Did You Know?

No team has ever won the Stanley Cup after winning two seven-game series to start the playoffs.

Devils To Take Rangers In Conference Finals

There could be no better story for the Eastern Conference Finals than reigniting the explosive rivalry between the Devils and Rangers. The regular season meetings brought fights off the opening puck-drop. And when I say "fights", I do not just mean two or three. I mean FIVE fights overall opened two of contests this year. These teams flat-out HATE each other and have for years.

While the Rangers have battled and outlasted the Capitals in seven games to advance to the Conference Finals, the Devils have had a five day break since knocking-out the Flyers in five games. The Devils' last game was a very rough one, which forced Marek Zidlicky and Anton Volchenkov to sit out one practice. The two d-men will be ready to go Monday, however. The Rangers have had much less rest, but their fans could not be more rested and ready to go to Madison Square Garden for game 1.

The Devils won last series with their discipline and their forecheck, without question. Their ability to stay within their own game, and let the Flyers' negatively impact their game with aggression, dictated the series. There is no doubt the New Jersey forecheck surpassed anything they could have asked for. Their puck-side attack is insanely effective in forcing turnovers, as they sometimes crash three players at the puck carrier. Hopefully the devils will react similarly and not get out of their play style. I do not expect fights off the opening face-offs, but it will be a very physical series indeed. Should be a dandy! Go Devs!

Did You Know?

Martin Brodeur holds the NHL all-time records for most wins (656) and most losses (371).

ALSO

Bryce Salvador led the team in +/- with 18, despite scoring only 9 points in all 82 regular season games.

Did You Know?

This years Devils' team is the first team to bring the Devils to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2003, a year in which the Devils went all the way and hoisted the Stanley Cup.

Devils Advance to Eastern Conference Finals

For the Philadelphia Flyers, today brings two things. One being shaving cream, and the other a razor. All of their playoff beards can be shaved off, thanks to the Devils winning four straight games against them. Unfortunately, there is one Flyer who will not participate in this for a reason different from the other players who did not grow beards. Goon, Zac Rinaldo, who was only involved in last night's loss because the Flyers' superstar was smart enough to get suspended, does not play much nor belong on the ice. Thankfully, Peter Laviolette, coach of the Flyers, did not play him enough for him to grow his playoff beard. THE OUT OF CONTROL CROWD AT FLYERS GAMES IS A PERFECT FIT FOR RINALDO.

For the Devils, today brings a feeling of satisfaction, excitement, and soreness. It was a very rough game on Tuesday night. They fought hard, out-played Philadelphia, and forced the Flyers into many mistakes by forechecking the living daylights out of the Flyers. While by no means did the Devils have a mistake-free, 100% perfect series, they played their with more passion, speed, and offensive pressure than the Flyers. And that is all you can ask for when it is all you need to win the series 4-1.

Martin Brodeur has been everything the Devils could ask of him. Even though the Devils have scored at least three goals in each of their last seven games, Brodeur has been very steady. Specializing in the third period, Brodeur has put up a .920 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average in the 2011-2012 playoffs.



Ilya Kovalchuk has helped the Devils directly and indirectly. When he plays, he ignites the fire in the offense and power-play. When he missed game 3, the team picked up their game to make up for his loss. The Devils have just as good of a chance at winning the Stanley Cup as anyone at this point. It will be fun to see the games coming up, especially if they are against the Rangers.

The Streak Continues!

The Devils have now scored 3+ goals in each of their past 6 games.

Devils On Brink of Ending Flyers' Season

HAPPY 40th MARTY!

On the night of Martin Brodeur's 40th birthday, not only did the Los angeles Kings defeat of the St. Louis Blues, bringing them to the Western Conference Finals, but the Devils inched one win closer to the Eastern Conference Finals. With a 1-1 series score between Philadelphia and New Jersey, the teams traveled the small distance to Newark, NJ from Philadelphia, PA. The distance may be small on a map, but could not have been larger in the heated Eastern Conference Semi-Final series. The Devils took both games at home with authority, giving themselves control of the series and forcing the Flyers' backs to the walls.

In game four at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Flyers seemed as though they had set the pace of the game early once again. The Devils, just like every other early scare this series, did not back down. The 2-0 Philly lead late in the first period was met with two goals from Jersey. Both teams had scored both of their goals within three minutes apart from their last. At the end of one period, the crowd was satisfied once again, and the game was even at two goals a piece.

The Devils' Forecheck came alive and was at it's best in the second period. New Jersey's forecheck, led by Zach Parise, had given them a controlling pace of the game, more offensive pressure, and a leading 32-12 in shots after two periods of play. In doing so, Devils' Dainius Zubrus scored with under four minutes to play in the period. As the twenty minutes winded down, Flyers' superstar Claude Giroux took a penalty for an illegal hit to the head of Zubrus. Not only did that induce a penalty, but after the game he received a one-game ban by NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety, Brendan Shanahan. The Devils led 3-2 after two.


The Third period was comfortable for Devils' fans for the most part, but for a time the Devils were playing back and giving too much room for the Flyers' offense to work. That has been a Devils' killer this year. Sitting back has been more deadly than helpful for the team in the 2011-2012 season. Although, with that being said, New Jersey did a great job staying out of the penalty box during the second and third periods, with no visits. With 45 seconds left in the game, it was only suiting for the Devils that Dainius Zubrus netted the empty netter, crushing Giroux's and the Flyers' hopes of tying the series at two games.

The Devils fired a blistering 43 shots, unmatched by the Flyers' 22. All Brodeur needed to do was play his game. Allowing only two goals, Brodeur once again put the Devils in a good position to win the game, where they did 4-2. The Devils have been FIRE ON ICE!

Devils Trivia Question of the Day

Can you name the NHL player who wore the #17 for New Jersey prior to Ilya Kovalchuk's reign?

(answer will be in comments)

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Devils have scored at least 3 goals in each of their last 5 games in this years playoffs?

Devils "Host" Flyers in Philadelphia During Game 2 Win

When rookie Matt Read of the the Flyers scored of a rebound just 2:53 into game 2, the skies were suddenly seeming to get more cloudy for the Devils. However, that would be no hint on the rest of the game. The Devils were relentless. Firing a total of 34 shots on net, they managed to outplay the Flyers in Philadelphia's very orange environment at The Wells Fargo Center. The Devils were surprisingly quiet on the scoreboard however, while Philly net-minder, Ilya Bryzgalov, was coming up big for the Flyers. The Devils finally found the net in the third, which only brought even more passion to their game. Because of Ilya Kovalchuk's injury, the Devils returned their 2011, 4th overall pick to the lineup, Adam Larsson. Larsson is a big-bodied 19 year old, weighing in at 200lbs and a towering 6'3" stature. Larsson came through scoring that first goal with a strong wrister. Him scoring it could not have been more ideal for the team. Next came Clarkson's goal to take the lead as he followed up on Zach Parise's rebound. The rest was history from there. Travis Zajac pocketed his 8th playoff point 9 playoff games this year, putting in the Devils's third goal. With around 3 minutes left on the game clock, New Jersey was up by two goals. In a desperate attempt, during the power play, the flyers pulled their goalie to create a 6-on-4 advantage. Bryce Salvador had not scored in two years. He finally scored with the empty net on Tuesday, but by no means was it an easy goal. He was trying to clear the puck out of the defensive zone from the right face-off circle by Brodeur. The clear was lobbed over the players, took a few bounces up-and-down, and found its place in the back of Philly's busy net! THE DEVILS HAD STUCK THE DAGGER IN THE ORANGE HEARTS ONCE AGAIN TO WIN 4-1! The two teams come to The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for game 3 (Thursday) and game 4 (Sunday). Hopefully the Devils will be able to take complete control of the series by the time these games are through. GO DEVILS!

First Round Series Summary & Game 1 @ Flyers

The Devils have not exactly had a piece of cake in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. A challenging, long series against Florida brought them sneaking into the second round. It took more than 21 periods (7 games) of hockey, when games 6 and 7 combined for 3 extra overtime periods. Adam Henrique scored through the five-hole of Jose Theodore at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, extending the Devils' season. The Calder Trophy finalist has been gold in his first year.


During these playoff games, surprisingly, the fourth-liners; Stephen Gionta, Ryan Carter, and Steve Bernier have been the most productive line for Jersey. Defenseman, Peter Harrold, has been a very consistently strong player for the team ever since he was called up. Now, due to an Ilya Kovalchuk injury, he has been transferred to forward on the fourth line. Steve Bernier was moved up to the third line.


The first game of the series against the Flyers was fun to watch... only for about half of regulation time. The Devils' familiarly strong 2012 playoff game start took place yet again in the game against Philly. They took a first period 1-0 lead just 3:16 into the game. Zach Parise had struck once again! The rest of the game was, for the most part, controlled by Philadelphia. The two rivals finished the second period tied at 2, but that was a gasp of fresh-air for the Devils. The team rocking the red and black was backed up into their own end for a good part of the third period, where each team scored one goal. The Devils trailed 3-2 during the period until Petr Sykora netted his breakaway chance through the "humangous big" five-hole of Mr. Universe himself, Ilya Bryzgalov. The game was headed to overtime! Soon into a Philly-dominated overtime period, Flyers' forward Danny Briere had scored. But wait, with the crowd erupting with cheers, all of a sudden the mood slowed down. The goal was under review. With replays showing Briere clearly kicking the puck in the net, the Philly crowd continued to see the play with their hearts, and not their eyes. When the referee announced the outcome, which was no-goal on the play, the crowd was erupting with everything but cheers. However, pretty soon after, Danny Briere took a slapper from the center of the point. This time with his stick and not his foot. One more five-hole goal was put in with that shot through a crowd of players, and that was the overtime goal that counted. Briere's goal was legal this time, and the Flyers were given a 1-0 series lead.