The New Jersey Devils started the day off strong with bringing back Brendan Shanahan to the fold and then following up with a big win to kick off the six game road swing.
More on the Shanahan signing below.
I didn't get to watch last nights win for the New Jersey Devils 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings,but a recap can be found here.
Three goals on the man advantage and an excellent game for Kevin Weekes paced the way for the win.
Devils goals to Zach Parise (23),Patrik Elias (19),Travis Zajac (11),Jamie Langenbrunner (8) and Brian Rolston (7).
The Devils travel down the road to Anaheim tonight and I will get to watch that game,so the Hell Raisers will be from watching the game...
Hell Raisers
1) Two milestones in the win as Zach Parise scored his 100th career goal and Brian Rolston played in his 1000th NHL game.
2) Kevin Weekes looked to have earned some playing time with his 34 saves against the Kings.
I totally agreed with Brent Sutter with playing Scott Clemmensen so much when he was sizzling hot,but his last few games were less than stellar and I think that the time is right to give Weekes some extra pipe time....
3) Nice to see the punchless power play appear for a change.
The Devils equalled their season high for power play goals in a game with three.
4) Fire and Ice reports that just before the Langenbrunner goal that Zach Parise was crushed by a hard hit by the Kings Matt Greene.
Greene was pummeled by Mike Rupp shortly thereafter continuing Rupp's recent run of tough play.
5) Mike Emrick returned to the booth for the game after missing games due to health issues and the death of his father.
Nice to see the Professor back in the booth......
Devil GM Lou Lamoriello announced the return of a star of the past before the game when the Devils came to an agreement to a contract for the remainder of the season with Brendan Shanahan.
Shanahan spent his first four years with the Devils (I mean Shanahan wore red and GREEN as a Devil!) before signing with St.Louis as a free agent in the days when teams had to be compensated for losing free agents.
The Blues comp offer was for two players that turned out to be pretty decent in Rod Brind'amour and Curtis Joseph.
Lamoriello and the Devils knew that Joseph was not a need with a youngster named Brodeur on the horizon and asked the arbitrator for another Blue instead..
A fellow named Scott Stevens,you may have heard of him and to the horror of the Blues,the arbitrator chose the Devils offer as compensation.
The rest was Devils history.
I realize that Shanahan turns 40 in a few weeks,but he was still solid for the Rangers last season in specialty situations and should help the Devils in those areas at least.
Shanahan is skating with the team but will not sign his contract until he is ready to play due to salary cap issues.
That means someone will be headed to Lowell,bet on it being one of the two defensemen between Sheldon Brookbank and Jay Leach.
Overall, I am fine with the signing.
Low risk and short term makes it worth the risk
Bullpen Note
If Pittsburgh tops San Diego today and they should.
I am finished with football for this season.
There is no more sickening AFC title game than Baltimore vs Pittsburgh.
Photo Credit
Shanahan:Upper Deck
Langenbrunner:AP Photo
1 comment:
Ravens vs. Steelers! I can't lose, as I like both teams. That said, I think the Cardinals are going to win it all. I would root for them too, but for Kurt Warner, who may be my least favorite player of all time.
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