Congrats LA

Well....I could sit here and be super bitter and play the role of a sore loser, but why?  Although it sucks to have a run like that over the course of two months of emotional ups and downs, it's great to look at all that the Devils have accomplished this season, especially on the heels of a poor performance last season.  Let's face it, the Kings were stellar throughout these playoffs.  Their play on the road was unheard of, their goalie was the true King in these playoffs (not the one named Henry.....), and their penalty kill all but dismembered our power play.  So to the Kings and their true fans, and their now bandwagon full of johnny-come-latelys, I say congratulations.  You don't have an NFL team, so there you go, enjoy it.  Your team certainly earned it and I tipped my hat to your cup raising party.
I cannot stress enough just how proud I am of this team.  Though we can all point to a few dubious performances and wallow in our injuries, the Devils had quite the season.  Wasn't it fun?!  ....and now we can look forward to next season and start looking at who's in and who's out.  Will Zach return as captain, will Marty give it another season, will Salvador stay on the blue line???  A run like this is unlikely next year as the league has so much parity, and maybe that's what hurts the most.  Was this THE chance?!  The league tends to ebb and flow a bit so I'll keep next year's expectations at a reasonable level.  But this is the fun of "sport".  If it worked out often, the taste of victory would never be as sweet. 
I'm sure this will be an offseason full of more financial scenario talk.  Oh yeah, we almost forgot about that.  Certainly, this playoff run was one game short of a perfect season for the team's finances and for Newark.  Though the cash flow from these playoffs is probably a small percentage of what can make a difference, every little bit helps. Certainly, there is a healthy buzz around this state.....well, almost all parts of this state..about this team.  I watched the facebook following explode, more media articles show themselves, and heard rumors of an expanded season ticket base for next year.
One thing is for sure.  We can all have our lives back and enjoy the summer.  Thankfully, I'm not much of a baseball fan anymore.  After a spring like this, I need a few months off before football returns and hockey starts it all over again.
For now, thank you Devils!!  It was a real party.  Let's do it again next year.

See you in Rocktober!

Back to Newark!

So what we are down 3-1?! We spoiled the sweep and broke that Kings mystique that has been forming over all of our heads throughout these playoffs. A bounce finally went our way as evident on the Elias goal, and Quick finally was not quick enough on the Henrique goal. See...? Was it so hard to go HIGH? Now the Kings magic has a blemish. Perhaps we take a little extra confidence into Saturday and believe that this hole is not too deep and that even if this is the Kings year, it doesn't have to be so damn easy for them. One step at a time. Now we spoil their road streak... For tonight, I am glowing red. So so happy that we live to fight another day....and even happier that there is another night of hockey in June! ...and by the way, pardon my French, but can the media suck the Kings off any more?! Really?? Let's Go Devils!!

0-2!

0-2 hurts, especially when the first two were at home.  I don't think I'm alone in saying that I'd almost rather lose convincingly than drop two in OT.  Overtime is random....let's face it.  The best team does not always win, nor does the best team in OT win the game.  One goal and you are done and here we sit now 0-2 and heading out west.  The mystique of this Kings team with their road dominance continues.  I hate to say it, but I almost get the sense that Quick is in the Devils' heads at this point.  Why we are not going high on him more often, I do not know, but he has been pretty solid.  Marty has been great too and bailed us out of good scoring chances.  Still, the Kings are getting the goal when it matters.  No one will remember or care who outplayed who in this final.  The final score tells the story and it's not a story I'm liking so far. 
I'm not saying it's over and it's FAR from over, but having the cup in our arms will be that much harder now.  We MUST rebound in game 3.  Zach and Kovy need to step up and make something happen and that power play needs to set up and re-open that passing clinic that was on display against our division rivals. ...and hit that open net like your life depended on it....*cough cough Fayne!  It's tough to bounce back from two heartbreaking OT losses, but this is where the resolve of the team will be most apparent.  Credit the Kings in two well-played games, but let's hope the hockey gods really do not want it to be their year! 
Monday can't come soon enough.  Let's GO Devils!