PaDevsFan

I definately Still Believe!!!!!!!!!!!! DEVILS win tonight!!!!!!!

It is truly amazing when it comes to Flyers fans and Stevens. I love the crying about "elbows and cheapshots" They have a guy like Clarke mister Stick in their front office, and a guy that was praised in their city, and they have a guy like Brashear in their lineup now, and they want to talk about cheapshots. Yeah ok, and when you try to tell them the Stevens hit on Lindross was a shoulder all they do is cry more, and even when you show them proof, then well it is a blow to the head?? Give me a break. Flyers fans would have loved to have Stevens on their team for the last decade. Maybe maybe jhust one time they could have gotten over the hump if they had a leader in their locker room like Scotty. Fact remains how can you criticize the man for a blow to Lindross head when Lindross had his head down and was skating like that in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. My son knows not to skate with his head down and he is an 11 yr old Peewee hockey PLayer. My god get a grip of hockey will you please????

I dont know I didnt hear that. I heard Barry Pick the Devils to win the series. What he said was this, HE said the Flyers have more up front, and are strong up the middle, but the Devils and their winning attitude will win the series. That is exactly what he said.

I am just curious, was Kozlov in the lineup in any of the last few games against Philly? I do not think he was but I am not positive. I thought he came back right after the last game against the Flyers. The reason I am asking is I know a few have mentioned he may be a key, I wanted to add to that and say in my opinion he is not only a key player, but in my opinion could be the series MVP for the Devils if he plays up to his ability. A big centerman with good hands and is good at making the pass. If Freeze can bury a few, it would be KEY. We will soon find out.

Yes Petey, I have today's USA today, the Hockey Playoff Preview in there picks the Devils in 7. The guy that wrote it is Kevin Allen. Also I beleive CBS sportsline is picking the Devils I am not sure if it is 6 or 7. I would rather us be underdogs, we seem to come up bigger in that role.

Good analysis Tri, but i have to say this, you mention the Flyers top 9 being the best in the NHL. While I agree on paper they look very strong, I do not agree that their top 9 are the kind that wins in the post season. Look at Primeau, recchi, LeClair, Handzus, Zhamnov, and even Amonte what have these guys done in the post season?? I mean Primeau 110 post season games 9 goals? other than recchi and Lecalir who have respectable numbers 92 games 36 goals (recchi) and 136 games 40 goals (Leclair) Their "big gun" forwards just disapear in the playoffs. If it was just 1 season I would say ok, but every yr. you watch their team in the playoffs and yes their goaltending is shakey at times but even more than that they cannot score. Look 2 yrs ago against Ottawa 4 goals in what 5 or 6 games? You better have a wall in net if you are gonna score less than a goal a game. The point is on Paper the flyers always look good. Lets see them in the spotlight do it. I want to see them beat Marty 4 out of 7 games. I just do not think they will. I honestly like this matchup better than some of the other possibilities. I like the way we have been getting scoring from some other sources over the last 2 weeks. I think actually opening on the road is good for this team too. Play the slow it down defensive style that won the Jennings trophy this yr. get the flyers squeezing their sticks early, and their fans booing and thinking "here we go again" and we win this series. Key is to come out strong, no VERY STRONG in game 1 and take it right to them in their own building. We win game 1 and they start thinking about it. that is exactly what we need, especially if we win game 1 and Esche does not play well.

DA8, yes Hasek was great, but really this Devils team is far better than the Buffalo team that went to the Finals. The point is this, yes Esche played well the last few games against the Devs, but again the Playoffs are a new animal, and I will be very interested to see if this perennial backup has what it takes to carry his team far in the playoffs. I will take Marty over the Flyers and not only that, the Devs have had a few guys puttin the puck in the net recently not just Elias so we seem to be scoring a bit more recently, and now is the right time to get these other guys going. I will say this, we cannot take penalties, even though the Flyers power play struggled the last few weeks, it is very good. I think 5 on 5 we will take this series.

It is amazing living down here. There are so many Flyers fans I hear thumping their chests, "they want the Devils" mostly because of the way they ended the series in the last few meetings. Fact remains they still have to go out and beat the best goalie in the world in 4 of 7 games. And that is playing with a guy who looked like the next coming a month ago, but has looked less than ordinary over the last 2 weeks. Esche can be beaten, and it wont be long before we see how really good he is? Playoffs are a whole different animal as we all know, and while the Devils have many "proven playoff performers" The Flyers really cannot point to 1. Leclair, Recchi, Primeau, these guys disapear in the post season. While guys like Madden and Langenbrunner, and even Elias seeom to pick it up. Will it be a cake walk?? NO of course not, I do not see a 4 or 5 game series from either side of it. But as much as the flyers fans are making out of not having Stevens, I still beleive we win this series. I think the Devils go in to Philly like they did in Boston on Sat. and establish their tempo right off the bat. They split in Philly, most likely come back and split in NJ, then the Devs win the next 2 and take the series in 6.

Not to be smart, but I really dont think Pat Burns is going to send any messages to Lou. I think if Lou even gets any feeling that pat is trying to do so, then Patty B. will be on the unemployment block as far as coaches go. I was watching the broadcast last night and they kept going up to the box, and showing Lou and McLean there. Johnny smiling having a good time, and Lou even up 3-0 or 4-0 was looking very angry, very upset. I am thinking maybe he is tired of Pat Buirns too at this point. Watching Pat on the Bench last night I do not know he kept on his team and on them. At some point the players just tune this out. Even though they won it was against a far less talented team so I am thinking Lou wasnt that impressed with the 5-0 victory.

With all the stuff flying around the last week, with "people within the org. talking about Stevens injury" and now talk about possibly Burns being fired in 2 days etc. I find it kinda like deja vu. Wasnt it the Islanders who were the first team that Larry faced when he was hired at the end of the season a few yrs ago?? that being said if the boys look sluggish tonight maybe we will see a new face again against the Isles on Sunday for the last few games and into the post season. On another note, I agree the players may be growing a bit weary of Burns and his mannerisms, but I really sometimes do not understand this team. They hire Ftorek, and after a brief period the players complained that he was too much of a hard ass. They bring in Robinson, and after a stretch, you heard players saying that many were walking on Larry because he was too buddy buddy with the players, then they bring in Constantine another disciplinarian, followed by Burns who is a disciplinarian but they won under him. What does this team need?? a Jekyll and Hyde kind of coach one day Harsh and one day Sweet as pie??? I am sorry, I love this team, but these guys are getting to be a bit ridiculous. And if for some strange reason Burns disapears and miraculously Stevens reappears, I will lose a bit of the awesome amount of respect that I have for the guy because then I will beleive he had something to do with it. Let me say I do not agree with all of Burns tactics, but there is no one that can argue his style wins.

First I will say I cannot explain why Scotty would have cancelled his "phone conference" yesterday, but I have a hard time believing it is because he is upset about the rumors of is injury. I do not know the man personally, but that just isnt Scott Stevens. this man is a fierce competitor, a leader and a great hockey player. Arguably the greatest defenseman in the game over the last 15 yrs. That being said, even if he cannot stand Burns, what would he have to gain by prolonging his return, or not having a press conference?? The point is, why would this perennial All Star want to tarnish his career with this situation towards the end of it. Hey for whatever reason he didnt have the conference, that doesnt change what I think will be a return in the near future. I think he will be back for the playoffs, he may be rusty at first but I feel he will be there. He isnt the kind of player to let his team down if he can help it at all. Look last yr when he took the puck to the head. He could have sat out for longer, but he knew his team depended on him. Lets just be patient here and I am sure the reasoning behind this whole situation will start to come out.

WOW Great Post ESB. You couldnt be more correct. These are our Devils. And I am proud to say I am a fan of this team. There are a ton of other fans out there that would love to say their team has been as succesful as this franchise. I am confident they will find a way to make us proud again this post season. With or without Scotty. LETS GO DEVILS!!!!

Very true Rock, the bottom line is this: Yes we have been inconsistant, and yes we are not clicking on all cylinders and have injuries. ANd I will admit I have been a bit down on a few players as of late, but I do like the aquisition of Kozlov, and Hrdina, and I think Rafi will be back, and maybe even Scotty come round 2. SO all that being said, we are still the Eastern Conference and Stanley CUp Champs. SO I would think there are a few teams at the top of the standings right now that do not like looking down and seeing us at no 7. I still think I would like to play Philly first. Their goalie as good as he has been has just about no playoff experience. Get them early and see what he is made of. They may get tougher as the playoffs go along.

Come on HOI, he has not been put into the position of no 1 since Stevens being hurt. Nieds is our no 1. and he is being paired with Martin, thus our no. 1 defense pairing. ANd second, it hasnt been just since Stevens has been out. The whole season he has regressed. ONly in the beginning of the season with Scotty in there some of it was hidden. Now it just exposes him even more. If you can honestly say this guy is playing up to his potential then that doesnt say a hell of a lot about his potential does it?? The fact is, the other night against Montreal, he made bad play after bad play. Just a continuation on what has been a very disapointing season for him. He doesnt even seem to know how to keep a guy to the outside. They showed at least 2 or 3 times MOntreal forwards skating in and beating him badly to the inside. A complete no no. My god that is basic for a defenseman!! Come on Colin get it together or Burnsie SIT HIS REAR END DOWN!!

Let me add this, this wasnt meant to be a post that says Colin is the only guy not playing well. But what it was meant to do was ask the question is there something wrong with him. Yes Brown has been horrific, but he is not a regular. Albelien is Albelien. Hale is still learning. But the problem I have with White is this, last year he showed signs of developing into a physical strong Blueliner. This yr he has taken at least 2 steps backwards. And it isnt just because of no Stevens. He was having a rough time of it even early in the season. But with Scotty out it just magnifies his bad play this season. Is he the only one?? No At times the whole team has been bad. But with White it has been a pretty rough season for the most part. I guess I am just hoping he can somehow snap out of this funk and get into shape the way he played most of last season. that is all I am asking. I am not asking him to be Scotty S. but I am asking him to play up to his capability. Which in my opinion is at least a notch or 2 higher than he has shown this season!!

Look I know alot of people are wondering whats wrong with White, and everybody seems to be "chalking it up" to Stevens being gone, and him trying to do to much. I am not going to sit here and rip the guy but I really have a few questions. Let me say that I like the guy, and last yr. I felt he was a solid contributer to the team. This yr is or seems to be a different story. Watching last night really made me wonder what is going on with him. The first goal in my opinion was his fault. What was he thinking?? You can not let that skater beat you to the inside there. That is basic hockey. They teach that stuff at peewee level. Then he did the same thing at least 1 more time later in the game, and I forget who it was but he skated right in front and had a point blank shot on Marty. The point here is that Colin doesnt even seem to be "fundamentally" sound right now. Has he lost confidence? Is he playing hurt? But something is badly awry in his game right now. I hope he can work it out before the playoffs, but if he doesnt I am more than concerned. He has the ability and has shown before that he can be a solid Blueliner in the NHL. But this yr he just seems to be making too many "rookie" mistakes. Not just last night but I cannot count how many times I have seen him backing in backing in and not playing the man and screening Marty etc. Again these are basics for a blueliner. PLease Colin get it together!!!

With only 9 games left in the reg. season, I know we should be concerned with how the team is playing rather than the final standings. But that being said, as I was saying in the chat room the other night during the romp over Pitt. the Atlantic Division is not out of reach yet. Especially with Philly losing last night, and losing another defenseman. I also heard where J.R. may return next week sometime, but Primeau isnt doing so well in his bid for return. I guess the point is this, these next 2 games are of the utmost importance for the following reasons: 1. Most importantly, to continue to improve your overall team play and chemistry going down the stretch here, and do so by beating a solid team with a solid goaltender. 2. these games can help distance ourselves from the 7th seed as well. 3. That being said, they could also move us closer to Philly. Now only 5 points back but have 2 games in hand. 4. Even if Philly is out of reach toronto and Ottawa certainly arent, so we could definately get that 4th seed. All that being said we need to continue to get better, and show we can play without Scotty against the good teams as well. Kozlov needs to continue making his presence felt. I really think we need to take 3 out of the 4 points in these games against the Habs!! GO DEVS!!!!!

NEIDS Enough Said

In my opinion it is and much more so. I wont say it is more severe than being hit with a stick, but again the stick incident wasnt a 2 handed ful chop either. So as far as gloves vs bare knuckles ye Gloves is more severe. Remember red, these arent boxing gloves, full of soft padding. These are gloves meant to protect for being "slashed with a stick" or "hit with a puck" So the "padding" is hardened. Just feel the knuckles of a hockey glove. I think or at least my opinion is being hit with a glove is more severe. Why would the Players drop their gloves if it wasnt??

I respectfully disagree Red, This is just as bad or worse than the McSorley thing. the reason being this, Yes Bertuzzi tried to get Moore to fight I agree, then why not skate in front of him drop your gloves and Pummel him whether Moore fights back or not?? Dont tell me he couldnt get in his face. I remember after the Domi incident with Neids McKnzie just dropping the gloes and pummeling him Domi didnt even try to fight. thats fine That is face to face and Jimmy Dropped the gloves. Bertuzzi hits him with a gloved fist to the side of the face from behind. I have been face washed with an open glove, but try being punched in the head with a gloved fist. It can hurt you just as much as McSorleys swing of the stick. I saw that incident over and over and yes McSorley hit him but he didnt wind up like a baseball bat either. And Brashear did get up. The point is Gloved fist from behind swinging stick same thing cowardly premeditated cheap moves. Both deserved the same punishment.

True Devil Dog, I like that they have the oppurtunity to revisit it. I think they are also waiting to see how far Vancouver goes in the post season. In other words if they go to the finals and play 20-25 games plus the remaining reg season games they may say thats enough. If they get knocked out in round 1 after only 5 or 6 games he gets more at the beginning of next season in my opinion. Either way he should have gotten more I think, maybe 10 months or 1 yr minimum.

I was just listening to the radio, and I heard a Hockey writer (dont know who it was, I came in partway through it) talking about the bertuzzi incident, and he made a very interesting point. the radio host asked him, is there a more underlying problem here, a "lack of respect" maybe? His response was right on the money I think he said the problem is today you have guys that are brought up with no respect for the other guys. In other words he was saying how these guys are taught they are padded up and they arent going to hurt the other guys or be hurt themselves and thats why the "lack of respect" He was saying 20 yrs ago you would see guys fighting but not like today. the guys actually had respect for the other man, knowing no helmets or not as many pads, the other guys or yourself could be seriously injured by a "cheap shot" Interesting, and I pretty much agree. I was telling a good friend and loyal hockey fan this morning I think Hockey is the 1 sport that guys just do not like each other off the ice or on it, period. Not like football where you hit and tackle for 60 minutes then go out after the game. yes I do agree there is a lack of respect amongst the players.

"McSorley, suspended by the NHL for a year, was convicted of assault and given an 18-month conditional discharge." I am sorry but this incident is far worse, not just because of the injury, but as i remember it McSorley hit Brashear but it wasnt like a 2 handed baseball bat homerun swing. It was bad and eserved what he got. But my point is if McSorley got a 1 yr suspension and conviction Bertuzzi should get at least the 1 yr suspension and Police action as well.

Has anybody found a link of the actual incident that works yet? If so could you please post it. Second, in my opinion the NHL has to step up here and create some new guidelines. I am tired of the NHL "reviewing " game misconducts etc. If you get a game misconduct due to INTENT TO INJURE, it is 20 games from now on PERIOD end of story. I dont care what the reasons are or the circumstances. Again I will say it IF YOU INTENTIONALLY TRY TO INJURE SOMEONE, AND RECEIVE A GAME MISCONDUCT DUE TO THE PLAY THEN YOU SHOULD BE GOME 20 GAMES WITHOUT PAY!!! The NHL wont do that but they should, then maybe you would have jackasses thinking twice before doing something stupid. If you want to fight someone or hit someone hard fine I am all for physical play. but this is ridiculous. I am also reading about why the whole thing happened. Can anybody please tell me was the hit by Moore on Naslund a clean hit and Naslund just got hurt?? Or was Moores hit on Naslund dirty as well?? I am just curious. Either way it doesnt justify this kind of reaction!!!

"will this is going to get really complicated. The punch likely didn't break his neck, the fall did. The question is, did Bertuzzi deliberately push Moore's head into the ice?" "7" in response to your post earlier, from the following clip from cnnsi, it sounds as though Bertuzzi did "drive him face first into the ice" and if thats the case, he should face criminal charges PERIOD!!! "Bertuzzi, Naslund's linemate and close friend, punched Moore in the head from behind while skating at center ice. The 245-pound Canucks winger then jumped on Moore's back and drove him face first into the ice, knocking him unconscious."