Adam Henrique. (Source: leehaes/Tumblr.)

The Capitals have had a rough start to their season. With a new head coach in Adam Oates (straight off the Devils coaching bench), a brand new system to get used to, and almost getting blanked last night at home by the Montreal Canadiens, the Caps are struggling. Facing up against a solid looking Devils team tonight, they’re going to have a difficult time.

Notes for the Devils roster:

* The two top lines have been adjusted. New lines are: Tedenby-Zajac-Kovalchuk and Zubrus-Elias-Clarkson. Barch is in for Janssen on the fourth line. D lines are the same.

* A reminder that a decision has to be made for Stefan Matteau soon enough. Tonight will be his third game on the big stage out of the allowed five before the first year of his entry-year contract is burned up, and Lamoriello and DeBoer need to decide if he’s worth keeping on the roster. So far, Matteau has impressed as a kid thrown rather suddenly on to NHL ice. After getting cut from the National Juniors team, Matteau has something to prove.

* Adam Henrique skated with the team this morning and is nearing a return from his thumb injury. He could be back by the Jan 31st homestead against the Islanders.

* Sorry for the lack of recap for the last game against the Flyers, but let me mention again that Martin Brodeur decidedly earned his 120th career shutout win.

* Brodeur will be in goal for the Devils tonight. Michal Neuvirth is in for the Caps.

A quick update before the puck drops. The Devils will be facing the Flyers several more times this season, but tonight is the first meeting of 2013 — of course, to the Devils and the Flyers, that’s all old hat. After the Devils knocked them out of the playoff race last season, and now that they’re two games down and behind, the Flyers will be out for blood at the Rock tonight.

Offensive lines remain the same, according to Fire and Ice:

Zubrus-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Tedenby-Elias-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Matteau-Josefson-Janssen

Barch is a healthy scratch, with Darche still skating with the team as both camps contemplate a contract. Defensive lines weren’t confirmed this morning, but Larsson is a healthy scratch yet again. The young defenseman says he “doesn’t mind, as long as the team wins.” Henrique seems to be about 7-10 days away from returning from his thumb injury.

Home opener at the Rock means the raising of the Eastern Conference Championship banner. Looks like it’s already up, though, and the Devils will have an exultant but quick ceremony of playoff dominance before the puck drops.

Have some stats courtesy of Tom Gulitti: In 76 career games versus Philadelphia, Patrik Elias has 33 goals and 75 points. Ilya Kovalchuk has 22 goals and 43 points in 45 career games. We’re in for a fun time.

Get ready to watch on NBCSN, and bundle up if you’re heading to the game!

Ilya Kovalchuk, the man of ‘enigmatic Russian mystery.’

The lockout is over! Let us all rejoice. Of course, because nothing is simple in the treacherous landscape of the NHL, there are all kinds of problems associated with ratifying the new CBA, making new schedules, opening training camps, and dragging Russians back to their teams.

Wait. What?

Yes, this is actually a point of contention. Why does it pertain to us, my fellow Devils fans? Because our very-likely candidate for next captain Ilya Kovalchuk is still overseas and not heading back home on a plane immediately. Because Kovalchuk is still playing games for his KHL team, CKA St. Petersburg. Because Kovalchuk is showing reservation until the new deal is set in stone and freshly signed with ink.

And I don’t blame him.

There’s still almost a week before training camps open on Sunday. If he can play in one more game and stay in top form, all the better for us. If he needs to read the details of the new CBA, fine. Most players will be doing that in the few upcoming days in which they have to electronically vote to approve it. Nothing makes Kovalchuk’s decision to not immediately head to New Jersey different to anybody else’s. The only difference, of course, is the media attention and boundless rumors being floated around by said media.

In any case, Lou Lamoriello and the Devils have said that they have no reason to believe that Ilya Kovalchuk will not be showing up to camp on Sunday. We’ll go with that.

***

Elliotte Friedman’s 30 thoughts column is always an interesting read. In the most recent edition, Friedman floated an interesting idea: that Lou Lamoriello’s blunt labeling of the lockout as ‘embarrassing’ served as encouragement for others to do the same.

Friedman writes, “Don’t want to do a ton of lockout stuff, but thought it was telling to see how much the word “embarrassing” or “embarrassed” was seen after Lou Lamoriello used it in describing the shutdown to The Newark Star-Ledger. Heard it from both Eric Staal and Andy McDonald. Almost as if others felt more free to be honest after someone of Lamoriello’s stature did it.”

No surprise.

» Continue reading “Oh Kovalchuk, Kovalchuk; Lamoriello’s Honesty; Anthony Brodeur Soaring For Success”

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello.

A week or so after ex-Devil Zach Parise signed with the Wild, we’ve now also lost assistant coach Larry Robinson to the San Jose Sharks. Let us not forget that even before that, Adam Oates left the Devils to became head coach of the Washington Capitals. In a way, Pete DeBoer said it best: seeing other organizations turn to the Devils is flattering. Both Oates and Robinson were integral parts of DeBoer’s coaching staff who were commended often by the players, and the Devils fanbase can only wish them both luck.

But where does this leave us? What is Lou Lamoriello’s Plan B?

Inside: Scott Stevens and Mike Haviland: possible assistant coaches?; the shrinking UFA market: Semin, Ryan, and Doan; assorted videos for your offseason needs.

» Continue reading “Plan B?”

Preparing for the team photo. (via NHLDevils/Twitter)

The Devils lost to the Kings in Game 6, with a final score of 6-1.

First of all: congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings on their 1st Stanley Cup! An award well earned and an excellent post season played. The first Cup is always sweetest.

Also, congratulations to the New Jersey Devils for compiling a charismatic and skilled roster, defeating their division rivals, and making Los Angeles sweat. After not making it last year despite their best effort, this season and post season were a treat to watch.

Inside: brief recap; Bernier – why we shouldn’t blame; refereeing; a breakdown of discipline; reflection on the playoffs.

» Continue reading “Devils Fall In Six”

The power of the mustache.

Despite being down 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final, the Devils remained in good spirits for their Friday June 8th practice. They spoke candidly to the press regarding the situation they are in. Head Coach Pete DeBoer said it best: “You know it’s going to happen again, so why not us?”

He was referring, of course, to the odds of a team coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. It hasn’t been done since the Maple Leafs did it in 1942. The odds are stacked against the Devils, but the belief is there.

Inside: Devils’ practice lines, injuries, and commentary; the power of the Devilish mustache; big brothers, sons, and all about them.

» Continue reading “Devils Remain Loose For Practice”

Adam Henrique. It is known.

This game was do-or-die, and the Devils came through for their own survival. In my opinion, this was a great hockey game. The Devils took it according to plan: one shift, one period at a time. Their efforts resulted in a 3-1 victory in Game 4, sending the series back to New Jersey for a Game 5 Saturday night.

Adam Henrique. How clutch can one rookie be? I guess the power of mustache as advocated by one Ryan Carter came through. “What can I say?” Carter said following the game. “It got him going.” His 12 playoff points are a new Devils rookie record, just in case you were looking for an excuse to be more impressed than you already are.

» Continue reading “Devils Stay Alive With a 3-1 Game 4 Victory”

Jesus Christ, again? (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

This will not be your typical recap, because this was not your typical game. Well, actually.

By all rhyme and reason, this was your average New Jersey game. They obtained a two-goal lead by absolutely dominating the first, then blew it by allowing the Rangers to gather momentum after a rush on the power play. The second and third periods belonged to the Rangers, but it wasn’t enough to get the puck past Brodeur.

The game went to overtime. Devils fans clutched at their hearts and poked needles into their voodoo dolls of the year 1994.

The game went to overtime, but our rookie won it for us this time. 1:03 into the extra period. Adam Henrique, doing it again. The final score: 3-2.

» Continue reading “Devils Advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, Defeat Rangers in the ECF 4-2″