Devils clinch Atlantic Division in shootout

Sorry,I am a bit behind today-I finally slept like a normal human being for a change!
The Pirates were rained out tonight in Cincinnati,so I will do the Devils game tonight and if I have time tomorrow morning,I will offer some Pirate thoughts before their game tomorrow.

The New Jersey Devils wobbled into Ottawa off a bad loss to Toronto and needed at least a point to clinch the Atlantic Division.
They would earn the point plus another in a 3-2 win in the shootout over the Senators,who have really seemed to turn things around after a coaching change.
Devils regulation goals to Brian Gionta (20) and Brian Rolston (15),while Zach Parise and Brendan Shanahan scored in the shootout.
The Devils finish their season tomorrow at 1 at the Rock against possible first round playoff opponent Carolina.

Bullpen Notes

The Devils first round opponent could be any of Carolina,Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
All could be tough series and any of the three are more than capable,but if I had to say which I would like to play,I would say Philly.
Not because of an easy win,but because of the rivalry....

The Devil power play was not exactly sharp and put just five shots against Ottawa's Alex Auld.
That will not go far in the playoffs....

I liked the way Ottawa played in a game that was meaningless to them.
The Senators absence from the playoffs may be just a one year aberration.

The Devils recalled Pierre (3L) LeBlond from Lowell for the game and he played some minutes,most notably in a fight against the Senators Jesse Winchester.
With LeBlond in the lineup along with the return of Patrik Elias,Bobby Holik and Mike Rupp were healthy scratches.
Hint number one that Holik moves on unless he has an excellent playoff.

Brian Gionta showed some offensive verve with a goal and six shots.Gionta has been a bit of a disappointment this season,but has shown some life over the last few games.

The Defense still needs to pick up some aggression though.
Both Ottawa goals were scored around the net and the first Senator goal by Jarrko Ruutu was easily defended IF someone would have followed the puck and wiped someone out!

Bullpen Notes-

Catching up on some goodbyes

To:Former Giant and Cub manager Herman Franks at the age of 95.
Franks managed the Giants for four years with some of the greatest talent the game has seen and yet never won the National League pennant,finishing second each time.
Franks had a unsuccessful tenure with the Cubs in the mid-seventies and was a backup catcher for four different team in the 1940's.
Franks might be remembered as being the top lieutenant to Leo Durocher at most of "the Lip's" managing stops.

To: Former ABA and NBA center Marvin Webster at the age of 56.
Webster had been suffering from a chronic heart illness for quite a while and that was most likely the cause of death.
"The Human Eraser" was the third pick in the NBA draft by Atlanta,but Webster spurned the Hawks in favor of the ABA's Denver Nuggets.
After two seasons in Denver,Webster spent one season in Seattle that seemed to have Webster on the verge of becoming a elite center and signed a large contract with the Knicks.
Webster was unable to continue his offensive development and became a defensive,shot blocking specialist for the remainder of his career.

To: Former Texas Tech star linebacker Brad Hastings at the age of 44.
Hastings was a three time All-Southwest Conference performer in the mid 1980's and held the school tackling record for years.
Hastings ranks with Zach Thomas as the top linebackers in Tech history.
Knee problems kept Hastings from making the NFL,where had he been 100%,he would have likely been a productive player.....

Photo Credits
Brodeur:AP
Franks,Webster:Topps