This will be a short post as I will get a brief nap before a afternoon game in Frederick.
The New Jersey Devils lost the home serve last night in losing Game 2 at the Rock to Carolina.
The series is now tied at one with the next two games taking place in Wolfpack Country.
Hell Raisers
1) What has been the one topic that I have been the most critical of this season of the New Jersey Devils?
Likely,it has been the lack of effective aggression by the defensemen in clearing the crease in front of the goaltender.
A Tim Gleason shot in overtime that deflected off the skate of the immobile Nicklas Havelid,who was creating a double screen of Martin Brodeur with Carolina's Eric Staal gave the Hurricanes the 2-1 win and exactly what they wanted in the series-a split of the two games at the Rock.
2) Havelid was not even attempting to jostle Staal out of the crease,he looked more like he shadowed Staal without extremely light contact.
This is exactly what I have been both critical of and worried about all season,the lack of toughness when push comes to shove (so to speak) from the defensive unit with the arguable exception of Bryce Salvador.
3) Jamie Langenbrunner left the game with the dreaded lower body injury and no ward on his status for Game 3.
Langenbrunner's potential loss would be a huge one in forcing a shakeup on the Devil top line.
4) Zach Parise scored the only Devil goal (power play) in period one and has now scored a point in his last five playoff games.
The Prince seems to be all over the ice and could be the difference maker for New Jersey.
5)The Devils did have a goal taken off the board in the first period by Travis Zajac after replays showed it was hit with a high stick.
It was-good call.
Bonus Round
The Devils power play struggles continue as New Jersey was a poor 1 for 6 on the game.
Carolina played tougher and more physically than in Game 1,but they were sloppy at times as well.
This was a winnable game and a disappointing loss.
Game 3 is Sunday at 7;30 at N.C State.
The Pirates used another outstanding seven innings from Paul Maholm (2-0) and a late insurance homer from Nate McLouth (3) off former Pirate lefty Mike Gonzale
z to lift the Pirates to a 3-0 win in the curtain raiser against the Braves at PNC Park.Andy LaRoche's infield ground out was the only run that the Pirates scored off starter Jair Jurrjens and it held up until McLouth stretched the lead with the eighth inning homer.
Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his third save of the year.
The teams hook it up today at 12;35 with Atlanta using emergency callup Jo Jo Reyes as their starter.
No TV likely due to the "Fox rule"
Pitching Matchup
Atlanta:Jo Jo Reyes Season Debut at Pittsburgh:Ian Snell 0-2 7.20 ERA
Due to time constraints,I will try to do either a extra large Pirate Hooks tomorrow or Monday as a look back at the series
Photo Credits
Hockey:Bill Koustroun-AP Photo
McLouth:John Heller-AP Photo
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