PPP Power Play!!!

The slumbering New Jersey Devil power play awoke in Atlanta before what seemed to be about 15 people and a cat last night with three goals with the man advantage with Travis Zajac scoring two of them (11 and 12) including the game winning in overtime to lift the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Thrashers.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored (25) the other goal for the Devils.
The Devils host the Islanders tonight at the Rock.

Hell Raisers

1) Time to admit it-during most of this game,I was beginning to write the Devils off.
Time is running out and they still are eight points out of the playoffs and only gained one point on Atlanta last night despite the win.
I started thinking like that when I saw the Islanders had won and at that time before the game was over,the two teams had the same amount of points...
It sounds VERY cliche',but every game from here on out truly is must win......

2) Nice to see the Devils power play finally wake up and especially to see Travis Zajac reap the harvest.
Zajac has been one of the teams unluckiest players this season and perhaps his game is improving with the addition of Dave Steckel.
Why Steckel? Well,Steckel replaces Zajac on key faceoffs now and that lightens the load on Zajac a bit....

3) The Atlanta crowd (all 18 of them) boos Ilya Kovalchuk relentlessly.
I have no problem with that as they feel betrayed by Kovalchuk and I can "feel their pain" as Bill Clinton used to say.
I have been there with the Devils with losses of players that I liked a lot and one needs only to reference "the decision" for the biggest defection of all,but the only thing I would add is this to the Atlanta fans- Boo as much as you like,but remember to cheer your team as well.

4) I was mildly surprised by Martin Brodeur starting in Atlanta over Johan Hedberg after the loss to Ottawa.Not that Brodeur played badly,just thought Hedberg might have a shot at the start considering the game was in Atlanta.

5) The Atlanta goal by Dustin Byflugen sure looked like goalie interference to me by Nik Antropov.
The slightest nudge sent this Russian Oak falling into Brodeur and allowing the puck to zoom by.
Not a bad move by Antropov as the result allowed the Thrasher to gain a point in the standings,but still a bad call....

I will attempt to be back later with more Pirate prospect talk...