Devils clinch playoff return!

After a one year absence,the New Jersey Devils will be returning to the playoffs as they clinched a playoff position with a 5-0 whitewashing of the Carolina Hurricanes and Raleigh.
The Devils goals were scored by Ilya Kovalchuk (34),Zach Parise (31).David Clarkson (30 power play),Petr Sykora (19) and Ryan Carter (4).
New Jersey will play the Islanders on Tuesday in the first of their three games in the final week of the season.

Hell Raisers

1) Best line of the night happens in the pre-game and it goes to Rachel.
Deb Placey mentions that Carolina was eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to Winnipeg the night before.
Rachel asks what that means,so I explain that even if Carolina won every game from here on out,it would not be enough points earned for them to make the playoffs.
Rachel: So why are they still playing then?
Me: Well,they still have to play the rest of the season.
Rachel:Puzzled look-Well,that would be annoying......

2) David Clarkson scored his 30th goal on his 28th birthday.
Not sure which surprises me more-Clarkson's 30 goals or it seems like he should be younger than 28.
Think I'll go with the 30 goals!

3) All four lines produced goals in the win,which bodes pretty well for the Devils around playoff time,if that roll can be maintained.
Super job on the Ryan Carter goal by both Carter and assist provider Steve Bernier that deserved special mention...

4) New Jersey's win not only clinched a playoff spot,but took away any possibility of finishing as the eighth seed.New Jersey could still finish in 5th,6th (the current spot) or 7th depending on the events of the next three games.
5th means Pittsburgh,6th means Florida and 7th means Boston.
I'll take the current spot,thank you....

5) Petr Sykora scored on a play that the Devils run with him off faceoff wins.
The timing on this has be absolutely perfect as the center in this case Patrik Elias has to win the draw and get the puck exactly where Sykora needs it to fire off a one timer.
I bet Sykora has at least four of his nineteen goals off this play...

6) Happy to see the Devils return to their usual home in the playoffs,but the Devils last few trips there have not been as successful as fans have to come to expect.
I think this team could do some damage,but I am far from arrogant about expecting a long run into the playoffs.
The team is balanced enough to do well and if Martin Brodeur continues his play of late,the Devils will be solid in net,but the scoring will be a question under the tighter playoff defenses until they can answer the questions about their lack of playoff production in the past from many of their key players.
Looking forward to the return to the big stage....

Photo Credit:AP Photo