws it in front.. and in American fashion it’s KICK/WHAM/STUNNER!! 3-0 and time out Finland… and maybe bye-bye Kipper!

– 6 shots on goal…. 3 goals… WOW
– and keeping with the every other shot thing…

(4 – 0) Kane[2] (none) {10:08}
Patrick Kane is dominating the play here….Kane the shot… Brown kicks it back to him…. cuts around everyone… looks.. dump… SCWWWAAAARRRR…. and this is a beatdown!! KIPPER TAPS OUT AND RUNS FOR THE BENCH!!!

– the only way the US could beat them down so savagely would be simply to invade them and take over :p
– Enter the Backstrom!!!! And he actually makes a successful save without letting a goal in!!
– Err nevermind what I said!

(5 – 0) Kane[3] (Rafalski) {12:31}
He just walks in, wide open… cuts wide, shoots far side… and I think they can put BOTH goalies in net and we’d still pound them!!

– I CAN’T KEEP UP!!!!

(6 – 0) Statsny[1] (Langenbrunner, Parise) {12:46}
2 goals in 15 seconds… and they had to change goal songs now it’s so ABSURD!!! Parise to the corner… leaves for Langs in the faceoff dot… across to Statsny… and BAM… can … you…. dig… that… SUCKA!!!!!!!! I’m running out of catch-phrases!!!!

– the Finns would run off the ice and go home right NOW if they could …. really…..’
– by the way… fuck you NBC, your exclusive crap with the highlights made seeing what happened in the late games impossible and it was a damn near needle in a haystack finding your crappy scoreboard!!!! It’s been annoying me all Olympics and now I can say it!!!
– Great line from no-longer-cousin Rob… “programming note: the role of the Finnish goalie is now being played by Vessa Toskala”… sure looks it don’t it??? I think Rafalski may shatter Selanne’s scoring record in this game alone!!
– Shots were 13-4 in the period… and holy God that was just a brutal beatdown!!

– I needed that whole intermission to double check all the goals… and what’s up with no goals in 10 minutes of play?? Really??
– Rob’s now trying too hard to be funny cause this game is in trash time (though the US is putting the foot off the gas a little soon here)… “who had the worse day… Kipper or Sea World?” Least Kipper only killed himself in this one… Sea World left thousands scarred and I think Finn-Nation is used to this kinda Olympic FAIL
– Ruttu takes a penalty and a misconduct… at this point it’s for pretending to be a hockey player, totally against the rules on team Finland when medals are on the line

NEWSFLASH… USA DOESN’T SCORE ON POWER PLAY… they’re partying in the streets in Finland I swear!!!

– Man if this game was somewhat close I’d be raving about Kessler’s block on that play… at this point I’m just trying not to type for the sake of typing…..
– It’s the second period and Doc is talking about preggo Dogs and pups… oh boy it’s going to be a SLOW third period…..

– Really ain’t much to say here unless something absurd happens right? Least the US is getting some penalty kill practice here…
– Ryan Miller pulled for Tim Thomas (who should have played one prelim game if you ask me)… I get the move… it’s classy and to protect the goalie and all…but geesh I have issues doing that with a shutout on the board……
– uh-oh Bobby Ryan (maybe the one guy who didn’t score today) takes a puck to the noggin… that HAS to hurt… save him for Sunday… he should be alright….
– See what I mean about the shutout ??

(6 -1) Mettinen[1] (Lepitsto) {14:46}
The Finns actually pretend they can play some hockey and pass the puck around…. the long shot comes from
Jack Johnson tries to block it and it hits his knee (OW) and it kinda goes bullet-time Matrix style from going right to going left…Tim Thomas can do not a damn thing about it on that one….. but still kinda sucks to lose the “zero”… an annoyance at best at this point

– and that’s gonna do it!!! IMPRESSIVE win for the US… not too much fun to watch once the wolves feasted on the carcass but you can bet Sunday’s gonna be one HELL of a slobberknocker!!!!

I have no idea how I will be covering this game… or what I will be writing… I’m really just making this damn thing up as I go right here… so please please do chirp in and get involved!!!

The US comes in at 2-0 and with a win tonight they take a top seed in the medal round, and I think only behind Finland over all as the best team in the Prelims, which will give them a nice patsy in the first medal round game they play in… and even with a respectable loss (more so if it goes to Overtime) the Americans will have an excellent shot at the “bonus bye” for the 4th best team in the pools…

Canada comes in with two not-so-good efforts in their opening games and an inexcusable shootout game against the Swiss who they are WORLDS better then (though Hiller did play out of his skull)… the shootout and the 2 points for the win (you see that NHL… PENALIZE a team for going to the Skills competition dammit!)….and if Canada doesn’t win regulation (depends on the score)…. they may have to play into the event which would be a DISASTER for a team that was supposed to DOMINATE here and not squeak in…. and all the pressure on the world is on them now!

First Period

– So far the best thing about watching the game at the bar…. JR and Milbury on MUTE… and the damn car race ended in time so all the NASCAR heads are leaving!
– Speaking of bad TV Coverage I could totally go into the disgrace job that NBC is doing with these Olympics but I am trying to be a lil kinder/gentler here and enjoying the ride… least the games today didn’t get stuffed in the corner for more curling…..
– Also damn, those USA jerseys look WAY too Ranger-Like… I get the 1980 Tribute and all… but booooo!! The Blue ones not so much….

– SCAWWWWRR!!!

Langenbrunner tips the Rafalski shot pass and it’s … one… NOTHING… NEW… errr.. USA!!!
Correction… Tip by CROSBY… score unchanged!!

– Crosby stuffed on the breakaway… MORE pouting ensues!!!!
– Getzlaf to the box for a cross check to the skull… ouch!!!
– USA has all sorts of jump and pressing like hell on Canada…. they’re feeling the pressure….San Jose fans, this look familiar to ya’s?

– Well Canada ties it up but still looks kinda crappy, but still a NICE tip by Staal (damn that name) on a Seabrook long shot….

– And speaking of Staal…. mb30 lets ANOTHER Rafalski wrister far side with Langs giving the ol’mb30 stink face!!!!!!
– 2 goals on 4 shots for the Americans…. wow… that’s the mb30 we got used to in the clutch :p
– What a hell of a first period for the US team….and judging by TSN on Facebook, the world is mutiny-ing against ol’mb30 here….

Second Period

– How awesome would an Olympic hockey fight be, eh??
– And right as I was about to say how GOOD Miller’s been….

Teows behind the net… comes to the front… shot… save Miller… juicy rebound and Heatley stuffs it home (and insert bad driving jokes here about Hot Rod Heatley)….2-2 game, blame Canada!

– good Lord Donald Sutherland looked like cold hard brutal death there didn’t he???
– mb30 ANOTHER one off the mask… THIS IS THE HOCKEY GODS TELLING YOU SOMETHING!!!
– Hot damn the game intensity is getting AWESOME….STAAL TURNS HEEL AND TAKES OUT PERRY!!! He’s gonna win the Royal Rumble!!!!
– did ya ever think you’d cheer THIS???

Bobby Ryan the shot… save…..Backus the next shot… is blocked…rebound comes loose… HELLO CHRIS DRURY and he stuffs it past mb30 for an all-too familair sight eh??? Just this one was kinda nicer to see… 3-2 US… FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

– WELCOME TO THE OLYMPIC BREAKAWAY COMPETITION!!!!! Kane, then Thornton…. then BOBBY RYAN!! Oh what a SAVE FEST!!!!!
– attaboy Rafaslki….get that back elbow in when Staal tries to ride you like an awful country music song!
– This game has been all the intensity and fire I was hoping for… ANYONE who’s anti-Pros in the Olympics needs this game as proof!!!

Third Period

– Cindy to the box, someone get the diapers and a bottle!!
– Best thing about being in a half-full bar like this… the Olympics are on and the ice dancing is on… NOT ONE FUCKING PERSON IS WATCHING THE ICE DANCING… suck it NBC!!!!
– Damn if the US scored on that delayed call, would the broken stick have gotten an assist??? US back on the power play!
– and Rafalski 3:16 says…..

I JUST LIT UP YOUR ASS!!!!! Puck to the point….Parise and Langs in front… looks like Captain AMERICA is right there to be AMERICAN PAIN IN THE ASS TIPPING IT HOME!!!

– And then Ryan Miller is just CLUTCH CLUTCH CLUTCH… SUCK ON MY STICK SAVE CINDY!!!!!!!!!!! And a nice flop and spin-a-roonie… SUCKA!!
– So ya think with each goal the smile on Luongo’s face gets better??? (as I say this MBxxx makes a HUGE stick save)
– Canadians on a HUGE pp… missed on who… sorry
– ok, so we did the KILL KILL KILL chant in the bar… even Andy was involved… he got a kick being on the other side of it
– seeing Joe Thornton with the puck makes me think the Canadians have more chokers on the roster then the Benoit family did ……
– and HOLY SHIT RYAN MILLER MAKES ME REGRET MY BEER CHOICE OF SAM ADAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Least it’s an American beer.. screw your Molsons!!!! (only for tonight :p)
– but just when you think the game is over…..

Nash from the corner… sees Cindy in front… the old no-touch rule is in effect…. Cindy taps it home and gets it through the pads of Miller…. well it’s gonna be a FUN finish eh???

– NIEDERMAYER OFF THE OUTSIDE POST!!!! 3:00 of a hockey game to kill!!!
– Jesus TWO STRAIGHT MINUTES OF BLITZ BUT MILLER AND THE AMERICANS HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE!!!
(30 years later, Miracle 2.0??)
– Why did Wilson NOT call tiem out there???
…maybe cause of this!!

Kesler jumps OVER THE CANADIAN PLAYER and taps it into the empty net… the goal was so ridiculous and crazy, Parise gets the back door assist!!!

– Deportations, riots and mb30 sent to the American team out of SPITE soon to ensue!!
– CMON LET EM FIGHT!! SCREW THE IOC RULES!!

Teams that could only win if Tommy Salo made an Olympic Return
(aka, Dark Horses/the teams that suck!)

Goaltenders: Vitali Koval, Maxim Malyutin, Andrei Mezin
Defense: Andrei Antonov, Andrei Bashko, Vladimir Denisov, Viktor Kostiuchenok, Ruslan Salei, Nikolai Stasenko, Vadim Sushko, Alexander Syrei
Forwards: Oleg Antonenko, Sergei Demagin, Mikhail Grabovsky, Alexei Kaliuzhny, Konstantin Koltsov, Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn, Alexander Kulakov, Andrei Mikhalev, Andrei Stas, Alexei Ugarov, Sergei Zadelenov

Alright… be honest you barely know anyone on this team either (though one or two of the people who love to piss and moan at me, hell they probably blame me for every one else retiring)… the only reason I remember Mezin is I think he was the goalie when Tommy Salo headbutted team Belarus into one of the biggest upsets in Olympic History… they have a few NHL players, and none of them are exactly all-stars…. I ain’t wasting much time on the cannon fodders……

Goaltenders: Dennis Endras, Thomas Greiss, Dimitri Pätzold
Defense: Michael Bakos, Christian Ehrhoff, Jakub Ficenec, Jason Holland, Korbinian Holzer, Chris Schmidt,
Dennis Seidenberg, Alexander Sulzer
Forwards: Alexander Barta, Sven Felski, Marcel Goc, Thomas Greilinger, Jochen Hecht, Manuel Klinge, Marcel Müller, Travis James Mulock, André Rankel, Marco Sturm, John Tripp, Michael Wolf

FYI, Thomas Greiss is Nabby’s backup in San Jose in case you wasted time reading this part (no I didn’t need to look it up :p)… Strum and Hecht are functional NHL’ers… but again…. they ain’t got the guns… they are improved from the days of it being the “beat on Ollie Kolzig show”… but they’re stilla LONG way from being competitive in a top-tier way…..

Goaltenders: Edgars Masalskis, Ervins Mustukovs, Sergejs Naumovs
Defense: Oskars Bartulis, Guntis Galvins, Rodrigo Lavins, Georgijs Pujacs, Krisjanis Redlihs, Arvids Rekis,
Karlis Skrastins, Kristaps Sotnieks
Forwards: Girts Ankipans, Armands Berzins, Martins Cipulis, Lauris Darzins, Kaspars Daugavins, Martins Karsums, Gints Meija,
Aleksandrs Nizivijs, Mikelis Redlihs, Aleksejs Sirokovs, Janis Sprukts, Herberts Vasiljevs

Ah… WORLD FAMOUS Latvia (ok you had to read the facebook status to get that), but like I hinted there and the two teams above….. there’s not much here to brag about… and this is one of them teams that will have a parade if they win a game in the prelims and call it a GREAT SUCCESS on a Borat type level (hopefully without the hairy naked man-wrestling scenes :p)

Goaltenders: Pål Grotnes, Andre Lysenstøen, Ruben Smith
Defense: Alexander Bonsaksen, Jonas Holøs, Tommy Jakobsen, Juha Kaunismäki, Lars Erik Lund, Ole Kristian Tollefsen, Mats Trygg
Forwards: Mats Zuccarello Aasen, Morten Ask, Anders Bastiansen, Kristian Forsberg, Mads Hansen, Marius Holtet, Mathis Olimb,
Martin Røymark, Per-Åge Skrøder, Lars Erik Spets, Patrick Thoresen, Tore Vikingstad, Martin Laumann Ylven

Funny that a country that is so friggin COLD all the time sucks so bad at ice hockey… but they do…. the only reason I know Tollefson is I grabbed him on waivers in NHL 09 and he was a nice 6th D on the video game… and admit it that’s more then you know about him unless you cheer for the Winged Wheel…. the rest of this team… yeah right, there’s a reason they’re in the jobber category…..

Teams that can Scare the Piss out of you, but Not Win
(should clear the prelims and maybe medal but not expected to do much)

Goaltenders: Ondrej Pavelec, Jakub Stepanek, Tomas Vokoun
Defense: Miroslav Blatak, Jan Hejda, Tomas Kaberle, Filip Kuba, Pavel Kubina, Zbynek Michalek, Roman Polak, Marek Zidlicky
Forwards: Petr Cajanek, Roman Cervenka, Patrik Elias, Martin Erat, Tomas Fleischmann, Martin Havlat, Jaromir Jagr, David Krejci, Milan Michalek, Tomas Plekanec, Tomas Rolinek, Josef Vasicek

See, now we’re talking some teams that can make a little noise!! Vokun is a legit top-tier goalie (but he’s also erratic enough he could implode at any time… he’s been solid to flat out REALLY GOOD of late though)…. the defense corps are solid too, the forwards have some serious talent in them (Elias, Jagr, Erat, etc…)… they can score some goals, the D is a little weak… but they won’t be a walk over for damn sure, and the Czechs are nowhere near as deep as some of the other teams in the tournament….

Goaltenders:Peter Budaj, Jaroslav Halak, Rastislav Stana
Defense: Ivan Baranka, Zdeno Chara, Milan Jurcina, Andrej Meszaros, Andrej Sekera, Martin Strbak, Lubomir Visnovsky
Forwards: Lubos Bartecko, Martin Cibak, Pavol Demitra, Marian Gaborik, Michal Handzus, Marcel Hossa, Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky, Zigmund Palffy, Branko Radivojevic, Miroslav Satan, Jozef Stümpel, Richard Zednik

Goaltending is questionable here, but for Halak the pressure of carrying his country on his back is probably less then playing in Montreal :p… being able to roll Chara out there every other shift will make up for some shortcomings on D… the Slovacs also have some nifty scorers (who will all look better if Gaborik plays… he’s allowed to get hurt in the last Olympic game )… and just seeing Ziggy Palffy again made me chuckle a little again! It’s a shame them and the Czechs had to split… if they didn’t they might be a medal worthy combination team… if Halak is on though they won’t go down easy either……

Goaltenders: Ronnie Rüeger, Jonas Hiller, Tobias Stephan
Defense: Goran Bezina, Severin Blindenbacher, Rafael Diaz, Roman Josi, Luca Sbisa, Mathias Seger, Mark Streit,
Yannick Weber
Forwards: Andres Ambühl, Thomas Déruns, Hnat Domenichelli, Sandy Jeannin, Thibaut Monnet, Thierry Paterlini, Martin Plüss, Kevin Romy, Ivo Rüthemann, Raffaele Sannitz, Julien Sprunger, Roman Wick

Jonas Hiller is good enough to make this team a contender on his own (hell David Aebischer almost did a few Olympics ago), there’s not much else here….hell only one other NHLer and some almost’s and never-were’s… but if Hiller was good enough to purge Jiggy-Pout from the PondScum… he’s good enough to take the Swiss outta the “jobber” category in the Olympics… and he’s not the guy you wanna face in the first game of the medal round… he’ll make it WAY tough on you…..

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas
Defense: Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Tim Gleason, Ryan Whitney, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter
Forwards: David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny

I struggled with making the US an “elite” team in the pool, but maybe as I overrated the Swiss, I may underrate the US team here… but it makes for easier reading to have 4 teams in each bracket… so NYAH!!! One of only two teams to sport an all-NHL roster, the US team is stacked with good young, fast forwards (well and Langs and Drury)… and that youth is a big advantage… sometimes being young and too dumb to realize you don’t belong there is the best thing you can have… the US team also boasts the goalie who’s playing the best hockey in the NHL all-season long, the D is a little soft, but in the Olympics it’s more about speed, movement and recovery then crash ‘n bang… so this too may suit the US team well…. this team is the most likely to make medal noise of the non-elite eight I’ve previewed so far and I am fully aware of that… but with this roster and it’s youth and inexperience… it seems like a “next time” type of team more geared for 2014….

Teams that if they don’t win Their Country Will Riot
(aka: the Favorites)

CANADA
Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Marc-André Fleury, Roberto Luongo
Defense: Dan Boyle, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Brent Seabrook, Shea Weber
Forwards: Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Dany Heatley, Jarome Iginla, Patrick Marleau, Brenden Morrow, Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Mike Richards, Eric Staal, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews

Well this one is obvious…. not only an ALL-NHL… but a freaking all-star one too!! The Canadians can put two all-star level teams and still have players to spare… after all… it’s their freaking sport man!!! But add that and the intense pressure of home-ice and the high-end demands of their fans and country wanting “gold or don’t come back”… the biggest opponent they could face is their own issues….not to mention EVERY move is gonna be second-guessed as they first happen… Scott Niedermayer… ain’t he too old… hasn’t he sucked this year?? MB30 vs Luongo… hey both have struggled the last few weeks… what about Fleury??? This team may have too much talent for it’s own damn good… and the first line is all-Sharks… we know how they do under pressure and duress, but still… any thoughts of cutting this team down are a reach….anyone who doesn’t think they can win it all and maybe not lose a game is fooling themselves…..

FINLAND
Goaltenders:Niklas Bäckström, Miikka Kiprusoff, Antero Niittymäki
Defense: Lasse Kukkonen, Sami Lepistö, Toni Lydman, Janne Niskala, Joni Pitkänen, Sami Salo, Kimmo Timonen
Forwards: Valtteri Filppula, Niklas Hagman, Jarkko Immonen, Olli Jokinen, Niko Kapanen,
Mikko Koivu, Saku Koivu, Jere Lehtinen, Antti Miettinen, Ville Peltonen, Jarkko Ruutu, Tuomo Ruutu,
Teemu Selänne

Strong in goal… finalists last time around… solid defenders… decent enough up front….and Selanne gets hot and they can be dangerous….Kipper’s carried teams on his back before in the Olympics and the Stanley Cup Playoffs….but also in contrast… if Kipper goes ass-up (he’s done that too)… and Selanne and the Koviu’s do nothing… this team is cannon-fodder (no I am not ignoring Jokinen, I’m just stating the obvious on how he is under pressure.. hence him being the perfect Ranger!)…. certainly not a team to be taken lightly either

RUSSIA
Goaltenders: Ilya Bryzgalov, Evgeni Nabokov, Semyon Varlamov
Defense: Sergei Gonchar, Denis Grebeshkov, Dmitri Kalinin, Konstantin Korneyev, Andrei Markov,
Ilya Nikulin, Fedor Tyutin, Anton Volchenkov
Forwards: Maxim Afinogenov, Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Fedorov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Viktor Kozlov, Evgeni Malkin, Alexei Morozov, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Radulov, Alexander Semin, Danis Zaripov, Sergei Zinoviev

Any team that has a SECOND line with Kovalchuk and Datsyuk on it… you just look and go WOW… not a packed with NHL-talent team… but you can make a case they have more top 10 players in the NHL then anyone else in the event… so what they have is absurdly GOOD talent, the strength of this team is up front (you can say in goal, but Bryzgalov only did it once in the playoffs… and that’s one more then Nabokov ever did…. and Varlamov got exposed by the Penguins last year… so I’ll give the goalies a maybe grade with a chance to stand up and prove themselves)… the D is mobile and finesse which is Olympic-style hockey, so that’s not a minus… and admit it… this is a fun team to watch… thankfully the Cold War is over and we can say that without being called Communists or worse :p.. probably the co-favorite with Canada… not medalling at all would be a MASSIVE fail for this team….

SWEDEN
Goaltenders:Jonas Gustavsson, Stefan Liv, Henrik Lundqvist
Defense: Tobias Enström, Magnus Johansson, Niklas Kronwall, Nicklas Lidström, Douglas Murray, Johnny Oduya, Mattias Öhlund, Henrik Tallinder
Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Bäckström, Loui Eriksson, Peter Forsberg, Tomas Holmström, Patric Hörnqvist, Fredrik Modin, Samuel Påhlsson, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mattias Weinhandl, Henrik Zetterberg

OMG IT’S HENRIK LUNDQVIST!!! HE REDEFINED THE GOALIE POSITION… HE MAKES SAVES WITH HIS MASK!!! HE’S GROUNDBREAKING!! (sorry I watched the Ranger game on Sunday… and listening to them beat up on Tampa the way the announcer shills were I thought they made the conference finals :p)… but that aside Henrik DID carry this team to Olympic Gold last time around….and like with Chara, when you can put Nik Lidstrom out there every other shift it fixes many flaws….and with the Sedin’s playing out of their skulls good this year, supporting players like Alfredsson, Zetterburg and maybe the biggest wild card in the tournament in Peter Forsberg… this team is dangerous too…. and another team with much medal pressure on them……

This should be a fun two weeks of hockey… hopefully you get out there and ENJOY IT!! (not to mention when the women’s hockey gets to the medal round that will be good stuff too!!)… We’ll let this sit for a while and once I check the schedules… I’ll decide what games I’m gonna pick, choose and write about… I’d say the first game is likely the US/Canada one…. well unless it’s Sat night, then I’m in Delaware having a life…. we’ll worry about that when it’s about to happen soon enough….

The Good:
– WE DIDN’T BLOW A TWO GOAL LEAD…. hooray!!!!!! In fact this game was a massive 500 pound gorilla off their back and the liberation to it I can only compared to losing a 5′11” blonde gorilla right before my birthday
– Jacques Lemaire…. yeah he’s been dealt a crappy deck with this team and the injuries… and he overplays the vets… but HE FINALLY did it and got a message across… Jay Pandolfo sat out tonight… healthy scratch!! THANK GOD, no longer is it ok to shoot pucks right into the logo… no more will be matching lines and putting tpye-2 viagra level stiffs on the ice when it matters!! We have GOOD YOUNG PLAYERS WHO NEED TO DEVELOP, and sitting dead wood for young legs is what we NEED to do more of now!
– Kovalchuk…. I mean yeah I’ve seen him when Atlanta would play us… but you don’t really WATCH HIM…. Jesus Christ I think he’s got the hardest in-game shot in this team’s HISTORY…. when he clanked that post in the first period… Tammie heard it… on the escalator…. on the other side of the building :p…. when he hit that defenseman in the HELMET with it… he damn sure FELT IT (during the next PP Ilya went back to the dude… and I have no idea if he apologized or in his best Ivan Drago voice went “next time I must break you”)… and then of course… the goal…. and go figure I was just bragging about the power of my WEEKES jersey winning me another Super Bowl box this year… and kick.. wham… GOAL!!!! (I wanted to get a HEY… KOVAL-CHUK over the YOU SUCK… but it didn’t get there!)
– Hell all the big names we need to score…. scored tonight!!! And it’s a POWER PLAY GOAL… fuck you Sam Rosen!! (and arena security too :p ), Murphy and Fraser got good minutes and I REALLY liked what I saw from Corrente on the RW… like another converted defense-person (oh that will piss her off)…. he did really good… he got his shit dirty… he HIT PEOPLE… and he showed some real promise as a RW… and replacing Pando… the bar was set low….

the Bad:
– Jason Arnott was a -3… oh wait… everyone forgot about him and hell he was damn near invisible on the ice, thank God too… the reunion tour HAS to stop and I don’t want that mess back in Jersey :p
– Brian Rolston played 1/4 of the game and the only reason you’d know it is his time on ice….
– Poor Zharkov… he’s snakebitten again…. we just don’t like our Russian Wings in Jersey….

the Funny:
– I was being vague and message sending today (so was my mp3 player) and after having Freebird come up three times on the device today (and then the Micro SD card is gone… weird)… I decided to post the lyrics for reasons only known to me… and this starts a whole bitch-fight essentially, and anyone who knows me…. they know how much and WHY I hate country music…. so now they’re all like… well that’s a country song, and I’ll be double damned if:
A. them get away with it (I’ll stab myself… or worse.. watch a Ranger game….. before liking country music, country music SOUTHERN ROCK)
B. Let them have the last word
C. Listen to the Who over them!!!!
– so it started in warmups (though amazing I didn’t have ONE incident with a self-deluded bag of balls bothering me during warmups… yay!)… Patrik Elias WIPES OUT… I wanted to call it a header but I get yelled at by the soccer nation…..and I just panic… all I do is yell OH NO, DON’T YOU BE HURT PATRIK WE NEED YOU NOW DAMMIT!!!! Thankfully he was ok and my cursing fit was only for the amusement of a few!
– Ah, our lovely Pete moments of the night… though his pesty friendship with dear Clutch is strained (oh let him yell at you… the options are brutal)…. but as always… he asks me the goalie’s name it gets ugly:
“Hey Scott what’s the goalie’s name?”
“Rinne….”
“HEY WEINER YOU SUCK!!!”
– Josh Burnett (on our 5 on 3 FAILS):
“Well thank god the whole we-can’t-score-on-a-2-man-advantage thing held true, or the we-can’t-hold-a-2-0-lead thing
would be in play.” … and we only blew a one goal lead and still won!!!
– Gotta love a fan base so desperate for offense that when Kovie FINALLY did score… and we as a TEAM scored three goals… hats come flying on the ice… um no guys, slow down there… I was actually half amused (and like Josh)… half stunned by the dumb of it… her lordship goes into a curse filled tirade over and over again YOU FUCKING MORONS STOP IT BEFORE WE GET A FUCKING PENALTY (I swear it was like watching a game with Pat Burns!)… screaming and raving like crazy to the point it annoyed the guy in front of us with his three kids (really the fuck bomb was dropped more times now then any weapon used in Iraq… accept this and don’t get me started on the fucked philosophy of this country where we can show horrific acts of hate and violence all the time and it’s ok .. BUT OH MY GOD HE SAID A NAUGHTY WORD and the world’s supposed to end… fuck you.. lighten up, the WORD means NOTHING unless YOU empower it!)

…. and just when she stops ranting… Goomba steals the rant… but nooooo we don’t complain about him using it… because we’re a pussy and he could hurt you… douche bag!!!

Well I know it ain’t much but it was a lot of fun… and don’t worry… I’ll be doing some kinda thoughts and maybe even an Olympic Preview as we go get all Kurt Angle and GET OLYMPIC for the next few weeks…. stick with me… it’ll be fun, I guarantee it!!!!

ANSSI SALMELA IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

… errrr…. yeah…. right!!!

Well I played good in goal at least

(I know I know, I’m just putting it off now)

and by now you ALL know the details anyway, so now the Devils have the most dynamic Russian born right handed shot winger this side of Ovechkin in the league… THIS IS GOOD….though to remind some people of the crap I heard today before hand…

“Lou never makes this kinda trade….”
You guys forget Doug Gilmour?? Maybe that Moginly guy rings a bell…. maybe trading for Richer and Lemieux don’t count either anymore?? The reason the Devils ain’t made this kinda trade in like…. a decade… they DIDN’T HAVE THE PROSPECTS TO DEAL (Even giving them Oduya, and in the NHL Bergfors… looks like that Parise/Bergie sandwich my friend was hoping on is gonna have to wait now…)… the cup board needed to be refilled before Lou could cook up a deal… pretty simple….

“what about him walking at the end of the year??”
Kovalchuk (and damn me I gotta add his name to the spell check now) said he wants to WIN… so lets let him do some WINNING here, and I am talking a serious playoff run … and maybe those contract demands shrink (or he signs a one-year cheapie deal like Hossa did in the Detroit to try at it again)

“wow… we’re kinda good now… again… huh??”
Umm… yeah!!! When you can roll out a top 6 of:
Parise-Zajac-Langs
Elias-Zubrus-Kovy
and have Rolston and Clarkson on the 3rd line…. yeah that’s damn good…. and buckle in… looks like we may be riding his horse through May this year (for once)…. it’s gonna be fun tomorrow night ain’t it???

Forwards:
#9: Zach Parise-A (2g, 10a=12 pts,+2)
OH MY GOD PARISE ALMOST WENT THE WHOLE MONTH WITHOUT A GOAL!!!!! And look…. the world didn’t end, dogs and cats didn’t start having babies… I didn’t start speaking Spanish….. the Cowboys didn’t start winning in Decemeber…. oh… wait… they did But in seriousness the best thing about Parise’s scoring funk… he NEVER stopped playing hard, getting chances (hell he still had 10 assists so someone got ten goals thanks to Zach)… and his body language and effort never sagged or dropped during the funk… that’s the sign of a good player! Hard work, consistent effort, it’s all good Zach!
Grade: B+

#19: Travis Zajac (2g, 5a=7 pts,+1)
Had some scoring troubles in the month too, but I’ll link those issues to Parise’s (since for the most they are linemates for life in jersey)….But you can also say that maybe Parise struggled too because Zajac was kinda eh in the month also…slumps do happen though, and the Devils were fortunate that the 3rd and 4th lines were GOOD this month (and it helped the team alot)…his level of play and intensity didn’t seem to match Zach’s though (but that’s expected and why Zach is the superstar on the team and why Zajac is just a good supporting piece)… he’ll be ok, and he’s already scored in January so it’s all good!
Grade: B-

#15: Jamie Langenbrunner-C (5g, 5a=10 pts,+1)
It’s a weird thing… and stats aren’t always everything (yes I’ll get shit for this with the first week he had in January. but this is DECEMBER’S month in review :p)…. he has nice offensive numbers, but there was a REASON he’s been pulled from Zajac and Parise… and down to the 3rd line… the wheels are not there and something seems off on his level of play… he reminds me of the top scorer on my Ford’s Cup team… he had great hands and could finish with anyone…. but man he didn’t do much else… maybe he’s playing through injury again I don’t know (he does too damn much of that and costs himself a month of good play to not sitting a few nights… I know that kinda stubborn, as anyone who saw me walking around like my leg fell off at Tuesday’s game)… there’s a reason me and my fellow 209ers have been tough on him all month…..
Grade: B-

#18: Nicklas Bergfors (7g, 3a=11pts,-5)
Love the offense and the skill and the confidence this kid shows on the ice each game… but you can tell from the -5 on why Lemaire dogs him about defense and learning both ends of the ice…. but in doing his main job in making most of up forget Brian Gionta (sorry your Lordship :p)….also showed he can skate and play with Parise and Zajac (hell his efforts are part of the reason Langenbrunner is no longer on that line)… not to mention that second in the league in rookie scoring is pretty damn good too… he’ll learn the rest of the game and Jacques’ will crack the whip as it’s needed to keep him in line!
Grade: B

#21: Rob Niedermayer (3g, 3a=6pts,-1)
Smart…crafty, does a lot of little plays still that you just look and see… DAMN I liked that… kinda spotty on faceoffs (some days it’s real good… other days it’s 15%..crikey! Not the fastest… or overly physical, but he still finds way to do the little things, and that ear-piercing NIEEDDDDMMMMAAAYYYYYEEEEERRRR to my left is always attention getting …..he’s been solid
Grade: B

#12: Brian Rolston (5g, 4a=9pts, +4)
Steady through the month, but hit the wall at the end (hell alot of the guys did… that was a ROUGH month of games)…. no points in his last 4 games is a bit of a downer…. and he’s back on a 27-goal pace after what was a slow start to the year for him….he kinda is what he is at this point, and the main thing…but there’s been too many games you forget he’s out there and with his shot, speed and pp time that can’t happen…..
Grade: B-

#20: Jay Pandolfo (1g, 3a=4pts,-5)
Ugh… of all the guys to come back and be healthy this is the one I wanted back the least…. I know I’ve been on Pando’s ass since he came into the league, but the good years are behind him…gets too much ice time (I don’t like or beleive in the defensive shadow role… that died with the lockout)
Grade: C-

#10: Rod Pelley (2g, 2a=4pts, +2)
The POWER OF PIST ROD PELLEY (ah, leave it to me to take moments of personal idiocy and make them into gold and eternal running commentary for life)… and four points in a MONTH?? I’d have been shocked to see that for the YEAR… he’s really growing comfortable in his role.. and he can lay some MONSTER hits for a 5′11” guy! I mean don’t get me wrong.. he’s still a 4th liner… but again with the lousy level of 4th liners and how the chicken-shit coaches of the past didn’t use them… it’s been a god send to see an effective 4th line, and it has been Pelley-Powered!!! (and people who know me love I loves me a good 4th line!)
Grade: A

#25: Andrew Peters (4 games, no points, +1, 15 PIM)
I’m sorry I don’t give a shit what he did the rest of the month, but when you ain’t played in 3 weeks and you get into a fight 16 seconds into the game and your jersey comes off YOU FAIL AND YOU SUCK SIR!
Grade: F (TIE YOUR FUCKING JERSEY DOUCHEBAG!!!)

#17: Ilkka Pikkarainen (11 games, 1g, 2a=3pts, +1)
Pikka-chu’s been decent this month too, and even the garbage way his first NHL goal was scored (PRICE WAS WRONG BITCH!!)… I see points on the 4th line and I get all excited! And add in the fact he was getting 8-10 minutes a night that shows the level of improved play here… and keep in mind the grade is for what his role is on the team, and he’s been good at what he does!
Grade: B

#11: Dean McAmmond (3g, 4a=7pts, +1)
Geesh, he was a -8 in the last 4 games, and the only non-minus game was a shutout …. damn), he slowed down a bit as the month went on (obviously :p)… but still… he’s been ok between Elias and Rolston, and he’s putting up John Madden-style numbers… hopefully the end of the month slip is just a rut and not the old fella crashing into the wall after only 6 weeks back in the NHL… he’ll adjust… I’d hope, though as old as he is, he ain’t THAT established in the NHL as much….something to worry and keep an eye on….
Grade: C

#28: Vladimir Zharkov (0g, 6a=6pts, +5)
Nifty little player, has nice flash… doesn’t get enough shots to the net yet… but he’s learning, played well with Elias and Rolston and that helps too….good guy to just plug in there and get a bit of offensive crafty in there….probably gone back to Lowell when this team gets healthy, but he’s got a good chance to be on this team next season and beyond (or a key piece in a playoff push type of trade)
Grade: B+
—————————————-

Defense:
#6: Andy Greene (2g, 9a=11pts, +2, 25:00 TOI)
What can I say about Andy that I haven’t already? 2nd in the East in scoring… plays damn near half the game… makes smart plays in one step back in his own end….mobile… and still growing as an NHL player… it’s been the best story about this year (yes in more ways then one <3 )… Andy could fix the economy, move continents and even get Michael Bay to write good movies!!! Need I say more????
Grade: A

#24: Bryce Salvador (2g, 0a=2pts, +2, 21:00 TOI)
As good and obvious as the Andy Greene Show has been… I think what gets really lost in that act is the fact that he's had a pretty damn good side kick in Salvador with him…. long gone are the days of people pissing and moaning that we got this guy for Cam Janssen (think about THAT for a second)… Bryce has done everything asked of him and been the steady compliment and rarely needed backup plan for Andy when he jumps into the offense…..
Grade: A

#2: Mark Fraser (1g, 1a=2pts, +7, 14:00 TOI)
He's been solid too…but protected… you can tell by his ice time and when the Devils are home, they take advantage of match-ups and keep Fraser off the ice when the big boys are out there…he's big, he takes the body….he could fight more, but I don't like defensemen fighting personally… he's coming along nicely!
Grade: B-

#5: Colin White (1g, 4a=5pts, +2, 23:30 TOI)
WHITE POWER!!! (it's my thing deal with it :p)… he's been good again this month, plays big ice time each game…. again when you don't notice Colin… it's good… and I didn't notice him much… and it's been a long time since you'd yell HOLY SHIT COLIN at him… so since less is more for Colin, I'm gonna say less about him and grade him more!
Grade: B+

#29: Johnny Oduya (1g, 0a=1pt, +5, 21:00 TOI)
ONE POINT?? Really?!?!?! Least his defense is getting better… and he's moving the puck again and better on defense… still you'd think the one guy who'd benefit from Lemaire like every one else… There's still much time to improve at least, and he did improve this month….
Grade: C-

#27: Mike Mottau (0g, 1a=1pt, -7, 26:00 TOI)
Looks like all the ice time is catching up with him a little bit here… his stats slipped (and look at that -7), and the plays… just not as good… been forced (again) to play over his head and it caught up a lil bit this month… he's still a useful player… but they pushed the gas pedal too far this month and it's running on empty…..
Grade: B+

#32: Matthew Corrente (5 games, no points, even, 10 PIM)
Much like Fraser was brought in sparingly, and allowed to get his feet wet… and in the NHL getting your feet wet playing defense is NOT an easy job… I liked the fighting (but again, more when he was playing forward)…. he was pretty well protected when possible….still truly hard to figure him out while he's still figuring it out… but he's been ok!
Grade: C+ (borderline incomplete)
——————————————-

Incompletes:
#7: Paul Martin-A… did not play all month
#23: David Clarkson (2 games played, no points,-2, 5 PIM)… came back and got hurt again *ugh*
#16: Matt Halischuk (2 games, no points, -2)
It's a damn shame, he just looked like he had gotten it on the NHL level and caught up with the game and the speed of the players on ice…he got sent down… grrrr… in a perfect world, he's in and Pando's out, we all know this ain't a perfect world though
#22: The man called PL^3….Hasn't played a game since Nov 4th… wow
#8: Danius Zubrus… also did not play in December

Goalies:
#30: mb30 (15 games: 10-4, 2.37 gaa, 3 So, 3a)
Well what can you say??? He's in mid-season form (and it IS mid-season so that makes sense :p)…. played too many games in the month but this is NOTHING NEW *sigh*…. I guess we're supposed to forget this is an Olympic Year and the fucker's gonna play 100 games BEFORE the playoffs… and trust me…I'm 37 also… the body DOES break down admit it or not…. dude needs some rest (and Dennis's been good when allowed to play, and I do mean allowed)… being benched after one bad period in his ONLY bad game in the month ain't enough… UNLEASH THE DENNIS!!!
Grade: A

#35: Jan Dennis (1 game, 1-0, 0.67 gaa)
Only got one chance to shine and hot damn he DID make the most of it when he did… came in for the Atlanta game at the same time that the Cowboys shocked the WORLD in New Orleans (what a great snowy night that was….)… I just give him a grade because it's so damn hard to sit there all the time and flip the switch and play when you win the lottery and get a damn start on this team!!
Grade: A

——————————————-

Coaching Staff:
What can you say about what Lemaire and company is doing with this team?? If the head coach is the conductor for a symphony then Jacques is crafting his greatest song ever here….The dealing with the injuries, the growth and development of the rookies… it really is the mother of all masterpieces…. the only knock I have on Jacques is that he's not letting Dennis play enough… but I can see why the way mb30 is pumping out A games each night…
Grade: A

Front Office:
… well there were no trades or major moves to really talk about… I mean there's not much need to… things just keep on keeping on!!!
Grade: A (but could be called Incomplete too)

So sorry I haven’t posted much lately, but with a straight month ’til school starts up again (and about two months before it gets insane again), I’ll be back on a regular basis for awhile again.  Thanks so much for sticking with us.  And thanks to Scott for not letting the site fall into total abandoned disrepair.

I have only been paying slight attention to what’s been going on in the world of hockey.  Martin Brodeur broke another record, this one more meaningless than other recent ones (Games played?  Games started? Something like that.)  Zach Parise may very well never score a goal again.  Travis and Zach have split up, are seeing other people, but everyone knows they’ll be back together soon enough.

The BIG news, though…is that officially, at the end of play last night, the Devils were in first place.

First place in the Atlantic?  Well, yeah, but think bigger.

First place in the Eastern conference?  Keep going.  How about something like…

FIRST PLACE IN THE ENTIRE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.

Yeah, this team is damn friggin’ good.

So tonight, the Devils look to extend that lead in the league against the perennial-doormats-turned-surprisingly-5th-place-in-the-East Atlanta Thrashers.  The last time the two teams played, I believe we were all in moderate freak-out mode, as the Thrashers thrashed (sorry, hack move, I know) the Devils at the Rock, the third game of a three consecutive home loses to start the season.  Needless to say, I’m a little less freaked out now, as is the rest of the fanbase.  And if you’re nitpicking over bad plays or poor shot selection or the team’s inability to make us proud by kicking ass in the situation that is our namesake, then go back and read the bolded print earlier in this post.

I would be moderately stunned if Martin Brodeur starts tonight, after starting about a zillion consecutive games and then flying to Hotlanta for today’s game.  I think THE Yann Danis deserves the start.  Of course, trying to guess when Marty sits is probably ridiculous anyways.  Edit: And yeah, apparently Marty’s starting again tonight.  Please join myself and the rest of the Devils fanbase in a loud cry of “WTF, I thought this was an Olympic year?!”

But, even if La Grenouille (remember, thus is Yann Danis’ nickname, so says I) does start, Brodeur will be on the ice tonight.  The Senators announced this morning that Mike Brodeur will get his NHL debut start this evening against the Minnesota Wild, who are probably in their own manner of freak out this afternoon after THIS happened.

Note to the NHL: The Senators are really into sabotage.  First seven Sabres get food poisoning after eating at a steakhouse in Ottawa, and now this?  Thankfully the Devils have already gotten through one game up there alive.