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
One thing.
Andy Greene = Wins.
I mean, how else can you explain this team being 4-3, with the Lean Greene Hockey Playin’ Machine in the lineup for all four wins, and out of it for all three losses?
Clearly it’s not home ice, they proved they can win there tonight. So it must be Andy. It just must.
Oh, and about those 2 Man Advantages the Devils can’t seem to convert on…uh…not our fault. We’re a different sort of 2 Man Advantage. Though I swear, if they can’t connect on a 2MA soon, I WILL rename this blog “It’s A Trap!”, so help me God.
That is all.
I felt a little road trip in me… and doing all 82 games just ain’t gonna happen ever again in my life but I did want to practice a little for when I take my politically incorrect thoughts on the road for Buffalo… and friend wanted to go out… it all.. just… fell… into…. place… so after the fact from the Gas Light Grill in South Orange (thank you Mike Jeckel for intro’ing me to the joint)…. here we go!! But first… a much-advertised public statement… almost a “State of the Union” or at least “the State of the Devils From Section 209″ (get yo popcorn ready!)
It has come to our attention that …. certain people… over at NJDevs… Facebook… and of course… our flagship publisher…. two man advantage….complaints… emails… heck, golly gee even unhappy comments all over that place. Seems there are certain “standards and practices” people are supposed to hold up to when they recap hockey games with hearts on their sleeve….
So in response to this, us here (ok… well just ME… no one else is posting :p)..have come to an agreement… during our pre-game and the “bad” comment… we will only use the words… “Ass”…. “Damn”… “Hell” (of course we’ll use hell… WE’RE THE FUCKING DEVILS… aw shit watch your godamn mouth Scott… holy shit… I forget how easy it is to fucking curse…. hey… knock it off!!… well fuck me!!!!) … and “bitch” (in reference to our goaltender or crazy Drunks pointed out by Lil Nicky!)…. we will NEVER however… use the words “shit… fuck…. god damn…. Jesus Christ (again… we’re the Devils… not the Arizona Cardinals… THEY love Jesus!).. faggit (then again I never used that… I’d just called shit *oops* as simply “gay”…
As for the “Good” segment of our writeups…. no will we use racial or sexual slurs… though Kevin Weekes shall still be referred to as “our homeboy”… also in the reference of my clusterfuc…. ahhh… gotcha this time…. I will try to make less ex-GF references in my writing (why not since I have new victims to bag)….We also promise to make less jokes about recently dead celebrities (though Billy Mays STILL says YOU WILL SHUT YOUR BITCH WHORE MOUTH WHEN I’M RECAPPING!!!)
During the ever-popular “funny” segments….since you can’t hold back funny… your ass is on your own!! Sorry about yo’damn luck!!!!
Gotta love when WWE 24/7 puts something timely on that I can turn into my own hockey thing, right?? Anyway……WE GOT A WINNING STREAK!! Gimme a fuc…errr… whoops… GOLLY GEE YES THAT’S SUPER!!!!
the Lines:
Parise-Zajac-Langs, Pandolfo-Niedermommy-Rolston
Halischuk-Zubrus-Bergfors, PL^3-Pelley-Clarkson
Martin-Oduya, White-Mottau, Salvador-Greene (the offense machine!)
the Good:
– Travis Zajac… seriously… he’s on the cusp of going from “good” to STAR, and its been great to see! (17 shots….COMBINED for that line… that’s almost PG-13 language worthy!!)
– Also liked seeing our little, Forsberg-spelled-sideways, Nic Bergfors getting some shots at the net tonight… damn I’d love more points from him (IS IT OK TO SAY DAMN, DAD??)
– Rob Niedermommy… again the right place at the right time and the right way (you can say that about David Clarkson’s goal too… it’s those little things they do not they didn’t do under Captain Quitter)
– Add some love for Clarkson too.. gets stuck in the abyss with Pelley and PL^3 and still finds ways to add to the team!!
– A WIN IN REGULATION!!! Praise Jesus… after all it IS Sunday now :p
– the shot total pro-Devils was simply awesome and it was good to see them overwhelm a lesser team that was beat down the night before so badly and not let them catch themselves…..
– the Andy Greene love is even spilling over on to NJDevs… I am getting really close to being able to said I told you again, just like I did with Johnny Oduya… respect muh AUTHORITYYYY!!!!!
the Bad:
– the shot total while being pro-Devils and owning most of this game, this game in NO WAY should have only been 3-2
– maybe I’m nitpicking and I expect the “best in the world” to always square to the puck, but the amount of net he left open on that second goal was just atrocious… and he only did make 19 saves… guess we’ll see when we travel to see the Ovenchicken eh?
– Well the penalty killing failed again (least they got three out of four right)
– and yeah Zajac’s been awesome… but man that gaffe with the gimme from Langs at point blank… that’s not cool…..
– PL^3 didn’t hit ONE SINGLE PERSON… WTF??? That is of course… what the FUDGE mister…. take those dirty thoughts elsewhere bucko!!! He’s still better then Peters though
the Funny:
– how many phone books did Cangelosi need to actually sit at eye level with David Clarkson in that interview??? Also introducing more people to the term Five-head (for his overdone crainal region)… and simply calling him a tiny troll gnome… that was also gratifying!!
– Seeing a really large woman (I admit I am no tiny fella but I am in the best shape I’ve been in maybe ever and still working to improve… while this woman’s thyroid excuse went out with the Regan years)… trying to sit in that one and a half chair… and the typical rude/doesn’t give a DARNED PEANUT about anyone else mister…. come over and squeeze her tiny self into the chair, making Orca-ette sit in one chair… damn it’s always funny when it ain’t you!
– Almost starting a race riot as the one black yelled YEAH DEVILS as we left and his white friend using language a I DARE NOT REPEAT… or I will get a scolding mister (don’t worry I’ll curse again on Friday…. gotta show how DUMB the bit it until it bleeds first!) going back… HELLS NO ISLANDERS BABY!!! I just didn’t wanna be there when the guns came out!
– and sorry girls… I seen it enough times… the “I’m gonna be really cute and pouty blonde” technique… I seen it WAY too many times in my life… it has ZERO effect on me (past, present or future women… be warned!)
10:57 PM: Kay, this looks like a good place to end the night. Thanks for tuning in everyone, check back for any (or no?) Devils signings as they happen! -Josh & Patricia
10:55 PM: Aaand we have numbers for the Havlat deal. Looks to be six years at $5-million a year.
10:30 PM: Apparently the Wild are also closing in on Saku Koivu.
10:26 PM: TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that Havlat and the Wild do have a verbal agreement in place.
10:23 PM: Unconfirmed report that Martin Havlat has signed with the Minnesota Wild. More to come.
9:58 PM: Okay folks, we’re going to stay live until 11PM ET and then call it a night. Josh and Patricia are quite tired after a hectic July 1st. Naturally, if anything breaks, we’ll be sure to report it. Thanks for sticking with us tonight!
9:42 PM: Report out of Montreal indicates Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, and Alexei Kovalev will not be re-signed. Lou, GET ON IT. KOIVU. NOW.
9:19 PM: I now dub thee John “Chicago Style” Mad Dog.
9:03 PM: Confirmed, Madden to the Hawks. One year at $2.75-million.
9:02 PM: We can confirm that Madden will NOT be returning with the Devils next season.
9:00 PM: John Madden may have signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. Working on it.
8:57 PM: The Phoenix Coyotes have signed Jason LaBarbera to a two-year contract. Financial terms undisclosed.
8:53 PM: Rich Chere is reporting that prospect Jeff Frazee may very will be the backup to Martin Brodeur next season for the Devils. Looks like we might not get to use the Weekes Laser picture anymore…sad face.
8:51 PM: The Calgary Flames have signed Frederik Sjostrom. Terms undisclosed.
8:47 PM: Chris Neil has decided to stay in Ottawa after all, re-upping with the Senators for a four-year, $8-million contract.
8:35 PM: Indeed. Gio has been reunited with Scott Gomez in Habs-land. Five years at $25-million. Uh…Saku, wanna play in Newark?
8:33 PM: Reports indicate Devils winger Brian Gionta has signed with the Montreal Canadiens. Working on confirmation.
8:23 PM: Marian Gaborik has signed with the New York Rangers for five years at $37.5-million total. Overpay much? So, let me get this straight. Rangers get rid of Gomez as a salary dump, then spend seven ba-gillion dollars on an oft-injured winger? Genius.
8:07 PM: Good ol’ Tom Gulitti reports that we might hear within the next few hours where Mr. Brian Gionta will land. Montreal has been the number one talked about team for the good part of the day.
7:28 PM: The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Mathieu Garon to a two-year, $2.4-million deal.
7:19 PM: Jason Strudwick has re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers for $700,000 over one year.
6:54 PM: Things seem to have quieted down a bit. We’re still here though, ready to report any free agent signings or trades!
6:24 PM: Samuel Pahlsson has signed a three-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets worth a total of $7.95-million.
6:15 PM: Steve Sullivan has re-signed with the Nashville Predators. The deal is worth $7.5-million over two years.
6:11 PM: The Bruins have signed Steve Begin to a one-year, $850,00 contract.
6:01 PM: Bob McKenzie is reporting the Komisarek deal to be worth five years at $4.5-million a season.
5:55 PM: Mike Komisarek has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Working on terms.
5:54 PM: Little bit more info on the Kubina deal: Colin Stewart also goes to the Leafs in exchange for the rights to Tim Stapleton.
5:49 PM: Vernon Fiddler has signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes that will pay him $1.1-million a season. Byron Bitz has also re-signed with the Boston Bruins. Terms not disclosed. The Ottawa Senators have re-signed Mike Brodeur to a one-year, two-way contract.
5:46 PM: The Minnesota Wild have signed Greg Zanon to a three-year deal worth a total of $5.2 million.
5:42 PM: Still very quiet in New Jersey. I know one 2MAer who would love to see Saku Koivu inked by Black ‘n Red.
5:36 PM: Cammalleri is confirmed per Darren Dreger. The Hurricanes have also re-signed Michael Ryan to a two-way deal.
5:28 PM: We’re hearing five years at $30-million for Cammalleri, while Garnet Exelby is Toronto’s return for the Kubina deal.
5:26 PM: Several outlets are reporting Mike Cammalleri has signed with the Montreal Canadiens while the Pavel Kubina-to-Atlanta deal has finally gone through. Working on terms for both deals.
5:25 PM: The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed Patrick Dwyer to a two year, two-way deal. Blockbuster.
5:11 PM: The San Jose Sharks have re-signed Kent Huskins to a two-year, $3.4-million contract while David Koci has gone to the Colorado Avalanche for a one-year, $575,000 deal.
4:46 PM: Devils bruiser Mike Rupp has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins, two years at $825,000 a year.
4:42 PM: Hal Gill has signed with the Montreal Canadiens for two years at $4.5-million total while the Florida Panthers have inked Ville Koistinen.
4:40 PM: The Philadelphia Flyers have signed Ian Laperierre to a three-year deal at $3.5-million.
4:33 PM: We’re hearing three years at just over a million per season for $3.6-mill total. Good for you, Mr. Clemmensen. Good for you.
4:27 PM: Unverified reports indicate Devils netminder Scott Clemmensen will be signing with the Florida Panthers for a multi-year deal. Working on confirmation.
4:22 PM: Adam Pardy re-signs with the Flames. Meh.
4:12 PM: 2 years, $2.8 million and $3 million for Cole.
4:09 PM: 4 years, $15 million for the Bulin wall, according to TSN. Cole’s looking at a 2 year deal from Carolina.
4:01 PM: TSN reporting Nikolai Khabibulin to the Oilers, no word on years or dollars. Erik Cole also said to be re-signing with the Hurricanes.
3:50 PM: Jaroslav Spacek to the Canadiens, three years, $11.5 million according to the Boston Globe. With every new Canadiens signing, I get a little more hopeful the Devils will wind up with Saku Koivu…
3:42 PM: Signings have dried up over the last half hour or so. It’s getting kinda boring.
3:28 PM: Hello 2000! Brian Boucher has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers for two years at $925,000 a season.
3:16 PM: Joel Ward re-signs with Nashville, 2 years, $1.5 million per. Aaron Rome signs with Vancouver for $550,000.
3:12 PM: Why can’t anyone with an easy name do anything today? Lukas Krajicek re-signs with the Lightning. One year deal. Financials undisclosed so far.
3:08 PM: Scott Niedermeyer re-ups with Anaheim, one year, $6 million + bonuses. Drats.
3:05 PM: TG says that both Gionta and Shanahan are fielding offers. Guess no one cares about poor John Madden.
2:54 PM: Donald Brashear to the Rangers. Me no likey that. Two years, $2.8 million.
2:50 PM: Andy Strickland reports that Mike Knuble‘s signed with Washington, two years $2.8 million per season. Nothing official on Gio yet.
2:46 PM: Steve Montador signs with Buffalo. 2 years, $1.55 million per.
2:41 PM: Get your height jokes in while you can, boys and girls, rumors are that Gio’s nearing a deal with a new team.
2:39 PM: TSN just listed the Devils in a laundry-list style rundown of teams that may be interested in Scott Niedermeyer.
2:32 PM: Forgive me for the pun I’m about to make, but…Twitter is all a-Twitter that Brian Gionta is apparently a hot commodity this afternoon.
Been nice knowin’ ya, shorty.
2:23 PM: Dwayne Roloson to the Islanders, 2 years, $2.5 million per according to NY Newsday. Tomas Kopecky to Chicago for two years, financials not yet known.
2:15 PM: Final numbers on Andy Greene’s contract: Two years, $1.475 million. $725,000 in year one, $750,000 in year two for a cap hit of $737,500 per year. All of this info via TG at Fire & Ice.
2:12 PM: 12 years, $62 million for Hossa from Chicago. Hot diggity the ‘Hawks better hope he’s healthy and not cursed.
2:11 PM: Conkblock himself, Ty Conklin has signed with the Blues, two years, $1.3 million. Prepare yourselves for an outdoor game, St. Louis. Ty likes those games.
2:05 PM: Matt Walker to Tampa Bay, four years/$1.7 million per according to TSN.
2:04 PM: Apparently Chicago’s looking to deal Huet now. I think they don’t have much of a choice.
2:02 PM: Hossa’s a done deal in Chicago, rumored to be TWELVE years at 5 million a year.
2:01 PM: Darren Dreger reports that the Lightning were in the running for Hossa too. Which just proves that yes, the Lightning really were given cap immunity.
1:56 PM: Craig Anderson, goalie extraordinaire, to Colorado for two years, financial terms undisclosed.
1:47 PM: A big name! Finally! TSN is currently reporting that Marian Hossa will make it to the Stanley Cup Final and lose with the Chicago Blackhawks this year! Terms undisclosed. Also, David Booth re-signs with Florida for 6 years/$25.5 million.
1:46 PM: Pavel Kubina rumored to be being traded to Atlanta.
1:45 PM: Pierre LeBrun of ESPN says otherwise on the officialness of the Kovalev deal. So, it’s still rumored.
1:40 PM: Kovalev deal is now official (or not…), he re-ups with Montreal for 2 years, $8.75 million. Greene’s a two-year deal, still waiting on the dolla dollas.
1:32 PM: It’s a very slow go of it so far. Only three signings in the first hour and a half. If I recall correctly, it picked up between 2 and 3PM last year.
1:18 PM: Kovalev re-signing with Montreal is still just a rumor. Deal has yet to be signed, according to TSN.
1:13 PM: Tough guy Colton Orr has inked a four-year, $4-million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1:07 PM: Okay Devils fans, we can all breathe easy. The official Devils Twitter feed reports that the Devils have re-signed Andy Greene. Thank God that’s taken care of. Since it’s the Devils, terms are, naturally, undisclosed.
12:59 PM: Rumors flying that Alex Kovalev has re-signed with Les Habs for 2 years and about $8.8 million. Not confirmed yet, though.
12:49 PM: Radek Dvorak re-ups in Florida. Two years, $3.4 million. n Ohlund’s deal is indeed frontloaded, Darren Dreger tweets that Mattias will take home $22.5 million of the $24.5 million in the first five years of the deal. Speaking of tweets, why not follow us? @2MAblog
12:27 PM: Ohlund terms disclosed: SEVEN YEARS, $3.75 million per. Gotta be frontloaded. Just has to be.
12:15 PM: First signing! Perennial Devils trade rumor Mattias Ohlund has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Terms yet to be disclosed.
12:03 PM: No free agents have signed yet. What’s taking them so long?! Jerks.
12:00 PM: Let the festivities commence! The floodgates, they are being opened.
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Ahem. Thank you. I have returned from the dark depths known as summer classes. Y’know, when they stuff four months worth of knowledge and work into your brain over the course of four weeks. Of course, I’m doing it again this month, but I don’t actually have to BE there.
So instead, I can be here! Huzzah!
First order of bid-ness comes in the form of “OMGLOOKATUSWEREGONNALIVECAPFREEAGENCY!”
Get here early, as the immitible Steve Stirling will be keeping you posted on all the pre-noon FA opening shenanegans and goings-on.
Then, around noonish, there will be a seemless transition of updating power, as Steve takes his leave and I take my seat at the laptop/television screens. And by seemless transition, I mean one or both of us will likely go missing and the internets will possibly explode.
Seemless.
So join us tomorrow for the third annual 2 Man Advantage Free Agent Signing Day Happy Fun Time & Box Social!
Also, I haven’t forgotten about the ZubbieCounterContest. I’ll get on that…eventually. Before the summer’s out. Probably. Hey, maybe we’ll get lucky and the contest voting will be a big celebration of the trade to ditch Zubbie’s contract that Lou is surely working on as we speak.
…He’s not working on it as we speak?
Drats.
I sit here in my Windy City apartment, fighting back the urge to kick my vibrating fridge, wondering what the heck happened last night.
We were so close.
How does a team go from glory to undeniable shame and defeat in the span of a minute-thirty? No heart? No drive? No courage?
No killer instinct.
Let’s face it, boys and girls, this team could have easily put this game away last night. There were odd man rushes, two-on-ones, heck, a four minute man advantage and — nothin’. Nada. Zero. Zilch.
I could go on, but it hurts my heart too much.
Oh, who are we kidding? My heart was ripped from its casing last night and severed to millions of tiny bleeding pieces by the sharpened skates of 23 men.
It hurts.
I do not think this team didn’t have the guts to get the job done. The Hurricanes were simply the better team. Aside from flashes of brilliance and a jewel of a Game 5, Cam Ward was the better goaltender.
Our defense is mediocre at best — yeah, Havelid, go hide in a ditch somewhere west of the Delaware. You are not welcome in New Jersey anymore.
While our offense kicked it up seven THOUSAND notches this season, guys like Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik don’t hack it. Thank goodness we weren’t subjected to Holik’s obligatory three stupid penalties last night, and while it’s fantastic that Rolston finally got a goal, I’d really like to give another Brian all the credit for that tally. Thank you, Mr. Gionta. Whether your on-ice awareness succeeded or you merely blindly threw the puck towards the boards and it just happened to bounce right to Rolston’s stick — I don’t care. It was awesome and one of the few things I can actually smile about after last night.
What do we do? Fire Sutter? Plead for Brodeur’s retirement? Take the entire defense outside and send them into the depths of Newark, just hoping they won’t return safely?
I’m not sure.
All I know right now is that I’m sitting in an apartment with an annoyingly loud vibrating fridge, overlooking the glowing red of the Sears Tower as Chicagoans rejoice, for their team has made it to the second round and mine hasn’t.
Life just doesn’t seem fair, does it?
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.
_____
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.
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