I'm not going to write a full-length column on this because I just haven't watched enough hockey this winter.
That doesn't mean that I didn't (or don't) care about the team or even the sport, it means that something happened that I hadn't accounted for- I missed watching the games with Rachel and it wasn't the same without her.
I had always watched alone before her fandom began and I didn't count on not wanting to watch the games alone again when she stopped watching games after the Adam Henrique trade with Anaheim.
I missed sharing that with her and it trickled down to me.
Hopefully, some playoff hockey will revitalize things for at least me and hopefully both of us.
For an excellent and lengthy preview, click here for the thoughts from All About the Jersey.
I'll be covering the playoffs as much as I can (some games may conflict with work and some channels may not be on the road office television) and hopefully game one will end before work.
The Devils will have to count on some huge efforts to pull an upset of the Lightning and their best player will have to continue to build on his career season.
Taylor Hall finished in the top ten in the league in goals (39) and points (94) as he grew into the player that he could be and not projected on potential.
First overall pick Nico Hischier scored 20 goals in his first NHL season and also showed signs of the type of ability that could make him a perennial all-star and Kyle Palmieri added 24 goals from the wing.
Cory Schneider's struggles continued, but to the surprise of most, Keith Kinkaid became the top goaltender and managed to keep the team afloat during their late playoff run that allowed them to hold off the Florida Panthers by one point for the final spot (New Jersey tied 7th seed Columbus in points, but lost the tiebreaker in wins 45-44).
It will take Keith Kinkaid playing over his head for the Devils to defeat Tampa four times in seven games.
The Devils did win all three games with the Lightning in the regular season, so they have to feel that they can skate with Tampa, but the top seed won ten more games and finished with 17 more points so this will not be an easy task.
The rebuilding process of Ray Shero is one year ahead of schedule for a playoff berth, I figured that next year would be the season that some of the fruit of Shero's labors came to pass and as a result, any damage done in this years postseason will be playing with house money.
My prediction: The Devils will give Tampa all that they can ask for and make them work for their victories, but the inexperience of Keith Kinkaid will eventually come into play and the superior depth of Tampa will eventually wear down the Devils.
Tampa Bay in six.
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