Flat,Flat Flat

I suppose the second period was passable and the last few minutes of the first produced goals,but otherwise the New Jersey Devils were listless and the Vancouver Canucks looked sharp.
Add it up and you have a 5-2 Vancouver win in the only game that the two teams will play all season.
Devils goals to Travis Zajac (8) and Nicklas Bergfors (7).
The Devils return Friday against Tampa and hopefully a better outing than this one....

Hell Raisers

1) Just a flat effort from Martin Brodeur.
These don't happen often from the greatest goalie ever,but they happen here and there to all goalies and last night was one of those.
His defense was little help,mind you,but not a good night.

2) Marty's defensive help was lacking a bit as well.
Mike Mottau tipped one puck into the net and a dumb decision by Colin White on which man to take set up another Canuck goal...

3) I watched the Canadian feed on the NHL Network and their theme for the evening was the Brodeur vs Roberto Luongo battle for the starting nod for Team Canada.
Luongo was not at his best either,but his second period robbery of Zach Parise when the game was still within a goal was sharp work....

4) The TSN crew also mentioned Jacques Lemaire telling them that the Devils had one bad practice all season and it was the day before the game.
I suppose there is something to the old coaches saying you play how you practice....

5) Jay Pandolfo and Johnny Oduya could return against Tampa.
No confirmation on that,but that would help things a lot,especially on defense where the minutes of Mike Mottau could be reduced..

6) Add another player to the players that I would love to see as a Devil.
Left winger Alex Burrows of Vancouver plays a skillful yet gritty game that looks to be a super fit.
I was very impressed with the Canuck wing....

Photo Credit-
Goal:Rich Schultz-AP Photo
Burrows:Dave Sandford-Getty Images