One for the road.

Since I am up before the road,I thought I would bang out one more post before hiatus.

The New Jersey Devils used a strong performance from Martin Brodeur and two timely 3rd period goals to squeeze out a 3-2 win at the Rock over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
John Madden(6) scored a shorthanded goal late in the third to break a 1-1 tie and shortly thereafter Zach Parise (4) added an insurance goal that would be needed as the Leafs cut the lead to one with 32 seconds to go.
The Sundin goal was a throw it towards the net and pray type and was totally a lucky bounce.
Brodeur played well for the second game in a row and I am anxious to see if Brent Sutter uses Kevin Weekes tonight vs the Rangers or sticks with Marty.
The Devils first goal in the game went to the always gritty David Clarkson for Clarkson's first goal of the season.
Looks like the Devils are picking things up somewhat,but the two wins were over teams that you should be able to beat at home.
But the wins count the same no matter what,so I am happy to take them.
The Devils play twice during hiatus-tonight at the Rangers and Monday night vs the Penguins at the Rock.
Unless my hotel has Versus,I will miss both games.

Watching the Ashland Arrows take on the Olentangy Liberty Patriots on Sports Time Ohio tonight,I realized again why states like Ohio and Pennsylvania's high school football has so much
excitement,tension,atmosphere and fan support than the tepid version that we are fed locally.
Putting the actual game aside,the fans and the environment in Ashland tonight were electric and it came across well on television.
You could never get anything close to that here.
Perhaps for their Halloween parade (Huge eye roll here),but nothing else.
The Arrows stormed from the gate with three first half touchdowns to build a 21-0 lead,but the visiting Patriots scored on their final first half drive to cut the lead to 21-7 at the half.
Olentangy continued to dominate the second half and pulled into a tie with roughly five minutes to play before Taylor Housewright struck the telling blow with a long TD pass to Anthony Fairhurst to put the game winner on the board.
The Arrow defense held on fourth down and used three kneel downs to end the game.
An excellent game and well played by both teams,as only 1 turnover was made during the contest.
The Arrows move to battle the top seed in Region 6 in the Avon Lake Shoremen.
This is a tournament rematch from 2003.
I have a report that the game will be at Brunswick as the neutral site,but no confirmation.

Bullpen Notes

Former Buckeye passer Justin Zwick did color commentary on the game and when they reviewed each teams season to date,play by play Matt Underwood apologized to Zwick for showing the Ashland win over Orrville.
Zwick left Orrville (without changing his address) to play at Massillon Washington for his final two years of High School.

Another show ruined by Alison Stewart as she is on Bill Maher's panel tonight.
Very few things are worse than watching someone 41 years old act like they are 21.

Until Wednesday!

Photo Credit
Clarkson-Bruce Bennett-Getty Images