Devils melt in the outdoors

In the highly anticipated outdoor debut for the New Jersey Devils,there was much to like,but even more to dislike as the Devils fell apart in the second period and lost a game that could have done them so much good in the standings.
The New York Rangers 7-3 win at Yankee Stadium was fun and painful at the same time for the Devils,who scored three of the first four goals of the game in the first period and then watched their offense go dry for the remainder of the contest.
Patrik Elias paced the Devils with two goals (8 and 9 power play) with Travis Zajac (8) scoring the other.
The Devils will travel to St.Louis Tuesday as part of a three day Midwest road trip with stops in Dallas and Nashville following their Missouri stop....

Hell Raisers

1) The second period was some of the worst hockey I've seen in a while and give the Rangers credit for sizing up what had to be done to turn the game around-make the game "firewagon" hockey and at a speed that the Devils could not keep up with.
I'll deal with specifics as we go on,but that tactical move turned this game and maybe the season around for the Devils.

2) Why? Because the blueprint to defeating New Jersey was just made public on national television.
Every team scouts and watches every game,but this one was on national TV and a special occasion as well.
Watch as more and more teams turn up the pace on the Devils because they simply aren't equipped to play on the level with the advanced mileage of so many of their older forwards and the slow defensemen.

3) Martin Brodeur was not good.
Eric Gelinas made a mistake with the puck that caused a 3 on 1 that cannot be held on Brodeur and a deflection cannot be helped sometimes,but the first period goals were not strong efforts and he never seemed to make the huge save to change the momentum.

4) It was not totally Brodeur's fault.
The defense was putrid.
Eric Gelinas created a 3 on 1 as noted above,Bryce Salvador and Anton Volchenkov seemed to constantly be behind the play and Andy Greene was clobbered out of a play to set up another.
Bad,Bad,Bad.....

5) On the ice-Martin Brodeur said the ice was the worst he had played on ever.
You could take this as sour grapes from someone that allowed six goals in two periods until you hear that the WINNING goalie had the same thoughts.

6) Patrik Elias did score twice and get some TV time,which was nice,but showing he can still finish plays was even better.
Elias disappeared after the first like most of the Devils,but still a strong first period.

7) Love the Red and Green.
As an old school fan,I prefer the throwback look to the current (not that it's bad),but the red and green is so unique and I like being the only team to use the colors....

8) Finally,the Stadium experience was great and I enjoyed the atmosphere,but in typical NHL fashion,it's happening too much.
I would cut back to two a year,one in the US and one in Canada in order to keep the game special.
This years games have been fun,but the league needs to be careful about watering it down by having too many...