point

Marty has only played 13 games in the last month. I don't think that that constitutes back breaking labor. The entire team has had a pretty laid back schedule. I view Schwab as only an insurance policy against Marty going down with an injury that prevents him from playing. If marty is healthy, he'll be in goal. TYhat's the way the management wants it, and apparently its OK with Broduer.

I can't figure out why the hockey genius Mike MIlbury hasn'tr brought DiPietro up yet. Snow/Osgood are killing the Isles.

Well, you can say what you want, but the blue shirts kept the Metro teams from another sweep. The NJD, NYR, and NYI have only been swept what? oncce in the last 10 years?

Burns is right, the Devils just don't crash the net during the PP. They don't look very hungry for those pp goals. Maybe tonight they will show something different.

They do need some size, though. The "top" line just can't make a dent in the opponent's defense. They don't push people out of the way, they don't make trouble in front of the net, they don't score. Period.

There were 2 depressing articles on the NYR and NYI in today's NYT. NO Devils coverage. Seems like the inverse of that old saying my mother used: If you can't say something bad about somebody (i.e. the Devils), don't say anything.

Pitt is the surprise. But who knows how long Super Mario will last? I thought he was going to take a few games off, but I doubt if the team can afford that. The box office would suffer if he wasn't on the ice. The problems of being an owner/player! After winning the Division last year, no one should be surprised at Philla start, particularly with Ken Hitchcock at the tiller. He wasn't brought in to win the division, he was hired to get them deep into the playoffs. I guess the players are buying into his system. The Devils are in a great position, with 2 games in hand on both PA teams, and 5 games in hand against the 4th place Rangers. Now that there are a few games played, looking at the standings presents a better pictiure of the divisions. Go Devils!

I am surprised about the Bruins attendance. They started the season with a 6 game road trip, which was very successful, then they had Terry OReilly night at the opener. Maybe tix for BU hockey are cheaper. I was in Boston 2 weeks ago and saw 2 college hockey games on tv. BU-VT (tie) and UNH-Minnesota. UNH plays like an NHL team vet physical. I haven't checked, but my guess is they have a lot of NHL draft picks on the team. The polls have UNH #1

So- What are Bettman and Goodenow's addresses so we can write to them? I'm willing to bring a sign to CAA, anyone else?

One of the issues LL discussed preseason down in Monmouth County was the fact that weeknight games start so late. (Rags games begin at 7:05, not 7:35.) Commuters can't get home, pick up the family and get back to CAA by 7:00pm. At least with the faster play, games are ending at 10:00, instead of 10:20. Its just another reason attendance is low. Its not the team, its the environment. Hell, even I don't have weeknight tix, I get the weekend partial plan.

Section 217 is an embarrasment to the state of NJ. Unfortunately, they seem to be among the few attendees who offer any indication that they are interested in the outcome of the game. The crowds have improved in the last 5 years. Much more knowledgeable about the game and far more interested in the play on the ice instead of haviong their pictures shown dancing on the jumbotron (what a waste of lightbulbs!). With faster play, the fans don't get blasted by the noise. If there were more FANS in the lower sections the atmosphere would improve enormously. But that takles a fairly large $$$ committment.

Now PK- Tell us what you REALLY think!

The Atlanta Braves (CNN) and the ST Louis Cardinals(Budweiser)e examples of corporate owned franchises which have succeeded. Though those operations had the likes of Ted Turner and Augie Busch running the operations. On the other hand, when the teams are run like toys of the owners, they aren't any more successful. It all depends on the corporate owners/ individual owners. Were the Jets successful or dreadful because Leon Hess was a good gasoline salesman? If your father in law was Sam Walton, does that imply that you will be a good owner? Charely Finley ran a very successful Oakland As team, and he was in the insurance biz. The Dolans have by and large given a clinic on how not to run sport franchises. And NYC is much poorer for it. Too bad. Schadenfreude........!

Danton should study C Lemieux, Tie Domi, and Darcy Tucker for good examples.

I enjoy reading box scores and getting a feel for the game from the penalties. The Pitt Buff matchup is a case in point.

Joe, Madden was playing with Langenbrunner and Guolla, not exactly an established line. That being said, the line produced 3 goals. great production from the 3rd line. Maybe Burns has found part of the offensive formula. The only line not to produce was the McKenzie-Stevenson-Danton line, which allowed the only TBL score halfway into the 3rd period. DAnton was getting under the skin of Martin St. Louis early. St. Louis scored 2 against NYR earlier this week. Both teams played very disciplined hockey, 4 or 5 penalties total, rare offsides, a very fast moving game. The Devils speed is now being matched by their passing game. There were a lot of complex passes.

I think Schwab is only an insurance policy against Marty ripping a groin or tearing up a knee. Marty has only given up what? 5 goals in the last 5 games?

It was a fun night of scoreboard watching at CAA last night. NYI getting trounced early, TOR-NYR closely matched, MON-OTT close till MON pulled away. And of course, Devils leading ALL THE WAY!

Hey- at least the kid wants to play. Can UMDNJ insert a brake between his brain and his mouth?

Quinn and Danton! A match made right here in HELL!

Regarding Pandolfo- I think he can score, if he is told to. Putting Langenbrunner on that line tells them to score. We know Madden can score- his scoring % is 100%. As Pandolfo gets used to getting closer to the goal he will start to put them in. For the last 5 years he's been used to checking and PK, not exactly the mandate for putting points on the board.

Why was Bure on the ice against Jagr during a power play? Jagr scores with 7 seconds left in the pp. Trottier has a lot to learn about managing lines. I don't blame the players for the mess, its the coaches.

This is probably part of the reason Minnesota leads their division.

PK- I think we all know that women can be a lot harder on other women than men are. The nanny thing is just what people with money spend money on these days, whether they need one or not. I worked out of my house for 8 years so I could be around my kids when they were groing up. I don't regret it. They live in Seattle and Chicago now. I hope these parents spend time with their kids.

St. Louis burned the Rags last night. He looks like Gionta's cousin- at least size-wise