Got your number....

In the second half of the season,the New Jersey Devils have had most teams numbers,but one team has not cooperated and it is the last place Ottawa Senators,who used a bounce of the puck and some tremendous goaltending to once again defeat the Devils 3-1 and give a huge blow to the Devils playoff chances.
Brian Rolston's third period power play goal (13) cut the margin to 2-1 before Ottawa finished the game with an empty net goal.
New Jersey hosts Washington tonight at 7.

Hell Raisers

1) The Devils didn't play badly at all in the loss.
The main reason was Ottawa goalie Curtis McElhinney,who made terrific save after save.
Martin Brodeur was good,McElhinney was great...

2) Ilya Kovalchuk had a chance to tie the game in the third on a breakaway.but was denied by McElhinney.
Just one example of the evening that the Ottawa goalie had.

3) The game winner for Ottawa was kinda flukey as Chris Neil batted what looked to be a shallow pop up by Brodeur.Neil's stick wasn't high,just a solid play and a bad bounce....

4) New Jersey did have a goal disallowed as Colin White's goal was taken off the board as Adam Mair was ruled to have made contact with McElhinney.
I could see the slight contact and would not have said much,IF I hadn't seen the goal by Atlanta in the game against the Thrashers where Nik Antropov laid on Brodeur like he had "special" interests and the Dustin Byfuglien shot that went by Brodeur counted as a goal.

5) If this comeback falls short of the playoff,the four points that the Devils handed to Ottawa in nine days might be the difference.
Some years teams just have your number and this year that team looks to be in the Canadian capital.

6) Note to Ottawa-PLEASE get rid of these "Sens" jerseys.
Not good at all and I have a history of hating shortened nicknames as I rarely use "Cavs" for the Cavaliers...

Unsure on Devil coverage against Washington.
I am leaning towards Xavier vs Marquette in the NCAA's.
Either way,I'll have something up tomorrow.....

Photo Credit-AP Photo