11:45 PM ET: Hoo-boy, what an ending that was. Nice to see Jamie L come through, took him long enough, eh? More to come in the Game Breakdown!

PS~Much love to Mr. Corvo courtasy of 2 Man Advantage. Tee-hee.

11:29 PM ET: This seriously does not bode well for my heart nor my stomach. My poor body.

Well, one overtime down. Devils didn’t look too bad, and I did have to giggle a bit at Ottawa for taking a too many men penalty in the extra session. Those are always fun. Granted, the Devils kinda sorta shoulda had one as well, but I won’t tell if you don’t. To 2OT we go…

10:35 PM ET: Welp, I’m pretty much thinking 2-0 series lead for Ottawa at this point. Great way to let Ottawa creep back into the game and eventually tie it with, what, like 20 seconds left in the third? Nice. Really, nice boys. Oh, and Mr. Gionta — goal or not, you’re on the crap list right now for taking a penalty at the end of regulation. Overtime power plays to Ottawa are not exactly where the party’s at, mmkay? Seriously, Where’s Jeff Friesen when you need him? Better step it up, boys. Otherwise, I will kick each and every one of your asses. And I totally mean it.

9:12 PM ET: Apparently my TV has other plans. No sound = no live-capping. Yeah, I can watch the game and all, but I just cannot pack as much punch into my words than if I had the lovely sounds of Steve and Chico echoing in the background. I will recap the game, no worries, but the live-cap will unfortunately have to wait until Game 3. Poo.

8:52 PM: Oops. Sorry folks, wasn’t near the computer for the first period. I shall be live-capping from the second period on. I totally promise. Be back soon!

Well, Joe will be at the game tonight, but me? Sorry to say, I had to turn down a ticket offer to tonight’s game due to lackage-of-money..age.

It’s really sad, isn’t it?

But from bad news sparks good news, as your favorite live-capper will be ranting and raving like a mad(wo)man tonight during the game, so all is well with the world.

If Elias sits out tonight, I will be one unhappy Devils fan. Granted, reports indicate he will play tonight, so he better be on that damn horrible New Jersey ice tonight. Alas, Joe, you better bring the Advil Cold and Sinus with you…and be more than ready to pelt it at the Cap’n if you so happen to see him wandering the stands.

And I will hold you to that, Mr. Bechtel.

For anyone who has ever worked in the retail industry for any substantial amount of time, the word “inventory” is enough to make a grown man cry. In my case, gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon. Several 14-hour shifts later, I am freeeee!!! God help you all.

Enough with the excuses, let’s get down to business. So, everyone is up to date on the bet that Mr. Brodeur and Mr. Emery agreed on, correct? Ya know, the one about who could out-suck the other one? Incase you missed it, Brodeur totally won. Although credit Ray: at times he did make Sens fans wish for Patrick Lalime back.

Gambling addictions aside, the New Jersey Devils are going to have to come out and play some seriously inspired hockey if they want to play another game in Continental Airlines Arena. Granted the semi-comeback was nice and all, but it takes a full 60 to beat a team like Ottawa. Yes, boys, I’m afraid that means you have to play the 1st Period as well as the next two. Sorry, that’s how the playoffs work.

Hopefully the Devils will get a shot in the arm, as reports indicate that Captain Sniffles will be back in the lineup tonight, bringing some coordination back to the Devils offense. Dude, have you ever heard of AIRBORNE?! Seriously, it’s obviously a lot better than whatever you were taking. (And you don’t have to give the government a DNA sample to purchase some!)

So here’s your chance, guys. Treat Game 2 like the ol’ “Do-Over” shot you were awarded with when a car suddenly interrupted your breakaway in the glory days of Major League Street Hockey.

Marty, that means you might wanna invest in a new glove. Or some bigger shoulder pads. Last time your glove side was picked more than a Jason Newsted bass solo. Brutal, man!

Stupid Devils.

Well folks, we’re only a few hours away from Game 1, and I bring you the unfortunate news that Patrik Elias will not be in the lineup tonight. Why? Poor Cap’n has a “head cold.”

Yeah, sure…

My guess, his butt probably fell off. You know, it’s hard to play without a butt. Hip checks might be quite difficult to execute without a butt, I’d reckon.

Aside from such sad news, we bring you another bit of info — Mr. Anger Management himself should be dressing tonight. That’s right folks, Colin White is back.

I know, I said I wouldn’t make any predictions when it came to this series, but I do have one trick up my sleeve. My crystal ball tells me that Colin will likely skate no more than a period and a half of hockey and have to leave the game with some sort of groin problem or back spasms.

Ha! Hey, who knows…

Alas, me thinks the Devils will possibly dress seven defenseman tonight, ’cause, well, there ain’t no way Mattie is sitting. Throw Oduya away for all I care, but Mr. ‘chuk is untouchable right now, got it?

I guess it’s possible to see Marshy tonight, but I doubt it. If so, it’ll be nice to welcome a familiar face back into the lineup. Yeah, he’s no Jeff Friesen, but he’s good for an overtime goal or two, right? Right? Anyone?

Okay, in all seriousness, it does appear that David Clarkson will be making his postseason debut tonight. Yay for him.

But, uh…I think we might be in trouble.

Okay, Mr. Elias, I know you have a “head cold” and all, but take some damn Advil and get your butt on the ice.

If you still, you know, have a butt, that is…

…seriously.

I can’t make this stuff up.

Reports out of Canada indicate that Mr. Marshall has indeed been added to the New Jersey Devils roster. I can’t really divulge the details, as I do not speak French, but if there are any developments that I can actually understand, I will bring them to you as soon as possible.

But really, I have no clue as to why Marshy was called up. And no offense Lou, but this is the wrong series to get Grant for — he was the Tampa Boy Wonder, remember? Ottawa is totally Jeff Friesen’s realm of awesomeness.

Alas, I don’t see Marshall suiting up for the Devils unless there happened to be some catastrophic catastrophe of catostrophic proportions, but you never know, eh? Maybe this is an insurance move just in case Captain Elias can’t suit up tomorrow due to his “cold.”

I wonder what number Marshall would wear if he did happen to suit up for the Devils…

______

I made this whole amazingly awesome preview of the series, but as it often seems true, the internet sucks. I’d like to thank said internet for generating an error just as I was about to hit the “publish” button, erasing my good 45 minutes worth of work. Seriously, thanks. That made me feel so great.

Hopefully we’ll get to do at least a couple of these, but we’ll make do with what we have. So now, I present to you 2 Man Advantage’s Serious Series One Roundup! And the award winners are…

THE KING OF AWESOME: Zach Parise.

If there’s a Conn Smythe of the first round, Mr. Parise would without a doubt be the winner. Leading the team with a seriously awesome six goals in six games, Parise is easily on his way to the best post-season of his oh-so-young career. I love it, and you should too.

OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE: Martin Brodeur.

He might have ended the first round tenth overall in goaltending (out of 19, no less), but Marty rebounded quite nicely in Game 5 and 6 to be a definite deciding factor in the series. Shutting down Vinny Lecavs and Martin St. Louis ain’t no picnic, but he found a way to do it in the final two frames of the series. Okay, so maybe Brad Richards kind of kicked his butt in Game 6, but we’re going to let that slide. One shutout is more than enough after giving up nine million goals in the first four games. Atta boy, Marty. That’s the number one goaltender we want to see. Oh, and special mention goes to Wade Dubielewicz (it took me about 20 minutes to figure out that spelling), Banna Pads Fleury, and Kari Lehtonen for stinking up the joint to make Marty’s numbers look a bit better. My hats and bananas off to you fine folk.

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?: Richard Matvichuk.

Oh hellz yes Mattie, I knew you were the gosh darn man! A lot of readers ’round here wanted nothing to do with Richard when he was finally declared healthy from the sometimes fatal salary cap injury, but after Colin White came down with yet another injury (seriously, dude needs his very own medic staff along with those anger management classes), Mattie stepped into the lineup and absolutely shined. He may have started off a bit shaky in his ‘07 post season debut, but he’s only gotten stronger and stronger yet as the series progressed. His defining moment? Easily Game 6, making shot block after shot block and showing absolutely no signs of wear and tear, even drawing a penalty on Tampa Bay golden boy Vincent Lecavalier. Oh, and Tampa fans, I love you all you know, but there’s no way Mattie embellished on the cross-check. If I may remind you, Mr. ‘chuk did undergo serious back surgery during the summer and spent the entire season in the stands of the Continental Airlines Arena. And let me tell you, walking up and down those stairs will not make your back feel any better whatsoever.

STEPPED UP FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE: Scott PooGomez.

Yeah, I did have to rub my eyes a couple times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, but Scotty actually leads the league in points with nine, one above a bunch of other guys, but who cares about them, right? Man, that’s some crazy stuff there.

Oh, I’ll admit it — he has looked absolutely wonderful these past few games. Rather inconsistant for the series overall like his goaltending counterpart Mr. Brodeur, but I’ll take it. His puck handling skills are to die for, and he made the Tampa Bay defense look like fools skating through the zone so effortlessly time and time again. And yes, I may have had to wipe a bit of drool away after Game 6 watching some of Gomer’s skills at their finest. Why can’t he play like that all the time?

So, the boys have Ottawa for Round 2 and it’s going to be one tough series, fo’ sho’. I’m kind of wishing for Jeff Friesen, but we’ll make do with what we have. I’m sure Zach has quite a few more tricks up his sleeve, and I’m seriously hoping for a repeat performance of Game 6 from Scott Gomez all series long. I can dream, right? Hey Ottawa blogs — don’t be strangers! We’ve met some great bloggers on Tampa’s side of the coin, and we’d love to hear from you Ottawa folk as well. Oh, and good luck to the Sens! You shall hear no predictions from me!

Uhh, Joe, I think I’m going to have to kick your ass for not updating the site in my absence.

I jest, I jest.

So the Devils are off to Round 2 against none other than the Ottawa Senators. I shiver at the thought. Alas, if we could beat Tampa Bay without Grant Marshall, then we shall defeat the Senators without Jeff Friesen. It can be done…I hope.

Forgive me as I just spent three hours in a car (most of those hours spent in New York City traffic, no less), so a more awesome update will come when I have had the time to scrape the Chinese food delivery man on bike from the side of my car. And no, I did not hit him.

Bastard ran into my car when it was stopped in traffic.

Seriously, who does that?

Alright folks, I’m signing off until Monday. Heading out to Long Island now to spend a much needed long weekend with some good friends (aka Mr. Bechtel), and as usual, we’ll both be sitting in the stands sweating bullets for Game 5 tomorrow. In the meantime, I give full posting power to Joe — go get ‘em buddy!

Make me proud, boys. Make me damn proud!

I really do feel spoiled to witness such an amazing hockey game during the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Scott Gomez, I beg for your forgiveness of every “Poomez” joke I have ever made in my life.  In fact, I promise to re-hang my Scott Gomez poster above my bed.. c’mon, doesn’t that make it allllll better?! 

After tonight, I’m sure everyone is ready for the awesomeness that is 2MANADVANTAGE’s playoff breakdown!  I’m your host, Joe - and this is The Awesome, The Not So Awesome, and The Downright Ridiculous from Game Numba 4.

THE AWESOME: Johan Holmqvist.  I am sorry, but this kid is beyond words.  His first playoff series, and well, let’s just say he’s doing a helluva lot better job than Henrik Lundqvist did last year.  His composure in such heart-stopping situations has been uncanny.  At such a young age, you really found a gem there, Bolts.  As much as it pains me to talk about this: how many times did New Jersey have point-blank opportunities to win the game?  Without Johan, the New Jersey Devils board their Newark-bound flight with a 12-3 win under their belts.  Props to you, Mr. Holmqvist.

THE NOT SO AWESOME: Any of New Jersey’s special teams.  Oh my gawd were the Devils horrible on the powerplay!  …And during the 4-on-4.  You know you’ve got yourself a serious problem when the opposition is setting up an attacking formation on your powerplay.  And I don’t mean just wasting time, Tampa Bay had some a lot of legitimate chances to score while shorthanded.  Not to mention the countless turnovers and failed clearing attempts from the Devils that took about 4-6 years off my life.  I’m pretty sure that calls for some sort of bag-skate practice or at least a lengthy video-homework session.  Can’t let that kinda crap slide in the playoffs, boys. 

And finally…

THE DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS:  Like there’s any surprise here: #9 Zach Parise.  Seriously, do I even need to explain this one?!  The intensity, the work ethic, the skill, the drive, the determination.  This kid has established more than I would have ever dreamed of asking.  The complete package.  Seamlessly breaking Jeff Friesen’s/John MacLeans’s records for goals in a playoff series and now leading the entire NHL Playoffs in goal scoring, this 22 year old is a phenomenal athlete.  If the New Jersey Devils are going to move any further in the playoffs, you can bet your tuchas that this kid will be the reason why.

Honorable mention will have to go to Richard Matvichuk and Martin Brodeur.  After playing only 2 previous games this season/post-season, Richard played a huge role in deciding the outcome of tonights game.  Marty did decide the outcome with huge save after huge save.  Again, some dribblers got by him, but what matters most is that he came up with the deciding saves - something that has eluded him most of this series.

So from here on out, it’s nothing more than a best-of-3.  After tonight’s Game 4, I am not even going to consider an attempt at trying to predict what will happen during the next 3 or less games.  The only thing I can say, is Let’s Go Devils!