Devils never looked back in winning the first game of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1.Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner each finished with a goal and an assist,while the other Devil goal went to Patrik Elias.
The series resumes at the Rock on Friday night.
Hell Raisers
1) The Mottau goal set the tone for how the game would finish as Cam Ward set this up himself as he attempted to sweep the puck down the ice himself instead making the simple brush over to the defenseman.
Mottau was in the right place and the wrist shot seemed to surprise Ward more than beating him.
2) Carolina's goal made me start to wonder about things in the third period when they seemed to gain some spark on Ray Whitney's shot,but the goal by Jamie Langenbrunner just seconds later knocked the wind out of Carolina for the night.
3) Interesting note from Doc Emrick during the game.Carolina has ten players remaining from their Stanley Cup winning team of a few years back,but the Canes have not played a playoff game (before last night) since winning the Cup.
Ten is an awful high number considering their troubles since that night.
4) Martin Brodeur played well in net,but he only faced 19 shots and hopefully that was due to the Devils blueliners holding Carolina in check and not because the Canes were listless.
Either way,the Carolina offense was nowhere to be found and at least some of the credit has to go the Devils way.
5) I wrote in the preview that I was not as big of a Cam Ward fan as others,but even though he allowed four goals in the game last night,the Devils had many excellent opportunities-it could been six or seven goals very easily.
Bonus Round
Nice night for the "grizzled" line of John Madden,Jay Pandolfo and Brendan Shanahan as Brent Sutter seemed to try to match them up as much as he could against Carolina's top line of Eric Staal,Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu.
They held the Canes top line off the scoreboard and the three only put four shots on net all evening.
IF that becomes a trend,this will be a shorter series than expected.
The Pirates hosted the Houston Astros and the seemingly always injured
Mike Hampton at PNC Park and was totally inept against the veteran southpaw in a 4-1 loss to Houston.The Bucs avoided the shutout with Adam LaRoche's solo blast (3) to lead off the ninth.
Houston finishes up their visit today at 12:35 with another seemingly washed up warhorse in Russ Ortiz.
Pitching Matchup
Houston:Russ Ortiz 0-0 6.75 ERA at Pittsburgh:Jeff Karstens Season Debut
Pirate Hooks
1) Remember the last time Russ Ortiz dragged his tattered reputation to the mound against the Pirates?
The Pirates have a wonderful tendency to make pitchers that have either always been crap look great or allow once solid hurlers to re-live their prime days.
Such as ....
2) Mike Hampton.
Hampton shut the Bucs out for six innings and allowed just four hits-all singles.
Eight strikeouts too.
Ugh.
3) Jeff Karstens makes a delayed bow for 2009 after the rainout in Cincinnati caused him to be skipped in the rotation to allow the top four starters to stay on the same amount of rest.
4) Nothing against Jackie Robinson or the sentiment behind all players wearing the number 42,but I can see how anyone that is less than a hardcore fan could be confused as hell....
5) Ross Ohlendorf allowed 4 runs in five innings and just didn't seem to be throwing that hard.
Ohlendorf's reputation is as a power arm and if his velocity is down,he becomes very hittable.
Bonus Round
Adam LaRoche at .267 and three homers?
If LaRoche can keep up that average pace and then do his usual second half rush,the Bucs could pick up a valuable piece or two for the lefty first sacker.
Andy LaRoche: two more at bats and moved his stellar start to 0 for 18.
On the Signing Front
Not a terrific start in the two games that Delmarva played in Hagerstown (Wednesday's game was rained out),but there were extenuating circumstances.
The home opener is always tougher than most because of various ceremonies for the opener.
And Tuesday was so rainy and dreary that Ryan and I were the only collectors there and that can be tough because players can get by you.
After all,when you are by yourself,you cant stop them all!
I was able to add a few Suns,most notably Stephen Englund and Brad Peacock.
Those two were nice additions because it marked the first team set that I have ever purchased that I was able to have every player sign.
That doesn't sound that tough until you consider players going up,going down,traded,released etc.
Delmarva added most of their top prospects.
L.J Hoes signed some but not all,so I will need to finish him up next time.
Xavier Avery,Elvin Polanco and Tyler Kolodny signed as well as Jedidah Stephen,who added a GO BUCKS to his card as well.
Not bad,considering the way things went.
I really don't have very much for the Lakewood Blue Claws,as it seems like many of the players at Williamsport last season (the logical previous step) are not at Lakewood.
I do need to add the Claws two highest rated prospects in catcher Travis D'arnaud (brother of Pirate prospect Chase) and first baseman Jeremy Hamilton.
Lakewood usually has names on the back of the jerseys and we will need them this time as only a few players have numbers listed on the Blue Claws and MiLB sites.....
Saturday will be our first shot at the Salem Red Sox in Frederick.
The Sox have an uneven reputation for signing (as most Boston teams do),but we will just see how it goes.....
Photo Credits
Goal:Bill Koustroun-AP
Hampton:Keith Srakocic-AP
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