New Jersey Devils

Devils Plan to Spoil Penguins Party

April 5, 2011

When the New Jersey Devils hit the ice in Pittsburgh they will play a regular-season game having already been eliminated from playoff contention. In 1996 it took until the final day of the season for the Ottawa Senators to remove any chance of a Stanley Cup repeat in the swamp. When was the last time the Devils played a regular season game with no chance of making the playoffs? 1989! All the way back to when the divisions were called Patrick, Smythe, Norris and Adams and we had the Campbell and Prince of Wales Conferences. But thanks to Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens the Devils are now playing the role of a spoiler. The Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-8) still have ...

Elimination is not the end for New Jersey

April 3, 2011

Steve Palumbo

5 Comments

For the first time since the 1995-1996 season the New Jersey Devils will not be included in the the Stanley Cup Playoffs. GM Lou Lamoriello decided in late December to make a coaching change and brought Jacques Lemaire out of retirement to try and salvage the season. He did just that. When Lemaire took over he instilled a new sense of discipline in the team that was missing with rookie coach John Maclean. He got the team back to playing "Devils Hockey." The Devils put together a 23-3-2 run to pull within six points of the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. However, they never got any closer. In the end it wasn't meant to be. Saturday night's 3-1 loss to the Montreal C...

Devils Go Greene to Preserve Season

March 31, 2011

Steve Palumbo

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The New Jersey Devils survived a gutsy third period rally from the New York Islanders to preserve the victory and their season. Andy Greene's goal with 4:56 left broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Devils to a 3-2 win on Wednesday night keeping them mathematically alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race for at least one more day. The Situation: Tonight's win only prolongs their inevitable ouster, but for now New Jersey stayed alive in their quest for a 14th straight playoff appearance. That is the NHL's second-longest streak behind the Detroit Red Wings 19 consecutive trips. Entering Wednesday, any combination of three points lost by the Devils or gained by eighth-place Buffalo...

Pop Goes Parise Because The Devils Need Pop

March 30, 2011

Steve Palumbo

3 Comments

Its been 148 days and 63 games since New Jersey Devils winger Zach Parise had his left knee surgically repaired. That is equal to exactly five months. Five long arduous months for an organization that hasn't had to deal with this much adversity since Wayne Gretzky called them a, "Mickey Mouse organization." Parise is expected to make his return to the line-up this week and could be in action as early as Wednesday against the New York Islanders. “One of these next three I think I’ll be able to play,” Parise said after Tuesday's practice. Those words are like music to Devils fans ears. Parise's was injured in a 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, soon after New Jersey spira...

Bottom Feeders Battle at the Rock

March 29, 2011

Steve Palumbo

3 Comments

The New Jersey Devils (34-36-5) finally return home to the Prudential Center after dropping three of four games during a bitterly disappointing road trip. The Devils are now 12 points behind the Buffalo Sabres for the final playoff spot in the East with only seven games left to play. The most the Devils can finish with is 87 points. The Sabres already have 85 points. New Jersey squares off against fellow NHL cellar dweller the New York Islanders (29-35-12) on Wednesday in hopes of getting back in the win column. With a handful of games left on the schedule and little left to play for but pride, the Devils find themselves in unfamiliar waters. New Jersey is an organization built wi...

Rolston Devils rain on Islanders positive momentum in 3-2 shootout loss

March 6, 2011

Stacy Podelski

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Uniondale, NY - The New York Islanders (25-32-10) fell to the New Jersey Devils (30-31-4) by the score of 3-2 in hockey action on Sunday afternoon. These two tri-state area teams would need the shootout frame to decide the winner and it would be Brian Rolston netting the game-winning goal. The winger would finish the night with two goals to help the still streaking Devils to another two points, which will be vital to whatever playoff hopes New Jersey had. New York made a statement on this day though, that indeed they can hang with the elite teams in the NHL, and will be a team to watch for next season. One could see the importance of this game for both squads, as they both came down an...

Devils Strike Back in 2-1 victory over Bolts

March 2, 2011

Stacy Podelski

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New York, NY - The New Jersey Devils (28-31-4) were able to strike back against the Tampa Bay Lightning (37-19-7) in a 2-1 comeback thriller in hockey action on Wednesday night. New Jersey found the game-winning goal from Ilya Kovalchuk in the third period of play. The Bolts scored first when Dominic Moore (11) tallied an 11 foot deflection at the 4:41 mark of the second period. Before the period ended the hottest team in the National Hockey League gained offensive momentum. It was at the 18:45 mark when Henrik Tallinder (4) ripped a 57 foot slap shot, which was assisted by Kovalchuk (23) and Vladimir Zharkov (2) to tie the game up at 1-1. New Jersey would find the game-winner in the t...

Devils Creeping Closer to Playoff Spot with 2-1 Victory over Panthers

February 27, 2011

Stacy Podelski

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New York, NY - In what maybe the Cinderella story of the National Hockey League the New Jersey Devils (27-31-4) are now only nine points away from a coveted playoff spot, with their 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers (26-29-7) in Sunday evening action. New Jersey has been the hottest team in the NHL since the re-hiring of head coach Jacques Lemaire, going 17-2-2 in their last 21 games, while also finishing the month of February with a record of 11-1-1. The Devils have been the hottest team in the second half of the season, and have regained their championship form and swagger. David Clarkson (9) and the rest of his line were able to put on a determined effort to put in the first Ne...

Devils Streak Snapped by Lightning, 2-1

February 26, 2011

Stacy Podelski

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New York, NY - All the New Jersey Devils (26-31-4) would have needed to push the Tampa Bay Lightning (36-18-7) to the overtime period was one goal. Just one goal, and the Devils would have continued a winning-streak of eight games. Sadly the Devils could not find an answer to Tampa Bay, who also snapped the eight-game winning streak that the Phoenix Coyotes had on Wednesday night. For New Jersey who went 16-2-2 over their past 20 games are still in the playoff hunt as the Hurricanes defeated Pittsburgh by the score of 4-1. New Jersey still could have used the two points from tonight though to help them in their playoff push. Tampa Bay got on the board for their first goal at the 2:20 ...

Tedenby Thriller as Devils Defeat Carolina, 3-2

February 8, 2011

Stacy Podelski

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New York, NY - The New Jersey Devils continue their hot play with a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 overtime thriller on Tuesday night. New Jersey was led by the heroics of young winger Mattias Tedenby, who earned two goals in the victory. In what was a goalkeeping clinic by both Johan Hedberg and Cam Ward, it was Hedberg that kept the Devils in the game. ‘The Moose’ was tested in the first period of play as the Hurricanes had about 20 seconds of good offense in that frame. The Carolina offense began with a 61 foot slap shot by Jay Harrison at the 3:08 mark which went wide of the cage. Then Hedberg made a nice save at the 3:18 mark on a Zack Boychuk 10 foot wris...