The New Jersey Devils have never been accused of having a distinct personality. Try a little word association, just for fun. Ready? Go. Flyers=Pain. Sabres=Speed. Habs=Ghosts. Oilers=Lunch Pail. Okay, that was two words.Devils? Um...Borg. Seriously, look at that picture and tell me you can't see Lou Lamoriello. Paint him gray, stick some wires into his skull, and presto. We are the Devils. You will be assimilated. Sorry Lou, not today. And yes, I have a bit of a nerd streak. Why do you ask?
The Highs:
- Another win and we're now 4-0-0. The game's first star goes to the new HD overhead camera that caught Redden's game winner. This makes luddites like me feel very conflicted.
- Vermette-Kelly-Neil. These guys were everywhere and easily the highest energy line on the ice, with the payoff coming with Kelly's first of the year. I will refrain from a raging case of the I-told-ya-so's for the time being. You're welcome.
- Four games in, and we're still clicking at a 100% penalty kill, with a shorty thrown in for fun. The competition committee is looking into allowing teams to decline penalties NFL-style.
- Four games in, and we're choking on 2-for-21 Power Play. Lots of pretty passes. Quite a few shots that come within eight feet of the goalie. Trouble is, the nets are six feet wide.
- Let's see. Three frames, each of twenty minute duration, means...um...each game will last...carry the two...thirty-seven minutes. Yeah. That's gotta be right, because that's about how long the team has actually played over the first four games. Rumours that a wily and elusive creature known as the "Second Period" has been sighted at Scotiabank Place remain unconfirmed.
- We have three more games against New Jersey to sit through. Stock up on the No-Doze.
Despite having yet to play an entire game, we're 4-0. I realize I'm flirting with "apologist" status, but I repeat...this is October. But if you guys could find a way to actually play the second period, that would be great.
One more point of concern that bears watching is Gerber's total disregard of Newton's First Law. Gerbs, you got into trouble last year because you would come across your crease to make the first save, then let the momentum carry you halfway to the side boards while that nice juicy rebound sat in your crease. And you're doing it again. So...uh...how's that wrist doing there Rayzor?
Up Next: The Sens travel to Atlanta on Wednesday night. There's no t.v. for this one, so I'll have to rely on my own imagination in order to picture the tears running down Marian Hossa's face as he gazes longingly into the Ottawa bench, imagining what might have been.
