I thought it would be another day or two before we saw the roster but Christmas came a little early this year! The Devils have trimmed their roster down to twenty-three, and it looks a little something like this:

You may notice a few surprises such as Petr Vrana & Anssi Salmela grabbing roster spots. Vrana ousted Rod Pelley who was assigned to Lowell of the AHL. To me, Salmela isn’t exactly a surprise… after watching him play live on Long Island last week I had a strong feeling he had earned a spot on the big team — especially after his off-balance rocket that beat Joey MacDonald to put the Devils up 3-0. Salmela’s biggest Achilles seems to be his puck control at the point, but the issue seems to be cleaning up fast and shouldn’t even be a problem once the puck drops on Friday.

Speaking of Friday, the lines figure to look a little something like this:

- FORWARDS -

Elias - Rolston - Gionta
Parise - Zajac - Langenbrunner
Pandolfo - Madden - Clarkson
Rupp (Vrana?) - Holik - Zubrus

- DEFENSE -

White / Salmela
Mottau / Oduya
Martin / Salvador

Brodeur

I should also note that Fedor Fedorov has been placed on waivers. Apparently the Devils gave up on him and it’s not exactly a mystery as to why. The guy has a weak work ethic and that won’t carry you anywhere in this league, especially under Lou Lamoriello.

Although I can be quoted as saying that the team hasn’t done much to improve, I am ready to accept my helping of crow. After reviewing the roster and taking in a live pre-season game, I can see a noticeable difference in this years squad. They are bigger, faster, and a ton more aggressive than any team in recent history.

If pre-season was any indication, I think the Devils style this year will surprise many — players & fans alike.

Pre-season action begins tonight! Wee!

That’s right ladies and gents, our boys will be suiting up for their preseason opener tonight in Philadelphia, which means we are one gigantic step closer to beginning the season in earnest.

Word on the street is that the Flyers will be streaming the game tonight on their website, which may be the only way any of us will be privy to this contest. If you can’t stomach listening to a pair of radio hosts gush about how fantastic (terrible) an idea it was to sign Mike

Richards for the next three centuries, Tom Gulitti says he’ll be giving period by period updates over on Fire and Ice, so check that out.

Speaking of everyone’s favorite Devils’ beat writer, Gulutti reports that none other than Kevin Weekes will be in net this evening! This of course means three things:

1. We totally have an excuse to use the Weekes laser beam photo.
2. Weekes has completely recovered from the torn bicep muscle he sustained lifting books of crossword puzzles every night on the bench last year.
3. This will be the last time this season the poor dude will see any playing time before March.

In other news, Gulitti also reported this afternoon that one of the line combos will be a trio of youngsters, with Petr Vrana centering a line with Fedor Fedorov and Nicklas Bergfors. Also expected to get substantial time (including some PP action) are Tyler Eckford and Matt Corrente.

Gulitti reports that Mr. Sutter will also try out Brian Rolston on the point during the powerplay (as he should) and Bobby Holik on the top powerplay unit (WHAT…THE…F%*&). No word on if my personal favorite Matt Halischuk will be playing, but i’ve heard he’s been turning heads at camp so I certainly hope so.

At any rate, we’re a mere two and a half weeks from dropping the puck for the start of the season and I can speak for all the 2ma staff when I say it’s about effin’ time. Keep it here for updates as we hurtle towards another New Jersey Devils season.

Dearest New Jersey,
I don’t like being mad at you. I really don’t. You make it so easy sometimes though. Do you realize that you have surely put me to an early grave? All the antacids, those ulcers are killin’ me. Oh, and I need a lot of dental work too, but that’s just because of the Meth. Still, I blame you.

You have a shot here to make it right. How? Win tonight. Please? I hate begging, I really do, but this is what you’ve brought me to here. As I sit here, writing this with my nervous twitch (okay maybe that’s the drugs), I cannot fathom the chances you guys really have if you so happen to lose tonight. 3-0 holes are just ridiculous.

I live and die by you, Black ‘n Red. When Zach Parise hurts, I hurt. When Dainius Zubrus scores, I score. Oh, and when Andy Greene actually makes a good play, I buy a lottery ticket.

Just kidding.

But seriously, boys, give it your all tonight. Desperation is not enough here. We need results in the form of grit and dedication to the game. I know you each have it in you. Bring your inner Claude Lemieux out, channel Scott Stevens, do whatever it takes to get the job done.

I may not make it another day otherwise.

Seriously.

With love,
Patricia

Here we go again.

Game 2 is mere hours away and the rock that was settling in the pit of my stomach has returned. A Devils/Rangers series will always do a number on one’s insides, but when you’re down in the series, it’s even rougher.

So, for the sake of your fans’ physical health, I implore of the Devils: win tonight. Please? A win makes this series a best-of-five, and that I can handle. I don’t think my stomach, heart, or spleen can handle the pressure of being down 2-0. What can I say, my spleen gets very emotionally involved in the game sometimes.

Winning tonight shouldn’t be that big of an issue. The boys put some quality shots are Henrik Lundqvist in Game 1, catching iron three separate times and scoring their lone goal. They know they can beat Lundy, they just need to tweak their accuracy. Oh dear God how they need to tweak their accuracy. I trust that that’s something that can take place, but ask me again after tonight’s game.

On the defensive end, as much as it disgusts me to say it, it’s absolutely imperative that they shut down Scott Gomez. The Red ‘n Black gave Gomez far too much room to operate in Game 1 and made his life far too easy, thus the three assists. The Clarkson/Zubrus/Rupp line did an effective job of shutting down the Jagr line; it’s up to Pandolfo/Madden/Gionta to step it up against the Gomez line.

In goal, let’s just get it over with. Marty made a huge mistake last game. What of it? I’m willing to grant him one big blunder in exchange for a year of ridiculous-even-by-his-standards play in front of a patchwork D that sports Mike Mottau as a top four guy. It was shocking because it was Marty and because it happens so rarely. You won’t see it again. Save for not covering the puck (or playing it too slowly) on the Callahan goal, Marty was stellar once again Wednesday night, and I expect he will continue to be this evening.

I really truly believe that if the Devils play the way they did in Game 1 - while not allowing Henrik to psych them into shooting wide every other play - the boys can win this game and ultimately this series. The key, however, is continuing to play that way.

Please make it so.

So it’s official.

Crap.

Of all the teams in the Eastern Conference, the Devils draw the Rangers for round one of the playoffs. This afternoon’s game decides home-ice advantage for the series. The Rangers need to win in regulation, the Devils just need to push it to overtime to lock up a potential game seven at the Rock.

Do I really need to say that this afternoon’s tilt in Newark is of the utmost importance? Let’s review. A win today:

- Lessens the sting of going 0-4-3 in the first seven meetings between the two.

- Gives the Devils home ice in the series, and therefore last line change.

- Ends that friggin’ “You can’t beat us” chant, at least for awhile.

Three good reasons to step it up this afternoon if I ever saw ‘em.

So here’s what we need to do. First things first…the game starts at 3 PM. So playing like they are aware of the start time is probably a good thing for the Devils, who seem to enjoy showing up unfashionably late to games these days.

Next up, keep Madden and Pando on Jagr like white on rice. Not Colin White, just the color. Jagr’s getting hot lately, netting power play goals like crazy. An aside to this key to victory, stay out of the penalty box. Seriously. It’s getting old.

And last and definitely not least…watch out for Nigel Dawes and his Shoulder of Doom. Kid’s got our number to the point where I almost wish Lou would give him an offer sheet next year, just to get him away from the competition.

Before you yell at me about a threadbare minor league system, I did say ALMOST wish.

A win this afternoon would be really swell, gang. I’m reminded of a regular-season finale against the Florida Panthers some eight years ago. A win gave the Devils the home-ice advantage against the very same Panthers in the first round of the playoffs, and we all know how that ended.

Kick some ass today, boys. It’d be greatly appreciated.

Stay tuned to 2MA this afternoon for the final regular-season livecap of the year with your host, Mr. Steve Stirling!

Put on your game faces, boys and girls. It’s time to get serious.

…Or at least as serious as a post starting off with a cartoon Devil having his way with a cartoon penguin can get, anyway.

The Devils tonight look to erase the painful memories of recent failures in the Metro Ice Challenge by taking on the Penguins, co-holders of the lead for the Atlantic Division and owners of an identical record. The good news is that the boys in red and black have already taken four of six from Pittsburgh, giving the Devs the tiebreaker should the two teams end the season with identical top-of-the-Atlantic records.

Also good news? Sidney Crosby remains sidelined for both tonight’s tilt and Tuesday’s rematch at the Rock. You may recall Sidney went down with a high ankle sprain earlier this year, and it seems the Kid is still feeling the effects. It might not be classy, but I’ll take a Crosby-less Pens any day.

In roster-related news on the New Jersey side of things, Arron Asham’s one-punch takedown of the Isles’ Matthew Spiller aggravated a hand injury, so he’s out, per the extremely awesome Tom Gulitti. In his place is Barry Tallackson, recently recalled from Lowell. Also in are Andy Greene and Karel Rachunek, who thankfully are taking the spots of Vitaly Vishnevski and Sheldon Brookbank. Greene and Rachunek may not be perfect, but anyone’s better than Brookbank after last night’s game.

Patrik Elias and Bryce Salvador both remained sidelined for the Devils as well.

This is going to be a big game kiddies, so kick back, have a beer (root beer if you’re not of age, of course…), and let’s put the memories of offensively challenged games against the Rangers and Islanders to bed, yes?

Check back with us for a post-game wrap-up and other crazy shenanigans!

After squeaking by Tampa Bay in overtime and Toronto in damn-close-to-overtime, the now-back-in-first-place-in-the-division-AND-conference Devils hit the road for the next week, beginning tomorrow in Montreal. With the standings as tight as they are, need I say this is an important stretch of games? I need not.

While the two games against the lower-end teams of the Eastern Conference did little to re-establish the Devils offensive prowess (Mr. Zach Parise notwithstanding), two hard-fought W’s (plus on pretty easy one earlier in the week) are exactly what this team needed coming off of a stretch of three straight losses. As Joe said before, the Devils finally went an entire week beating the teams they were supposed to beat. This is kind of a big deal.

So now, it’s on to Montreal, Minnesota, and Colorado, before coming back home for a Newark date with the Rangers on the 19th. Les Habs currently sit one point behind the Devils for first in the East (well, for now anyway), while Minnesota and Colorado check in at first and third in the Northwest Division. The rub there is, only a point separates each team and that could well change by the minute. With all three games on this road trip coming against teams that are fighting for playoff positioning, and with all three games coming against teams that are, well, GOOD - there’s just no room to sit back and lolly-gag.

Each game will be rife with subplots as well - the Montreal game will once again be for first place in the conference. Minnesota will see the Devils playing against their former Cup-winning head coach Jacques Lemaire, and Colorado will see the Devils taking on Mr. Peter Forsberg (presuming he’s healthy, which is probably a big assumption) and an Avalanche team that looks strangely closer to the Avalanche of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals than it did a mere three weeks ago.

And then, of course, there’s the big home game against the Rangers. While the Devils may no longer be 0-for-New York, they’re still 0-for-the-Rangers, and that’s just not right. But we’ll cross that bridge when it comes.

It’s a big road swing. Let’s make it a good one, too, eh?

Well, well, well! A win over the Isles? I had to take a quick check outside and make sure it wasn’t raining blood. Thankfully, it’s not the end of the world, nor has the apocalypse fallen upon us. The Devils actually got the job done against New York.

Too bad we don’t have more time to enjoy it. The Devils are in the Nation’s Capital today to battle the Washington, well, Capitals.

Ya know, I remember a time when you could dust the Caps off your shoulder as an easy two points. I also remember when gas was $2.79/gallon. (Was it really that long ago?!) Anywho, the Caps have shown that they mean business this year. Their play has faltered somewhat as of late, going 4-4-2 in their last 10 showdowns. Still, Washington boasts the most explosive player in all the land in Mr. Ovechkin, which is all the reason you need to crap yourself.

The Devils will need to skate away with a win today if they want to stay near the top of the Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins — who have been hot on their tails all season long — will host the San Jose Sharks, also beginning at 3pm EST.

Nothing like a little Sunday scoreboard-watching!!@!

My gut tells me that, considering the Penguins are in action, that Brent Sutter will start Martin Brodeur once again, leaving me to wonder why Kevin Weekes was even signed in the first place. The only thing I’ve seen from Mr. Weekes recently is his over-excited celebration when congratulating his teammates on a victory… not that that’s a bad thing, but I would like a legitimate excuse to use the Laser Beam picture again.

I’ll be heading to work when the puck drops on today’s matinée, so keep the alcohol flowing and the nachos extra-spicy for me!

Martin Brodeur is well known for talking about the importance of knowing the standings and where the teams around you sit. Well, one look at the Atlantic Division and you’d be pretty hard pressed to find someone who views the Islanders as a threat to the throne.

The X-factor? The Isles have won all five meetings against New Jersey this year, and are currently riding a six-game winning streak.

Lovely.

I don’t know what the hell happened, but an otherwise awesome season has been tainted by the Devils inability to hand out the punishment to their closest rivals that they’ve become so notorious for. Even though the overall success of the team and the standings are what matter, I’ll admit that I do have an ego.

It’s something you wouldn’t understand unless you’ve been a part of the metro-area hockey cold-war. When it’s New York vs. New Jersey, nothing else matters. It seems that the only thing up for grabs are the bragging rights, and the Devils have nothing to dangle.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d take a division-lead over a win over the Islanders any day, but even the most seasoned fans need to exact a little revenge every now and again. With that said, I have one final argument…

…please? Just this once. I’ll even clean my room and be early to Church every Sunday. Unless there’s a game on.

That’s about all I can do. The rest is up to Black ‘n Red.

Hey, would it be such a bad idea to throw Kevin Weekes into the fire today? I mean, do we really have anything to lose aside from another two points against the Fish Sticks?! I don’t believe so.

Keep those horns crossed Devils fans, the light has to break through at some point.

I hope.

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.