Martin Brodeur

• Season Predictions: From Hart to 2008 Stanley Cup Champions- With the clock ticking, I reveal my predictions for the regular season's most valuable player, rookie, defenseman and goaltender. Then, not in any order particular order, I offer my "two cents" on the Eastern and Western Conference representatives fighting in the Stanley Cup Finals. Warning Sign: Detroit and Pittsburgh WILL NOT compete in the championship round despite their best efforts this season, due to their goaltender issues. Although Ty Conklin has successfully taken over the goaltender reins in Fleury's absence, Conblock cannot dominate a seven-game series.
• Brodeur and Parise Lift Devils to Season Sweep of Leafs-

  Zach Parise assured the Devils that first place in the Eastern Conference belonged to them for at least a second consecutive night.  Parise scored the decisive tally with 48.3 seconds left in regulation, lifting the Devils to a 2-1 win over the Leafs.  In fact, he also scored New Jersey’s first goal, giving him five in the last three games, while Martin Brodeur backstopped the Devils to victory, making 41 saves.

• 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 Visit Toronto Tonight- The Devils have rebounded in a hurry, winning two straight after dropping three consecutive games due to inefficient and unbalanced scoring. Zach Parise's three goals in the last two games and Patrik Elias' "Mr. Overtime" status have carried the Devils into the Eastern Conference lead with a matchup in Toronto tonight. In fact, the Devils visited the Leafs this past week, earning a 4-1
• Elias Lifts Devils into Eastern Conference Lead- Throughout his career, the Devils have relied upon Patrik Elias's experience and ability to perform down the stretch.  He carried the team yet again last night.  Elias’s goal with 58 seconds left in overtime boosted New Jersey (26-35-7) to a 2-1 decision over visiting Tampa Bay (39-23-6) at the Prudential Center and, more importantly, sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.

  Competing in front of an announced attendance of 15,670, the Devils outshot the Lightning 33-22, dominating many aspects of their fourth and

• Devils Host Tampa at The Rock- In a surprising move, Devils head coach Brent Sutter shifted sophomore Travis Zajac from center to right wing for tonight's home contest versus Tampa Bay.  Devils beat writer Tom Gulitti broke the story yesterday, reporting that Dainius Zubrus will move into the center slot and Mike Rupp the left wing.  Gulitti added that Sutter might revert to Zajac at center and that his plan is definitely not final.

  Meanwhile, the Devils welcome the Lightning for a 7:00 p.m.

• Devils Best Player in February: John Madden- Globe and Mail writer and blogger James Mirtle lists the top performers in the month of February, which you can also find on Sportsnet.ca. With 15 points, Devils offenseman Patrik Elias just made the list. However, one should note his disparity in goals scored (3) and assists produced (12), tied with four others for third place overall. The Devils also dominated the plus minus rating. They maintained four of the five top ratings, including Elias' league-leading plus 13,  Paul Martin's
• Devils Fall to Montreal, I Lose My Mind on Officiating or Lack There Of Last Night-

  The previous game, a 4-0 loss Washington, I described as unintelligent. Head coach Brent Sutter ensured a more competitive match in the second half of a back-to-back stretch, yet the Devils fell for the third straight game, 2-1 to Montreal, in front of a soldout raucous crowd of 21,273 at the Bell Centre.
  
  Both teams worked hard in the first period, with the Devils leading 13-8 in shots on goal. However, after 20 minutes of action, the game remained scoreless.
  

• And They're Off...- The Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference has never been so exciting. As of right now the New Jersey Devils sit atop both the division and the conference, but as we all know, this could change over night with the Pittsburgh Penguins only one point behind the Devils. The New York Rangers are also playing some of their best hockey of the season, making the task of winning the division that much harder.

  The

• Salvador Nervous Before Tonight's Game- After wearing a St. Louis Blues uniform for 11 years, Bryce Salvador shared some nervous feelings before tonight's debut with the New Jersey Devils. "It's going to be a good nervous," Salvador told Tom Gulitti of the Record. "It's not nervous to play. It's more nervous, excited to be in a new atmosphere. Once the puck is dropped I'm in my element, so I'm going to be pretty comfortable out there."
• Devils Fall in OT, Remain Atop Eastern Conference-

  Trading came and went and the Devils took the alternate route, making a small trade for a stay-at-home defenseman Bryce Salvador. They could have used an offensive weapon or two last night, falling to the Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime. Brian Gionta scored the Devils lone goal, deflecting it off Carolina's defenseman. However, with time expiring on the Hurricanes' man advantage, Sergei Samsonov tallied his first of two goals. Many people blamed Andy Greene for allowing Samsonov's game

• Getting Better With Age- Martin Brodeur showed many signs of slowing down and aging at the beginning of this season. A 14-year veteran, Brodeur played uninspired hockey in the opening month (3-6-0, 3.02 GAA), allowing weak, atypical goals, and more importantly, losing more games than expected. Fortunately for the Devils team and their die-hard fans alike, the "new and seemingly aging" Brodeur did not last for more than six weeks. Since the middle of November, he has returned to the Brodeur that we are more familiar with: the record-breaking (22 wins away from tying Patrik Roy’s
• Madden Wins it in Overtime; Devils Gain Sole Possession of Eastern Conference Lead- John Madden tucked in a shot underneath Brent Johnson's pads with 50 seconds left in overtime, giving New Jersey a 2-1 win and sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead for the first time since April 8. 2001. Despite being outplayed throughout the majority of the contest, the Devils earned their fifth consecutive win and seventh in eight games (7-0-1). Washington outshot New Jersey 28-10 for the first 40 minutes of play, but the Devils hung tight, going into the third period scoreless.
• NHL's Top 25 Highest Paid Players- I should have brought this to your attention earlier this season, but here are the most expensive contracts in the NHL (listed below).  Some are ridiculously stupid, overpaid, and out of control.  If I were a team owner, the general manager would have been fired immediately after seeing these outrageous signings.  Then again, how many GMs are worthwhile in sports today?  I have found eight successful organizations in the four major sports in America.
  
  Here are my picks (not in any order).
• Devils Visit Nation's Capital- The Devils return to the Nation's Capital this afternoon for a showdown with the Washington Capitals. Both teams are in the midst of the second half of a back-to-back stretch. Whereas the Devils earned their first win of the season over the Islanders yesterday, handing them a 4-2 loss, the Capitals fell to their division rival Hurricanes 6-3. While the Devils have been succeeding with a balanced roster and dominant goaltender (what else is new), the Capitals
• Devils Finally Conquer Islanders; Extend Point Streak to 7- Maybe, Sutter's family should move to New Jersey permanently. After attending the last contest, a 3-2 Devils win, the Sutters, made another appearance, watching the Devils first win in six tries over the Islanders this season over head coach Brent's former team. Alongside a rare sellout crowd of 17,625, the Sutters and Co. witnessed the 4-2 effort

  Trailing 1-0 after eight minutes of action, the Devils responded valiantly, utilizing a brilliant

• Top 6 Issues Discussed at GM Meetings- The No-Trade Clause allows players to determine their futures, determine when, and if they are dealt before the trade deadline. If, say, the Maple Leafs offer Mats Sundin in a trade, he must grant them permission. He has the last laugh, signing on the dotted line. This is a severe problem, which the league has not yet resolved. In fact, during the GM Meetings held this past week, it was not even raised in discussions. Instead, the executives talked about reducing minor infractions committed in overtime from
• 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.

   

• Devils Host Sharks on FSNY 2- Tonight the Devils host the Sharks at the Prudential Center. The 7:00 tip-off will be televised on FSNY 2 and on WFAN 660 AM on the airwaves. New Jersey has captured a first place tie in the Atlantic Division with wins in four of their last five games (4-0-1). The Devils even gained a share of the Eastern Conference lead prior to last night's contests. The Sharks will look to snap a four-game losing streak. San Jose is in the middle of a difficult eight-game road trip in which it visits the Atlantic before facing the western conference.
• Devils Slaughter 'Canes, Gain Share of First Place in Eastern Conference- Five different players scored goals and New Jersey improved to 3-0 versus Carolina this season with a 5-1 win in front of 16,182. With the victory, the Devils improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games and captured a share of first place in the Eastern Conference standings.

  Although they have played two games this past weekend on consecutive nights, the Devils were healthier and more effective than the Hurricanes.

• Devils Waste Two Goal Lead, Fall to Thrashers in Shootout- Pascal Dubuis beat Martin Brodeur with the decisive goal in the 10th round of the longest shootout in Devils history and Johan Hedberg denied Arron Asham on the other end, giving Atlanta the 4-3 come-from-behind win in New Jersey. The Devils had taken a 2-0 and then 3-2 lead before the Thrashers tied the game on separate occasions. Despite the loss, New Jersey gained one point, advancing into a first place tie with Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division. The Devils remain four points behind idle Ottawa, their next opponent on Saturday night’s second half of a back-to-back stretch.
• Devils Upend Thrashers, Can They Make it Four Straight?- The New Jersey Devils have broken out of their slump and the Tampa Bay Lightning are in the midst of their three-game losing streak.  Goaltender Martin Brodeur is heating up and just recorded his first shutout of the season, 3-0, last night over the Thrashers, a milestone no less.  He is 1-1 against the Lightning this year, losing the season opener 3-1 before a 6-1 convincing victory in the Prudential Center.  Jamie Langenbrunner has made a serious contribution since returning to the lineup on Nov.
• Devils Suffer Deja Vu to Sabres- When the fourth and final meeting between the Devils and Sabres went into overtime, Buffalo was thinking, "Here we go again." However, Buffalo overcame its early season woes to New Jersey and finally found a way to win in the shootout period. After squadering a 2-0 lead in regulation, the Sabres regrouped for a 3-2 effort.

  The Devils overcame a 2-0 deficit again with two more unlikely heroes.

• Atlantic Division Preview-

  The Devils have yet to finish fourth in their division in a very long time. If you search the record books, the last time they missed the playoffs was the 1995-96 season. That year the Devils finished sixth out of eight teams in their division. Historically, the divisions were split into the Northeast and Atlantic at the time. Today, there are three divisions in each (east and west) conference. Since that season, they have placed at least third, a remarkable streak. Since the 1990-91 campaign, the Devils have

• Devils Shoot Sabres Out of Newark-

  The Devils were clearly frustrated after they allowed the Sabres to to tie the game with 1:37 remaining in regulation, preventing goalie Martin Brodeur from earning yet another shutout. Instead of succumbing in the last 90 seconds plus overtime, they regrouped and captured the 2-1 shootout win.

• 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.

• Wanted: Consistent Offense- The Devils are a defensive-minded team not known for scoring many goals. But, then they go out and score six against the LA Kings on Saturday night, basically teasing us Devils fans! How can the one of the lowest scoring offenses in the league keep teasing supporters with these rare yet kind outbursts? I prefer the Devils support Brodeur with three goals per game, than score six or even seven every now and then.

• Devils Rebound in Hurry, Easily Handle Kings-

  The Devils quickly got back on the winning track with a 6-3 win over the last-place Kings last night. They produced five second-period goals and 12 skaters contributed points in New Jersey's first win on the five-game home stand. Even the defensemen helped out, manufacturing two goals and three assists in front of 15,279 at the Prudential Center.

• Devils at Crossroads with Kings on Horizon-

  After suffering a 3-1 defeat to the Rangers last night, the Devils are back in business. Tonight, they face the LA Kings, who are in the middle of an eight-game road trip. That nearly matches New Jersey's record-tying nine-game road trip which opened the current season.

• Devils Deranged Once Again by Nemesis-

  Friday was not a night to remember for the 17,625 fans in attendance.  The Devils and their loyal supporters must stay positive after last night’s 3-1 loss to the Rangers, as they host the Kings tonight with little room for error.  The Devils have officially lost the season series (0-3-2) to the Rangers.  That was the fifth straight loss to the Rangers and 5th in the 6-game home stretch.  But, everyone must stay positive.

• Devils Have Crucial Weekend at Rock-

  After two straight losses, the Devils have little time to waste.  They host the Rangers tonight and LA Kings tomorrow.  The Devils are no strangers to their cross- river rivals who have captured all four meetings thus far.  Despite the four-game losing streak to the Rangers (0-6-3 if you include the Islanders), New Jersey remains three points ahead in the Atlantic Division, but two points behind first place Philadelphia.  We enter a crucial stretch of hockey, the final two plus months of the 2007-08 regular season.

• Game 50: Devils Welcome Penguins Minus Crosby-

  The Devils are back in action on Tuesday night. They host the Penguins at the Prudential Center at 7 o'clock. Beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 pm, the discussion will likely focus on Devils goalie Martin Brodeur and head coach Brent Sutter. Brodeur was absent from the All Star Game, resting his 35-year-old body with his children. Sutter returned home to Deer Park, Alberta to spend time with his family as well.

• Is Marty's Clock Ticking?- Martin Brodeur is 35 years old. He is a 13-year veteran goalie. In the NHL, this is unheard of, less for Hasek, Roy, and a few others. This season, critics did not expect Marty to perform like a warrior, like a three-time Stanley Cup Trophy winner. But, that's exactly how Brodeur has turned out thus far. He has dispelled any rumors of wear and tear that affect professional athletes by rendering highlight-reel performances. Is Marty’s clock ticking? Maybe, but he’s not lost a beat.
• Devils Revert to Laziness in Third, Fall to Canadiens-

  The New Jersey Devils had just defeated their archrival Philadelphia Flyers, 7-3, supported by a season-high five power play goals.  That lasted two more periods though as Montreal quickly and painfully ripped apart the Devils' weak defensive corps.  The Canadiens entered last night as clear underdogs, having last won in New Jersey on Feb. 5, 2002, nearly six years ago.  The Canadiens were 1-7-2 before their come-from-behind 4-3 win over NJ, behind a three-goal third period.
  

• Metro Woes Continue-

  Anyone who has watched a New Jersey Devils game this season will have most likely seen the standings for the "Hummer Metro Ice Challenge".  It's a competition between the three metro area teams, including Devils, and the Rangers and Islanders representing New York.  Check out the standings and you will find the Islanders in first place and Devils, surprisingly at the opposite end.

• False Alarm: No Players Representing New Jersey in All Star Game-

  I apologize for being misinformed.  Contrary to popular belief, the New Jersey Devils will not have any representatives in this year's All Star Game.  Head coach Brent Sutter and Martin Brodeur were selected respectively for their achievements thus far; however both men will not participate in the event.  Brodeur informed GM Lou Lamoriello last week, who finally announced his decision to the media today.  Devils beat writer Tom Gulit

• Game 47: Offensively-Challenged Devils Fly Past Flyers-

  Philadelphia - The New Jersey Devils entered tonight's meeting with Philadelphia as the lowest scoring team in the NHL, also ranked 28th on the power play.  They left the City of Brotherly Love with seven goals, five on the power play, tying a team-record, in their 7-3 win.  Zach Parise, who, reportedly, will be added to the Eastern Conference All Star roster, snapped a 9-goal drought with two marks and Johnny Oduya had the first multi-point game of his career, as

• Game 47: Devils Return to Philadelphia, Visit High-Flying Flyers-

  The New Jersey Devils have struggled recently, winning one of three during their most recent homestand.  Tonight, they leave the Garden State for Pennsylvania, the "Keystone State."  The Devils visit the storming Philadelphia Flyers winners in 7 of their last 8 games, the only loss coming in an overtime to Boston.
  

• Breaking News: Brodeur to Miss All Star Game with Family Matters-

  The New Jersey Devils learned last week that goalie Martin Brodeur will not start in the upcoming All Star Game.  He will start tonight in Philadelphia, which I discussed here.  The NHL made the official announcement today, replacing him with Tim Thomas.  The Eastern Conference management, which includes Devils rookie coach Brent Sutter has not determined who will start in his place.  Then again, Sutter himself may not participate in the game, Around the Devils Blogosphere- 01.21.08- Since fellow New Jersey Devils bloggers focused their eyes and ears on the New York Giants 23-20 thrilling NFC Championship win over Green Bay following the Patriots win over San Diego, the posts were shorter than usual, as expected.

• Mad Dog Back With a Vengeance, Devils End Two-Game Skid-

  The New Jersey Devils knew they were missing the services of John Madden, but until tonight, they did not know how much.

  Madden scored two goals, the second held up to be the eventual game-winner, as the Devils held off the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, in front of 15,291 at the Prudential Center.

• Devils Host Maple Leafs and NY Football Giants Playoff Game-

  The New Jersey Devils, who are hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs at 5 o'clock, did not expect the New York football Giants to be playing today at 6:30.  To accommodate Devils and Giants fans, myself one of them, the Prudential Center will broadcast the Gmen's NFC Championship Game on TVs throughout the arena and the Bud Light Goal Bar, Restaurant, and Fire and Ice Lounges will stay open for the entire NFC title game in Green Bay.
  

• 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 Never Surrender, Fight for 60 Minutes Each Night-

  Ethan's recap was right on about the game Saturday night as our New Jersey Devils beat the Buffalo Sabres (again, again and a third time) in another shootout 3-2. 

• Devils Score Four, Brodeur Shuts the Door-

  The New Jersey Devils seem to amaze the hockey world night after night.  Tonight was no different as they dismantled the Southeast Division leading Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 (Just as Ethan predicted they would). 

  The Devils seem to get scoring from everyone this season.  Last night four different New Jersey players tallied goals as the Atlantic Division's hottest team collected two more points (some may argue that Pittsburgh is hotter considering it has won eight straight).

• One Size Doesn’t Fit All-

  In recent years, goal scoring and television ratings have been the main topics of discussion around the National Hockey League.  Mostly, the discussion has been how to increase scoring which will in turn increase ratings (I believe this to be false as any true/old school hockey fan would rather see a 1-0 low-scoring affair with great goaltending and many scoring chances).

• Around the Devils Blogosphere- 01.09.08-

  Even though the Devils were not in action today, their loyal bloggers provided us with creative and original content, as always.  The Devils practiced today before they fly out to Carolina for a 7:00 p.m.

• 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.
  
• NHL All-Star Fan Balloting Final Numbers, Brodeur's 10th Appearance, 4th Career Start- Unlike the Presidential election and last year's "Vote for Rory" scandal, there were no miscalculations this time around.  No illusions, aberrations, or inaccuracies.  The 2008 NHL All-Star Fan Balloting results were as successful as the Winter Classic.  You can't ask for much more for that.
  
• Devils Host Sabres Tonight, Begin Second Half of Season-

  The New Jersey Devils definitely slept well last night.  Even though they lost to Boston on Jan. 5, they looked at the standings and realized they remained in first place.  Despite injuries and offseason departures, they have managed to hold down the fort for the first half of the 2007-08 campaign.  They have done so with timely scoring, superior goaltending, and the addition of some new arrivals.

• Devils Poor On Shots In Weekes' Rare Start-

  After the New Jersey Devils' 45th shot on net tonight, the final buzzer rang, and both teams were definitely exhausted.  Unfortunately, goaltender Kevin Weekes, who spelled Martin Brodeur in net for the first time since Dec. 10, seemed uncoordinated, and allowed three first-period goals in the Devils' first loss in a week.

• 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.

• NHL All-Star Game Final Numbers-

  The fans spoke.  After several months of deliberation, they voted for Crosby, Levacalier, Markov, Chara, and Martin Brodeur to lead the east.  Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Phaneuf, and Luongo received the most votes for the Western Conference.  The NHL will officially release the starting line-ups Jan. 8.

• 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 Late-Night Statistics II-

  Since our first edition of Devils Late-Night Statistics was a great success, we will continue with round two, just earlier in the evening.  We will focus on the Devils' special teams, scoring (or lack there of), goaltending, attendance figures (yikes), and a quick glance at the standings (much better), not in any particular order.
  

• Atlantic Division: New Year's Eve Update- In early November, the New Jersey Devils faced their Atlantic Division opponents in nine consecutive games.  They went 4-1 against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but 0-3-1 against the New York Rangers and Islanders. 
• 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 Depleted By Injuries, Activate Reserves-

  The New Jersey Devils have roared into 2008 with wins in three of their last four games and a first-place hold in the crowded Atlantic Division.  They have climbed aboard goaltender Martin Brodeur's shoulders as he leads them into the New Year. 

• Devils Tickets Still Available for Tonight-

  The New Jersey Devils want you, not to join the army, but to attend some games this year, especially weekday matchups. Tonight, they host the Florida Panthers at the Prudential Center, their third meeting of the season.

• 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.
  

• Q and A -- Final Edition of 2007 Calendar Year (12-30-07)-

  Kevin Pritchard of wnymedia was kind enough to share his thoughts on the Buffalo Sabres with Devils Daily and the rest of the globe.  Before this weekend, the Sabres were situated in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, despite losing two important pieces during the offseason.&

• 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.

• Devils Back in Action Tonight, Host Buffalo at The Rock-

  The Devils return from a three-day holiday vacation as they host the Sabres (18-14-4) at the Prudential Center for the first time this season.  Martin Brodeur continues to shine as he leads New Jersey (20-13-3) to three-point first-place margin in the ultra-tight Atlantic Division.  The last-place Islanders are separated from the Devils by five

• 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

• The North American Hockey League-

  In 2000-1, there were 36 rookies from Canada, 4 from the United States, and 33 from Europe in the National Hockey League.  The tables have definitely turned since that season (See below), especially with the rise in U.S.A Hockey (Devils Rumors and Myths-

  Before getting down and dirty, we just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays from everyone at Devils Daily.  Sorry though, no snow in our neck of the woods.  I have been hearing a lot of talk about Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, and Johnny Oduya in the limited hockey airwaves.  I need to clear up the air so everyone can inhale, exhale,

• Kevin Weekes, Welcome to New Jersey-

  Kevin Weekes, Welcome to New Jersey, the Garden State.  It is time to give the Devils organization some credit, not a lot, but enough for signing a reliable backup to Martin Brodeur in the offseason.

• Cheap Seats? Not in New York-

  I knew that the prices would rise as soon as construction workers finished installation of the locker rooms at the Prudential Center.  Did I expect them to double in price?

• Perfect Pass Leads Devils to Overtime Win-

  Merely 25 seconds into overtime, Patrik Elias took advantage of a Flame s turnover, and one-timed a Brian Gionta assist by Miikka Kiprusoff to give the Devils the 1-0 overtime win.

• Parise Out, Devils Game on FSNY- The New Jersey Devils will be without leading scorer Zach Parise, who is fighting a case of the flu, and a pelvic- ridden Jay Pandolfo who has not played since Nov.
• Devils Still Looking Good Despite Loss...-

  I was fortunate enough to attend last night’s contest at Madison Square Garden between the New Jersey Devils and their arch-rival New York Rangers.  By now, any genuine Devils fan or supporter knows that the Rangers won 1-0 in overtime.  I still feel the Devils looked impressive despite not

• Devils Break Out of Scoring Drought with Three in Third Period - Defeat Oilers-

  The New Jersey Devils were moving dangerously close to being shutout for the second consecutive game.  Then came the third period and unusual coaching decision by Edmonton Oilers Craig MacTavish.
  

• Devils Next Stop -- Edmonton-

  Trying to hold onto first place in the Atlantic Division for an extended period has been challenging for the New Jersey Devils.  Tonight, they move one step closer to finishing their Canadian Road Trip in Edmonton, while their arch-rival NY Rangers are also in action, in Colorado.  With a Devils loss and Rangers win, the Rangers would take over first place in the mos

• Luongo Wins Battle of the Nets-

  As I wrote in my last blog, the Vancouver Canucks were due for a boost in their play with Roberto Luongo coming back into the line up after a few games off with an injury.  And he was more than up to the task, shutting out the New Jersey Devils and out dueling Martin Brodeur 5-0 last night at the GM Place in Vancouve

• Brodeur Dominant On and Off the Ice-

  Update in the polls… With 149,067 votes, Barak Obama New Jersey Devils netminder Martin Brodeur has captured first place among Eastern Conference goaltenders in the NHL All-Star Fan Balloting … Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Tampa’s Vincent Lecavalier are currently leading all forwards, while Habs Andrei Markov and B’s Zd

• New Jersey Lands in Vancouver... Pelley's Back Home- The New Jersey Devils look to build on their last win over the Philadelphia Flyers when they take on Vancouver at 10 p.m. on FSN NY and on the radio at WFAN 660 AM.
• 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.
  

• 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
• All Star Voting Update... No Surprises- Vote for the NHL All-Star starting lineups.  You have until Jan. 2 to determine the starting lineups.  Get out there... hustle.... Anyway, here's the latest from the NHL... not many surprises on the Eastern front... rainy, cold, nasty, Sid the Kid still in front of all voters...
• Sutter Rest Brodeur... Weekes to Start Tonight- NJ Devils reserve goaltender got the nod from head coach Brent Sutter this morning indicating that he will be starting tonight's contest against Washington.  Like the Vick sentencing, this came as no surprise.
  
  Weekes has been an efficient backup to Martin Brodeur but has not started in nearly a month.
  
• 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.

• New York Metropolitan Area Professional Sports... Struggling?-

  If you're thinking of the last time a professional organization from New York or New Jersey won a championship, let me help you out.

• Devils Rest After Ninth Consecutive Win... Rangers Next- After winning their ninth in a row, fifth straight at the newly-designed Prudential Center, head coach Brent Sutter gave the New Jersey Devils players a break on Saturday.  The Devils are in the midst of a three-game four-day tour and looked sluggish towards the end of Friday night's contest against the Washington Capitals.
  
• Devils Win Again Behind Some Timely Scoring... Run Streak to Nine- I just wanted to offer a brief synopsis of the New Jersey Devils ninth consecutive victory last night.  Joel will have the full scoop later this weekend.  Defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski scored the Devils first goal unassisted.  It was his first of the season and only 15th of his career.  Newly acquired Danius Zubrus added the second one, less than five minutes later on the power
• Simplicity and Success over Wealth and Misery- Yes, Jamie Langenbrunner was officially named team captain before Wednesday's game against Boston.  In New Jersey Devils fashion, there was no press conference or major announcement made, nothing fancy.
  
  Maybe, that's the way the Devils like to play as well, modest.
  
• New Attitude Key to Devils Success-

  When the New Jersey Devils (15-10-2) were slumping earlier this season, they had a tendency to lose focus and play a lackluster second period of hockey, leaving them trailing going into the final 20 minutes.  Now that the Devils are back on track, (eight straight after last night) t

• Devils back on track; looking to make it 8 in a row- The New Jersey Devils are back on track and they are hot.  Having already won seven straight, the Devils (14-10-2) look to move into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division when they host the Boston Bruins (14-9-2) tonight at the Prudential Center.  So what’s changed?
  
• Brodeur Still in Third Place Among Vote-Getters, Crosby Leads Forwards- Martin Brodeur is still situated behind Cristobal Huet and Henrik Lundqvist among eastern conference goaltenders.  Crosby has doubled his lead over Alfredsson and Lecavalier in the forwards department and Canadiens Andrei Markov leads by over 50,000 votes.
  
• Brodeur Sets Shootout Record in Sixth Consecutive Victory -- At Expense of Canadiens- The first goal was nice, the second was sweeter, and the third the most meaningful of them all for Zach Parise.  He completed his first career NHL hat trick scoring one goal in each of the three periods last night.  Parise added an assist on the New Jersey Devils' fourth tally, completing the four-point performance and 4-0 shutout for goaltender Martin Brodeur.
  
• League Honors Brodeur Among Three Stars of Week- New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur was rewarded by the league for his outstanding performances this past week.  He went 3-0 and earned his first shutout of the season.  Vancouver Canucks goalie Robert Luongo and Minnesota Wild's netminder were the other two stars of the week ending December 2nd.
  
• A Lot on the Line Tonight Continued...- Devils defenseman Karel Rachunek returned to practice for the first time since being injured in the home opener against Ottawa on Oct.
• Devils-Canadiens Preview minus Pandolfo- Five wins and counting.  The New Jersey Devils look to keep their winning streak alive tonight against a team they've defeated the past eight matchups.  The Devils face off with the Montreal Canadiens at the Prudential Center tonight after a come-from-behind win over Dallas on Wedne
• NHL Eastern Conference All-Stars Updated- Yesterday, Martin Brodeur was riding second place among Eastern Conference goaltenders.  He is now in third behind Henrik Lundqvist and Cristobal Huet, the new top vote-getter, representing the Montreal Canadiens.  Habs fans were apparently annoyed this time around and got out to vote.  Just check out the lead Habs defenseman Andre Marko
• Devils Extend Longest Winning Streak of Season To Five -- Upend Dallas- After the first period ended, the Devils down 2-0, I was confused.  The Devils were coming off an incredible four-game road-trip sweep and were losing for the first time in five games.  Other people, media perhaps were concerned coming in that they had not played in the Prudential Center much this season and were only 3-4-0 in the downtown arena.
  
• Martin Brodeur -- Coming To A Mall Near You- Devils Goaltender Martin Brodeur is coming to a mall near you.  Well, if you live in Freehold, sure.  He is signing autographs, jerseys, pucks, and even equipment tomorrow night:
  
  Where:
  BC Sports in the Freehold Raceway Mall
  http://www.bcsports.com/ctlimg/blank.gif
  
  When:
  Thursday, November 29th, 2007
  Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
• Devils Status Report: Healthy (well... almost)- 1. Patrik Elias was poisoned, food poisoning apparently, which sidelined him the last two games.  Relax everyone, it's not related to the Hepatitis A he suffered while playing in Russia during the NHL's 2004-2005 Lockout...
  
• Devils Daily: Brodeur and the Devils Return Home With All Smiles- I really don't know any other way of describing the New Jersey Devils 4-0 road trip than dominant.  I think the team is unconscious right now.  Bill thinks they are catching fire.  After the first two wins of the trip, I had this feeling that they were overcoming some early season jitters.&nb