Zubrus zaps Senators

Today should be a multiple post day as I catch up on things after spending yesterday preparing for baseball season with some cleanup card work.
Should be at least one and possibly two more posts later in the day....

The New Jersey Devils returned from the All-Star break with a tight to the vest and hard fought 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators at the Rock.
Dainius Zubrus caught a break (8) with just under six minutes to go as his attempted pass caught Ottawa's Chris Phillips on the shoulder and the rebound sent the puck over the shoulder of Robin Lehner for the game winner.
Nick Palmieri scored (4) the Devils other goal.
New Jersey takes today off before hosting the Rangers Thursday night in the first of a six games in nine days run of games.

Hell Raisers

1) The Zubrus goal was lucky to be sure and those things happen in hockey,but what wasn't lucky about the goal was the attacking the net.
Both the Zubrus and Nick Palmieri goals came as a direct result of being on the attack and moving the puck towards the net instead of outside it.
This may sound like remedial hockey,but all too often the Devils have gotten away from that.

2) Alexander Urbom was called up from Albany to add depth to the defense with Colin White injured and Mark Fayne down with illness,but was scratched when White surprisingly returned.
That was a surprise even to the MSG guys as they didn't know until warmups that White was going to play....

3) Light night for Martin Brodeur in the win as he had to make just 15 saves.
The Ottawa goal was in a five on three man advantage,so all and all an easy night for Brodeur...

4) The Nick Palmieri goal was odd as well as Ilya Kovalchuk was pushed down on the ice and looked to be injured.
Play was never whistled dead and Palmieri kept driving with the play moving and scored.
Kovalchuk continued to play,so the injury must not have been serious....

5) The biggest story of the night is the conflicting words on the possible sale of the team.
Jeff Vanderbeek and Brick City Management have been at odds for a while and both are saying different things.
Vanderbeek appears to believe that this is a matter of him buying out Brick City.
Brick City is of the opinion that the paperwork will show that the team and the arena will be sold entirely to someone outside of the team.
Yet,a third report says that this is all false!
I have no idea on what is right or wrong on this,but it will be interesting to see how long this takes,who has to sell or buy what and what the result will be on the Devils as an organization.....

Photo Credit:Paul Bereswill/Getty Images