Word Association

Ask anyone who watches Ice Hockey to play word association with the Devils,and you could see a few words coming up regularly. Defense, Brodeur, and most likely BORING. Now calling a team with 3 titles in the last 11 years boring is very harsh, but it is because of their style of play. They have a suffocating defense and with Brodeur in the goal it is hard to get past them. If the Devils get ahead even just 1-0, it is unlikely you will get back into the game and a 2 goal lead is just unbeatable. when scoring first the Devils are 14-2-1, in 17 games to only lose 3 and 1 of those in overtime shows what I mean. The Devils are even better on home ice, with a record of 11-1-1 (the current best home record in the league) they are nearly invincible at home as they are able to make sure they get their top checking line up against the oppositions top scoring line, which nullifies them almost instantly.

All opposition dislike playing the Devils, but even more so if they play them at home. The Devils have had a more up and down season this year than in past years, but now appear to have turned the corner on away ice and are looking to improve their lead in the Atlantic Division and attempt to chase down the other Division leaders in the Eastern Conference.

For more on this topic go see Chuck Gormley

NHL has no stars

According to some critics in the USA, they claim the reason that the NHl is going to stay as a second rate sport in the states is because of the extreme lack of stars after the big names of Jagr Ovechkin etc. Shawn Roarke has a great list of stars in every single team, I agree with him their is no lack of stars in the NHL it is just more that they don't get in the news for the wrong things like the players in the NFL and baseball and NBA.

The list is here.

New Jersey wins Again

New Jersey defeated Boston 5-1 last night as they head along on a 5 game winning streak, and improved their away record. They have had a near perfect record at home with 14-1-1, but have struggled to win away from home. But this victory over the Bruins gives them a boost in their hunt for a fourth Stanley Cup.

The Devils now have a 2 point lead in their division and a game in hand. It also pulls them in striking distance of the Atlanta Thrashers for 2nd in the Eastern conference, but to grab that either the Thrashers would have to fall apart or the Devils would need to extend their winning streak even more, though the Devils have always been good in December and January so chances are looking good. Especially if they can continue their record at home.

Jono's weekly NHL update

Well my Devils picked up a win over Philly last night, their fourth win on the trot and the 84th Career shutout for Marty Brodeur came in the 2-0 victory. Now they are top of their Division and looking good for a spot in the playoffs, even at this early stage of the season, the Devils are frequently sitting at the bottom of the top 8 at this point yet always improve near the end of the season. Today they face off against Boston and could solidify their placing. They are 2 points clear in their division and have a game in hand, meaning tonight they could move 4 points clear.

Top of the East. (placings Div leaders 1-3)
-GP in brackets

Buffalo 44 (28)
Atlanta 40 (30)
New Jersey 34 (27)
Montreal 36 (28)
Carolina 34 (31)
NY Rangers 32 (28)
NY Islanders 31 (28)
Ottawa 31 (29)
Toronto 31 (30)

Ok well in the East Buffalo are looking very good to take out the top spot, while New Jersey and Atlanta should fight it out for 2nd and 3rd. But it is very tight for the last few spots with 3 more teams on 30 points. So it looks like a 7 way race for the last 3 spots in the playoffs, is a great season to be following Ice Hockey.

Top of the West

Anahiem 50 (31)
Nashville 39 (28)
Edmonton 34 (28)
San Jose 40 (29)
Dallas 38 (29)
Detroit 36 (27)
Minnesota 32 (28)
Calgary 29 (26)
Vancouver 29 (29)

Well in the West it looks to be taking less points to qualify for the playoffs, but more points to get near the top. The race for a playoff berth is also not as tight, but Colorado on 28 (28) would feel gutted if they end up missing out come April. Anahiem look like runaway winners in the West and it is unlikely anyone will challange them and they should be playing for the Stanley cup.