Here is the leader-board through the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs:

1) Woodward –> 9-for-12

2) Philp –> 6-for-12

3) Levin –> 2-for-4

4) Muscat –> 6-for-12

5) Cohen –> 5-for-12

Eastern Conference

(6) New Jersey Devils vs. (1) New York Rangers

Cohen– Rangers win in 7 . X-Factor –> Devils’ Record-Breaking Penalty Kill vs. Rangers’ Lifeless Power-Play

Philp– Devils win in 7. X-Factor –> Martin Brodeur

Muscat– Rangers win in 7. X-Factor –> Rangers’ Third Line

Levin– Devils win in 7 . X-Factor –> Adam Henrique

Woodward– Rangers win in 7. X-Factor –> New York’s Power-Play

Western Conference

(8) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Phoenix Coyotes

Cohen–  Kings win in 7. X-Factor –> Mike Smith vs. Jonathan Quick: Who Cracks First?

Philp– Coyotes win in 6. X-Factor –> Mike Smith

Muscat– Kings win in 5. X-Factor –> Jonathan Quick

Levin– Kings win in 6. X-Factor –> Drew Doughty

Woodward– Kings win in 6. X-Factor –>Mike Richards/Jeff Carter Line

Stanley Cup Finals

Cohen (Edit #2)– Rangers Over Kings

Philp (Edit #2)– Devils Over Coyotes

Muscat (Edit #2)– Rangers Over Kings

Levin–                    Devils Over Kings

Woodward (Edit #1)– Kings Over Rangers

Conn Smythe Award

Cohen– Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)

Philp– Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils)

Muscat– Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)

Levin– Ilya Kovalchuk (New Jersey Devils)

Woodward– Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings)

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Andy Greene is a superstar.  However, he’s the perfect workman-like player for the Devils lineup.  His poise with the puck and specifically while under pressure, he’s typically able to move the puck forward, out of the zone and typically onto the stick of a teammate.  He has good timing in terms of knowing when to jump into the play.  A good example of this was the winning goal by Alexei Ponikarovsky in overtime last night.  Take a look at the replay of the goal.

Click here to view the embedded video.

While Ilya Kovalchuk circled around back into his own zone, Andy Greene slips behind Wayne Simmonds and Daniel Briere to help create the 2-on-1 rush that led to the winning goal.  Greene entering the zone pushed back Andres Lilja and helped to create the space Ponikarovsky utilized to get the shot that led to the rebound which led to the goal.

Did Greene receive anything on the stat sheet to show his contribution?  No, but he definitely had an impact on that winning goal.  Keep in mind, we’ve only talked thus far about Greene’s contributions on the offensive side of things while in reality, it’s on the defensive side of things where Greene truly has his biggest impact on the game.  Here’s an example of another under the radar type of play that helped the Devils to a Round 1 victory.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Greene basically prevents a Panthers goal, as he neutralized the ability of Florida’s Scottie Upshall to put in the loose puck.  It’s another example of a play that doesn’t hit the stat sheet,  but has a major impact on the outcome of a game.  It’s the type of play Greene makes pretty often and why Greene is so valuable to the Devils that how the Michigan native earned a four-year $12 million contract.

It’s just another example of how Andy Greene makes contributions that go well beyond the stat sheet.  Most successful teams will need a guy like Andy Greene in their lineup.  Teams that go far in the playoffs tend to have players like Greene, who do the little things teams need to win.  Paired with Mark Fayne, the duo have been invaluable to the Devils in the playoffs, especially in Round 2 against Philadelphia.  If the Devils are to continue on and win the series over the Flyers, you can expect Andy Greene to play a major role in it.

Eastern Conference

(7) Washington Capitals vs. (1) New York Rangers

Cohen– Rangers win in 7 . X-Factor –> Marc Staal

Philp– Capitals win in 7. X-Factor –> Capitals’ Penalty-Kill

Muscat– Rangers win in 7. X-Factor –> Rangers’ Third Line

Levin– Rangers win in 7 . X-Factor –> Michael Del Zotto

Woodward– Rangers win in 6. X-Factor –> Dan Girardi

(6) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers

Cohen– Flyers win in 6. X-Factor –> Ilya Bryzgalov

Philp– Flyers win in 5. X-Factor –> Philadelphia’s Prolific Power-Play

Muscat– Flyers win in 6. X-Factor –> Ilya Bryzgalov

Levin– Devils win in 7. X-Factor –> Patrik Elias

Woodward– Flyers win in 5. X-Factor –> Martin Brodeur’s Ability To Overcome Father Time

Western Conference

(8) Los Angeles Kings vs. (2) St. Louis Blues

Cohen–  Blues win in 7. X-Factor –> David Perron

Philp– Blues win in 6. X-Factor –> The Blues’ Defense

Muscat– Blues win in 7. X-Factor –> T.J. Oshie

Levin– Blues win in 6. X-Factor –> Jamie Langenbrunner

Woodward– Kings win in 7. X-Factor –>Mike Richards

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (3) Phoenix Coyotes

Cohen– Predators win in 6. X-Factor –> Mike Fisher

Philp– Coyotes win in 6. X-Factor –> Mike Smith

Muscat– Predators win in 5. X-Factor –> Alexander Radulov

Levin– Predators win in 5. X-Factor –>Patric Hornqvist

Woodward– Predators win in 6. X-Factor –> Phoenix’s Secondary Scoring

Stanley Cup Finals

Cohen (Edit)– Rangers Over Predators

Muscat (Edit)– Blues Over Rangers

Philp (Edit)– Capitals Over Coyotes

Woodward (Original)– Rangers Over Predators

Eastern Conference

(8) Ottawa Senators vs. (1) New York Rangers

Cohen– Rangers win in 7 . X-Factor –> Brandon Dubinsky

Muscat– Rangers win in 6. X-Factor –> Ryan Callahan

Philp– Rangers win in 5 . X-Factor –> Henrik Lundqvist/Rangers’ Physicality

Woodward– Rangers win in 7. X-Factor –> Chris Phillips/Filip Kuba

(7) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Boston Bruins

Cohen– Bruins win in 6. X-Factor –> Nicklas Backstrom

Muscat– Bruins win in 4. X-Factor –> Brad Marchand

Philp– Capitals win in 7. X-Factor –> Alexander Ovechkin

Woodward– Bruins win in 6. X-Factor –> Boston’s Power-Play

(6) New Jersey Devils vs. (3) Florida Panthers

Cohen– Devils win in 6. X-Factor –> David Clarkson

Muscat– Devils win in 5. X-Factor –> David Clarkson

Philp– Devils win in 6. X-Factor –> A Healthy Martin Brodeur

Woodward– Devils win in 6. X-Factor –> Florida’s Secondary Scoring

(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Cohen–  Penguins win in 7. X-Factor –> Ilya Bryzgalov

Muscat– Penguins win in 6. X-Factor –> Marc-Andre Fleury

Philp– Penguins win in 5. X-Factor –> Pittsburgh’s Depth/Matt Cooke

Woodward– Flyers win in 7. X-Factor –> Ilya Bryzgalov

Western Conference

(8) Los Angeles Kings vs. (1) Vancouver Canucks

Cohen–  Canucks win in 6. X-Factor –> Jonathan Quick

Muscat– Kings win in 7. X-Factor –> Jonathan Quick

Philp– Kings win in 7. X-Factor –> Jonathan Quick

Woodward– Kings win in 7. X-Factor –> Jonathan Quick

(7) San Jose Sharks vs. (2) St. Louis Blues

Cohen– Blues win in 6. X-Factor –> Andy McDonald

Muscat– Blues win in 5. X-Factor –> Alex Pietrangelo

Philp– Sharks win in 6. X-Factor –> Joe Thornton Exorcising Playoff Demons

Woodward– Blues win in 5. X-Factor –> Antti Niemi

(6) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (3) Phoenix Coyotes

Cohen– Blackhawks win in 6. X-Factor –> Keith Yandle

Muscat– Coyotes win in 6. X-Factor –> Mike Smith

Philp– Coyotes win in 6. X-Factor –> Mike Smith/Phoenix Defense

Woodward– Coyotes win in 7. X-Factor –> Corey Crawford

(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (4) Nashville Predators

Cohen– Predators win in 6. X-Factor –> Alexander Radulov

Muscat– Red Wings win in 7. X-Factor –> Pavel Datsyuk

Philp– Red Wings win in 6. X-Factor –> Detroit’s Special Teams

Woodward– Predators win in 7. X-Factor –> Detroit’s Second Line

Stanley Cup Finals

Cohen– Penguins Over Predators

Muscat– Red Wings Over Penguins

Philp– Red Wings Over Penguins

Woodward– Rangers Over Predators

With Saturday’s conclusion of the regular season and Sunday’s revelation of this year’s postseason match-ups and schedules, now is as good a time as any to make my first round predictions. Today’s blog will feature three of the Eastern Conference’s four series. Being that the Bruins are the team I cover, I’ll have a more detailed preview of their series with the Capitals before it kicks off on Thursday at the TD Garden.

8) Ottawa Senators vs. 1) New York Rangers

Forwards– In years past, the Rangers were thought of as an offensively incapable bunch that could only reach victory through solid defense and world class goaltending. However, that image has been wiped clean this season through the addition of top-line pivot Brad Richards and the finally healthy Marian Gaborik. The Blueshirts have emerged as one of the league’s top offensive squads, posting a 2.71 goals per game average on the season, good for 11th in the NHL. However, an underrated Ottawa forward corps — led by Jason Spezzza and Milan Michalek — have brought the Sens the NHL’s fourth most potent offense this season.

Advantage– Ottawa

Defense– Outside of Norris Trophy favorite Erik Karlsson, the Ottawa d-corps leave a lot to be desired. While Sergei Gonchar is capable of an occasional offensive spark, he’s never been known to handle himself well in his own zone. While Filip Kuba and Chris Phillips do provide the Sens with a solid defensive presence night in and night out, the Ottawa defense group simply can’t compare to the well-rounded Rangers’ blueline. With offensively explosive d-men like Michael Del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh to go along with  shut-down rearguards Dan Girardi and Marc Staal, the Blueshirts back-end is one of the best in the league.

Advantage– New York

Goaltending– Despite Craig Anderson’s success in Ottawa over the past two seasons, I think it’s fairly obvious that the Rangers hold the edge here. Henrik Lundqvist can often steal a series on his own.

Advantage– New York

Intangibles– After besting the East’s number one squad on three of four occasions this season, the Sens may hold a bit of a mental edge on the Rangers heading into their series.

Advantage– Ottawa

Prediction– The Sens will make this one a lot closer than many of the experts suggest, forcing the Blueshirts into a decisive seventh game at Madison Square Garden. However, the Rangers’ depth and collective toughness will simply be too much for the Senators.

RANGERS IN 7

6) New Jersey Devils vs. 3) Florida Panthers

Forwards– Up front, the Devils posses far more offensive dynamic forwards than the Cats, with the likes of Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk and long-time Devil Patrik Elias. The late-season addition of former Cup winner John Madden will undoubtedly help the Panthers in the experience department, but their lack of production from any offensive unit outside the top line will be the Cats’ eventual unraveling.

Advantage– New Jersey

Defense– Powered by two blueliners who are never shy about jumping into an offensive play in the form of Jason Garisson and Brian Campbell, the Cats’ defensive unit is solid all the way around. Both sides seem to be even in this category.

Advantage– Florida

Goaltending– With the age of veteran ‘tender Martin Brodeur, this one’s a bit more of a toss up than many people think. I’d have to give the Devils the slight edge, just based on the fact that they have a capable backup, should anything happen to the 39-year-old Brodeur.

Advantage– New Jersey

Intangibles– The most interesting stat that I’ve come across here is that the Panthers have more players on their current roster (five) with a Stanley Cup ring than do the Devils (three). I don’t think many of us would have guessed that.

Advantage-- Florida

Prediction– Many pundits have New Jersey pulling off the upset here — if you even want to call it that — and rightfully so. After backing into the post-season, I don’t believe the Cats will be able to take down the Devils in round one.

NEW JERSEY IN 6

5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. 4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards– The Philly offense is deep, strong and fast, but the Crosby and Malkin factor — along with the emergence of James Neal –  give the Pens a decisive advantage in this category.

Advantage– Pittsburgh

Defense– If Kris Letang can return to the Norris-favorite form he enjoyed early in the season, the Pens will also hold the advantage on the back-end, but if he can’t, I’d have to give the Flyers the nod, simply because of their amazing defensive depth, in holding eight NHL-capable rearguards.

Advantage– Philadelphia

Goaltending– Without doubt this is the hardest category to predict of them all. Couple Marc-Andre Fluery’s recent struggles with the enigmatic nature of Ilya Bryzgalov and you’ve got a complete and total toss up when it comes to the netminders in this series. Assuming Bryzgalov can return to form, Philadelphia will hold the edge here.

Advantage– Philadelphia

Intangibles– With most of the roster still intact from the 2009 Stanley Cup winning season, the Pens hold a decisive intangible advantage over a rookie-filled Flyers’ lineup.

Advantage– Pittsburgh

Prediction– In what will undoubtedly become one of the greatest postseason series in recent memory, these two cross-state rivals will lay it all on the line. In the end, I believe that the Flyers will outlast the Pens, stealing game seven on the ice of the CONSOL Energy Center.

PHILADELPHIA IN 7

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New Jersey Devils (96 Points) Record Against: 4-0-0

Strengths: Arguably the most defensively responsible team in the Eastern Conference, each and every line – with the exception of the top unit – is better than solid in the defensive zone, while still possessing the ability to contribute on the offensive end. The Devils are also a team built with hoards of veterans, who have been to the rodeo a time or two. Aided by the league’s top penalty kill unit, aging netminders Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg have posted a respectable 2.54 goals against average this season.

Weaknesses: Outside of the top line of Ilya Kovalchuk, Adam Henrique and Zach Parise – which is without doubt one of the NHL’s most lethal forward trios – the Devils struggle to find consistent secondary scoring. While the return of Travis Zajac will likely go a long way to helping solve that problem, New Jersey is fairly heavily reliant on production from the star-studded Kovalchuk line.

Conclusion: While unlikely that these two squads will make acquaintances in round one, I’m fairly confident that I’d give the Bruins the nod if and when they meet the Devils in the playoffs.

 Ottawa Senators (90 Points) Record Against: 4-1-0, 1 Left To Play

Strengths: Armed with the Northeast division’s most lethal power-play unit (18.3%) and a 3.00 goals per game average, the Sens are one of the more offensively prolific teams headed for the post-season. Anchored on the back-end by hands-down Norris Trophy favorite Erik Karlsson (19G/58A) and former-Bruin Sergei Gonchar (4G/31A), the Senators also possess the league’s best tandem of puck-moving defenseman. Lead by superstar pivot Jason Spezza, Ottawa’s front line consists of youthful and extremely dynamic forward corps.

Weaknesses: Outside of veteran captain Daniel Alfredsson and a few others, the better part of the Sens’ roster hasn’t experienced the intensity of playoff hockey. Also, the Sens aren’t known to be a physical team. With the exception of enforcer Chris Neil, Ottawa does not employ many physically imposing skaters, something that could put them at a severe disadvantage against a bruising bunch like the Bruins.

Conclusion: Without doubt, this would be the match-up I’m sure most Bruins’ fans would like to see the most. The B’s have fared well against Ottawa this season and could likely easily wear down the Sens over the course of a seven game series.

Washington Capitals (88 Points) Record Against: 1-2-1

Strengths: With the return of puck-handling whiz Nicklas Backstrom and his subsequent reunion with uber-star Alexander Ovechkin, the Caps once again find themselves in possession of one of the most dynamic top lines in all of hockey. The Caps unquestioned ability to score has been complimented this season by the additions of gritty forwards Joel Ward, Jeff Halpern and Troy Brouwer.

Weaknesses: After three consecutive early playoff exits – despite holding one of the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference – the Caps’ ability to “win the big one” has still yet to be answered. Whether it’s due to a character issue in the Washington room , as many in the mainstream media like to call it, or a variety of outside factors, the Capitals will be tethered to that identity until they’re able to escape round two.

Conclusion: Boston hasn’t exactly matched up well with the Caps this season and a first round match-up with Ovechkin and the gang wouldn’t work in the favor of the defending Cup champs. Despite all of their playoff struggles, this Washington group can still be extremely dangerous simply because of their immense offensive talent.

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Projected Standings: (Team–Projected Point Total–Point Differential From Last Season–Seed Differential From Last Season)

1) New York Rangers 115 Points –>+22 Points –> +7 Spots

2) Boston Bruins         102 Points –> -1 Point –> +1 Spot

3) Florida Panthers    93 Points –> +21 Points –> +12 Spots

4) Pittsburgh Penguins 106 Points –> EVEN –> EVEN

5) Philadelphia Flyers  102 Points –> -4 Points –> -3 Spots

6) New Jersey Devils 98 Points –> +17 Points –> +5 Spots

7) Ottawa Senators 94 Points –> +20 Points –> +6 Spots

8) Winnipeg Jets 88 Points –> +8 Points –> +4 Points

9) Washington Capitals 87 Points –> -20 Points –> -8 Spots

10) Buffalo Sabres 86 Points –> -10 Points –> -3 Spots

11) Tampa Bay Lightning 84 Points –> -19 Points –> -6 Spots

12) Toronto Maple Leafs 82 Points –> -3 Points –> -2 Spots

13) New York Islanders 81 Points –> +8 Points –> +1 Spot

14) Carolina Hurricanes 80 Points –> -11 Points –> -5 Spots

15) Montreal Canadiens 73 Points –> -23 Points –> -9 Spots

STATS:

–> Largest Points Improvement …..     New York Rangers (+22)

–> Largest Seeding Improvement …..  Florida Panthers (+12)

–> Worst Points Drop-Off           …..     Montreal Canadiens (-23)

–> Worst Seeding Drop-Off       …..      Montreal Canadiens (-9)

If Sidney Crosby (Above) makes a return to the Pittsburgh lineup, these number may change drastically.

–> Now, things can always change rapidly and a team could fall completely out of the playoff race or one could jump right into it by putting together a nice winning streak, making this system far from a perfect prediction tool.

–> Last season, it took 93 points from the New York Rangers to secure the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. This year it looks like 90 will once again be the magic number with one or two teams perhaps finishing below that mark and still sneaking into the dance.

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Looking to spark a struggling offense that hadn’t light the lamp on home ice since February 11^th, Boston bench boss Claude Julien broke out a new set of forward lines for Thursday’s contest. The new combinations paid immediate dividends for the B’s as only into the game Tyler Seguin connected with new linemate David Krejci on a cross-ice pass that would lead to number 46’s 14^th tally of the season and an early 1-0 lead for Boston.

“He’s (Seguin) got a great vision and he found me basically wide open. So, yeah, everything. He’s got a shot, he’s got speed, vision, so he played a really strong game tonight” — David Krejci

The B’s new first line would strike once again before the period was over as Milan Lucic found Seguin wide-open in the slot for his 21^st goal of the season. The newly formed Lucic—Krejci—Seguin line combined for a plethora of scoring chances in the opening frame, throwing five shots on Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.

“An early goal was huge, so it was great that we were able to get two goals in our first three shifts and we even had more chances that we could’ve got right at the start of the game, so it was good we were feeling it early and were able to establish that lead to take off the pressure.” – Milan Lucic

It was in the second period that the B’s fortunes would take a 360-degree turn for the worst. It started just after the 6:00 mark of the period when a Joe Corvo turnover – something that’s becoming a common sight here in Boston – lead to a Devils’ 2-on-1 and captain Zach Parise’s 24^th tally of the season. It was only seven and a half minutes later that New Jersey would tie the score at two when Corvo vacated his position in front of the Boston goal, allowing Patrik Elias to tap home his 20^th of the year.

“I mean, I don’t know how you want me to answer that because I don’t throw my players under the bus, but obviously he had a bit of a tough outing.” – Claude Julien

Just when the B’s thought they’d escape what was a dreadfully played second frame, David Clarkson pushed one past Boston netminder Tim Thomas from the side of the net mouth to give the Devils the 3-2 lead as the teams went to the rooms for the second intermission.

The B’s would get a much needed boost at the 5:30 mark of the final frame when Krejci corralled a bouncing puck and hammered it past Brodeur to even the score at 3. Both teams seemed to enter into a defensive style of hockey for the remainder of the period, limiting the number of quality scoring chances at both ends of the ice. Neither team was able to light the lamp for the remainder of regulation as we went into overtime with the two squads still deadlocked at three.

With just over three minutes to go in what was a high-octane extra frame it was Krejci who would play hero, putting home his third goal of the night to secure the Bruins’ first home-ice overtime victory of the season. Krejci’s 16^th tally of the season put the finishing touches on the Czech-born pivot’s second career hat-trick (3^rd if you count post-season).

Accounting for all four Boston goals and combining for points on the night, Boston’s newly formed top-line was undoubtedly the driving force behind the Bruins fourth victory against New Jersey this season.

“Obviously he’s (Seguin) got great speed but I think if you look at the two of us, me and David, I think we’re at our best too when we’re moving our feet and playing that high-tempo kind of game. I think that’s what kind of got us started, especially with that first shift and that first goal. – Milan Lucic

Thursday’s victory completed Boston’s first season series sweep of the Devils since the 1985-’86 campaign, back when Raymond Bourque was patrolling the Boston blueline. Something the Bruins hope will give them a mental advantage in case these two squads meet in the post-season.

“Today is I think the only positive thing we could take about the series. I think these guys, they know with the experience they got the past few years and especially last year, that it’s a new ballgame when it (playoffs) starts. Hopefully we’ll get in and hopefully we’ll have an opportunity to play against them because if we do it means we’re going to be in a good spot.” – Martin Brodeur

Ben’s Three Stars:

1) David Krejci (3 Goals)

2) Tyler Seguin (1 Goal, 1 Assist)

3) Milan Lucic (2 Assists)

What’s Next?

– The Bruins will finish out their three-game home-stand on Saturday afternoon when they play host to John Tavares and the New York Islanders. The Devils will have a quick turn-around as they leave the Hub for a trip to Washington for a date with Alex Ovechkin‘s Capitals on Friday.

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Records: New Jersey 35-23-4 (74 Points) ,Boston 37-21-3 (77 Points)

Location: TD Garden , Boston, Massachusetts

Time: 7:00 P.M. (EST)

TV/Radio Info: NESN (Edwards, Brickley, Funayama) – 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers)

Last Game: Ottawa Senators 1 , Bruins 0 ……. Devils 0 , New York Rangers 2

Tonight’s Lineup (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS:

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Lucic–Kelly–Krejci

Pouliot–Rolston–Caron

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE:

Chara–Ference

Seidenberg–Corvo

McQuaid–Zanon

GOALTENDER:

Thomas

Rask

Scratches– …… Andrew Bodnarchuk , Max Sauve , Mike Mottau

Injuries:

Nathan Horton (Concussion) – Boston’s top right winger remains sidelined with a concussion he suffered back on January 21.

Rich Peverley (MCL) – Peverley will sit out his sixth consecutive game as he continues to rehab his MCL injury.

Johnny Boychuk (Concussion) — The B’s top-pair D-man will miss his second game in a row as he sits out with what’s being called a “mild concussion” stemming from the hit he took from the Sens’ Chris Neil on Saturday in Ottawa.

Last Time We Met: Bruins 4 , Devils 1

– The last time these two Eastern Conference foes made acquaintances was back on January 19 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. The B’s got the best of the Devils on that night by way of a 4-1 victory. This will be the final match-up of the year for these two teams with Boston taking the first three contests.

Stat Of Note: Tonight’s contest will mark the Bruins debut of defenseman Greg Zanon. The rugged rearguard came over from Minnesota just prior to Monday’s NHL trading deadline in exchange for Steven Kampfer. Zanon plays a very physical type of game and is expected to become another solid cog in the Boston blueline.

Prediction: New Jersey is a very strong team, one that is expected to compete for the Eastern Conference crown during the playoffs this spring. I have a hard time envisioning the Devils being swept in the season series by one of their biggest Conference rivals.

Devils 3 , Bruins 1

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It was quite a story around the league and rightfully so, as one of the most talented players in the league changed hands that day.  We can (and probably will) debate the impact of the trade over the long haul for the Devils, but for purposes of immediate dividends, this deal did not have a quick return, as the Devils flamed out in the first round, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games that spring.

Sometimes, its the under-the-radar type of acquisition that gains less headlines and has less star power, but helps impact a team greatly. The Devils have a history of this type of acquisition, bringing in players like Neal Broten and Shawn Chambers in 1995, Vladmir Malakhov in 2000 and Grant Marshall in 2003. All of these guys led directly to a Stanley Cup title.

Even trade acquisitions like Stephane Richer, Claude Lemieux, Bobby Holik,  Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner and Jeff Friesen all ended up making larger impacts than originally anticipated by many.  GM Lou Lamoriello seems to have the knack for making the right moves more often than not.  For every move like Ken Klee that didn’t pan out, there’s always an under the radar Bob Corkum or Turner Stevenson-type of acquisition that shows how usually in touch with his team Lamoriello often is.

This year has proven to be no different, as Lamoriello has added three pieces so far all of which have paid immediate dividends.  On December 12th, the Devils acquired Kurtis Foster from the Anaheim Ducks in a four-player deal (and draft pick) that has given the Devils some needed help on the power play.  Last month, Lamoriello followed it up with another solid move, picking up Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Carolina Hurricanes in return for a minor leaguer and a draft pick.  Ponikarovsky has also paid immediate dividends, giving the Devils much needed size and production on the third line.  He’s posted four goals and six assists in his 13 games with the Devils thus far, and has played at a +7 plus/minus, while adding making it tough on opponents, a dimension the Devils so desperately needed.

In addition, on January 30th, the Devils recalled Steve Bernier from their Albany team and slotted him in as the third line right wing.  The combo of Ponikarovsky and Bernier has been outstanding for the Devils, as they have worked for the most part with Dainius Zubrus as their center and given the Devils not only some scoring production, but have done a lot of the “dirty work,” by physically draining their opponents along the boards and fighting for the puck.  Quite frankly, the entire team has benefited from the third line production, and the depth should only be that much better if and when players like Travis Zajac return from injury and if Josef Josefson can progress.

Add it all up and the New Jersey Devils are playing like a team to be reckoned with as we begin the sprint towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  With a 9-1-1 stretch during their last eleven games, the Devils have moved into potential striking distance of the top of the Eastern Conference.  As I’ve said, sometimes it’s the smaller moves that don’t grab the headlines that can payoff the most at season’s end.  The Devils and Lou Lamoriello have added Foster, Ponikarovsky and Bernier and it’s had a huge impact.  Does Lamoriello have one or two more moves up his sleeve?  We’ll know in the next few days, but it wouldn’t come as too surprising to see another defenseman added to the team and don’t get too concerned if it isn’t a big name, because Lamoriello and his track record have shown sometimes it’s the smaller names that will pay off with the biggest prize of all, a Stanley Cup championship.

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It’s a label that has stuck with the team for the last 20 years or so, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be a fitting one, especially for the teams of the recent past.  The Devils began to play more of an up-tempo fore-checking puck possession type of game under the coaching of Brent Sutter during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons.  Just because a team is also defensively responsible does not mean it makes for a boring team.  Also, find me a team in the league that does not play some version of the trap at different points. That’s right, there isn’t one, because every team in the league plays some form of it at one point or another.  Last year’s hiccup aside, the teams under Sutter and current coach Peter DeBoer have been pretty exciting and have produced a good amount of scoring compared to their league counterparts.

Looking at the entire picture, over the last 20 years (19 seasons), there have been countless exciting moments, including physical play (including the best open ice hitter of his generation in Scott Stevens) and more often than not, the team has finished in the upper half of the league in goals scored (including first or second four times) see accompanying table below) and has been one of the most productive clubs in the NHL over that time in terms of producing regular season wins.  Add three Stanley Cup titles to the mix and I don’t know how or why the “boring” label has ever been attached to a team that has produced like they have.

Superstars like Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias, Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk have produced for this franchise over the last 20 years.  Obviously, some of these players have helped both offensively and defensively to varying degrees. To me, as a fan, my first hope is for my team to win. Beyond the Detroit Red Wings, who can match the winning pedigree of the New Jersey Devils over the last twenty years? I think you’d be hard pressed to come up with anyone else on the same level.  There are other franchises that have featured the neutral zone trap mostly to hide their lack of superstar talent.  That simply hasn’t been the case with the Devils.

As for this year’s team, the Devils are currently ranked 14th in goals per game, scoring at a clip of 2.69 goals per game. Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Elias and Zach Parise are all in the top 25 scoring leaders. Head Coach Peter DeBoer has installed a high energy system based on puck pressure and fore-checking, similar to the system played by Brent Sutter a few years back. Add it all up, and the Devils have been mislabeled over the last twenty years. Assuming last season was more of an outlier than anything, instead of being labeled boring, perhaps a more accurate label for the New Jersey Devils would be WINNERS. And if you ask me, that’s all a fan could ever ask of their hockey team.

5.) —–> To Chicago: Hal Gill, Travis Moen, 5th Round Pick

—–> To Montreal: Kyle Beach, Brandon Saad, 2nd Round Pick

– Seemingly going nowhere this season it may be time for the Habs and GM Pierre Gauthier to start thinking about unloading some pieces in an attempt to build for the future. Both Gill and Moen are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer and could provide a Cup-hunting Blackhawks team with some added depth and grit for a playoff run this spring. Neither Moen nor Gill give you much in the way of flash or skill, but both are very durable players who have a Stanley Cup on their resume. For Montreal, both Beach and Saad fit the mold of what the Habs need the most: big, strong power forwards who can put the puck in the net. While neither will give Montreal much in the way of immediate assistance, they both have the potential to become cogs in the Canadiens’ lineup for years to come.

4.) —–> To Boston: Tuomo Ruutu, Bryan Allen

—–> To Carolina: Jordan Caron, Matt Bartkowski, 2nd Round Pick

– For a team that has simply run roughshod on the Eastern Conference since the start of November there really aren’t many glaring holes on a roster full of Stanley Cup winners. However, like we saw last February, GM Peter Chiarelli isn’t afraid to tinker with his team in order to add the necessary depth to make another run at Lord Stanley. This trade makes perfect sense for a Boston team that still relies on an inexperienced Steven Kampfer as it’s seventh defenseman. The hard-nosed Bryan Allen isn’t known much for his offense (0G/7A in 51 games this season) but can provide a solid defensive presence in his end of the ice, as well as log some valuable time on the penalty kill. Like Allen, the 28-year-old Ruutu will be a free agent on July 1. The Finland native seems to have been cut from the same mold as Boston winger Rich Peverley in the way that he can be trusted in any situation. Ruutu has posted fifteen goals and added eleven assists in 51 games this season while being shuffled up and down the Carolina lineup.

3.) —–> To Philadelphia: Ryan Suter, 3rd Round Pick

—–> To Nashville: James Van Riemsdyk, Brayden Schenn, Andrej Meszaros, Jody Shelley, 1st Round Pick

– Now, I’d put this trade as the least likely to happen, at least not until this summer. A deal like this makes perfect sense for a Flyers team that will be without captain Chris Pronger for the remainder of the season. Ryan Suter is perhaps the most underrated defenseman in the entire NHL. Often overshadowed by Shea Weber, Suter has quietly stacked together one all-star season after another and is slated to finally cash in this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The question still remains as to if the cash-strapped Predators can re-sign Suter to a long term deal to keep him in Nashville. However, if GM David Poile comes to the realization that he will not be resigning with the Preds, he would be better served to deal him now than let him walk for nothing this July. The package I’ve presented seems like quite a hefty price for one player but keep in mind, true number one defensemen simply do not grow on trees. While I really can’t see this one happening before the deadline, if Suter is adamant about not re-upping in Nashville, I can’t see any better scenario for the Predators’ franchise both now and into the future.

2.) —–> To Toronto: Jeff Carter, 3rd Round Pick

—–> To Columbus: Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin, 2nd Round Pick

– There’s no question that Jeff Carter’s brief stay in Ohio’s capital is coming to an early end. Reportedly frustrated by the entire situation, the former Flyers star has put up only seventeen points (10G/7A) in 30 games this season while playing for the league-worst Columbus Blue Jackets. While many teams would be skeptical of accepting any player with ten years left on his contract, the Leafs have been on a league-wide search for a true number one center since Brian Burke took the helm in November of 2008. It’s my belief that if Carter is surrounded by a talented team (like he was in Philadelphia) he will once again be able to return to his elite form. While many could think of this as an overpayment for Carter, I would argue that while Schenn still looks like a future all-star, he seems to be the odd man out on a Leafs’ blueline already manned by Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek and John-Michael Liles — all of whom are signed to lucrative contracts. Kulemin is a young player with loads of skill and potential who seems to be struggling under the hockey-crazed pressure cooker that is Toronto. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him a world of good. In Toronto, Maple Leafs’ fans may be foaming at the mouth with the thoughts of putting an elite pivot in between all-star wingers Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

1.)  —–> To Minnesota: Zach Parise

—–> To New Jersey: Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, 2nd Round Pick

– This trade simply makes too much sense. With Parise still unsigned and the Devils’ ownership situation still uncertain, it’s easy to suggest that New Jersey will be unable to retain Parise at year’s end. Recent speculation has suggested that the 5’11″ Minneapolis would like nothing better than to return to his home state to continue his career, making him a perfect fit for the Wild. However, a former 40-goal scorer with extensive leadership qualities simply does not come cheap. With this package the Devils pick up a solid return for a guy who will likely be gone for nothing on July 1. Devin Setoguchi is a solid young winger who can play top-six minutes and provide some pop playing across from Ilya Kovalchuk. In Coyle and Brodin New Jersey receives two former first round selections who look to be sure bet NHL contributors in the near future. Parise should provide the right type of boost for a Wild team trying to work themselves off of the playoff fringe.

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In New Jersey, we have elite forward Zach Parise (42gp, 14G, 23A).  He’s currently signed to a one-year, $6 million contract that will expire at the end of this season.  He’s been a part of their core, but New Jersey has made a significant investment in Ilya Kovulchuk that might make signing Parise to large contract difficult.  Money appears to be a significant issue.  Parise has also said he wants to play for a contender- something Nashville fans have heard before.

In Nashville, we have elite defenseman Ryan Suter.  His current contract ($3.5 million/year) also expires at the end of this season.  He’s ingrained as a part of Nashville’s core along with partner Shea Weber (a RFA at the end of this season).  Since the money for Suter (and Weber) is there and isn’t an issue, the sticking point here appears to be making Suter (and Weber) comfortable that Nashville intends to spend money across the entire roster in order to make every effort to contend for a Cup.  In other words, Suter (sigh, and Weber) wants to play for a contender too and they would like to see some help brought in.

One additional item to consider is that both New Jersey and Nashville are currently in the playoffs and neither will likely want to make a decision to trade their player prior to the end of the season and risk missing the playoffs.  Of course, if they don’t they risk losing them for nothing.

So how do these teams help one another?  A simple swap will not make sense as it would do nothing to help the perceived money issue in New Jersey.  Additionally, as I’ve opined previously, it would appear to be pretty difficult for Nashville to add an elite forward, keep the ones they have, and still sign both Suter and Weber while staying under the cap.

The answer lies in Nashville being willing to part ways with some of their roster players that they are going to have to give raises anyway.  It’s those raises (like to Colin Wilson) that makes fitting an elite forward under the cap hard.  Nashville has a significant number of players beyond Suter and Weber that have expiring contracts this season and will likely be wanted back: Jonathon Blum (RFA), Blake Geoffrion (RFA), Colin Wilson (RFA), Sergei Kostitsyn (RFA), Anders Lindback (RFA), and Jordin Tootoo (UFA) among those that have seen significant time in the NHL.

Nashville would need to utilize their assets and redefine their core to include that elite forward.  That means moving some roster players and some that make a little bit of money.  New Jersey would need to redefine their core to have one less elite forward and redistribute that money into other solid, NHL roster-ready players in order to continue their run to the playoffs this year.

With the basic parameters in mind, what kind of trade might make this a great match?  Truth be told, there’s a pretty fair number of combinations dependent upon where New Jersey would like to focus their rebuilt core (forward, defense, or in goal).  I would expect that Lou would listen to two or three roster-ready players with reasonable contracts (or RFAs).

For example, a Patric Hornqvist (41gp, 12G, 7A, 1yr @ $3.083 million left), Sergei Kostitsyn (36gp, 8G, 11A, RFA) and either a Jonathan Blum or Anders Lindback should get Lou’s attention for an unsigned Parise.  Lou would get two 50+ point players that complement Kovalchuck well (perfectly actually), a solid defenseman likely destined for the top four and a potential starting goalie to replace Brodeur.  The salary swap is about even after the new contracts for the RFA’s but it allows New Jersey to spread that salary across three/four roster players (and New Jersey would need to make additional roster changes to account for the contract limit).  If that deal doesn’t work, build another around the parameters above.

Nashville gets their elite forward while keeping a good stable of forwards (Colin Wilson and Craig Smith) to complement Parise.  They lose some very good roster players.  They also take a major risk by obtaining an unsigned Parise.  That said, if Parise  (or Suter) walks at season’s end, Nashville will have a ton of money to hit the free agency market.  They also have one of the best pipelines of talent on defense and in goal.  They should be able to trust in their ability to fill from within.

It’s bold.  It’s risky.  It also appears to help both teams for this season and seasons beyond.

It’s time for Nashville to “wink” at New Jersey.

David Singleton

You are invited to follow me on Twitter (@SingletonPreds).  For game recaps of all Predators games as well as great insights on the Predators and the NHL, check out my HockeyIndependent colleague, Mark Willoughby (@TheViewFrom111).

Goaltenders: 

Johan Hedberg:  The Moose has been loose much of the year, giving the Devils just about all anyone could ask for, putting up solid production overall.  He’s not really a number one goaltender by any means, but he’s been just about all you can ask for in terms of a backup goaltender and seems a great teammate in the locker room.  His Swedish heritage only helps things out that much more with the young Swedes like Josefson, Tedenby and Larsson in the mix.  Grade:  B

Martin Brodeur: Unfortunately, throughout his distinguished career, the great Brodeur has set the bar extremely high.  While he certainly isn’t the same goalie he used to be, he still can rise to the occasion at times, like he did on both December 31st and January 7th, both against Pittsburgh.  To compare him to his past isn’t necessarily fair, but he is still in the upper half of NHL goalies, especially when he’s playing at the top of his game.  While I don’t expect him to reach a Vezina level again, if the Devils are going to have any real kind of success, Brodeur will need to play a big part in it, similar to how he did in last year’s second half surge.  Grade:  C+

Defensemen:

Adam Larsson:  It’s tough to think of a fair grade for a 19-year old Larsson, who was practically named the savior to the Devils’ back line after being drafted number four overall this past summer.  While Larsson has certainly showed glimpses of becoming the star is he is expected to become, he isn’t quite there yet.  While star prospect forwards like Sidney Crosby can come in and take the league by storm, it usually takes a few seasons for a defenseman to become a star, similar to the career paths of Victor Hedman or Scott Niedermayer, I have llittle doubt that Larsson will become a top defenseman within the next couple of seasons.  It’s the glimpses he’s shown so far that have Devils fans dreaming of what he is expected to come in the next few seasons and what helps to overlook the growing pains that rear their ugly head from time to time.  The minus-9 plus/minus needs improvement in the second half.  Grade:  B

Bryce Salvador:  Salvador has played as well as one might imagine considering he missed all of last season due to post-concussion symptoms.  He provides solid leadership and a steadying influence to the back line.  He also does a lot of the little things and dirty work that not all players are able to provide.  Winning teams need players like Salvador on their team and he’s a big part of the reason why the Devils have the number one ranked penalty killing unit.  He had a little difficulty earlier this year, but after missing the prior season, it would be unfair to think there wouldn’t have been a few bumps along the way on his road to returning.  At plus-6, it is an indicator of the steady influence Salvador provides to the team and his 46 hits and 52 blocks are another indicator of how he’s willing to do the dirty jobs a team needs.  Grade:  B

Mark Fayne:  Fayne was a revelation last season as an unheralded rookie who gave the Devils some of the puckmoving ability from the back line they desperately needed.  This year, there have been more rookie “moments” than last year, which have been more noticeable.  It’s tough to be very critical on the guy, but hopefully those errors in judgement will become less frequent over time as Fayne continues his development.  Others in blogs and message boards feel that Fayne should be sent to Albany, but I disagree, even though I think there has been a clear reduction overall compared to last season.  Either way, the Devils are going to need significant contributions from Fayne if they want to get into the playoffs and stick around for awhile.  His shot has been his best asset, as he has the uncanny ability (a la Brian Rafalski) to get his shot through and on net, giving his teammates chances at deflections and rebounds.  Grade:  C+

Anton Volchenkov:  Volchenkov has had some trouble staying injury-free, but has helped to be a stabilizing force on the back line, especially on the league-leading penalty kill.  He leads the team with 68 blocks, and while he’s been a disappointment overall since his signing before last season, he definitely has played significantly better this year as opposed to last season.  He’s chipped in with a little bit of offense of late, but pairing him with a more offensive player at even strength, definitely seems to be the right move.  It could provide the potential number one pairing for the team to rely on come down the stretch and into the playoffs, if the pairing meshes well together.  Grade:  C+

Henrik Tallinder:  It isn’t pretty,  but Tallinder‘s impact on the team is hard to gauge, especially if you are just using statistics.  His numbers (0 G, 5 A, -5 in 35 games) look pretty pedestrian, but Tallinder does a lot of little things that are hard to quantify.  He’s made more mistakes than most would like, but he works well with young players, and uses his size to win battles along the boards and fill passing lanes.  A rash of minor injuries cost Tallinder six games, but he’s the type of player you miss when he’s not playing.  That being said, he needs to pick up his game a little more in the second half, similar to how he did last season, when he did just about everything for the Devils last year.  Grade:  C

Kurtis Foster:  Foster was brought in via a trade with Anaheim, as the Devils hoped to add a threat from the back line and to help add some production to the power play.  It’s been just twelve games so far, but the glimpses of production have been shown.  The second half will be key to the pending free agent, as he looks to potentially cash-in for one more decent contract.  Grade:  Incomplete

Andy Greene:  Limited to just twelve games, Greene has been denied the chance to try and justify the big 4-year $12 million contract he signed in the off-season.  Greene, similar to Tallinder, does a lot of good things beyond what the statistics will dictate, but his sample of games is too small to warrant a grade at this point.  Grade:  Incomplete

Matt Taormina:  Coming off a significant ankle injury last season, Taormina was forced to start the season in Albany, where he earned an All-Star berth, being named the only Albany Devil representative.  At the big club, he doesn’t have enough of a sample to warrant a grade, but despite some limitations, Taormina has added some needed offensive ability to the back line.  Injuries and potential acquisitions will likely dictate how much playing time Taormina gets in the second half.  Grade:  Incomplete

Alexander Urbom:  Urbom, at age 20, is expected to be a big part of the Devils future, but for now, he was too up and down and will benefit over the long-term from playing significant minutes in the AHL with Albany.  Four games is not enough to warrant a grade, but I think the future from Urbom looks very bright.  Grade:  Incomplete

Overall, the group of defensemen has done an okay job, but if the team wants to make a run in the playoffs, they will need to either step it up some or bring in outside help to raise the talent level.  Don’t think GM Lou Lamoriello isn’t contemplating a big splash type of move to bring a top-flight defenseman to anchor the back line.  However, the right guy needs to be available and at a cost that makes sense to Lamoriello.  The perfect candidate is Ryan Suter of Nashville, but the cost might be too high.  That will be something to definitely keep an eye on as we get closer to the trade deadline.

Coming soon will be a look at the forwards.  What do you guys think, did anyone get an unfair grade?  Comment below and/or follow me on Twitter @ LEVINAKL.  Until next time…

So, we are getting to a point of urgency for a lot of players who find themselves to be potential unrestricted free agents at year’s end, with the general managers left to decide now if they think they should begin to engage in trade talks about certain players.  For the New Jersey Devils, you would think GM Lou Lamoriello has to know by now whether or not he has a good feeling about whether or not his team can keep Zach Parise for the long-term once this season is over.

Do I think there is any chance Lamoriello will trade away Parise with the Devils competing for a playoff spot?  No, I do not.  Unless the Devils collapse, I don’t see Lamoriello trading away his captain and one of his personal favorites, even if that means he will walk away at season’s end without any compensation to Lamoriello and the Devils.  However, that doesn’t necessarily mean he shouldn’t.

Just to play “Devil’s Advocate,” as an example, would it make sense for Lamoriello to talk to Anaheim GM Bob Murray about possibly dangling Zach Parise in return for one of the “Big 3″ in Anaheim.  I’d let the two of them decide if it warranted a straight up deal or not, but would the Devils feel better with the likes of either Corey Perry ($5.325M cap hit through 2012-13), Ryan Getzlaf ($5.325 through 2012-13) or New Jersey native Bobby Ryan ($5.1M through 2014-15) on their team?  They may not all bring the same as Parise, but wouldn’t it be better than getting nothing at season’s end?  Is it possible one would be a better compliment to Ilya Kovalchuk and the rest of the team? 

While it’s widely reported that Anaheim is looking to shake things up.  However, the obvious question is would Parise be willing to re-sign in Anaheim?  Obviously, as an outsider, its tough to know where things stand between the Devils and Parise’s representatives.  Do they have a feeling they might get a deal done or are they confident it’s going to be tough to do a deal?  All very pertinent questions that would greatly impact Lamoriello’s ultimate decision. 

This is only one possible scenario, there are plenty of other teams that could be a potential trade partner for Parise.  In the end, as a fan, it’d be hard to stomach Parise in a different uniform, but the practical answer if you can get a return that will help you immediately (i.e not prospects/draft picks), it might be something wise to consider for the best of franchise.

What do you guys think?  Should the Devils move Parise?  What would be the best potential situation for both teams?  Who do you potentially see signing Parise if he becomes a free agent this off-season?

*********************************************************************************************************

My apologies for going a LONG time between posts here, things have been hectic of late.  I’ve had writer’s block to an extent to, starting but not completing articles of late, so my apologies.  I’ve also started my mid-season review, which I hope to get out in the coming week or so.  Want to talk Devils or the NHL in general?  Follow me on Twitter @ LEVINAKL.

However, something happened on the way to making the NHL more palatable to the masses. You might have noticed that your favorite player or players have been missing in action quite a bit this season.As of Thursday, 51 NHL players have been lost to concussions this season. On that list is the player many believe is the league’s best, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played in just eight NHL games since suffering a concussion on Jan. 5, 2011.

That list has become a gargantuan story this season, much to the alarm of the league and teams, who have in the past attempted to minimize what independent medical experts have been citing for years: hockey has a concussion epidemic on its hands.

< READ MORE ON CBS New York >

Other pieces on CBS by BD:

HOW PLAYERS, NOT THE ISLES COACH WILL WALK PLANK THIS SEASON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE? TELL THAT TO NY ISLANDERS FANS! 

In a game that saw much of the customary slow-paced action that you frequently see when the Devils are in action,  Boston simply could not muster the same type of emotion or intensity that they enjoyed during their five-game winning streak, for the better part of the first two periods.  It was New Jersey who would take the first lead of the night when David Clarkson blasted a one-timer past Tim Thomas during a Devils’ 5-on-3 power-play. Boston was able to quickly recover from that, as only 4:06 later it was Chris Kelly who would knot the score at one after a mishandling of the puck by New Jersey netminder Johan Hedberg.

After taking two rather ill-advised penalties during the second period, Bruins’ agitating winger Brad Marchand saw his ice-time severely reduced for the remainder of the period. After what was assumed to be some great coaching during the intermission, Marchand came out flying in the third period, scoring on a breakaway only six seconds into the frame. The 23-year old native of Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia was aware of his second period mistakes and knew he had to respond in the third period.:

 ”I took a bad penalty there and they scored on it and it’s a learning process when things like that happen. You’re going to pay for it sometimes. And I had to pay by sitting on the bench tonight. You just want to bounce back. I didn’t want to hang my head I wanted to go and show I can be better. And I think he was kind of giving me a pat on the butt. I had to be better in the game. I didn’t have a good first couple periods I want to come in the third and play stronger and help the team win.” — Brad Marchand

As the action picked up in the third period, both squads looked evenly matched as every time either team would score, the other would have an answer.  Boston would receive a much needed contribution from their energy unit when incumbent fourth-liner Shawn Thornton collected a rebound for his first tally of the season. On the other side of the ice, New Jersey was aided by a two-goal third period from 22-year-old winger Nick Palmieri.

In crunch time, with the game tied at 3 and only 3:01 remaining in regulation, it was  Benoit Pouliot, the oft-scratched native of Quebec, who would put the B’s on top for good, when he snuck a wrist shot underneath Hedberg and into the net. The goal should come as a huge confidence booster for Benoit, who has only previously recorded one goal in a Bruins’ uniform and was even banished to the press box, in favor of rookie Zach Hamill, during Saturday night’s 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. During his post-game interview on Tuesday,  Pouliot spoke his feelings of being a healthy scratch, as well as how he’s gained confidence from his GWG against New Jersey:

 ”It was frustrating not being in the lineup obviously but tonight he put me in there and things are going pretty good well… I think on and off the ice I’m just trying to work hard as much as I can and it’s going to pay off in the long run… It feels good obviously scoring a goal. The game winner or not it just feels good. It helps mentality a lot. You feel good after this. Right now I feel great.” – Benoit Pouliot

Teammate Gregory Campbell, who had a two point night himself (0G/2A), went on to express his thoughts on the success of an unlikely hero like Benoit Pouliot:

“It’s a tough job when your not in the line-up and you have to stay ready. As I said, we’re all supportive of each other here, whether someone’s in or out from one night to the next. It  just goes to show you things change quickly in this game. It’s good to see somebody like Benny (Benoit Pouliot) who is the first guy on the ice, working on his game all the time to get rewarded.” – Gregory Campbell

The Bruins’ win on Tuesday, against a very competitive New Jersey Devils team is a great sign for the team’s well-being moving forward.  The feeling amongst is that when comparing the team’s recent play to the way they looked throughout the month of October, is that perhaps a game like Tuesday’s –one in which they went down early and were offensively stagnant for a good portion of the game – would have had a different result, had it been played one month ago.

“You know, I think we’re working hard for our chances, I think we had to give out heads a shake at first.  We were losing battles, losing races to the puck so you know you can blame things on bounces here and there but it’s our compete level that’s really changed and we’re playing within the structure and that’s  what is making us successful these days.” – Gregory Campbell

On Tuesday, the 17,565 that packed into TD Garden were not only celebrating the Bruins’ sixth straight victory, thanks to unlikely hero Benoit Pouliot. They were also celebrating and paying homage to  the true heroes of our nation: the members (past and present) of our Armed Forces. The Bruins are never given enough credit for the work that they do to support and honor our troops. Tonight, the Boston Bruins should be proud of themselves as an organization for the type of ceremony that they showcased on Tuesday.

KEY STATS

Goals–                        NJD (3)           BOS (4)

Shots–                       NJD (30)          BOS (37)

Power-Play–           NJD (1-5)         BOS (0-2)

Penalty-Kill–           NJD (2-2)        BOS (4-5)

• Three Stars– ….. 3.) Gregory Campbell   ….. 2.) Nick Palmieri   ….. 1.) Milan Lucic

What’s Next?

Next up for the Bruins is a Thursday night match-up with the NHL-worst Columbus Blue Jackets. The visit from Columbus will be the Jackets’ one and only visit to TD Garden this season. It is also the fifth and final game of the Bruins’ current home-stand. For New Jersey, it’s a very quick turn-around as they continue their five-game road trip with a visit to Buffalo’s First Niagara Center for a match-up with Lindy Ruff’s Sabres.

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On Tuesday evening, the Boston Bruins (8-7-0 — 16 Points) will look to extend their current five-game winning streak when they host American Olympic hero Zach Parise and his New Jersey Devils (8-6-1 — 17 Points). Coming off yet another five-plus goal performance, the B’s offense will be faced with the challenge of solving veteran Canadian netminder Martin Brodeur.

Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Horton–Krejci–Lucic

Pouliot–Kelly–Peverley

Caron–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Kampfer–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Thomas

Rask

Scratches– ….. Ference (Lower Body) , Paille (Nose)

– Tonight’s game can be seen on NESN (Edwards, Brickley) and heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers), the flagship radio station of the Boston Bruins.

NEWS & NOTES:
– The Bruins have scored a total of 30 goals through their current five-game winning streak, good for an average of six goals per game.

– The New Jersey Devils’ special teams units are a true tale of two stories. The Devils Power-Play unit ranks 29th in the entire NHL, scoring at only a 10% clip. On the other hand, New Jersey’s penalty-kill is second in the NHL, having successfully killed off 93% of their penalties against.

– It is right know unknown if Devils’ star forward and former Atlanta Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk will be in action tonight. According to Tom Gulitti of the NJ Record , his status was still in question as of today’s morning skate.

– Bruins forward Tyler Seguin, who is off to a phenomenal start to his sophomore campaign, was named the NHL’s first star of the week yesterday. The 19-year-old native of Brampton, Ontario has already matched his goal totals from a year ago, notching 11 goals and 9 assists through fifteen games of action this season.

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GOON:

In our support of the lack of hockey movies, comes this info from the movie company to us.

“We have a great throwback hockey movie coming out and we would love to get your support. Its violent and insanely funny.”

Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill and Liev Schreiber
Written by Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg (SUPERBAD and  PINEAPPLE EXPRESS)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Synopsis
Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of underperforming misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

The film opens on VOD on 2/24 and In Theatres 3/30

Based from the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey”

www.goonthemovie.com

Official Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/GoonFilm

Some more on the movie comes from Slash Film

 According to Tom Gulitti’s Fire & Ice blog from today, Tedenby sat down with head coach Peter DeBoer today to discuss what Tedenby could do to earn more playing time.  Last night, Tedenby only received one shift in the third period.  Gulitti quoted DeBoer as saying:

“He’s a guy that individually we spend a lot of time with,” DeBoer said defensively. “I’ll tell you exactly the way I explained it to him. He has to get my trust defensively that I can play him with the lead late in third periods at critical times. And that’s not just him. That’s all our young players.”

Now, I give credit to DeBoer for trying not to single out Tedenby completely with the latter part of the quote, but the handwriting is on the wall.  When you sit for the last 18 minutes of a one-goal game, it’s pretty clear the coach doesn’t have much confidence in your ability to play strong in your own zone.  DeBoer basically played three lines, and moved Brad Mills up from the fourth line to replace Tedenby, who sat on the bench alongside Rod Pelley and Cam Janssen as spectactors for most of the third. 

If the former first round pick Tedenby can’t be counted on to be on the ice for essentially the entire third period, then I feel I have to ask why is he on the team at all?  At this point, I think it may be a realistic option to send him to Albany to work on his overall game, be a first line player in the AHL and build off of that.  It may only take a few weeks or months for that development to kick in, but I think it would pay benefits to both Tedenby and the Devils over the long haul.

Now, if the Devils are going to send Tedenby to Albany, who might the team have to replace him?  To me, the obvious answer here is Vladmir Zharkov, especially when you take into account the role Tedenby has been playing of late.  Zharkov couldn’t score less goals than Tedenby has thus far (zero) and would add a solid presense in every other aspect of the game.  Zharkov is very responsibly defensively and is a solid penalty killer.  He has offensive skill, but hasn’t been able to put it together for the most part, to the point that he was very gunshy when it came to shooting.

At this point, I think the Devils would be better served to have Zharkov play on the third line and have Tedenby further develop both his skills and confidence by excelling in Albany.  It would help for the short term by giving the Devils another reliable defensive option at forward in Zharkov and give the Devils the best opportunity to maxime their “asset value” over the long-term in Tedenby.  In my opinion, this needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Do you agree?  Let me know your thoughts, either comment below and/or follow me on twitter @ LEVINAKL.

Five Things I Like About the Current State of the Devils:

5. Adam Larsson continues to be unfazed by his surroundings as an 18-year old. Sure, he’s made his share of mistakes, but what else would you expect? The way he responds to those mistakes say it all and the positives continue to far outweigh the negatives as I am concerned.  Larsson has also begun to put points up on the board, with two assists now in his first 12 NHL games.  It isn’t Paul Coffey-esque, but it certainly is a nice start.  He also continues to eat up a ton of valuable ice time, usually leading the defensemen in minutes played game in and game out.

4. Ryan Carter has been a good addition to the team from off the waiver wire. He shouldn’t be thought of as a superstar by any means, but he’s brought an element to the team that has been missing, especially at the center position. He’s added that little “edge” to the team and has played hard in his first five games as a Devil. Although he’s been a minus-4 during that time, I think he’s been better than the stats might show.  He’s made it harder for opponents to play against the Devils, and while it’s hard to guage numerically, it has its impact over the course of not only a game, but the season overall.  If he can add some offensive production at all, it could turn a good addition into a great one.

3.  The goaltending continues to be pretty solid on a nightly basis. While Martin Brodeur struggled in his first game back from injury against Toronto last week, his team left him out to dry a bit too.  He played much better in his follow up affair against Winnipeg and I expect it to continue to improve on a nightly basis as Brodeur gets more and more comfortable.  The combo of Brodeur and Johan Hedberg give the Devils a chance to compete just about each and every night.

2. Splitting up Bryce Salvador and Anton Volchenkov as a defensive pairing seems to have definitely had a positive impact on the backline. This was a maneuver that seemed obvious to do, as I’ve pointed out previously, but it seems to have given the Devils more production and balance in their defensive corps.  Especially in the case of the two slower vets playing together, it seems to leave them less exposed.  We’ll have to continue to watch to see if the trend continues, but I think it’s also helped out youngsters like Mark Fayne and Adam Larsson to partner with more of a veteran, whether it’s Salvador, Volchenkov or Henrik Tallinder.

1. Adam Henrique has done just about anything anyone might have hoped for since becoming a regular in the lineup. Now on the first line with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, Henrique has fit like a glove thus far, scoring three goals thus far, with countless other high quality scoring chances generated, including a pair of breakaway goals against the Jets, including the OT gamewinner. If he keeps it up, he could very quickly find himself in the mix for the Calder Trophy, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet for a guy who was playing in the AHL just two weeks ago.

Five Things I Remain Concerned About with the Devils:

5.  Injuries continue to mount and take their toll on the Devils, as they greatly miss their projected two top centers in Travis Zajac and Jacob Josefson. Martin Brodeur missed six games, Eric Boulton has missed seven, and now Ilya Kovalchuk has a leg injury, forcing him to miss his first game as a Devil due to injury. Andy Greene has also lost the last two games due to a lower body injury.  The team has certainly weathered the storm for the most part thus far, but you have to wonder if it may catch up with them at some point over the course of an 82-game season, especially when we aren’t sure today when both Kovalchuk and Greene might return.

4.  It is now twelve games into the season and Mattias Tedenby has yet to score a goal. He certrainly has made a few great offensive plays at times, some of which have led to goals for teammates, but if Tedenby can’t be counted on for 15-20 goals, he should be down at Albany refining his overall game. To me, the fact he gets very little, if any power play time, is an indication maybe Head Coach Peter DeBoer may wonder if Tedenby might be better suited for Albany. If a player is on the team primarily for offense and isn’t getting a regular spot on the power play, then I have to ask, why is he on the team?

3.  Is it time to be concerned the Devils have rarely played with a lead much at all recently? Prior to scoring the first two goals in Saturday’s game, it had been a few games since they had a lead. If history is any indication, this franchise has always been a much different team when playing ahead versus tied or behind. While it sounds so obvious, anyone who has followed this team through thick and thin realizes where I am coming from and what I am referring to.

2.  Is it time to start worrying about Ilya Kovalchuk and his production yet?  He has just two goals thus far and has had too little production at even strength. The plus/minus rating is taking a hit thus far at minus-5, although it hasn’t reached the horrible numbers of last year just yet. Overall, the team goal differential is a general concern, as the team has scored just 27 goals and yielded 33. GM Lou Lamoriello has often mentioned he doesn’t get concerned with goals scored or goals against as much as he worries about goal differential and will be something worth closely monitoring in the coming weeks.

1. Unfortunately, this overlaps to an extent with the previous two, but the Devils have not been able to shut down opponents when they have the lead.  Case in point, the Devils had to scramble for an overtime victory over Winnipeg after carrying a 2-0 lead into the third period Saturday night.  If the Devils want to be a playoff team and have the ability to go deep into the playoffs, they must learn to effectively play with a lead and shut down their opponents.  That’s the way things were for the Devils when they were at their best, if they had the lead, the game was usually over.  Coach DeBoer must tweak things to build towards that for the team to maximize success.  While I realize it’s much easier said than done, it should still be the goal.

That’s all for this week, I look forward to your comments, I know I’ve left out some more obvious positives like David Clarkson’s play of late, but I’m hoping it will continue for my next installment. 

WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE OR THE DEVILS IN GENERAL?  FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @ LEVINAKL AND/OR COMMENT BELOW

Barry Melrose went on NHL radio yesterday saying he would have never made such a move and several people around the world of hockey have been agreeing with him.

Still, on paper, the move made sense – especially considering Murray had told Bernier he would start on Saturday morning (i.e. before Quick’s third straight shutout).

“It’s a decision I made a couple of days ago,” Murray said after practice on Monday. “I let Bernie know at the Saturday skate because I wanted to get him prepared and I knew Sunday was going to be a day off. I wanted him to have an opportunity to get himself ready and today he got a good workout in. We have a lot of games coming up and right now the schedule starts getting pretty busy. We have three Conference games right after New Jersey. So, it’s an opportunity to get him going.”

Would it have been better to change his mind and tell Bernier he needed to wait a little longer?

Many began asking that exact question almost from the start. Yet, when Murray was asked if he had any regrets after the Kings 3-0 loss to the Devils last night, his response was rather short – “You can dissect this whole thing any way you want.”

Coach Murray added – “Bernier was fine. I thought he made some big stops. We gave up some quality chances in the first period. He played well. This was not about the goaltending. This is all about managing the puck and turnovers and giveaways that ended up being very easy goals against.”

A theme he expanded on with these comments at the post-game presser – “Tonight is about turnovers. All three goals that New Jersey scored ended up being plays that we had possession of the puck and we just don’t execute and then they come right back at us and they’re scoring. The bottom line again is that your best players on New Jersey – take a look at the scoresheet — they’re the guys that determine the outcome of the game. We need to do better. Our best players need to be better players in order to win games in this league. We’re just not on top of them.”

Nobody needed to ask – but, it’s probably safe to say, Quick will be back in net on Thursday vs. the Stars in Dallas.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

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Coach Murray explains why he went with Bernier over Quick

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note: the above photo appears courtesy of MichaelZampelli.com

1 – Similar to last year, the list of injuries continues to grow. First, it was Travis Zajac with an Achilles heel injury. Then, goaltender Martin Brodeur with a shoulder injury knocking him out for 7-10 days. Friday night Jacob Josefson broke his clavicle and will miss at least 3-4 months. In the same game, Eric Boulton suffered a hand injury that will cost him an unspecified amount of time.
Yes, every team faces injuries, but outside of Pittsburgh where they lost both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, I’m not sure I can come up with a comparable list to the Devils losing their top two centers to injury, as well as their number one goaltender.

2 – The defense continues to handcuff the offense, as still too often, the forwards are forced to drop deep into the defensive zone, costing the Devils too much time and effort to just get the puck into the neutral zone, let alone the opponent’s zone.
Despite the addition of the talented Adam Larsson, the 18-year old cannot do it by himself. Not to mention, his inexperience clearly shows from time to time. That’s not intended to be a knock on Larsson, he’s exceeded any fair expectation anyone might have had for him thus far.

3 – Bryce Salvador is coming off missing an entire season and unfortunately, it understandably has limited his play at times. Granted, its only been six games the team has played, but it will need to be something to be monitored in the next 15-20 games.
I think Salvador is handcuffed to an extent being paired with Anton Volchenkov and might benefit from being paired with someone more mobile like Andy Greene, but Head Coach Peter DeBoer hasn’t chosen to try that out yet.

4 – The depth of this team was something that was clearly going to be tested if there were injuries. Thus far, guys like Nick Palmieri, Petr Sykora, Mattias Tedenby and Dainius Zubrus have yet to score a single goal. From aa quartet of players you were likely hoping for 50-70 goals from (combined), the shutout thus far is definitely a concern.
Youngsters like Adam Henrique and Palmieri have been thrust into roles they may not fully be ready for today. While these players certainly have ability, they are being asked to “sink or swim” earlier than the team would have preferred. However, that is the way it works in today’s salary cap NHL, young players must step up when needed.

5 – I’m not a huge plus/minus guy, but if last year showed anything unusual, it was how bad the statistics were for a Devils team that was used to having most of its players with a plus rating.  This trend has carried over to the beginning of this season, with just one player (Jacob Josefson (+1)) having a plus-rating thus far.  Six players are at even, but guys like Bryce Salvador (-4), Anton Volchenkov (-3), Nick Palmieri (-3) or Ilya Kovalchuk (-3), are all giving the appearance of continuing a downward trend and too often shaking their heads after an opponent’s goal.

As I asked earlier, is it time to panic?  No, but the Devils must avoid putting themselves into the position where they start to doubt themselves.  Last year took away any invincibility the franchise may have felt after making the playoffs each season from 1997 – 2010.  With three road games coming up in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Dallas before coming home.  At least one win is an absolute must, or it might become time to panic.  Until next time…

WANT TO DISCUSS THE DEVILS AND/OR THE NHL IN GENERAL?  COMMENT BELOW AND/OR FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @ LEVINAKL

Willie Mitchell has already revisited his past once this season and he’ll be doing in again on Tuesday night when the New Jersey Devils come to Staples Center in LA.

“Where it all started. That’s the first thing I think about when it comes to playing the Devils,” the 10-year NHL veteran said. “It doesn’t matter how many teams you’ve played for, and I’ve played for a couple, you always have fond memories of where it all started.”

He debuted for New Jersey on March 25, 2000, nearly four years after they selected him in the eighth round of the 1996 draft.

Life’s come a bit full circle for him, as he now hands out advice to younger players in LA about the experiences he went though as a prospect coming up through the New Jersey organization.

“I think in life in general, you try and learn your whole way. That’s the journey of life, learning. If you ever think you can stop learning, you’re in trouble,” Mitchell said, as we reflected back on pieces of his career that have molded him into the player he’s become.

“As a pro, I try to learn every day. I tried to learn from guys before me, guys who spent a lot of time in the league. I was fortunate enough to start in one of the best environments ever with the Devils – Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Larry Robinson, Jacques Lemaire, I could go on and on. There’s a lot of Stanley Cups there. And you don’t win those without having a good model for success. I tried to learn from those guys.”

Some of those lessons have steered him towards being a certain type of player, just don’t necessarily call him a leader.

He says he’s simply tried to be himself since joining the Kings – not a “rah-rah guy who tried to be overbearing at times.” Instead, he’s offered to be someone who guys can talk to, someone who’s there to listen and can offer a suggestion or two on how to navigate through difficult situations.

“A lot of times in this league, we think we’re a lot better than what we are and when we’re not playing well, we think we’re a lot worse than what we are,” he said. “That can be tricky. And I don’t think that experience happens overnight, you don’t learn that right away. That’s how I try to help out. So be it if people think that’s a voice or a leadership role. You don’t strive to be somebody like that. If it comes to you, then that’s flattering.”

He entered this season at the mid-point of his present situation, having signed a two-year deal with the Kings back in the summer of 2010. Still, he thinks the two halves in Los Angeles will be different, with the most difficult part behind him.

“There’s no doubt I was a player who had some risks (attached) to me coming in,” the 34-year old defenseman said. “Although I had a wrist and a knee injury last season, with the head, everything was good.”

This summer was different for him too, both on and off the ice. Last year, he wasn’t able to partake in most of the extracurricular activities he enjoys in his free time, nor was he able to work out much. This summer, not only was he able to do more, Mitchell says he probably hasn’t trained this hard in over decade.

“Outside of maybe when I was 22 or 23 years old, when you’re young and full of energy and the NHL is upon you and you’re just working out like a madman – and sometimes working out without a purpose, you’re working out so hard – this was probably the hardest summer of training I’ve had in a long time,” he admitted.

“The other part that’s just as important, I think, was that I did a lot of things I wanted to do. When you have a concussion, you can’t just go out fly fishing or go out on your boat and relax because the sun bothers you and all those things. Having a chance to get all of that out of your system makes you that much more excited for the season to start.”

That’s lead him to feel pretty confident of late – with one caveat, “Not that I’m going to run up and down the ice like a Drew Doughty. But, I’m going to have a much more consistent, better season.”

He’s not only happy about the work he put in this summer, he’s more than pleased with the changes GM Dean Lombardi made to the Kings roster.

“The organization made some great moves. Being a veteran player, that’s a place you want to be in. What goes a long way to players is when the ownership group and management goes out and brings in players like they did this year. To us, it says they believe in this group. And when you have your ownership, your management and your coaches believing in you, that says a lot. That gives you a big boost of confidence.”

He went on to say, “I absolutely enjoy it here.”

Which brings us to the future.

It’s understandable if Lombardi doesn’t want to talk contracts with any defensemen for a few months. But, if the Kings approached him at some point about signing an extension, is that something he’d be interested in?

“That stuff takes care of itself whenever it does,” he said.

Well, that’s not a very Willie Mitchell answer. All last year he was brutally honest – and insightful – when answering questions. And now he’s going to pull up easy, with a cliche?

“No, I’m dead serious with that answer,” he said when pressed harder. “I think no better experience than that for me was having my concussion and going into free agency (in 2010). I was in a similar situation than I am here. I was having an excellent season (in Vancouver) and if I got through that season, whether it’s term or dollar figures, it might have been a little bit different.

“As a player, all you can do is control the things you can control. For me, that’s going out and being the best teammate I can be for my teammates and being the best player I can be for the LA Kings. That’s what I’m going to try and do this year. If I do that, that’s going to work out quite nicely for the Kings and myself. I’ve done enough contracts after 12 years in the league. You come to know those things always work out how they’re supposed to.”

Fair enough.

There’s a long season ahead, size things up for the team.

“I’m really excited about this year and what’s ahead of us. I don’t want to get too far down the road. But, I think the number one thing for us is to win our division. I think we have a really good shot at doing that. Then, if we win our division, we get to where we want to be and that’s in the playoffs. That’s our first step and that’s our only focus right now. Once we get there, our next step is, obviously, the big prize. To have a shot at being one of 16 teams in the tournament is what it’s all about it.”

So far, so good. The Kings enter the weekend 4-1-1, with the overtime loss coming in New Jersey just over a week ago.

LA will take on the Stars tonight and then host the Devils for a rematch next Tuesday.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

Willie Mitchell on his bro-mance with Mike Richards

Mitchell on injuries, ice time and pre-season chaos

Mitchell not sure what went wrong with the Kings

Willie Mitchell has seen this all before – quotes from the 2011 playoffs

Mitchell says Kings ‘dominated’ vs. Detroit – a game LA lost 7-4

Kevin Westgarth on Willie Mitchell’s fight

the photo above appears courtesy of Ikiri Photography