We're just a bunch of knuckleheads dishing the dirt about our favorite sport. With rants and musings galore, get ready for in-your-face writing with a hint of sarcasm and a healthy dose of humor. Add two gallons Kool-Aid and enjoy! PS: We're totally awesome.
Dear Marty,
Congratulations on passing your United States of America citizenship test. Now that you are an official American citizen, there is one bit of wisdom I’d like to pass along:
It’s not poutine anymore. It’s Disco Fries. Get used to it, and please assimilate accordingly.
Again, congratulations!
With love,
2 Man Advantage
Let me start by saying THIS IS NOT MY BLOG… NOR MY FEELINGS (well it hits a lot of what I feel about Madden jumping ship)… but when you see and read something damn good on the internets and you can ask the person and they don’t mind sharing it… the name protected (well unless you know me well you know who this is :p)…. but I figured it was a great and personal perspective on the pains of free agency in the NHL
Is it true? With the signing of Brian Gionta, the Montreal Canadiens are now your second-favorite team?
Yes, for every second that Gionta is there.
Um, WTH? Who has second-favorite teams anyway? What are you, 12?
Yeah, many times I am. It explains why I still think it’s funny to use an excessive amount of swear words.
What about Scott Gomez?
What about him?
Well, don’t you hate him? How can you possibly root for the Habs when he’s on the team?
I got the “I’m a douchebag” vibes from Gomez even during his days in New Jersey. I just ignored it, and him in general, because he was a skilled player making a positive contribution to my favorite team, even helping them win two Stanley Cups, despite his flaws, which of course came out in full force once he jumped across the Hudson. So yes, I still hate him, and he deserves to be eaten alive by the Montreal media and fans for performing well-under expectations. I will laugh if/when that happens. However, my love for Gio far exceeds my hatred for Gomez, so I am pulling for Gio and the Habs to be successful. Yes, that probably means Gomez is going to need to have at least some degree of success, especially since he and Gio will probably be on the same line, as they have been since they were teenagers playing for Team USA and as they were when Gionta broke the Devils’ single-season goal-scoring record. I’ve had plenty of practice ignoring Gomez as a Devil and can do the same with him as a Hab. So what if he has success? It’s actually a win-win situation because Gomez having success would twist the knife in Glen Sather’s heart, especially if injuries strike Gaborik yet again.
Why do you like Gionta so much? Why is it so easy for you to move on and pull for the Habs?
For those who haven’t heard the story yet, I have been a huge Brian Gionta fan since 1998, his freshman year of college, before he was ever drafted. I watched him play for BC during the NCAA Tournament (the Eagles, who also had Clemmensen and Mottau on the team, made it all the way to the final before losing in OT to Michigan that year) and was just in awe of the energy, determination, speed and heart this kid played with, and, at 5’5.5″ (his REAL height 
), to overcome the odds to play at this inspiring level. 
He’s a special player, and I don’t think I’ve ever actually said that about anyone before. I knew this was a player I had to follow throughout his playing career. On draft day that summer, I would have felt very grateful if he were picked by any team except the Rangers or Flyers because as a Devils fan I automatically would have had to hate him. Never could I have imagined he’d actually be picked by my beloved Devils. It was my beautiful, unrealistic fantasy coming true. Just that moment was a bonus. Who would know that 11 years later, this little guy from Rochester would not only be drafted by the Devils, but he would win a Stanley Cup with them, break the team’s single-season goal scoring record, and play 6+ wonderful years here. Talk about a bonus. I hit the jackpot. Because this was all a bonus, I can say with all sincerity that I am so appreciative of the time he spent in New Jersey. The way I look at it, Gionta could have been drafted by the Habs in 1998, and I would have been pulling for them then (or actually not until 2001ish after Gio graduated). I am grateful that he didn’t sign with a division rival; otherwise I’d be in no position to cheer him. At all. So no, this is not easy losing Gionta, but it’s definitely workable.
Wait, so if the Habs and Devils are playing and Gionta scores, are you going to cheer for him?
Of course not! The Devils remain my number 1 priority. My passion for the Devils far exceeds my Gionta fandom. So Brian, no scoring against New Jersey. Don’t make me boo you. I’ll do it, I swear.
I heard that you have Gionta and Madden wallpapers on your home and work computers, respectively, and you purchased only Gionta and Madden hockey gear at the Devils’ latest equipment sale. Is it true that you jinxed the two veterans into leaving New Jersey?
I have no jinxing powers once the hockey season has concluded. However, I CAN tell you that Scott Mackie has a Clemmensen voodoo doll and is directly responsible for his signing with Florida.
Are you mad at Gionta for leaving? Are you mad at Lou for letting him go?
No, and no. Gionta expressed a sincere desire to remain in New Jersey. It sounds like he didn’t get much of an offer, if anything, from the Devils, and I really can’t blame him for taking $5M for 5 yrs. from Montreal. He made a good decision. As far as Lou, I know he has put the welfare of the team before everything else, and as desperately as I wanted Gionta to stay (Madden too. Both those guys were perfect examples of what Devils hockey is all about), Lou has earned my trust over the years. If he thinks the Devils need a change and that the young guys are ready, then I believe there’s a good chance he’s right. In fact, when, to top off all the ridiculousness of July 1, Lou’s dramatic signing turned out to be Finnish forward Ilkka Pikkarainen, I could only imagine what brilliant secret Lou (a man talented at finding random gems in Europe) knew that no one else did. Well, we all know the secret, but Lou UNDERSTANDS it. The salary cap is going to drop and a lot of teams will be fucked while the Devils keep plugging along and fighting back when everyone else thinks we’re down.
So you’re not freaking out that Lou hasn’t done shit during free agency while everyone else has?
Nope. Everyone seriously needs to chill out. This happens every July 1, and the Devils haven’t missed the playoffs in more than a decade. We still have all of our defensemen from last year (Minus Havelid, who doesn’t count because he was here for 2 secs. and, well, he’s Havelid). We have our top line and 2/3 worth of second line players in Elias and Rolston (though Elias is top line caliber and I think Rolston really should be a LW, so that’s a mess that the next coach is going to have to figure out because Rolston should NOT be on the third line). It’s more than sufficient to start out training camp with.
What do you think of the whole coaching situation?
With the Sutter situation, it is what it is. With the new coach (be it Lemaire or whomever… Lemaire is def. not the end of the world; he gets the most out of the players that he has and really teaches the young guys, something that wouldn’t be bad to have for a couple of years), if everyone keeps using that stupid cliche, hit the stationary bikes!!!
These signings just happened! How were you able to compile a list of FAQs so quickly?
They’re frequently ANTICIPATED questions. I am too lazy to develop/maintain a Web site/blog to develop a following and accumulate questions from it. Deal with it.
OK…. so it took me some time to accept what happened almost exactly seven days ago…. I admit it… I was totally in love with this team… I fell into the whole “OMG look what we did without the egomaniac douche in net… imagine what we can do with just a shell of an mb30″…. and look we found out… seems to be like most.. ok… all the things I fall in love with (exceptions being my nieces)… the more deeply you fall in love with something… the harder it fucks you over in the end… and be honest… it hurt you too…. it kinda stunned me to put the Devils jerseys back into the closet until September… the apartment is clean from all the crap I just throw around because “Shit I gotta get to the arena”… well now I have time to clean up…. time to see movies… yeah.. all that crap too…
Don’t worry I’m almost over it… I am watching and enjoying round 2 of the playoffs (I CAN NOT watch Boston and Carolina… Boston annoys me much and I can’t say yay Carolina yet)… I’m still out there being the incredible scoring goalie (the backhand pass to Rob in goalie gear after spinning out of a body check was a thing of beauty)… but I’m still not over the fact that this amazing season is GONE……
Alright… so the Crosby-impression aside …. I do need to get some things out there… this was probably the most awesome year I’ve ever had following a team and making a bunch of brand-new friends and the whole in-arena experience (and even getting it to spill over into the Tavern of the Sun FINALLY)… and the fact I somehow sold 38 of 41 extra tickets and had a LINE of people wanting my playoff seats…. I need to thank a bunch of people…
So I need to thank EVERYONE who bought and shared in tickets with me and made the Section 209 experience truly the best place in the NHL to be this year and hopefully for decades through out… the regulars in the section, Brian his wife with the awesome bumper stickers Maggie and lil Nicky… Pete and his random goalie stuff…. Clutch for ignoring us most of the year…. the new people like Jamie and Andrew, the long-running friends… Mindy, Dee, Dave (dare I put your names together and start another shitstorm ;p), Paige and WHITE POWER Jane making their trips to 209..other NJDevs people like Bill (look out for South park induced beers!).. and even the people on the crazies side (yes you Mike Jeckel!)… and even the zeppoli-beer loving Gina… thank all of you guy, this season was the best and I owe ALL you guys, Section is more then just a place I sit now.. it’s a third home behind Sun Tavern in Roselle Park 
Anyway… we know what happened… I ain’t rehashing it… but I wanted to comment some on this team as a whole now… and I figured a good way to do it…a simple pass or fail.. pass I think you should be back next year… fail… get the fuck outta town!!! And in the process I get to throw in what I thought of them in the playoffs:
#9: Zach Pairse
Umm.. fucking.. DUH… top 5 player in the NHL right now.. hockey smarts are off the chart, plays hard AND in his own end… you build franchises around this kinda guy
PASS, you’re fucking retarded if you think otherwise!
#19: Travis Zajac
Emerged as the top center I told you all he was and gave us the Cangelosi mis-cue of the playoffs… SHANAHAN IN OVERTIME… 19, Steve… ZAJAC… SCWWWAAARRREEEE!! I still laugh at this, and this kid is gonna be good for a long time!
PASS
#15: Jamie Langenbrunner
The Captain, played well once healthy, sadly his season ended like it began.. banged up… not his fault
PASS
#26: Patirk Elias
Went cold in the playoffs… but was essential in getting Gionta time and space which he took full advantage of
PASS
#8: Danius Zubrus
Not as a #2 center but he has value on this team…. does everything but put up numbers, and he’s the effing mascot and icon of 2MA!
PASS
#14: Brian Gionta
The lil bastard showed me a LOT this year… if he can sign under 3.5 mil a year.. we gotta keep him… him and Elias need a center and were not the problem
PASS (but can NOT overpay)
#20: Jay Pandolfo
Had a nice playoffs… but really his skill and his role at his salary… umm.. NO… Lowell express for him, unless we can con a team into trading for him
FAIL
#11: John Madden
Saw WAY too much time on the ice in game 7… it killed us too.. he buries ONE of those breakaways and I am not writing this now… some of that is on the coaches… would love to see him all year with Rolston and Clarkson and at about 2 mil a season… if not… it’s future endeavors time here…
PASS (conditionally)
#18: Brendan Shanahan
He was solid, but overplayed (the Rangers fell into this trap too.. I know he’s smart and all but he’s slow as shit and it killed us defensively at times)… I don’t mind him as a depth/part time guy, but NO MORE PENALTY KILLING… and his busted lip quote earned him coming back as a mid-season addition again…..but he can NOT be a major piece of the puzzle..
PASS (conditionally)
#12: Brian Rolston
He gets some slack for the ankle injury and first year back issues, but a LOT is expected of him last year and that pp LASER he fired in game 7… better see more of that shit… his contract is unmovable anyway
PASS
#17: Mike Rupp
Does what he does and he’s cheap, improved greatly this year
PASS
#23: David Clarkson
Needs a serious chance to be shown what he can do… should be getting those minutes given to Madden and Shanny, gets his shit dirty, plays hard, scores goals and all the true Randy McKay grinder shit!! He needs to be part of the CORE not an outside piece
PASS
#7: Paul Martin
Steady, strong… complete defender… maybe the most underrated defender in the NHL now
PASS…NO BRAINER
#29: Johnny Oduya
He might not come cheap now, but he is coming into his own…can not be on the top pair defense next year, but he’s maybe the best defender on the market now and MUST be retained…
PASS
#5: Colin White
Bounced back to be the true one-eyed wonder… a bit slow, but that can be compensated for by giving him a PARTNER WITH MOBILITY, his problem was idiot coaching and not him, and he’s unmovable too :p
PASS
#27: Mike Mottau
Again his limits were exposed by the coaches asking him to do too much and putting that Madden/Pando/Shanny unit on the ice with Mottau and White… he’s a good defender but as 3rd pair and not in the top 4
PASS (and he’s cheap)
#28: Nick Havelid
So Lou goes out and gets a shot blocking defenseman with a douchebag goalie who whines when you block shots.. GENIUS… the guy is ok, but he didn’t mix with Salvador and they kept forcing in on them instead of trying one with White or Oduya, I don’t blame the player here I blame the fit..
FAIL… he’ll go somewhere he can be used right
#24: Bryce Salvador
Solid, and steady, but still kinda trade-able and we have young kids who need a shot (and yes I mean Corrente), I’d not cry if he stayed, but he’s movable and someone’s gotta go
FAIL (but again not through his fault)
#6: Andy Greene
I love this kid, you guys know that… again he stepped up in the playoffs and he gives a non-Martin/Oduya guy who can move the puck which is badly needed… again it’s up to the coaches to maximize him (try HIM with White for fuck’s sake!), and 209 shall chant ANDY GREENE for many years to come!
PASS
#25: PL^3
Eh, he’s a lesser Rupp, but he’s cheap and he plays hard at least
PASS
#16: Bobby Holik
Useless on the ice, took dumb penalties to the point of warranting castration, dumb comments and pissing at the coaches about getting hurt… and not to mention 38, slow as cement, and massively overpaid
… get the fuck off my team (least last time we purged him we won a Cup!)
FAIL… epically!
#2: Jay Leach
Nice solid guy, but could be let go for youth movment
PASS, but not emphatically
#10: Rod Pelley
Could be the 4th line center next year if Rupp/Madden go.. kills penalties… won’t score for crap but could be part of an energy line and God Forbid we let young legs play and develop!
PASS
#18: Nick Bergfors
If the God-effing coach LETS HIM PLAY he could be Gionta 2.0, or even a low end guy who can score on the 3rd or 4th line (cause you know like good teams allow that and stuff)… I’d like to see him (Vrana too) get a REAL chance and not 2 minutes a night!
PASS
#30: mb30
God I fucking hate him for blowing our season and not caring… I hate him for coming back and killing the fun but scary ride Scott Clemmensen
treated us too most of this season, his holier then thou bullshit and that fucking mask… you put up with the crap when they win.. he’s no longer doing that… best of all time?? HA… best in the league?? HA… he’s not even the best goalie FOR THIS TEAM NOW…. God I’d love to but I know better
FAIL (yes I don’t give a monkey’s shit about game 5 cause he didn’t in game 7)
#1: Kevin Weekes
The dude is a trooper’s trooper… always smiling… quality guy to have around… and a guy who’s willing to sit and be the douchebag’s bitch all year, that’s important too!! Perfect way for this guy to finish off his career it seems
PASS (cheap and willing to let the other guy be the guy)
#35: Scott Clemmensen
Like I said before and often.. damn he scared me… but damn it was fun!! Shame that Shane Falco didn’t get a chance to prove his weight in the playoffs… but that’s not anyone’s fault … well until it was too late to do something about it.. I’d love to keep him but he’s starting SOMEWHERE soon
FAIL (for his own good)
Head Coach: Brent Sutter
I’m torn… the regular season coach was awesome… no line matching, high tempo… forecheck…. pressure… playing modern NHL hockey…. the playoff Sutter, coached in a shell… afraid of his own shadow, overused his veterans (but yet 14 minutes for Elias WTF)… as much to blame for the fail as the douchebag in net.. it’s amazing how a guy who came from Canadian Juniors is so horrified to play young players… I guess some of this goes back to playing how the goalie wants *eyeroll*… but again no player above the team, WHAT? I could take him either way but I am sick of new coaches
PASS (barely)
GM/President: Lou Lamoriello
It seems like father time and the modern NHL may be catching up to him.. the scouting is eh… there’s very little forward depth in Lowell (the D and goaltending is ok though), and it still seems like Lou is doing too much… just focus on the damn team and let real experts figure out the rest already would ya?? It’s time to loosen up a little here… and this is the first time I openly wonder about the General Manager of this team.. this season ended in DISASTER and it must be fixed!
PASS (again you’re on double-un-secret-probation mister!)
Well that’s it… goodbye and goodnight 2008-2009… I’ll be around like always on NJDevs.com and Facebook as always… as for adding anything to 2MA… not sure for now… I’m really all about recaps and previews… maybe once the shock fully goes away I can preview the remaining games or cheap-shot Crosby… not to mention it’s effing Summer!! it’s time to get out there and play some hockey myself and get back into Summer Movie mode!! Thanks as always for reading this stuff again, I NEVER thought I’d get back into full-time writing again, but it’s been worth it because I always meet the most awesome people this way!!! Thank you all… and see ya in Short Hills for some floor/roller hockey!!!!
11:53 PM ET: A bittersweet moment, but we must give congratulations to Richard H. as he has taken home the 2MA t-shirt. Thanks to all who entered!
____
10:10 PM ET: What a waste. Season over.
10:08 PM ET: …and that’s that. Staal fires one past Marty with just seconds left. You’ve gotta be kidding me.
10:07 PM ET: Devils with the timeout. I’m not sure my heart can handle this.
10:06 PM ET: Well, we have a minute left. Please do not break my heart, New Jersey.
10:05 PM ET: DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT. Tied game.
10:01 PM ET: Marty with a purty glove save on Rod Brind’amour. Do I need to bust out the You Go Girl picture? I think I do. Ever since that crap goal Brodeur gave up early in the first, he’s been on FI-YAH.
9:57 PM ET: Two-on-one, Madden and Whitey. That’s almost as good as a Colin White penalty shot.
9:51 PM ET: Martin Brodeur is a pretty darn good goalie. Just sayin’. He’s keepin’ the lead for the Devils right now.
9:51 PM ET: Cam Ward is a pretty darn good goalie. Just sayin’. He’s keepin’ the Canes in it right now.
9:47 PM ET: Madden with the game on his stick, can’t quite get it high enough on Ward. Consequently, Tuomo Ruutu gets absolutely reamed by Patty Elias. This has not been Ruutu’s night.
9:47 PM ET: GOOD KILL GOOD KILL GOOD KILL
9:46 PM ET: MARTIN BRODEUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11ONE!1
9:45 PM ET: Captain-brunner takes a bad penalty…no good. This is a huge kill here. DO IT.
9:38 PM ET: Madden and Pandolfo on a two-on-one? Wow, I’m having serious flashbacks here.
9:33 PM ET: So, yeah, normally the Rangers Suck chants annoy the heck outta me, but there’s something so divine about hearing 17,625 fans mocking the failed season of the Blueshirts in unison.
Loves it.
9:32 PM ET: HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN? Elias, you’re fired.
9:29 PM ET: Let us all take a moment bow our heads in silence for the Rangers’ 2009 season. Rest in Peace, New York. Rest in Peace.
…Nelson, I need to borrow your laugh right here.
_____
9:15 PM ET: Oh, and thanks to everyone who entered the 2MA t-shirt contest! Winner will be announced at the conclusion of tonight’s contest!
_____
9:13 PM ET: And we’re done with two! Devils with an additional buck-twenty left on the power play going into the third period. I need a drink.
9:11 PM ET: Atta-boy, Zachy. Good to see Parise back on the ice immediately after getting his cheek ripped open.
9:08 PM ET: Okay, I was totally kidding about, you know, any injury to Zach Parise. Poor pretty boy takes a stick to the face, draws blood and we’re on a four-minute man advantage. Make Gleason and the Canes pay Black ‘n Red!
9:04 PM ET: GOOD KILL GOOD KILL GOOD KILL
9:02 PM ET: I’m going to punch Zach Parise in the knee. Keep your stick down holmes! ‘Nother penalty kill for the Devils. Gotta stop taking the penalties.
9:00 PM ET: GOOD KILL GOOD KILL GOOD KILL
8:56 PM ET: If Facebook had a Does Not Like button, I’d click it for that play. BAD PENALTY CALL for flip’s sakes! Two-man advantage for the wrong team. Huge kill coming up. DO IT BOYZ! ‘Kay, maybe Facebook has taken over my life too.
Speaking of, add us on Facebook! …ah crap. Addicted.
8:50 PM ET: YUS!! POWER PLAY GOAL SUCKAS! 3-2 NEW JERSEY! What a PLAY by Brian Gionta! Amazing awareness, throws it over to Brian Rolston who *gasp* FINALLY GETS A GOAL! Oh my GOSH it’s like it was in the stars…
8:48 PM ET: Solid shift by Black ‘n Red results in another pee-pee. If I don’t get my power play goal, I’m going to cry.
8:37 PM ET: Uh…defense? Hello? Tied game. That power play goal would have been lovely, eh? Whatever, Ray Whitney is stupid.
8:36 PM ET: Why does our power play suck so much?
8:34 PM ET: Huge pee-pee! …uh…that sounds wrong. I WANT A POWER PLAY GOAL DARN IT.
8:33 PM: ‘Kay, Brendan Shanahan is awesome. Solid two-way play tonight by the 75893-year-old forward.
8:15 PM: PS Jay Pandolfo can grow a playoff beard like no one’s business. Shades of Scott Niedermayer anyone? …lies. That man came out of the womb with a full, furry, fantastic beard.
8:14 PM: Shaky start, solid ending. Good period overall. I like when the defense doesn’t completely suck. I also like when Captain-brunner looks like his old self.
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
8:03 PM: I LOVE JAY PANDOLFO.
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Holy…Johnny O-flippin-duya!
That was the hit of the playoffs right there ladies ‘n gents. I’m pretty sure poor Tuomo is still shakin’ in his skates right now…if he even remembers what skates after that boomer of an open ice hit.
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
KEEP IT GOING
10:02 PM: I’m goin’ to bed. I think none of us are all that shocked that this series is gonna go seven. My heart might not make in ’til Tuesday night. G’night gang.
10:00 PM: Game 7 is Tuesday night at The Rock. Let’s just pretend like tonight didn’t happen. Game 7 is all that matters now, and despite how tonight’s game looked, these two teams are still amazingly evenly matched.
9:59 PM: And that’s it. 4-0. I’m sick to death of 4-0 games this year.
9:58 PM: Gionta can’t stuff it home with a little room in front – one minute left in the game.
9:56 PM: The Devils are playing without a fourth line right now – apparently both Rupp and Clarkson earned 10 minute misconducts in that little scrum before. Only Gleason picked up one for Carolina.
9:55 PM: Three minutes left in this humiliation of a hockey game.
9:51 PM: And another blatant penalty, this one a trip via Brian Rolston. Guys, I agreed to LiveCap this game, which means I HAVE to watch it. At least stop taking boneheaded penalties while I’m still forced to pay attention!
9:49 PM: Shorthanded three-on-two but Shanny can’t bury the puck. One goal would be nice at least…
9:47 PM: Somehow in the fight, the Hurricanes wound up with a power play. Great. Rupp took the extra two for roughing.
9:44 PM: Hey, a sign of life! Clarkson pulls Gleason out of a scrum and after a bit of hugging, they finally give us a full-fledged fight. Hey, it worked for the Penguins. Problem is, Clarkson waited one goal and one period too many.
9:39 PM: Jussi Jokinen, 4-0. Marty had no chance, of course. Sigh.
9:37 PM: Someone on TV wasn’t happy. Dunno if it was a fan or player, but someone yelled pretty loudly “HEY! WHAT THE F&$% WAS THAT?!” Immediately afterwards, Madden’s off for roughing. A long 5-on-3 for the Hurricanes, and if you don’t have ‘em yet, I’d go pick up your game 7 tickets right about now.
9:36 PM: Travis Zajac with a pretty obvious hook. 11:30 left in the third. Bad timing, Trav. Bad timing.
9:35 PM: Even our chances aren’t actual chances – Shanahan has Ward out of position but can’t get a shot away through the Hurricane defense.
9:32 PM: So, how ’bout them Mets? …seriously? 8-1? To the NATIONALS? Ugh. I got nothin’.
9:27 PM: That was pretty indicative of how this game’s been going:Â Andy Greene with a nice run up ice, all by his lonesome, chips it past a defender at the blue line, chases after it…and trips and falls into a massive heap over a random ‘Cane.
9:24 PM: Well, here goes nothin’. Third period on.
9:06 PM: And the second period is over. Thank god. 3-0 Hurricanes. Book your game seven tickets now kids, there isn’t even a hint that the Devils can come back from this one a la Tuesday night.
9:02 PM: A few seconds of serious offensive flurry in front of Cam Ward, but nothing doing. BAH!
8:59 PM: The response is not as immediate as it was Tuesday night.
8:55 PM: I’m gonna try something. It worked last time:
Attention Devils:
WAKE UP!
Thanks.
-2 Man Advantage.
8:52 PM: I was really hoping there wouldn’t be a game seven, because dammit, I have stuff to do Tuesday night that I’m gonna have to cancel in favor of going to The Rock.
8:48 PM: Hey hey, a shot on goal! Stopped by Cam Ward, but at least there was a shot within the area of the red pipes, that might have gone into the net had there not be a human being standing in front of it.
8:44 PM: I give up. AWFUL two-on-one and Marty’s just left out to dry. 3-0, Staal’s goal again. I really don’t feel like watching this game anymore at this point.
8:41 PM: Shots on goal currently sits at 22-5 in favor of Carolina. THAT should tell you who’s bothered to show up in Raleigh this evening.
8:38 PM: …dammit. 2-0 Hurricanes, Staal. Dammit dammit dammit.
8:37 PM: The Devils just cannot make it to any loose pucks. It’s scary how much better the Hurricanes look right now.
8:36 PM: Zubbie outta the box.
8:35 PM: ‘Canes gotta be up to eight or nine shots on just two power plays so far tonight. Meep.
8:33 PM: Not the love I was speaking of. Zubbie takes a retaliatory roughing call and it’s Carolina to the PP.
8:32 PM: Second period on. C’mon Unseen Hand, a little love, eh?
8:14 PM: And that’ll do it for period one. Devils start with a two-second power play to start the second period. Shots on goal: Carolina 15, New Jersey 4. Oof.
8:12 PM: Uhm, guys…we ARE on the power play…That means that, well, the puck should be in the offensive zone and controlled by you the majority of the time.
8:11 PM: NICE sliding breakup of the two-on-one by Mike Mottau, then Zubbie draws a tripping penalty via Pitkanen with about two minutes left in the first.
8:10 PM: I hear it’s hot in Raleigh today – it sure is hot here – and it shows in terms of ice quality. Or it could also be us sucking. That’s possible.
8:08 PM: On a happier note, I’m watching this game in HD for a change!
8:07 PM: Aaand that’s why I don’t get my hopes up. Not a bad power play per se, but nothing to show for it nonetheless.
8:05 PM: Pitkanen hooks Gionta and we’re on the (PSE&G) Power Play. I’d get excited if I thought we had a chance to score.
8:04 PM: Or crossbar. Possibly holy crazy crossbar save.
8:03 PM: Holy crazy blocker save!
7:59 PM: And when I say that they’re not trying, I of course am not including Marty. This game would be 4-0 without him right now.
7:58 PM: I understand that it’s hard to match desperation when a team’s got it’s back to the wall, but jeez, trying a little would be nice.
7:54 PM: DAMMIT! Ray Whitney finally cracks Marty, batting a puck out of mid-air baseball-style. 1-0 Hurricanes, and perhaps more telling, 12-1 shots in the Hurricanes favor, and I refuse to believe the fact that we actually have a shot on goal.
7:51 PM: Penalty kill’d. Thankfully, and not for lack of trying on Carolina’s end. Eleven and a half left in the period.
7:48 PM: Oh jebus. Pandolfo loses his stick during the PP, as does Marty, with chances galore for the ‘Canes, but STILL we finally manage to clear. Oh man this is gonna be a crazy game, just like every other one this series before it.
7:46 PM: Well the Hurricanes sure realize that this could be their last game. And the fans sure realize that this could be their last game as well. Mike Rupp does not realize this, apparently, and takes a holding penalty on Jussi Jokinen.
7:45 PM: Oh, right, no Doc tonight. Blast.
7:43 PM: I got stuck at work, but I am here now. Langs back in, Holik’s a scratch, Greene’s still in, still no Salvador, game in 2 minutes old, no score yet. Get it? Got it? Good.
Boys and girls, the ZubbieCounter is going through certain…changes.
You saw the first of it Friday night. The first twenty were on us, but now, ladies and gentlemen – the ZubbieCounter is in YOUR hands.
I gave you a starting point the other night, but now it’s on you. Every time Zubbie scores a goal, we’ll be taking reader submissions. For each goal, we’ll pick one submission to be the official ZubbieCounter image for that goal. This can work many ways. Here’s a couple of suggestions:
So what’s in it for you? Free stuff. At the end of the season, we’ll re-post each ZubbieCounter image from the season and let everyone vote on their favorite. Winner gets to-be-announced free swag. And who doesn’t love undetermined free swag?
All ZubbieCounter submissions should be sent to zubbiecounter@gmail.com.
Here’s to hoping we can start taking some submissions tonight, yes?
I’d love to talk about consecutive overtime wins and the first game at The Rock in nearly three weeks, but I got nothin’. For it’s December, and December means too much work for too little pay, and finals, and final projects, and things of this nature.
I don’t want to speak for Joe or Steve, as I don’t know their situations, but I expect to be back to posting on a semi-regular basis sometime next week. Sadly, this means no LiveCaps for the up-coming three game homestand, at least on my end.
I DO know that you can expect a three-weeks-in-the-making Scott Mackie post-game rant tomorrow evening, hopefully after a fun-filled night of the Devils having their way with Sidney and Evgeni.
I can dream, can’t I?
And now, it’s back to work for me – anyone wanna write a paper about famed 50s journalist Edward R. Murrow? Anyone…? Bueller…?
Rats.
Zubbie’s scoring needs to occur more often when I’m less occupied. Never saw it, never even heard about it until just now, but here he go again! Zubbie’s keepin’ me honest.
Also, I’ll have you all know that I’m breaking away from TWO midterms to bring you this ZubbieCounter update, so y’all best…I don’t know, stare in awe at the godly scoring talent that is the Dainus-saur.
I’d love to post some sort of analysis on this game (sounds like a doozy, too, falling 6-5 in the shootout to the lowly Maple Leafs), but alas, I didn’t see more than ten seconds of the game total. They looked good in those ten seconds. Perhaps those were the only ten seconds that they looked good?
Okay gang, this is it. In a mere six hours, the puck drops on the 2008-’09 season. Myself and Joe will both be in attendance tonight, as will various other bloggers from the Devils blogosphere.
What does this mean? Meet-up, of course. First intermission, by the giant hockey puck from last year’s opening night – across from the Fire Lounge on the grand concourse, near the memorabilia auction. Myself and Joe will be there, Schnookie and Pookie from Interchangeable Parts will be there, maybe even John from In Lou We Trust. A true Devils bloggers powwow indeed.
I’ll even bring stickers.
So please, if you’re at the game tonight, come by and say howdy. We’d love to see everyone! Don’t forget to print your Ramos shutdown post for Joe to autograph!
Hope to see everyone at the game, and stay tuned here late tonight/early tomorrow for a wrap-up of all things opening night!
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