New Jersey Devils Viewing Party 11/15: North Brunswick Pub

Tuesday was my first New Jersey Devils viewing party, but it certainly didn’t go as planned.  The Devils lost a close game, my ride somehow got lost in Morristown for twenty minutes and I missed the entire first period.  There was traffic on the Parkway and it was a long day of work.   French fries were thrown.  Were it any other event, this night would have been a total disaster.

However, my night at North Brunswick Pub defied a troublesome start.  A trip far from the friendly confines of the Rock proved more than hospitable when at least 50 Devils fans packed into a bar with more than 20 HD TVs.  It was a hockey paradise with drink specials and 35-cent boneless wings.

Grant Marshall of the 2003 Stanley Cup team was there to sign autographs and quite approachable.  Fellow general Kevin Lankey went home with four autographed pucks for friends, Marshall talked hockey with anyone who wanted to chat and even posed for photographs.  Other autographs were raffled away from Adam Henrique and Patrik Elias.  It was a fun night for a few lucky Devils fans.

Though the game didn’t go our way, the Devils kept it interesting.  Against the defending Stanley Cup champs, our Devils repeatedly battled back before falling in the final minutes to the Boston Bruins.  Scoring three goals against Tim Thomas is no small feat and the Devils received goals from David Clarkson and Nick Palmieri.  It was Palmieri’s first two-goal game of his career.

The result wasn’t what we’d hoped for, but the energy throughout the bar was electric and it was a great way to watch an away game.  The Devils Generals thank the North Brunswick Pub for being wonderful hosts and turning each of their 20 screens to a great Devils hockey game.

There will be another Devils viewing party in West Hampton next weekend.  The Devils Army invades South Jersey for a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.  If a night filled with traffic and anger that ends in a loss can be this much fun, Saturday’s viewing party is bound to be more exciting.  We’ll see you there.