DINO

I find it extremely odd, that Devs coach Pat Burns missed yesterday's meeting's due to "personal reasons"...whatever, here is what Mark (N)Єverson has to say about the devils on the doorstep scenario: BY Mark (N)Єverson-NY Post This impending dethroning, the one the Devils can avert only by repeating history, isn't Pat Burns' fault. Nor Martin Brodeur's. The Devils are on the brink of becoming ex-champs, down 1-3 to the Flyers and facing elimination tomorrow afternoon in Philly, but the stage for their overthrow was set in the two months before the series started. The Flyers are beating the Devils in part because Flyers GM Bobby Clarke beat Devils GM Lou Lamoriello at the trade table. While Lamoriello was making questionable tinkering deals, oft-maligned Clarke was making strong ones. The Devils brought in concussion-victim Viktor Kozlov, who has been scratched on merit for two of four games in this series, and traded Cup-winning goal-scorer Mike Rupp and a second-rounder for Jan Hrdina, who had two goals in the first two games of the series, but who is hardly preferable to the bigger Rupp against Philly, and not really the big-time answer anyway. Clarke, on the other hand, landed Vladimir Malakhov from the Rangers for a second-rounder and unsigned Rick Kozak, after winning the Alexei Zhamnov auction Feb. 19 for Jim Vandermeer, Colin Fraser's rights and swap of a second for a fourth. The Devils are said to have been keenly in the market for both Zhamnov and Malakhov. They both ended up in Philly, and they've been making the Devils pay. Malakhov, now 35, looks even better on the Flyer blueline than he did in winning the 2000 Cup with the Devils, sharp and sure, with a mask protecting his healing broken jaw. And Zhamnov has been an impressively solid center, allowing Jeremy Roenick to play wing on the Chicago line with Tony Amonte. When Scott Stevens left the Devil lineup with post-concussion syndrome, Lamoriello failed to add a single defenseman to his squad, and where would they be if Tommy Albelin hadn't talked his way into training camp? Lamoriello is believed to have tried everywhere for backline help, but he failed. Clarke somehow didn't. When Roenick and Keith Primeau went out almost simultaneously, Roenick with a broken jaw and both with concussions, Clarke acted immediately. Both Roenick and Primeau returned and the Flyers have the luxury of top centers galore. The Devils are encouraging themselves with the knowledge that each game in this series could have gone either way, and they're right. The difference hasn't been huge, and it could well have been the other way, had Lamoriello beaten Clarke to landing Malakhov and Zhamnov. * The Devils did not skate yesterday, meeting instead at the Meadowlands. Burns was absent for "personal reasons," the Devils said . . . Brodeur sounded the Devils' call to reprise their 2000 1-3 comeback on the Flyers: "We're going against all odds. Everybody thinks we're dead in the water. But I'm definitely excited about the situation. They want to close us out. We want to spoil their party, then turn it around in [25] hours [sunday, 4 p.m.]." . . . Flyers have scored first goal in each game of this series, and Brodeur wants that ended tomorrow. "Then you just play against the Flyers, not 20,000 Flyers."

April 15, 2004 -- The Devils cling to hope and history, refusing to believe it's all over but the dethroning. Their Hearts of Champions all but broke last night. They need a bigger miracle than they managed in 2000, or a Scott Stevens return could provide, to still reign come Wednesday. Theirs was a magnificent, frenzied attempt to start this series over. In the end, their desire last night simply was not matched by their goal-scoring skills. Now they teeter one loss from becoming ex-champs. So they stood defiant, talking strongly as they played, vowing that last night's 3-0 loss to the Flyers would not be the last game at the Meadowlands this year, their final stand at home as Stanley Cup champs. They insisted they'll win Saturday in Philly and force the Flyers to dread another Devils' comeback from a 1-3 deficit, as they produced on them in 2000. "If we get that one game, we can say, 'Here we go again.' That's enough to put that doubt in their minds," Martin Brodeur said. "If we stay alive after Game 5, we'll have a little momentum coming back here [sunday]. That would be great for us." That would also be the only way their season doesn't end. They must win three straight from this team that has beaten them 6 of 7. Including their own Eastern final triumph over Philly in 2000, only 19 teams have survived 200 1-3 series deficits. "The pressure's on them," John Madden declared. "You don't want to be up 3-1 and let one slip in your building. Then we grab one here and it's the Luck of Game 7." That's the Devils' last hope, but they're clinging to it. "We know if we play the way we can, and will, we'll win," Erik Rasmussen said. They played last night with that same desperation they'll need Saturday and still came up short. It wasn't for lack of desire or effort, but for lack of goals. "Everybody did give everything they had, that's for sure," Pat Burns said. But his Devils gave up the opening goal, as they have in every game of this series. The Flyers struck only 1:18 into play on Kim Johnsson's conversion of a Sami Kapanen rebound. The Flyers have outscored the Devils 4-0 in the first periods of this series. That goose-egg wasn't for lack of trying. Two Devils power plays forced Robert Esche into unconscious saves, Brian Gionta having three chances on one advantage, Patrik Elias likewise on another. Then came Donald Brashear's wraparound try on Brodeur, who then had to reject Keith Primeau's prime chance in front as well as Mark Recchi's rebound. The fury only escalated in the second, when the Devils outshot Philly 12-6 but still couldn't solve Esche. Gionta's backhand produced a tough waffle stop, and Esche lost his stick, recovering just in time to deflect away Elias' follow. New Jersey kept throwing pucks at Esche, and he kept knocking them out. "Esche was good. I have to give him credit," Burns said. "In the playoffs, your goalie has to be the best player on the road. Tonight, he was our best player," Flyer coach Ken Hitchcock said.

I agree with you 100%...I think it is the organizations fault as a whole. Check out Patrick Roy's games played during the course of his season - he never played as many regular season games as Marty has. The Devils need to find a capable bakup who will be able to play at least 20 games a season...marty is too fixated on the personal records deal IMO...this could be catching up with him now - although he would never offer any hint to something like that being true.

I'd love to know what Marty's career record is in games where the Devils are outshot...I agree with the first goal in game 5 it is huge - and don't worry folks - game Six will be played.

Marty has been horribly outplayed in this series by a novice netminder who is looking like a hall of fame player. In addition, the "glee" in the voice of Pang is sickening. He still is upset at John MacClean for that OT Game winning Playoff clinching goal at the old Chicago Stadium that gave the Red & Green their first ever post-season berth. He's hated the Devs ever since!

A-Not impressed at all with Philadelphia. They can be beaten...and will be. B-The Devils could as easily be up two right now instead of down a duece...they could have/should have been in position to take both of these games in Philly. C-I believe Stevens will return on Monday night. D-Marty should be ashamed at the way he is playing...is it the player or the system? That's been covered here previously...those who say the system have a strong argument right now. That second goal was disgusting...the third goal was a laser...but may I see a show of hands, those who believe Esche stops the same shot? Thank you, you may put your hands down. E-Devils have been pounded pretty goo, but they need to create more scoring chances with their very underrated speed and finesse...I predict the Devils will score at least 4 times on Monday night. F-Flyers are up 2-0...but they "think" they can win this series...the Devils "know" they can come back and win. G-Devils will win both in Jersey...get ready for a war on the floor in game 5 later next week. H-Everyone enjoy RESURRECTION SUNDAY (NOT Easter)...and can some of you guys please refrain from devaluing the name of the Lord with the constant taking of the Lord's name in vain in various ways? Is that too much to ask? I-As in I cannot believe those who have jumped ship already..."Devils" fans????