nj96

Exactly... Plus, it wasn't nearly as deliberate as they're making it out to be. It wasn't say... the Tie Domi elbowing incident. That was a deliberate cheap shot, this was a good hit gone bad. -Dan

I rewound it a couple times (ReplayTV rocks!) and it looked like he was going in for the hit, knew he was going to miss him, stuck out his arm and hit Naslund about 3 inches above his elbow. Not a "traditional" elbowing penalty, but just the fact that he moved his arm out to hit him (not much, only a few inches away from his body), it should have drawn the penalty. Also, if Naslund wasn't reaching for that puck, the hit probably would've gotten him in the chest or shoulder. I think it should've been called, but I guess by definition the non-call was a good one. -Dan

Why don't they just make the goalies fair game behind the net. That'll stop a lot of wondering and pretty much have the same effect. -Dan

EXACTLY! Let's hope they don't try to cut costs building Brendan Byrne, Newark Edition. -Dan

It's good to see that something is going forward to keep the team here (even though it's not what I'd have preferred ). I wouldn't be surprised if the whole complex isn't ready by 2007, though. 3 years from pre-design to completion for such a big complex (arena/hotel/offices/parking) is pretty optomistic. Hopefully they'll finish the arena and parking first. -Dan

I think it's catching on. My HS didn't have hockey when I was there due to insurance issues. Now they and the other regional HS have formed a team. I'm also noticing a lot more varsity hockey jackets while walking through the concourse, too. -Dan

I was just trying to say that, for all intents and purposes, the Islanders aren't really competing in the same market as far as fan base and proximity go. They're arena isn't in the city where everyone works and their fans aren't nearly as promenant out here. Ranger fans will be Ranger fans as long as they live. That's why they're selling out no matter how bad they are. And for the Devils, even 20 years after they were relocated, they're still in the shadow of the Rangers. Maybe in 20 years (God willing the Devils are still here) we will have a fan base built from the success we are having now that we'll be the ones selling out every night. Think of all the kids that come to the games in 20 years bringing their own kids. Building a fan base doesn't happen overnight, it's a generational thing (especially with a sport like hockey where it isn't something everyone played as a kid and can relate to). To get back to the comparison with the other cities, there's really no comparison that can really be accurate. And if you do think of the Islanders, they're in the same boat we are. Struggling for a fan base and losing money. The only difference is they had their glory days two decades ago and have a history (and a ton of money now!). We're building our history. Our legacy. -Dan

I feel like the Islanders are in a different market. There isn't as much inter-mingling between Islander fans (primary contained on Long Island) and Ranger/Devils fans, shuffled throughout the area. Plus, the Islanders had a fan base from their dynasty. Compare the season ticket numbers from then and from 5 years ago. BIG difference. Now they're regaining their fans. What did it take to get to get more fans in the stands? Money. Lots of it! Promotions, ads, a few big name players, a playoff berth. We have one of those (and more!), but the rest of it is the "Spend money to make money" concept we all know Lou doesn't buy into. For all those with a center ice feed, how often do you see those ticket plans for 4 seats, 4 dogs and 4 sodas as a package? Every damn game! How often do you hear of anything like that with the Devs? Never! That's a good way to get families to make a night of it and take the 2.4 kids to the game. -Dan

One difference is that all those cities don't have NYC right next them. They're the only show in town. The Rangers have had two complete generations worth of time to build a fan base. Also, those stadiums have been there for years, so it's not really a choice for them. It's really impossible to compare any other club with the Devils (except maybe Anaheim) because there's no other market where there is a team in the smaller city. -Dan

Saying that any violence in Newark is rare doesn't really say much. Of course it's rare, but it's still a possibility no matter how safe the area seems. Example: 21st Street & 7th Avenue. Pretty safe area of Manhattan - a few homeless but they keep to themselves. A block away from a police station. No problems, right? About a year ago two people get shot, one of them a cop. I've worked here 10 years. Seemed safe. Never mugged. Can it still happen, definitely. It can happen anywhere. I have to be here because I need to work and get money for Devils' games (and food and stuff). Do I like it? Not really. Even though it's a historically safe area, anything can happen. So where is there a better probability of violence? Newark or the Meadowlands? Where would you rather bring your kids? Newark or the Meadowlands? -Dan

I don't think it's alternate (alterNATE) as in rotating, I think it alternate (alterNIT)as in if the primary captain "C" isn't available on the ice, the alternate "A" captains can speak with the referees about any calls and such. -Dan

It's tough to get over remembering the Lindros in Philly, but seeing the way he gave 100% effort every night on a team which gave 10% collectively makes me respect him a little more than I ever thought I would. I hope he'll just call it a career and not risk damaging his future as a human, much less a hockey player. -Dan

I think that the reason it's such a big blow right now is that the defense was built around Stevens. Now that he's out, the other Dmen are going to have to pick up the slack and slide up in the ranks. Maybe it's just going to take some time before everyone finds their niche again. PK - I think Brown knows this is one chance at the big time with the Devils that he's trying so hard not to screw up that he looks slow and disorganized. If he would relax and just play defense, I think he would look a lot better. Just my take on it. -Dan

On that note... Can someone please sit him down and pull a Mystery Alaska with him... "You're the big guy here, Mike." He hits like he's afraid of hurting someone. If you ask me, Gomez is going to stay. His PP unit has looked really good (granted it's also packed with our best players) and he's finally out of his two-year funk since losing Mogilny. He's back to the old Gomer who weaves his way through the defenders like it's nothing - AND he's finally snapping off a few shots here or there, too! I think this is his year to prove himself as a true playmaker and not the beneficiary of playing with a sniper or two. -Dan

Also remember that a lot of the 2on1 and breakaways he has are on the PK. If he misses the net, it's an odd-man rush back the other way. That may explain all the shots right into the goalie's chest. That line's production is fine considering they keep the opponents big guns off the board. -Dan

I think Burns feels that Gomez is kind of a defensive liability. With the line matching Burns runs, the other team pretty much dictates who gets ice time and who doesn't. Whoever's assigned to the other teams top line (ie Madden's line) will get almost identical ice time as their top line. Maybe when Langenbrunner returns, Gomez will get more time with two pretty good defensive wingers at his side. -Dan

Maybe the team needs something like this to get out of the funk. I really, really, really hope this was the low point because there were many times during the game last night I was just laughing at the way everything was going wrong. And I'm pretty positive that the first goal was deflected. I watched the replay a bunch of times and it seems to hit off the defender's stick and instead of going bottom right, it went top left. I really don't think there was anything Marty could have done. -Dan

I'm not really looking to stir the pot any more, but Newark isn't exactly deserted at 7PM and infrastructure costs are much higher within a major city, so your figure for the Newark arena isn't exactly accurate. Let's say we double (it'll most likely be higher than that but for argument's sake) the infrastructure costs planned on the Meadowlands site, that gives you $525-555 million for the Newark arena. Plus I don't think you're taking into account that some infrastructure planning might also be underway, so a lot of that $85-100 million might already be alloted for the area around the Meadowlands anyway. Like I said in one of the other debates, er threads, it's going to happen anyway, so we might as well be part of it. Just a thought. -Dan

Actually, Doc and Chico mentioned something about this during a recent game. And I sorta quote (if my memory serves correctly) "A defensemen is allowed to hold his lane." Which is what Rafalski and the rest do. They basically force the oncoming player to the outside or hold their ground. Either way, it's not interference as long as the player is positioned in the lane to begin with. Maybe that's why the Devils' don't get as many Interference penalties as the other teams? As for Niedermayer along the wall... That's another story. -Dan

I definitely liked the look of the new lines, though!

I don't know... Luongo played one hell of a game (minus those two shots). The stop on Langenbrunner was almost Brodeur-like! If the Devils had any finish tonight they would have had 6 goals by the end of the second... -Dan

I say we get Morozov for that is the only way to stop him from scoring on us at will... -Dan

Could it be that the Rangers are less disciplined and out of position more, thus being in an awkward, possibly injury causing position more frequently? I feel bad for Rheaume... It's a shame he's gone from Stanley Cup Champ to the Rangers injured reserve in the span of a few months. -Dan

How about "Those two kids who weren't quite ready yet"... Man I hope Albelin and Brown work well together... -Dan

It's nice to know we can still beat the Rangers with two starting centers, our top two PK guys and one of our top 4 D-men out of the lineup. -Dan