Devils tame Panthers 5-1

The suddenly offensively powered New Jersey Devils continued to pop goals into the net as the Devils ripped off four first period goals and cruised to a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers at the whatever it's called in Miami.

Five different Devils scored goals with Mike Cammalleri scoring his 3rd of the season on the power play and four others scoring their first of the year-Ryane Clowe,Martin Havlat (Power Play),Tuomo Ruutu and Damon Severson.
The Devils continue their season starting road swing on Tuesday in Tampa against the Lightning.

Hell Raisers

1) As a long time fan,a offensive explosion like the Devils have started the season with is a rare thing,but even though the Devils lack a top notch scorer,they can run three (and I suspect maybe even four by the end of the season) lines that are going to make a defense work.
Balance feeds the wolf....

2) Cory Schneider was all around strong in the net and his one goal allowed was not a bad one.
Add to those numbers that he had to fight off eight power play chances on the evening,his day looks even better...

3) Speaking of those- a very sloppy third period with far too many silly penalties.
Yes,I know much of that time was defending a four goal lead,but getting unneeded trips to the penalty box is one of those things that becomes a habit and leads to losses down the road..

4) I like the fourth line of Ruutu,Gionta and Tootoo's potential and I think they could develop into one of the league's better scoring fourth lines.
After saying that,they didn't play well in this one,five of the eight penalties were on this line.
Time will help to smooth out the rough edges,I hope..

5) Loved the play of the young defensemen tonight with Damon Severson scoring his first NHL goal,Eric Gelinas finishing with two assists and Jon Merrill with one.
The young defense will have growing pains,but it could be one of the best groups around in a year or two.
I'll talk about the Adam Larsson situation in a upcoming post.

6) Interesting notes-The Devils scored ten goals in their first four periods of the year.
Last season,the Devils scored their tenth goal in the first period of game five...

7) The Devils 11 goals in first two ties a team record set in 1991-92 for most in first two games...

Pigskin Picking Machine

Lots of bye weeks on the PPM so we will be having two games of the week..

College

West Virginia over Texas Tech 44-30
Bowling Green over Ohio 26-20

Game of the Week
Mississippi State over Auburn 36-33
Baylor over TCU 52-41

Pro
Browns over Steelers 30-27

Game of the Week
Seahawks over Cowboys 24-13
Eagles over Giants 30-26

Last Week:7-1
Overall: 33-12

Devils win opener in Philly 6-4!

The New Jersey Devils are known for their defensive style and after being the lowest scoring team in the league,the last thing that you would expect was a scoreboard busting battle,but that is exactly what you were given as the Devils won their opener in Philadelphia 6-4 over the Flyers.
Devils goals to Mike Cammalleri (1 and 2 Empty Net),Patrik Elias,Adam Henrique,Michael Ryder and Dainius Zubrus (1).
Cory Schneider finished with 34 saves at the end of the evening.
The Devils continue their season starting road swing Saturday night in Miami against the Panthers..

Hell Raisers

1) Cannot help but be a little concerned about the Devils losing a 3-0 lead by allowing three goals in a row in the second period and allowing another tying goal just fifteen seconds after retaking the lead at 4-3.
If that is the type of letdown that will happen often,this could be a stomach churning season...

2) Very nice debut for Mike Cammalleri with two goals and an impressive seven shots on goal
Cammalleri's first goal was a smooth move as he deflected Jaromir Jagr's shot past Steve Mason.
Cannot be displeased with the play of Cammalleri.

3) Wish I could say I was as pleased with some of the penalties as some of them were just plain stupid.
Patrik Elias and Ryane Clowe committed two very dumb penalties in the second period and both led to Flyer power play goals.
I'm hoping that is just opening night jitters.....

4) Marek Zidlicky was high and low.
His assist on the Patrik Elias goal was the type of play that makes you smile and yet some of his play with the glacial Bryce Salvador made you shudder.
To the end,Zidlicky is just going to be one of those players..

5) Cory Schneider ranged from bad (some of the allowed goals were less than tough) to very good,.
Schneider made some strong saves as well,so his night evened out and he likely was a little better than four goals allowed..

6) Still wondering why Damon Severson is playing and not Adam Larsson,but I'm used to Larsson being jacked around by the team.
Not sure why this goes on,but maybe I'll figure it out someday,,,,

7) The Devils are hoping by rolling out three above average lines,the team will be able to increase the goal production.
Against the Flyers,they seemed to be working that out!

2014-15 New Jersey Devils Preview

The New Jersey Devils enter a pivotal season after missing the playoffs in both of the last two seasons.
The Devils retained coach Peter DeBoer to the dismay of many of the supports of the team and DeBoer has to know that another non-playoff season will result in termination after the season if not during,so the heat is on the man behind the boards...

The Devils were the lowest scoring team in the league last season and attempted to address the issue with the free agent signings of Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat.
Both come with injury question marks,but if they play at their peaks,both should help pick up the offense.
They had better because with the exception of Jordan Tootoo (replacing Ryan Carter to Minnesota),this team's roster looks very similar to last years non-playoff winning team.
That is the pressure involved on Cammalleri and Havlat to upgrade the offense.
Color me dubious.

Lines come and go with various combinations throughout the year (Especially the top two lines are often interchangable),so the line that I would write about now could be changed tomorrow so these thoughts are for what I think the lines will look like from the news that I have gotten so far.

The first line appears to Travis Zajac centering the ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr and the aforementioned Mike Cammalleri.
Zajac has been a disappointment since signing an extension,although injuries have played a part,but with luck,this could be a good line.
Zajac should complement Jagr and Cammalleri well.
The biggest worries are can Cammallieri stay healthy and can Jagr continue to shine in his 40's?

The other newcomer of note,Martin Havlat, joins countrymate Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus on the second line.
This could be quite explosive,but more likely is solid.
Zubrus has spent a career doing just enough to keep your hopes up and Havlat could be a scoring upgrade pairing with Elias.
This line I like,but all three are in their middle 30s' and Havlat has always had a history being less than durable.

The third line might be the best with power play standout Michael Ryder with Ryane Clowe and Adam Henrique.
Henrique improved his scoring touch last season and I believe will eventually be the captain and team leader down the road.
Ryder is a power play standout and Clowe is an excellent performer,but you always get the feeling the clock is ticking with his concussion problems.
If Clowe can stay on the ice,this line is more than capable of surprising with offensive numbers..

The checking line was changed despite the success of the Stephen Gionta/Ryan Carter/Steve Bernier trio.
Carter left for Minnesota and Bernier was sent to AHL Albany,although I'd bet he'll be back in Newark sooner or later.
Gionta returns with his characteristic energy and verve and he'll have two new linemates.
Tuomo Ruutu was obtained from Carolina at last years trade deadline and I think he is sitting on a big season.
Jordan Tootoo made the team from a tryout and will hopefully add grit and toughness to a team that needs it.

The other two forwards that made the team were Damien Brunner,who was erratic in his first year as a Devil and doesn't seem to be a Peter DeBoer favorite and Jacob Josefson,who always seems have talent without the results.

The defensemen lost two defense first players in Mark Fayne to free agency and Anton Volchenkov was bought out in order to save some salary cap space.
Fortunately the farm system's strength was defensemen and the younger players will hopefully get a chance to develop.
Andy Greene returns after his best season and with a long term deal,Greene leads the Devils as the number one defenseman.
Bryce Salvador is back as the captain and therefore will see ice time.
I believe Salvador is past his prime and his slow skating will continue to be a liability.
Marek Zidlicky is back (to Rachel's dismay) to provide his offensive abilities and defensive problems.
The younger players should get more ice time,but looking at the numbers,someone will not get the time that they deserve.
Jon Merrill seems to be a DeBoer favorite and looks to have the potential to be a top pairing D-man down the line.
Eric Gelinas has the hardest shot on the team and at worst,should be a power play plus.
Adam Larsson has the most talent of the bunch and still is just 21 despite being woefully mishandled by the organization.\Damon Severson surprisingly made the club over another veteran favorite in Peter Harrold.Severson has never played a full season of pro hockey and was figured to break in at Albany.
Considering that the team has four defenders that sometime in the first month or so,one of them will be headed to Albany and Harrold will return as a better fit as the seventh defender.

Cory Schneider finally get his chance to be the number one goaltender as Martin Brodeur,for now,is no longer player.
Clearly the number one man in net,Schneider will have to produce like one in order for the Devils to become a playoff team.
Scott Clemmensen has arrived for his second term in New Jersey as Schneider's caddy as the number two man after beating out Keith Kincaid for the consolation prize.

I just don't what to think about this team.
The key upgrades in Cammalleri and Havlat bring questions of health and consistency and a club that needs offense badly has to hope those two with a healthy Ryane Clowe can provide it.
The ceiling for this team? Maybe a 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.
The floor? Another non-playoff season and maybe the end of the line for not just Peter DeBoer,but just maybe Lou Lamoriello too...

My call? Split the difference and say the Devils slide into the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed,,,,,

Giants win NLDS on Barrett bounce 3-2!

Aaron Barrett's wild pitch in the seventh inning allowed Joe Panik to score from third with the game winning run and give the San Francisco Giants a 3-2 win and with it the NLDS three games to one over the heavily favored Washington Nationals.
The Giants had scored two runs in the second inning after Gregor Blanco walked in a run and Joe Panik's grounder to second scored another run,but Washington trimmed the lead to one before tying the game on a titanic blast by Bryce Harper that landed in McCovey Cove on the fly off Hunter Strickland in the top of the seventh.
The stage was then set for the game winning run on the Aaron Barrett wild pitch that sent the Giants in the NLCS and the St.Louis Cardinals on Friday night (I think)

Giant Steps

1) So the Giants won this game scoring their runs on a walk,a groundout and a wild pitch,
As much as I hate to say it,this series was lost by the Nationals more than won by the Giants.
Looking at especially games two and four,the Nationals mistakes did more for this series than anything.

2) Especially former Giant (and Indian) Matt Williams,who made the questionable decision to pull Jordan Zimmermann in game two and then brought in rookie Aaron Barrett,who had control issues at times this season in the situation that ended their season.
The former Hagerstown Suns uncorked the wild pitch that allowed one run to score and almost allowed another because he threw the ball over the head of Wilson Ramos on an intentional walk.
Only an extremely fortunate bounce off the backstop to Ramos saved Barrett,who narrowly nipped Buster Posey at the plate.
Not a series to remember for the rookie manager in Washington...

3) As long time readers know I'm not a fan of Ryan Vogelsong going back to his days in Pittsburgh and I was concerned about his starting such a big game,but Vogelsong gave the Giants more than they could have asked for over five and two thirds.
Vogelsong allowed just one run and gave the Giants a chance to win,all that I could have hoped for....

4) I dislike Bryce Harper as most of you should know,but I can see talent and his blast off Hunter Strickland was to be admired as it went into McCovey Cove on the fly.
Simply phenomenal bat speed against someone that throws as hard as Strickland.
What I don't admire is his attitude.
Obviously,there is something between Harper and Strickland as both times that Harper took Strickland over the wall,Harper was offering remarks toward Strickland both as he rounded the bases and yelling from the dugout.
Combine that with the "Devout Mormon"'s language in the dugout (bad enough that the telecast was silent for ten seconds) and I'll pass on the sainting of St.Bryce.
I watched his pious act in Hagerstown,so this is not new to me.
I'm not anti-cursing (as anyone that knows me knows),but I'm pretty strongly anti-hypocrite....

5) The saving grace for Ryan Vogelsong?
Hunter Pence's tremendous catch against the right field wall.
Pence saved runs with that catch that would changed the complexion of the game,of not won it for Washington.
Pence seems to do things like that when they are least expected...

6) The Giants just aren't getting enough offense and though it was enough to get by the Nationals,if they want to get by a team that wins big games-the Giants are going to have to get the wood burning.
Michael Morse returning for the Cardinals series will hopefully boost the offense,but the current offense isn't good enough to win.,.

7) Well,I'm glad my prediction was wrong and now here come the Cardinals again after their dumping of the hated Dodgers.
In many ways,these two teams are a lot alike,a few really good players,good pitching and a knack for getting the most out of guys that never to be as good elsewhere.
Just have a feeling that things even out this year-Cardinals in six.

Nationals upend Giants in Game Three

Madison Bumgarner's throwing error in the seventh snapped a scoreless tie as two runs scored by the Washington Nationals for all the runs that they needed in a 4-1 Washington win.
The Giants would score one run in the ninth to avoid the shutout off reliever Drew Storen on a Brandon Crawford sacrifice fly,but were otherwise stymied on the scoreboard.
Bumgarner picked up the defeat for the Giants,who still lead the series two games to one.
Game four takes place in San Francisco with Ryan Vogelsong for the Giants and Washington countering with lefthander Gio Gonzalez.

Giant Steps

1) Key play of the game was of course the Madison Bumgarner error.
The Nationals would have likely scored anyway as they would have later hits in the inning and had Bumgarner taken the safe out at first,it still would have second and third and one out.
Buster Posey took the blame by saying he called out "third" on the bunt,which is the catcher's job to call the base unless he himself in fielding the ball,but still the game was decided right there.

2) Even still,there was a fluke portion to the play as the Giants had two pitchers warming in the bullpen down the left field line and the ball rattled around in the pen,which gave Travis Ishikawa problems in locating the baseball.
By the time the ball was found,Bryce Harper had just enough time to roar around third and beat the throw home narrowly.
I know the trend in some of the more recent parks is to have the bullpens in foul play,but I've always preferred the relievers area to be beyond the outfield fence.
I think it looks better and keeps away the odd issue like today...

3) Other than that play,the pitching was excellent by both Bumgarner and Washington's Doug Fister.
The two teams combined for just ten hits off the pair in fourteen innings.
This entire series has been noted by some pretty solid hurling from both teams...

4) I am not a fan of Bryce Harper or his attitude,but no denying that the ball that he crunched off Jean Machi was hammered.
The run was an insurance run in the ninth inning,but still a bomb.

5) The Giants best shot in this game other than the meaningless run in the ninth,came in the second inning when the Giants loaded the bases with two outs and Madison Bumgarner at the plate.
Bumgarner is an excellent hitter for a pitcher,so he's not your typical almost automatic out.
Fister fanned him and San Francisco would challenge no more....

6) I'm worried now.I've never been a Ryan Vogelsong believer and he'll have the chance to prove me wrong and win this series.
I was at work today for meetings and a lady that I know that is a Nats fan discussed the series with me and I told her that I though if the Giants didn't win game three that I wasn't sure that they win the series.
Now I'm concerned....

Stunner in Tennessee! Browns rally for 29-28 win!

I ,among many other suffered through a lousy first half of football for Cleveland Browns against Tennessee and said so at home and on Twitter.
Side note-If you root/watch for any of the teams,you really need to follow me on Twitter,I'm always there during games.
However,I had hope despite a 28-10 deficit for a few reasons-a late TD in the first half,The Browns strong rally in the last game that they were trailing like this (27-3 vs Pittsburgh at Heinz Field) and most importantly it was Charlie Whitehurst taking the snaps for the injured Jake Locker.
Not Jake Locker will not remind many of Jake Plummer let alone Warren Moon,but those of you that remember our Seattle coverage days will remember the ineptitude of Mr.Whitehurst.
Amazingly,in a sloppy game,Brian Hoyer capped off a day of 292 yards and three touchdowns with two touchdowns strikes to Travis Benjamin in the fourth quarter after a 4th quarter blocked punt by Tank Carder to lift Cleveland to a stunning 29-28 win over the shocked Titans.
Ben Tate rushed for 123 yards while Taylor Gabriel grabbed four passes for 95 to pace the Cleveland offense.
The now 2-2 Browns will host Pittsburgh next week by Lake Erie,..

Brownie Bits

1) There are tons of things to write about and I'm sure that I'll miss a few,but the key play of the game to me was knocking Jake Locker out of the game on a Buster Skrine blitz.
Locker injured his thumb on Skrine's helmet on the followthrough and was gone shortly after.
Charlie Whitehurst did throw two touchdowns in the second quarter,but was terribly bad in the second half.
Any type of offense from Tennessee in the second half wins them this game.


2) Why on Earth did Ken Whisenhunt go for it on 4th and 1 from the Titan 42 with 3 minutes to go?
I get the argument that with one timeout for the Browns that a first down wins the game,but your offense had done nothing all half-you punt the ball and hope for the long field to take its effect....

3) Had to love the stuff of Charlie Whitehurst on the above note,but the Browns allowed way too many rushing yards (175 yards and a average for a 4.9 yard avg) to a team featuring Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey.
The run defense is going to have step up and fast!

4) Huge rejected punt by Tank Carder for the safety in the fourth quarter,
That block saw the ball go out of the back of the end zone for two points,but those points allowed the touchdown and extra point to win the game instead of having to go for two for the tie.
Carder went right up the middle untouched for the block and a change in momentum that you could tell that the Titans went into protect the lead mode thereafter.

5) I was ready to be all done with Travis Benjamin when he fumbled a punt that had Tennessee not committed a penalty,would have cost possession and valuable time.
All of which made me feel like an idiot when Benjamin would grab both fourth quarter touchdown passes and the game winner was a tightrope walk to stay inbounds.
So maybe if the Browns continued to use Benjamin as a wideout and used Jordan Poyer or Jim Leonhard as a punt returner that could be a better way to go...

6) I thought the Browns running game was dominant with Ben Tate rushing for 123 yards and getting another fifty plus from Terrence West and Isaiah Crowell.
Tennessee was pounded by the three backs and I would make an argument that the team didn't use them enough in the red zone,most notably the third quarter drive that saw Tate run for seven yards and throw two passes thereafter.
Sometimes you can outsmart yourself....

7) I have wondered about the Browns wide receivers and still do,but I like Taylor Gabriel.
He has shown an ability to get open down the middle and for such a slight frame,he is a tough little player.
I think he is going to be a weapon that the Browns can use more and more as the season goes on...

8) Joe Haden left the game with an injury and his status for the Pittsburgh game is unknown,which might be a good thing considering how Antonio Brown generally abuses him.
That's a little tongue in cheek and you never want to lose a corner of Haden's stature,but Haden has not gotten off to a great start....

9) Really-REALLY bad tackling in the first half that saw the Titans break tackles and fake Browns out of their pants.
Buster Skrine and K'Waun Williams both missed several tackles among others and that needs to upgraded across the board...

10) Justin Gilbert saw the field seldomly and accumulated no stats.
Not what you expect from a first round pick.
If Joe Haden sits on Sunday,Gilbert is going to see more time.

11) The Browns were 0 for 2 on fourth downs,but one of them was a bit of bad luck as Jordan Cameron was wide open for a touchdown,but a Tennessee paw batted the ball back to the turf.
I wouldn't put too much stock into that.

12) Finally,this win was the biggest in Cleveland Browns history and the largest ever for a road team in league history,
Now if they can just play a whole game like this!!!!