Devil’s Playoff Trends

I think it’s safe to say the Devils were plain outplayed last night. The Flyers played like they wanted it more, while the Devils appeared to play like nothing was on the line. The Flyers were more physical, beat the Devils to practically every puck, and won most, if not all the battles along the boards and corners. The Flyers played with a flare in their game that I used to see in the Devils teams of the late 90s and early 00s. I also don’t think you can blame Brodeur for that loss, who played fantastic, especially in that third period. I think it’s safe to say if Marty wasn’t in net, this game wouldn’t have even reached overtime.

Two for eight on the power play in another game that was highly influenced by officiating is both encouraging, yet concerning. I watch this team’s power play and to me, it looks too routine, making these advantageous situations predictable and easy to counteract for the Flyers. Despite having the likes of Illya Kovalchuk, Brian Rolston, Paul Martin, and Andy Greene manning the points, I think the Devils rely on the point shot too much, as they have on the power play all year. Just once, I’d like to see them try to work the puck down low and around the net for two reasons…the first is I think it could make the Devils less predictable in the man advantage situations and a more likely chance putting one past Boucher. Second, trying to set up lower in the offensive zone opens up more space, especially at the point, who they could feed for that unexpected shot. I look at the Devils power play and think the Flyers penalty killers are successful in keeping the Devils to the outside, while sustaining the perfect amount of pressure on their point men. I’m just wondering how it would look if the Devils get more mobile on the power play and try using the guys in deep to set something up. Any thoughts?

Moving on, I’ve been a huge Mark Fraser fan all year, but putting him in the lineup while Martin Skoula sat was a dumb move in my opinion. Aside from the fact Fraser has zero playoff experience, he’s been the odd man out since the Devil’s blue line got healthy, save those occasional games, where he filled in for players Lemaire wanted to rest towards the end of the season. I guess the point I’m trying to get at is it probably wasn’t too smart to take a player in Fraser, who was exiled to the press box when he wasn’t needed any longer, in his rookie year, and put him in a high pressure situation that is a playoff game…in the opponent’s home arena. Fraser only had 5:52 of ice time last night, so technically, Lemaire was only playing five defensemen in a game, where you need all your players ready and reliable when you consider what’s definitely and potentially at stake…I don’t know but it seems hard to win a playoff game with five defensemen. I know Fraser was involved in that second goal, but my question to Lemaire is what if that were Colin White or Paul Martin that made that same mistake? Would you have banished them from the ice the same way you did to Fraser? And if you’re going to have that tight of a leash on a defenseman, while you sit out an experienced and capable veteran-well…how much sense does that really make, if you’re seeing what I’m trying to get at.

Matt Corrente played another good game, but is having trouble finishing on his chances, whether it be the bounces not going his way or maybe he’s just getting lucky. I think Lemaire’s handling of the fourth line is appropriate, but it somewhat shows his lack of faith and arguably comparative depth to the Flyer’s forwards. Between McAmmond, PL3, and Corrente, they averaged seven minutes of ice time last night, whereas the average ice time of the Flyer’s three least played forwards averaged a little over eight minutes, who I’m sure weren’t on the same line. To me, it just seems that Lemaire is handling the lineup like it’s still the regular season, which is the proper time to experiment with players as far as role and ice time is concerned. Overall, you know the Devils fourth line is incapable of handling a heavy workload, which is why you limit their ice time as he did throughout the regular season, but in a series like this when you need a four line team able to be deployed, does it make much sense to keep the same guys whose role and how much faith you have in their capabilities was clarified in the months prior?

The last time the Devils were down two games to one in a playoff series, came back, and won was in the 2007 conference quarter finals against Tampa Bay. Although they won three in a row to eliminate the Lightning in six games, they were dismissed from the playoffs in the next round by the Ottawa Senators in five games, which marked the last time a Devils team advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. The question I present is what is causing the Devils to go into dysfunctional mode every time the playoffs come around? Since their 2003 championship, they’ve been unable to make the deep playoff run their fan base and outside spectators become convinced of whenever they get hot around December, January. What’s more discouraging is the Devils have been unable to succeed in the playoffs through different scenarios, which created and diffused the various excuses that were used.

Everyone thought it was because Brodeur was burnt out from a heavy workload endured during the regular season. Last year, Marty missed over half the season due to injury on a team that was humming offensively. Upon Marty’s return, he started off hot and then went downhill subsequent to the trade deadline…we all know what happened next. Another excuse was the Devil’s lack of fire power up front, which we thought the breakout play of Travis Zajac and Zach Parise, along with the revitalization of Patrik Elias’ play, and arrival of Brian Rolston solved last year…this year, the Devils still have those four AND even traded for superstar Illya Kovalchuk…I don’t want to say the Devil’s are fated for a third consecutive first round exit, but you have to agree things aren’t looking too good right now, even with these offensive assets that make an arguably competitive looking team on paper.

A few commonalities I’ve noticed with this team and the recent Devils teams unable to get the job done are the absence of an anchorman on defense and regardless of what the team or Brodeur has gone through, Marty plays the majority of regular season games he’s able to (i.e. whenever he isn’t injured or suspended, which has yet to happen). Also, look at the most looked upon members of Devils teams since 2003…Elias, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, White, Martin. I bring these guys up because they’re mostly similar in age and have been here the longest, whose roles have changed little or remained stagnant. Could it be their time has passed and it’s time to move on and instill new blood into this team? Now’s not the time to go into detail, although it’s something to ponder.

I know I may sound like it’s over, which it isn’t, but at the same time, I’m at a loss on figuring out anything realistic we can see this team do and change to turn their play around. Anything else I may say hasn’t already been said and is apparently oblivious to Lemaire, Lamoriello, and the team they monitor and maintain. An NHL playoff series is best of seven and as long as the Devils are still in it, there’s no reason for us not to have as much confidence in this team as we may have had going into this playoff series.

Devils Playoff Preview

When I was looking through the standings and researching the Devil’s potential first round opponents, I got this gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach when I realized the Philadelphia Flyers were among the candidates. When the Devils concluded their regular season against the Buffalo Sabres, I had the most apathetic attitude watching a Devils game in some time for obvious reasons…The Devils won, so they secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference, their first time since 2007, and ended the regular season on a high note. Then again, had the Devils fallen to Buffalo in regulation, they’d have dropped to third and would have faced the Boston Bruins, a team they went 3-1 against in the regular season, and could have had a more manageable series.

For some Devils fans, this stone set match up against the Philadelphia Flyers could resurrect dormant memories of the fiasco that led to last year’s abrupt exit against the Carolina Hurricanes. The scenario is all too familiar: A team the Devils had trouble facing in the regular season that they might not necessarily match up too well against, and could continue riding the momentum of a last minute push that got them into the playoff bubble. Could the players that suffered last year’s stunning game seven loss take anything they’ve learned from that disastrous experience to prevent the same or identical incident from transpiring in these coming games? The answer is shrouded in the untold future.

Now, as grim as I may sound, I haven’t lost any faith in my team as we all know regular season and playoff hockey are on two entirely different platforms and give all sixteen teams a clean slate. Although this year’s struggles against the Flyers have been well documented (going 1-5 versus Philadelphia), I’m a firm believer that anything can happen in the playoffs. Having said that, it’s up to the Devils team on how willing they are to take the Flyers head on and to also know the Flyers are no exception to the fact that each team has to be addressed and analyzed differently.

At the beginning of the season, you would think the Flyer’s roster displayed the perfect team, although their record this season has proved else wise. I’ll first look at how the Flyers and Devils match up offensively, defensively, and in net. On paper, Philly has an abundance of fire power up front that should expectedly give them one of the most productive offenses in the league. Having said that, the Flyer’s offense struggled to return to the level they were at last year, with their leading goal scorer notching thirty-three (Jeff Carter), and Mike Richards notching sixty-two points to lead the team. This pales in comparison to last year’s numbers when Jeff Carter led the team with eighty-four points and forty-six goals. However, New Jersey scored fourteen less goals than Philadelphia, whose contributors appear to be more distributed throughout their offense, not to mention the roster struggled with injuries and adjusting to a coaching change throughout the season. Save the plethora of goaltending injuries, the Flyers are going into the playoffs with a very healthy and experienced offense, featuring a solid compromise of home grown and acquired players that are very much capable of waging an unrelenting attack.

At the Devil’s camp, most of their generated offense focuses on a handful of players, after which there’s a slight drop-off. The rest of the offense provides a solid support cast, featuring streaky point contributors that do a lot during games that doesn’t necessarily show up on the score sheet. Looking at the Devil’s offense, the major difference is the presence of Illya Kovalchuk, who maintained a point per game after being acquired in February (ten goals, seventeen assists). When he’s on top of his game, I think it’s safe to say he’s the best player from either team, although his lack of playoff experience makes it uncertain to determine whether he’s an effective performer or disappears when it truly matters. While he was neutralized in his 2007 playoff debut with Atlanta, who got swept in the first round by the New York Rangers, let’s go on and say this time around, Kovalchuk is going into the post-season with a clean slate on a new team that surrounds him with a stronger support cast. Between the likes of Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, Travis Zajac, and Patrik Elias, who have all been there before and performed relatively well this year, it gives head coach Jacques Lemaire a lot to work with as far as lines are concerned, along with getting Kovalchuk going.

Philadelphia’s defense is anchored by Chris Pronger, whose arguably had success follow him to every team he’s been on since leaving St. Louis, and Kimmo Timonen. both of which respectively amounted for ten goals, fifty-five points, and six goals, thirty-nine points. After those two, the Flyers have Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn, who respectively amounted six goals, thirty-five points, and five goals, nineteen points. Between their top four, it’s clear Philadelphia’s defense can become an accountable offensive factor, having scored a combined thirty-two goals amongst eight defensemen, twenty-seven of those goals coming from the four players I mentioned. On the flip side, the Flyer’s defense corps went a combined minus six this season, although their top four combined for a plus thirty-three. Nonetheless, Philadelphia’s defense features a seemingly perfect assembly from puck movers to rugged stay at home defenders, capable of clearing out the front of the net and wreaking havoc in the corners.

While their opponent’s defense is anchored by two established and effective defenders, the Devil’s blue line is fronted by…a buoy? Andy Greene enjoyed a breakout season of six goals and thirty-seven points, the most amounted by a Devils defenseman since Brian Rafalski left, while a healthy Paul Martin put up two goals and nine points in thirteen games after being hurt most of the season. To sum up the drop off in the defense’s offensive capability, the sixteen goals all six defensemen likely to be featured in the lineup scored this season equaled the goal output of Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen. Having said that, what the defense lacks in offense is compensated in their defensive game, as the Devils gave up the fewest goals in the league, thanks to the defensive element Lemaire reintroduced to their game. While I’ve avidly criticized Lemaire’s philosophy because it leashed the offense, if the Devil’s defense continues doing those little things that don’t appear on the score sheet and play a smart and sound game, they could become the unsung heroes that help the Devils advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2007…also, it’s probably nothing to get excited about, but Mike Mottau, who’s received gratuitous amounts of criticism from Devils fans and bloggers, has two goals and three points in the past twelve post-season games he’s played with New Jersey. Nonetheless, I’m going to have to give the Flyers the upper hand in defense, especially if they take advantage of any offensive opportunities that come about.

Head-to-head, there’s no contest between Martin Brodeur and Brian Boucher, the projected starters for both teams. I can say in confidence the nod in goaltending edge goes to the Devils, but the uncertainty in reliability on net minders for both teams stands. Brian Boucher was the best the Flyers could do on short notice to occupy their goaltending void, who’s had little to show in the stretch, going 9-18-4 with a 2.76 GAA and .899 SV%. The Devils were able to solve Boucher once, who was in net for the Flyer’s only loss to New Jersey, but made up for the instance in the series finale, which the Flyers won 5-1. Boucher is a familiar playoff nemesis of the Devils, who was in net in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, a series that was rendered as one of the greatest playoff comebacks of the time, when the Devils rallied after being down three games to one, going on to capture their second Stanley Cup. That was ten years ago, during which Boucher and the Devils team have undergone drastic changes for the better and worse. 2000 was also the last year Boucher captured a playoff victory, winning eleven of eighteen games. Since then, Boucher’s only appeared in four playoff contests, collecting a loss, while being a reliever in the other three.

Brodeur’s a proven winner with a decorated playoff history, but between him and Boucher, I think Brodeur has a lot more to lose and prove. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2003, Brodeur’s gone 15-22 and hasn’t gotten his team past the first round since 2007. Despite his questionable playoff performances, he’s played some of his best hockey since and continues to be the backbone of every Devils team in the past decade or so. In recent years, One could say Brodeur has nothing to prove, but I’m contradicting that belief, especially if Brodeur wants any consideration of him still being one of the game’s elite goaltenders that can make a difference in the playoffs taken seriously. The memories of last year’s first round fiasco should be enough motivation for the Devils and Brodeur to properly support each other to get through this series, for which every win they’ll have to earn through a sixty-minute effort, a rarity of this team since January.

It’s an interesting match up in that both teams are obviously superior over their opponent in one category, but make up for their flaws in another. This series looks to have the power to be completely one-sided if one team brings their A-game and their opponent decides to do else wise, but also has potential to be a closely grueling series if both teams clash on top of their game. It’s a series that has potential to six or seven games and if it comes to that, I strongly believe the winner limps into the next round with uncertain fate of going any further. In addition, there are a few factors I think can come into play in deciding who advances and goes home early…

Having no place like home…Agree or disagree, I think home ice makes an impact in this series. This year, the Devils went 27-10-4 at home, while the Flyers went 24-14-3. Although both teams had turbulent road records, I think the numbers are intriguing as the Devils went 21-17-3, while the Flyers went 17-21-3. The Flyers perfected the Devils on their home turf, while the Devils captured their only victory at the Rock. If the Devils can incorporate their season’s home ice successes, where the Flyers had trouble winning (at the Rock) prior to this year into the playoffs, it could make for a promising outcome in their favor.

Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots! Everybody…! While it’s general basic logic, whoever shot more in each game…won. This year, Brodeur put up a typical SV% of him at .916 that was likely derived from his and the team’s streaky play throughout January, combined with his inhuman play that lasted from October to late December. I guess what I’m trying to say is Marty and the Devil’s habitual record of winning one or two in a row and then losing one to three in a row, while averaging anywhere from one to three goals against throughout that span dented, but didn’t implode the numbers Brodeur was maintaining the first half of the season. Against the Flyers, Brodeur’s SV% was about .876, having given up twenty goals on one hundred sixty-two shots during the six games. On the other hand, Boucher’s SV% for the year was .899, but he went .912 in the two games he played against the Devils, during which he gave up five goals on sixty-one shots. Overall, the point I’m trying to get across is based on the numbers, the goalie that receives the most shots could make their team more vulnerable.

Specializing in special teams…So the Devils finished the year ranked eleventh at 18.7% on the power play, while the Flyers finished third at 21.4%. The Flyers finished eleventh on the penalty kill at 83%, while the Devils were two notches below at 82.8%. The Devils also scored shorthanded seven times, the Flyers six. This year, the Devils went five for thirty-two on the power play against the Flyers, who had far less advantageous opportunities than the Devils, but fared better statistically as they went four for fourteen. If the regular season numbers are any indication, it’s imperative for the Devils to stay out of the box this series, while trying to get their act together when they’re up a man because those special team numbers heavily favor the Flyers outside of five-on-five play.

Like I said, it’s clear both teams have their strengths and weaknesses of various extremes that can help or hurt their chances of going any deeper than the first round. While this wasn’t the match up I was hoping the Devils would get, I’m anticipating a close, up tempo, and physical series that won’t be as one sided as some of the predictions I’ve seen and heard. Me? I don’t make playoff predictions…call me a woos, ask me why, I just don’t. I guess you could say I’m a believe in letting things take their course, especially when its something you have no control over. Nonetheless, I’m going to support and stand by my team, who I think is very capable of besting their current opponent and making their deepest playoff run since 2003.

Let’s see what happens.

Making or Breaking the First Round

Well, I hope you can excuse another lengthy absence of mine. I’ve been organizing a few things for some internship positions I’m aiming for and have had a heavy workload in school and at work, not to mention had a couple of write ups, but ended up dismantling and eventually discontinuing them for the usual reasons.

So last night was a continuation of typical “hot” Devils hockey since the start of the 2010 year. They play a pair of great games where the team looks strong, confident, is scoring goals, and plays a strong defensive game. Subsequent to that (last night), they play a frustratingly unpleasant contest, resulting in another loss to a non-playoff team. The Devil’s struggles against non-playoff teams have been well documented this season, having gone 11-12 against non-playoff teams, or teams that currently sit outside the top eight since January.

With two games remaining, the Devils are engaged in a struggle for the division title, having a thirteenth consecutive playoff appearance and home ice advantage secured, with their final seeding not set in stone just yet. While it’s ultimately up to the team how far they’re willing and able to go in this year’s playoffs, where the Devils should be looked upon to prove they’re still a true contender, where they finish in the standings and who they open the post-season against could potentially make or break this team’s chances. Having said that, I think the Devils are in a make or break situation when their potential scenarios are presented.

As it stands, the Devils can face one of five teams in the first round: the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, or Montreal Canadiens. Should the Devils lose their hold on the division, they’d finish no lower than fourth and take on the Senators, who has the only stagnant seeding in the Eastern Conference at fifth place, aside from Washington. When you look at the big picture, I don’t see missing out on the division being as catastrophic as some Devils fans might perceive. At worst, it’ll be one less banner that won’t hang from the rafters at the Rock and I think the pressure of being entitled division champions going into the playoffs is unnecessary pressure for the Devils to carry. The Devils fared relatively well against Ottawa, going 3-1 for the year, scoring ten goals and giving up eight. Having said that, the Devils look like two different teams since January, when they suffered their only loss to the Sens (3-0 shutout). Since their last meet, both teams have made significant roster additions and endured their own struggles and triumphs. Although there’s a differentiation of five points and two wins between them, the Sens currently outscore the Devils by ten goals, but have forty-four more against.

Numbers aside, I think the Devils match up fairly well against the Sens. While Ottawa’s offense appears more spread out as far as their contributors go, I think it’s safe to say the Devils have the upper hand in their top six, who make up most of their offensive numbers, while receiving streaky, but stellar support from the rest of the offense, who additionally do a lot of things that don’t show up on the score sheet. Both teams have an array of seasoned veterans with plenty of playoff and general career experience, but one advantage the Devils have is the familiarity their veterans have with each other and the system they play. While his ability to perform in the playoffs has been questioned considering his recent performances, I can say in confidence Martin Brodeur gives the Devils a huge advantage in net with his skill and experience.

While the fourth seeding could give the Devils a manageable opponent to open the post-season against, their true test could come in the following round, where facing a division champion could be inevitable. Although the Devils fared relatively well against the Capitals, Sabres, and Penguins (who would logically win the Atlantic if the Devils don’t), going a combined 10-3 against all three teams (one game remaining against the Sabres), the regular season and playoffs feature two entirely different brands of hockey that can be of little relevance to each other…also keep in mind the Devils played ten of these thirteen games prior to January, when they were considered a current top three team in the league. I’m not saying the Devils will walk over these teams should they be encountered in the playoffs, rather this time of year offers a clean slate for all sixteen teams participating in their quest for hockey’s ultimate prize.

Should the Devil’s current stance in the conference go unchanged between now and the conclusion of the regular season, the Devils will hang another banner celebrating another division title, which would be their fourth in five seasons. As of now, it’s uncertain who they’ll face in the first round, but it’s currently between four teams: Boston, Montreal, Philadelphia, and the Rangers. Out of these four, I’m sure there’s a mutual dread amongst Devils fans of the Flyers securing that seventh seed, should the Devils divisional reign continue (this also applies if the Devils finish third, as the Flyers are capable of finishing no higher than sixth). Regardless of injuries or lack net minding quality, the Flyers had the Devil’s number this year, going 5-1. Aside from verifying this year’s mastery of the Devils, they showed they can beat the Devils in any form, from rallying after being down by two goals to plainly blowing the Devils out. What’s further discouraging is even if the Flyers advance no further, their fans will be satisfied enough in seeing their team fully completing their mastery over one of their arch rivals.

The Rangers would be an interesting match up and while the Devils were able to defeat the Rangers in the regular season, it’s ultimately a series I’d rather pass on seeing. I described this Tri-State rivalry as “erratic” because it seemed to me a story unfolded every time these teams squared off. No matter how they fare in the regular season, the Rangers seem to have a psychological advantage over the Devils, whether its the antics of super pest Sean Avery, Henrik Lundqvist’s heightened enthusiasm he normally brings against the Devils, or the abundance of Ranger fans at the Garden…and the Rock, the Devils don’t want to face the Rangers if they’re looking to open the playoffs against a team they can just “go through the motions” with. By that I mean play a team without abnormally increased pressure from the local media and dealing with the combined stresses of winning a seven-game series, along with additional dramas that could unfold on and off the ice. Regardless of the outcome, this series would undoubtedly physically and mentally exhaust the Devils, something they can’t afford much of for the sake of goaltender Martin Brodeur, whose name we all want to see etched in the Stanley Cup at least once more before he completes his glamorous career.

Although the Devils had a good track record against the Bruins, the defensive styles of both teams resulted in close, but slow-paced, low-scoring games. Between their rash of injuries and not fully recovering from the loss of Phil Kessel, the Bruins struggled all season after running away with the Eastern Conference last year. After losing center Marc Savard at the hands of a viciously unnecessary head shot, I truly admire the efforts their team’s made to get where they are right now. Although most of the players on this Bruins team were a part of last year’s dominant campaign, I think the loss of Kessel and absence of Savard affects how deep of a run the Bruins will be allowed to make by the factoring exterior forces. As of now, I’d like to say the Devils overpower the Bruins offensively, although Boston has the superior blue line, especially when you consider they have an identifiable anchorman on the blue line in Zdeno Chara. With a stronger defense corps than the Devils, it can also give them the upper hand in making their system more effective, which certainly put a stranglehold on the Devil’s ability to obtain leads against the Bruins, let alone run away with one.

Since signing with Boston, Zdeno Chara, Boston’s captain, and current candidate as their arguable best skater, is reputed to disappear come playoff time, accumulating only two goals, six points, with an even rating in eighteen playoff games he’s played as a Bruin. While the play of Tim Thomas has been questionable in recent months, resulting in the rise of youngster Tuuka Rask, he has no prior playoff experience and has never been a looked upon starter for an NHL team for games of this nature. While the rest of the Bruins team’s provided significant support to get them where they are, the question marks in net, injury to their star forward, and reputation of their defensive anchorman come playoff time make the Bruins a relatively attractive team to open the playoffs against, but shouldn’t be taken lightly.

If the playoffs started today, the Devils would face off against the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs are like a seal is to a great white shark in that it’s their preferred prey of choice. There’s been more than enough evidence throughout his career that the Canadiens are Marty’s preferred team of choice to face, who always appears to bring his A-game. The Devils went 3-1 against the Habs this year, but didn’t defeat the Habs in swooping fashion like they’re accustomed to in past seasons. The Devils bested the Habs 2-1 in their first two meets (one having to go to overtime), losing 3-1 in their next meet, and defeating Montreal 4-2 to close out their seasonal series. The Habs struggled throughout the season due to a number of factors such as an injury bug outbreak that affected most of their core, adapting to a new coach and system, and their revamped roster taking time to gel and learn each other.

On paper, it would seem the Habs are superior to the Devils…you can’t even question their quality in net as the Habs have two proven goaltenders that have little, but valuable playoff experience, although it pales compared to Brodeur’s post-season accomplishments. Having said that, the Habs would be my top choice for the Devils to face, not that I’m underestimating their ability to play with the Devils, but between Brodeur’s tradition of bringing out his best play against the team of his hometown, and how this Canadiens team was pieced together over this past summer, while the Devils core has undergone significant but seemingly necessary change that didn’t affect the faces of their core, I can’t see any other team they’d be more prepared to open the playoffs against.

In addition, I think the Habs have some flaws the Devils could take advantage of, such as their lack of size up front and speed on the back line. Another factor that would make this series interesting is it would feature two ex-Devils in Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. While Gomez left in 2007 to pursue greener pastures and a chance to be a huge part in what initially seemed like a rising New York Rangers team, he only lasted two years before being dealt to the Habs in the 2009 summer. Overall, Gomez has had a decent year and has put up numbers typical of what he’s posted throughout his career. Feeling the need for change after being unable to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs for the past two seasons, the Devils cut ties with Gionta, who signed a five-year deal with Montreal this past summer. Although he’s only played in sixty games this year, Gionta has twenty-seven goals, nine of which were scored on the power play, and forty-five points. He’s quickly become a vital asset of the Montreal offense and a favorite of the mercilessly demanding Montreal fan base. While it wouldn’t factor much into determining a winner of the series, considering the history, it would make an interesting side story should these two teams face off.