Jamie Langenbrunner

• Successful Homecoming for Devils Skaters- It was quite a homecoming for several Devils players this past weekend when they visited the Minnesota Wild.  Jamie Langenbrunner, Paul Martin and Zach Parise all returned home, surrounded by dozens of family members and friends.  You had the captain, the No. 1 defenseman and team scoring leader all originate from what’s now known as Hockeytown USA.  Just unbelievable.  Paul Martin returned home this past weekend to Minneapolis, where he first starred in high school and then in the University
• Parise's Controversial and Decisive Goal-

  Last night, Zach Parise's goal with 48.3 seconds left in regulation secured the Devils 2-1 win over the Maple Leafs. However, Leafs fans are angry as hell.  They wanted to know why Jamie Langenbrunner can barge into Toronto's goaltender Vesa Toskala without an interference penalty called.  In fact, Langs' collision with Toskala happened seconds before Parise found the loose puck and pushed it by the Leafs netminder. Let's review the play and determine if Langs committed a minor infraction. 

• Devils Daily 2008 Blog Recap- I am sitting in my bedroom, reading Devils fans criticize Johnny Oduya 24/7. I quickly check Yahoo Sports for Oduya's numbers. What I see surprises me as much as other supporters. Among defensemen, Oduya is tied in second with 16 points. His plus/minus 12 is second on the team to Paul Martin. Instead, three other blueliners are a combined -18 with a combined 21 points. Colin White, Vitaly Vishnevski and Mike Mottau have struggled from the get-go, but nobody is ripping into them. Maybe, we do not see eye to eye, but I'm stating facts, not opinions.

• Devils Take Bite Out of Sharks-

  John Madden gave New Jersey their first lead and Sergei Brylin delivered the knockout punch, defeating San Jose 3-2 and sending the Sharks to their fifth straight loss. After a scoreless first period, the Sharks took the 1-0 lead, taking advantage of a Vitaly Vishnevksi penalty 35 seconds into the middle frame.  However, the Devils scored the next three goals, all in the second, including Madden and Brylin’s 1:10 apart, before a late Kyle McLaren tally in the third, finishing the count.

• Asham Rebounds, Leads Devils Over Conference-Leading Senators- Arron Asham rebounded from Friday night's shootout gaffe, leading the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Senators. Asham scored twice and Zach Parise added another on the power play, as New Jersey regained a share of first place in the Atlantic Division. The Senators made a valiant effort to tie this game, but Martin Brodeur made 37 saves, including one in the waning seconds with Ottawa pressing for the equalizer.

   

• Gionta Lifts Devils by Senators in Overtime- Scoring his first in 13 games, Brian Gionta gave New Jersey an important 3-2 overtime decision over Ottawa last night. After circling around the net, Gionta found a loose rebound and slipped it through Martin Gerber's legs. Captain Jamie Langenbrunner assisted on Gionta's 14th of the season at 2:14 of the extra frame. In the process, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur extended his NHL record 30-win seasons to a 12th straight year. The man he trails in career victories, Patrick Roy, only managed 8 consecutive 30-win seasons.

• Devils Trade Rumors, Updates- As the clock ticks until Feb. 26 at 3 pm, the trade deadline rumors are sizzling. Eklund and Lyle "Spector" Richardson have been on the phones calling their contacts, trying to find something going on. I hear many things about Mats Sundin, Darcy, Tucker, Rob Blake, Olli Jokinen and Alex
• Last Minute Line Change Leads to Success-

  I was pleasantly surprised by the Devils lineup this past Saturday night. I noticed a major change. Elias, Gionta and Parise skated on the A line. Zubrus, Langenbrunner and Zajac controlled the second offensive unit, while Madden, Brylin and Clarkson paired the checking line. Asham, Rupp and Pelley played sparingly on the Devils fourth pairing.

• Devils End First Period Woes, Successfully Open New Year-

  The last time New Jersey scored a first-period goal was in a 3-2 loss to Washington on Dec. 10, a loss that snapped the Devils’ 10-game point streak. This time around, the Devils walked away with a nail-biting 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers at the Prudential Center.

  With Patrik Elias out of the lineup due to a tightened groin, someone had to step up in his place.

• Wanna Fill a Void? Hire a Sutter...-

  That's right... I said it... Head coach Brent Sutter is not only a respectable and good coach, but he was the missing link from last season... you want proof?  How about nine straight wins... you might say that Martin Brodeur played like a drugged-up rabbit in October... how about missing Mr. Langenbrunner and Colin "I can (partially) see" White... you're gonna say boohoo...Jamie scored two goals last night for the first place Devils, the second one thanks to the Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno "Johnny Oduya" Chara...

• Sutter Challenges Captain- During the Devils telecast Saturday night, TV cameras showed Devils coach Brent Sutter yelling at captain Jamie Langenbrunner on the bench. Apparently, Langenbrunner lost coverage on Jack Johnson, who scored the Kings second goal, Tom Gulitti noted on his blog. Gulitti reported that Sutter and Langs are still on good terms regardless of what happened on the bench.

• Devils Power Play Fails Again in Disappointing Loss to Florida-

  Although the New Jersey Devils were hosting a backup goaltender and several minor leaguers, they flopped against the Florida Panthers.  The Devils, who played in front of 15,203, failed to capitalize on five power play opportunities, en route to their second consecutive home loss.  The Panthers defeated the Devils 2-1 behind spectacular play by reserve netminder Craig Anderson, timely scoring and strong penalty killing.

• Devils Host Florida Without Madden and Pandolfo-

  For only the second time in the last eight years, the New Jersey Devils will host the Florida Panthers Friday night without two of its best defensive forwards.  While Jay Pandolfo is still nursing a pelvic bone ligament he suffered on Nov. 28, linemate John Madden will miss the fourth meeting between these two teams this season with a laceration on the inside of his right ankle dating back to Jan. 11(TG).

• Devils Notes From Past Week, Late-Night Statistics III-

  While I was on vacation, the New Jersey Devils went 2-1.  They were victorious  in both road contests before falling at home to the NY Islanders last night.  I am sure that everyone wants to know how London was, but, more importantly, we need to discuss the Devils current events.  A lot has taken place, including John Madden’s leg injury, special teams updates, shots on goal and the Prudential Center’s attendance figures.

• Devils Deliver Due to Sutter's Teamwork- Teamwork can be defined as "cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause." I feel the New Jersey Devils have taken in this concept and used it towards their success in the National Hockey League.
  
  Mark Everson of the New York Post, spoke about giving the Devils their due.
  
• Devils Like New Arena, Very Very Much-

  The New Jersey Devils have now played at their new Prudential Center arena for 11 full weeks.  We decided to review the positive memories and the few bad experiences (opening night) from the past two-plus months, in their new house.  Unfortunately, things were not very joyous on Oct 27th, 2007.  They were not nearly as disastrous as the The NHL's All-Star “Rorygate” voting disaster last season.

• Devils Unlucky News Report- Jamie Langenbrunner is undergoing surgery to repair his injured groin and Cam Janssen is following suit for a separated shoulder suffered during the Devils first preseason game. There were rumors spread from people in attendance that the new Reebok jerseys made Janssen's injury happen. He did fight twice in game, so it's his problem there. He also injured the same shoulder last season and was out for over 10 games, so surgery is probably a good idea. To add insult to injury, Colin White was drilled by a puck to the eye in practice.
• Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for the New Jersey Devils-

  From Guest Blogger Ethan Kwassman, who has hosted many Devils broadcasts on blogtalkradio:

• Devils Battle Atlantic Division Rival Flyers Tonight at Prudential Center- At this point last season, the New Jersey Devils entered the New Year with a 47-26 double-digits lead in points over their Turnpike rivals Philadelphia Flyers.  While the Devils were on their way to another Atlantic Division crown, the Flyers could not wait for the season to end and to clear house (they fired GM, coach, involved themselves in several large transactions during the offseason).
• Devils Power Up in Practice-

  The New Jersey Devils completed the post-Christmas weekend at 1-1 yet remain in first place in the Atlantic Division.  Unlike earlier this season, where head coach Brent Sutter may have given his team a day off after playing two games in 48 hours, tis was not the case in this morning's practice. 

   
• Devils Late-Night Statistics-

  I am incredibly bored and have nothing better to do at 4 a.m. on the east coast.  I am assuming that you are sleeping in a warm cozy bed.  I will join all of you shortly (in my bed).  In the meantime, enjoy some Devils’ statistics, which I find valuable and important to their success this season.
  

• New Jersey Devils Captain- If Not Elias, Then Who?- Over a week ago, head coach Brent Sutter revealed that he is unsure if Patrik Elias will remain as team captain this upcoming season.  If Jamie Langenbrunner were to replace Elias, that plan might have to be delayed. He went for surgery on his injured groin and will be sidelined for up to two months.
  
• Islanders Score Three in Final Period, Hold Down Fort against the Devils-

  Just when it looked like New Jersey was back in this game, the Islanders responded with two goals in an important 3:19 span of the third period.  New York added an empty netter in the final minute to defeat the Devils, 5-2, their fourth consecutive win over their division rivals this season.

• Love Thy Neighbor-

  In professional sports, there are certain successful organizations like the Yankees, Patriots, and New Jersey Devils.  Unlike the Pats and Devs, every non-Yankee fan hates, despises, and loathes the Bronx Bombers.  I did not mean to such harsh terminology, but that is how people feel towards the Spankees.&nbs

• With Philadelphia on Horizon, New Jersey Looks Past Phoenix... Big Mistake-

  NEWARK -- Two professional hockey teams, one in first place and the other tied for last, competed at the Prudential Center in downtown Newark this past afternoon.
  

• Confidence in Captain Langenbrunner- The AP reported that Devils coach Brent Sutter has given Jamie Langenbrunner a vote of confidence two weeks after he was named the eighth captain in team history...
• Devils Come Alive... Defeat Bruins- Quick update...The New Jersey Devils defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 behind some timely scoring and an impressive defensive effort in the final period.  After a scoreless first, Brian Gionta's 10th from Johnny Oduya opened the scoring 1-0 at 10:57 of the second period.  Jamie Langenbrunner added the first of two goals less than four minutes later, on the power play.   Zach Paris
• Devils Lose in Overtime, End Unbeaten Streak at Nine Games-

  The stakes were simple: The New Jersey Devils were trying to extend their unbeaten streak to a season-high 10 games and the NY Rangers were looking to end a three-game losing slump.
  
  In the end, Brendon Shanahan's one-timer beat Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur 30 seconds into overtime, and reversed both trends for the time being.