Blog Archives
SCF Game 1 Recap: Defensive breakdown in OT gives Kings 1-0 lead
After what seemed like a month since the Eastern Conference Finals ended, the Stanley Cup Finals got under way on Wednesday night. Things didn’t go well for the home team in Game 1. Both teams played very sloppy at times, but the Devils could never get their game going the way they wanted to and needed to on Wednesday. The Devils nearly stole the game in overtime, but they broke down defensively and completely lost Anze Kopitar, who had the breakaway that resulted in the game-winning goal for the Kings. Los Angeles is still undefeated on the road in these playoffs and lead the series, 1-0.
This is Our Team, Our Town Devils Army
Photo Credit: New Jersey Devils
For the fifth time in franchise history the New Jersey Devils will be playing in the Stanley Cup Finals. I was fortunate enough to be at Game 7 of 2003 when the Devils won their most recent championship. I stood next to my Dad as the seconds ticked down and Gary Bettman walked out, grabbed Lord Stanley’s Cup and handed it off to Scott Stevens. If you ask me what my best Devils’ memory is, well without a doubt, it’s that game. Now, when you ask my father, he’s often quick to say watching me watching the Devils win the Cup. That always resonated with me.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 Preview: Devils Looking to Dominate at MSG Tonight
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers
8:00 P.M. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: WFAN 660AM
Tonight is the night that one team will be one game closer to the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s the pivotal Game 5. So far in the playoffs, the Devils and Rangers are 1-1 in Game 5’s. Who will come out victorious tonight?
The Devils completely dominated the Rangers from start to finish in Game 4. Scoring early on in the 1st period was Bryce Salvador, a defenseman, who has more points in the postseason than he did in the regular season. This is something that the Devils, especially the defense, need to keep doing. Shooting from the point, getting in the face of Henrik Lundqvist, not letting the Rangers block shots and scoring the first goal are some key’s to tonight’s game.
ECF Game 4 Recap: The Captain steps up and MB30 sets another record
Three stars of the game:
3rd star: Bryce Salvador (1 goal, 1 assist)
2nd star: Martin Brodeur (28 saves)
1st star: Zach Parise (2 goals, 1 assist)
It’s funny what a difference two days can make. On Saturday afternoon, the Devils played a decent all-around game, but you need to outscore your opponent to win games (at least that’s the only known way to win as far as I know), and the Devils couldn’t beat Henrik Lundqvist on Saturday. Two days and a few tweaks to the lineup later, the Devils tied the series once again with the Rangers in a strong, 4-1 victory at the Prudential Center in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 Preview: Devils Look to Even Up the Series
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
8:00 P.M. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: Bloomberg 1130 AM
Well, here we are again, down 2-1 in a series, but still with a fighting chance. It’s a best of 7 for a reason, but when you’re dominating the games and not putting up goals, it’s frustrating. Yet, here the Devils sit, heading into Game 4 tonight, down in the series.
For tonight’s game, Pete DeBoer has decided to shake up the lines a bit and Jacob Josefson will make his first playoff appearance. That leaves veteran Petr Sykora on the outside looking in. It seems the fans have been torn about this decision. On one hand you have Sykora’s experience and presence, but on the other hand you have a rookie that will bring fresh legs to the line-up. Hopefully Josefson is ready to bring his A-Game because the Devils need it.
ECF Game 3 Recap: Devils can’t solve Lundqvist…again
I’m going to make this a relatively short recap, because I don’t think any Devils fans really want to think about Saturday afternoon’s Game 3 at all, and I don’t blame you. It was a frustrating game.
From the drop of the puck in the first period to the final horn in the third period, the Devils were by far the superior team on the Prudential Center ice. The Devils owned puck possession, shot attempts, shots on goal (36-21) and pretty much every other statistic except goals. The main, if not only reason for the goose egg in the goal department was the superb play of Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. He kept his team in a game that they had no business winning. There, I said it. They got outplayed dramatically for 40 minutes, then got a quick strike by Dan Girardi on a power play, and a tip-in by Chris Kreider shortly after. Other than that, and some strong saves by Martin Brodeur, including a tremendous stop on Ryan Callahan’s rebound attempt, the Rangers pretty much sat back and tried to contain the Devils.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 Preview: Devils Seek 2-1 Series Lead Back At the Rock
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
New Jersey (9-5) at New York (9-7)
1:00 P.M. ET
TV: NBC
Radio: Bloomberg 1130 AM
After outplaying, out-coaching, and outclassing (36 word press conference Tortorella, really?) the New York Rangers in game 2, the Devils head back to home ice with a chance at consecutive victories and a 2-1 series lead. On Wednesday night, the Devils were able to get three goals by Henrik Lundqvist, who made life extremely difficult for the Devils in his shutout back on Monday. Helped by another superb outing by the 40 year old going on 30 Martin Brodeur, New Jersey was able to get back in the series and avoid returning home with a deep 2-0 hole to overcome. Captain Zach Parise was especially satisfied with the Devils improved effort, stating “…we felt that we could definitely bring it up a notch from the first game and we could play a lot better and we did. I think our intensity was better, our compete level was better and we did a good job on the boards.”
ECF Game 2 Recap: Tip drill BeDevils Rangers
(headline by @TheProgramBTR)
Three stars of the game:
3rd star: Bryce Salvador (2 assists, 23:37 ice time)
2nd star: Chris Kreider (Rangers – 1 goal)
1st star: David Clarkson (Game-winning goal, 3 shots)
“Every goal he scores is a game winner. I hope he can get 7 more.” Those were the words of Ilya Kovalchuk in his postgame interview at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. He was referring to David Clarkson’s third period goal that held up as the game-winning goal that tied the Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece after dropping Game 1 on Monday night. The Devils got the job done, winning 3-2, and will make the short trip across the Hudson River before Saturday’s Game 3 against the Rangers.
Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Preview; Devils Aim For MSG Split
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 3
New Jersey (8-5) at New York (9-6)
8:00 P.M. ET
TV: NBCSN, CBC
Radio: Bloomberg 1130 AM
If all goes well for the Devils in game 2, they will head back to the Prudential Center with not only momentum, but more importantly the series tied at 1. Sounds familiar? It should. It was only about two weeks ago where the Devils were in the same position they are in right now, and we all know how that ended up. Four consecutive and dominating victories later, the Devils overcame their game 1 struggles en route to a bid with their arch nemesis New York Rangers. Being in this position before has helped keep the Devils composure after a game 1 loss, and Ilya Kovalchuk stressed the importance of moving on to a crucial game 2: “It’s happened with us before where we lose one game and then we’ll see what’s going to happen. Tomorrow is a must-win game for us and we just have to be focused and do our best. We know what to do to be successful and we just have to do that.”
ECSF Game 5 Recap: Devils Bryz Past Flyers
(headline by @amazingjr87)
Three stars of the game:
3rd star: Martin Brodeur (27 saves)
2nd star: Adam Henrique (2 assists)
1st star: Ilya Kovalchuk (Goal, assist)
If you honestly believed that the Devils would have knocked off the Philadelphia Flyers in five games this series, raise your hand. … I don’t see any hands up, partially because I’m staring at a computer screen as I type this, but I don’t think many people saw this coming, at least because of how it happened. Perhaps the Devils could have contained the Flyers’ run-and-gun offense and grinded out a 6 or 7 game series victory. Some people predicted that this year’s edition of the New Jersey Devils would be a mere trivia question in the Flyers’ Stanley Cup DVD this summer. Well, they play the games for a reason, and that’s a good thing for the surging Devils, because their sixth win in seven games and fourth straight overall clinched a second round series win over the Philadelphia Flyers, and let’s be honest: this was one fun series to be a Devils fan for.
