Three in a row

The New Jersey Devils dropped their third road game in a row,but salvaged a point this time in losing in Chicago to the Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime.
The Devils received goals from Zach Parise (42) and Paul Martin (5) in the first period to account for all New Jersey scoring...
New Jersey returns to the Rock tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes....

Hell Raisers

1) I missed the game winning goal by Chicago's Brent Seabrook as I was at work.
I hate 8:30 starts as it isn't worth the hassle of dragging the XM boombox to work,yet you still miss the games end.
For what it is worth,reports are that Brodeur was screened and never saw the long range shot from Seabrook-that means defensemen aren't clearing the area.....

2) Seabrook finished with the Gordie Howe hat trick,but his fight was nothing to remember as he was pounded by David Clarkson...


3) The Devils were fortunate to gain a point when you consider that they committed five first period penalties and only allowed one goal.
And these aren't exactly smart penalties as well,as twice the Devils were called for the delay of game!

4) The positive was that the penalty kill team was strong in stopping the Hawks with the man deficit.The Devils just need to attempt to not use it as often!

5) Brent Sutter seemed most upset after the loss at Danius Zubrus,who set the goal up with useless puck handling at center ice instead of sending the puck to the Chicago end.
That forced the Devils to keep the same tired four on the ice instead of a line change.
I didn't see it so I cannot say for sure,but that sounds like some brain dead hockey.

Bonus Round

If the Devils want to add a late season spark to the offense,perhaps a callup of Nicklas Bergofrs could help.
Bergfors has been sizzling lately for Lowell and reached the 20 goal mark,a achievement that is more impressive than it sounds considering that Bergfors missed time early in the season..

Bullpen Notes

The joggin Ronny Paulino show moved twice in one day as the Phillies shipped him to the Giants,who then moved him to the Marlins.
Florida traded once promising righthander Hector Correa to San Francisco for the jogger.
Correa has struggled with injuries over the last two years and could be spending his third year in the SAL.

Our friend Wilbur Miller has a tremendous series at OnlyBucs that looks at his projections for the Pirate farm teams this season.
Wilbur's stuff is usually on the money or at least thought provoking.

Looking at the Projections,it isn't hard to tell where Dave Littlefield's drafts ends and Neil Huntington's begin as a quick look at Altoona and Lynchburg shows a lot of players repeating those levels.

Back tomorrow with any luck!!!