Devils shutout in Boston 3-0

The modest winning streak ended at two for the New Jersey Devils as the Devils were shutout by the Boston Bruins 3-0 in Boston.
Cory Schneider allowed two goals on 43 shots in a strong effort for New Jersey.
The Devils face the Islanders on Friday before a West Coast road swing.

Hell Raisers

1) Cory Schneider was tremendous in net with 41 saves and neither goal was an awful one.
Schneider was the only Devil to truly come to play and his play is what kept the Devils as close as it was...

2) Allowed 43 shots on goal?
Thats a ton and the Devils defense didn't do a lot to keep those numbers down.
The defense was a step slow all night and didn't keep the Bruins away from the slot or the net often enough...

3) Only 14 shots on net?
A weak offense effort in one of the easiest shutouts that a goalie can and it was Niklas Svedberg that reaped the easy shutout on this night.
Only a Jon Merrill power play chance was a hard save for Svedberg and Scott Gomez hit a post once.
Just a pitful effort,

4) I'm stopping at four tonight because I don't feel like writing any further about such a crappy effort.
If the Devils would not have gotten such a great effort out of Cory Schneider,the Devils would have deserved to lose by twice as many goals.
So much for that turnaround....

We're doing something new!

Just a quick post to toss a few bits of news out there.

I'm really excited to announce that I'll be working with rather than against my Boxing Challenge opponent,R.L.Malpica in a new venture that some of you may be interested in.
Cleveland Sports Outsiders will be a new site for Cleveland (and Ohio State) news and opinions that I'll be involved in and will expand sometime soon to podcasts with R.L. and myself.
Today's post on the Cavaliers trade for Timofey Mozgov was re-printed there,but I'll have some original material there some too.
I hope you'll consider checking it out for print and the eventual listening portion as well!

Two quick notes from the inbox

Goodbye to former WBA Heavyweight champ Ernie Terrell,who recently died at the age of 75.
Terrell won the vacant title taken from Muhammad Ali with a decision over Eddie Machen and defended twice before being pounded for 15 rounds in the "What's My Name" unification bout vs Ali.
Terrell refused to call Ali by his new Muslim name and called him "Clay" and Ali could be heard throughout the bout yelling at Terrell "What's my Name" with combinations following...

Grantland offers a look at the state of Loyola Marymount basketball since the loss of Hank Gathers in 1990.
Former NBA coach Mike Dunlap is the latest coach to give LMU a try since then in an attempt to return the Lions to prominence.
I thought the article was very interesting...

Cavaliers trade for Timofey Mozgov

I watched most of the Cleveland Cavaliers loss to the Houston Rockets and could give a review on it,but instead of spending time reviewing a game played by a Cavalier team that will not resemble the Cleveland team that will take the floor for the playoffs,We'll write about something else

So instead,we move to the latest move by Cavaliers GM David Griffin in attempting to fix the biggest hole on the roster-a big man to protect the rim and add a little scoring from the low post.

The Cavaliers sent the number one pick that they just obtained from Oklahoma City a few days ago along with a first rounder that was originally the Memphis Grizzlies to the Denver Nuggets in return for said big man-7'1 Timofey Mozgov
Mozgov is averaging a nick over eight points and a hair under eight boards a game in Denver,but more importantly brings the defender and shot blocker that the team so badly needed.
Mozgov averages over a block a game and for the first time in years,Cleveland has a big body to defend the lane and hold down the fort in the low post defensively.

Mozgov hits 50 percent of his shots,so this is not a three point shooting lightweight,he'll park himself down low and on this Cavaliers team,I would not be surprised to see him become a "10 and 10" guy just off opportunities that he wouldn't have as often as a Nugget.

Timofey Mozgov is 28,but doesn't seem to have as much tread off his legs as you'd think as in his tenure in the league,only last year and the current season has he averaged more than twenty minutes a game,so this is not a player worn down by others.
Right after news of this trade cut loose,a friend of mine immediately sent me a message asking about two number ones for Mozgov  and what I thought.

Well,here goes-I'm fine with it.
Mozgov fills a hole on the teams most glaring need,adds size and toughness,has a cap friendly contract (Face it,Cleveland wasn't signing a player like this in the off-season) and Mozgov will not be a free agent until after next season.
Was I thrilled about two number one draft picks?
Not really,but keep in mind that both picks are lottery protected and the Cavaliers are certainly in win now mode.

Is Timofey Mozgov a player worth two number one's?
Certainly not by the standards of thirty years ago or even by the standards of MLB or NFL,but in the era of the "protected" draft pick and the restrictions of the salary cap,I don't think that the cost was excessive when you consider the desperation of the Cavaliers.
Cleveland is injury riddled right now and even in January,needs to consider playoff seeding.
I'm not saying that things are in emergency mode by far,but the rash of injuries have left the Cavaliers six games behind the first place Bulls at this point and the arrival of Mozgov with the return of LeBron James will hopefully set them up for a run that will see them approach Chicago for the all important home court playoff advantage,

We may look back at this trade and the additions of Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith as the moves that changed Cleveland's roster for the final time and added the toughness,defense and off bench scoring that put them over the top,but you cannot say that the Cavaliers haven't tried to put things in place.
The question is-did they get it right?
Talk to me in five months.....

Elias hits milestone in win over Sabres!

The New Jersey Devils blazed out of the starting gate with three first period goals and played prevent defense thereafter on their way to a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Rock.
Patrik Elias reached the 1,000 career point mark in the win with one goal (6) and two assists allowing him to reach the milestone.
The Devils also added goals from Mike Cammalleri (13 empty net),Travis Zajac (6 shorthanded) and Jordin Tootoo (3).
New Jersey will travel to Boston on Thursday for their next outing...

Hell Raisers

1) Patrik Elias still has another immediate "goal" to hit after hitting 1,000 points.
The 38 year old veteran's goal against Buffalo moved him to 399 for his career,which (of course) places him one short of 400.
I'm not sure that I would put Patrik Elias in the hockey hall of fame (I think they are a bit easy in who makes that hall of fame) ,but I'd bet that he makes it eventually.

2) Jordan Tootoo had to be thrilled when his wrister found the back of the net,but Cory Schneider might have been just as happy as he received the secondary assist.
The assist was the first for Schneider as a Devil...

3) Travis Zajac continues to show signs of chipping away at his slump with a breakaway shorthanded goal.
Zajac filled the lane and did exactly what you like to see players do in such a situation-drive hard to the net and finish the play.
I still the Zajac extension was a vast overpay,but it's nice to see the Devils beginning to get a little bit of a return on their investment...

4) Mark Fraser battled Chris Stewart in quite a battle after dropping the gloves.
Fraser has now fought in the last two games and I'm beginning to entertain the thought of the Devils beginning to frame a style that sees them attempting to be more aggressive.
Not saying that I'm right,but keep an eye on this potential strategy..

5) I realize the Devils are a bad hockey team,but seeing some of these other teams of late makes me think the Devils would have to get wholescale revamping in order to be so bad for them to be at the bottom of the Connor McDavid derby.
New Jersey may be bad,Buffalo and Carolina are almost beyond redemption at this point...

Cavaliers pull three way trade

Minutes before last night's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers,the Cleveland Cavaliers made a trade that left them with just eight players for the game in Philly,but hopefully will fill in some holes on the roster to sit things straight for when players return from injury.

The Cavaliers sent the mercurial Dion Waiters to Oklahoma City and bench depth players Alex Kirk and Lou Amundsen to the New York Knicks,while the Cavaliers added Iman Shumpert and J.R.Smith from the Knicks and a top 18 protected first round pick from the Thunder.
The Thunder also added a Knicks bench player in Lance Thomas,while New York also obtained a 2019 second rounder from Cleveland.

First,lets talk about what the Cavaliers lost in Dion Waiters.
In my opinion,Waiters is a me first guy that has to have the ball in his hands to be successful and might best be suited to be a 25 point scorer on a .500 or lower team.
Waiters has always struck me as being happier scoring 30 points and losing than 12 and winning.
I don't know that obviously,but that is the feeling that one gets by watching him.
I was lukewarm on the Cavaliers taking him to begin with despite his talent because he appeared that way in his college years at Syracuse,let alone his later NBA years.
Waiters seemed disinterested in defense and never seemed to settle in as a supporting player either early in his Cavalier tenure with Kyrie Irving nor currently with LeBron James.
Waiters was thought by many (myself included) as a best fit as an offensive sixth man where Waiters could lead a second team where he could have the ball in his hands more often as the focal point of that group.
That really hadn't panned out for the most part and I do think that it was time for the Cavaliers to make a move with Waiters...

The additions to Cleveland are interesting as well with Iman Shumpert and J.R.Smith joining the Cavaliers.
Shumpert is considered the key to the deal despite being injured at the current time with a shoulder issue that he is expected to return from soon....
Shumpert gives the Cavaliers a good fit on the wing with a player that can defend shooting guards very well and some small forwards.
The athletic 6'5 Shumpert brings the backcourt an excellent defender with someone that can finish on the break.
Shumpert has had two less than strong seasons after an strong rookie year,so a change of scenery could just what he needs to return to form.

J.R.Smith is known mainly for two things- Outside shooting and a personality that brings the term "locker room lawyer" to mind.
Supposedly,LeBron James was consulted on adding a player with Smith's reputation and gave the okay to add Smith to the trade.
Smith's outside shot should help a team without a offensive threat off the bench and with the right attitude,Smith could be a huge steal...

Cleveland adding the Thunder's 1st rounder (protected through 18) might help the Cavaliers in working on obtaining the center/"rim protector" that the team has badly needed all season.
Not saying that will get this done,but it adds another chip to the table.

My thoughts on the trade?
The Cavaliers could have addition by subtraction here as J.R.Smith brings better shooting and Iman Shumpert brings better defensive skills than Dion Waiters and the Cavaliers have improved their depth at least.
If J.R.Smith comes in with the right attitude,he could prove to be very helpful off the bench and Shumpert is a much needed help on the defensive end,so this could be huge.
I also think that Dion Waiters could struggle in Oklahoma City for the same reasons that he didn't get the most of his ability in Cleveland,so this could be a huge upgrade.

There is risk here,but the Cavaliers needed a little shakeup right now and this has the chance to be a move that sets some chemistry issues in order.

Jagr tips cap in 5-2 Devils win over Philadelphia

On a night that Jaromir Jagr set an NHL record and that the Flyers Ray Emery couldn't stop a Hoppity Hop,the New Jersey Devils were able to build a huge lead and cruise to a 5-2 win the Philadelphia Flyers.
Jaromir Jagr scored three times (7,8,9) with Patrik Elias (5 power play) and Scott Gomez (3) adding the other New Jersey goals.
New Jersey will finish their homestand on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres...

Hell Raisers

1) The Jaromir Jagr hat trick put the veteran in the NHL record books for being the oldest player ever to score three goals in a game.
Jagr displaced Gordie Howe,who was 41 plus when he set the previous high with the Red Wings,while Jagr is closer to 43 than his current 42.
Hopefully,this is the impetus to setting Jagr on a run that would result in a higher price for anyone trying to obtain him at the playoff deadline....

2) The Devils didn't exactly fire tons of ammunition at the Flyer net as they put just 18 shots against the Flyers.
If five of them go in,I'll live with such a paltry number....

3) Four of the five Devils goals to the same line as Adam Henrique was switched to the Scott Gomez/Jaromir Jagr line.
Obviously that switch worked for one night.
Mike Cammalleri was the players moved out for Henrique...

4) Four fights in this game and maybe the only person more excited than I was Ken Daneyko doing the game on TV.
I know some don't like fighting and the game is going away from it,but I am getting a feeling that the Devils are up to something-a bad team is going to try to go away from the grain and try to rough the opposition up.
I'm not saying it's going to work in the long haul,but considering Lou Lamiorello and Scott Stevens on staff,this might turn out to be the strategy that the Devils try out...

5) What the above strategy also does is this-a bad and less than exciting team (On most nights,that is) might be a bit more fun for the live crowd to watch.
When you are part of a three team market,one always is fighting for the entertainment dollar and this might be another way to excite the crowd...

6) The win pulled the Devils even (at 35 points) with Philadelphia and Columbus,which is a good thing (I guess),but keep in mind that the Devils have earned their 35 points in two more games than the Flyers and FIVE more games than the Blue Jackets.
In other words,don't get too excited yet....

7) Another word about fighting-Mark Fraser returned to the Devils from Albany for the first time since being traded away three years ago and since being signed for AHL depth.
Fraser wasn't remembered by Rachel,but quickly won a spot in her heart for soundly decisioning Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers,who is not a favorite of hers...

Pigskin Picking Machine

The PPM returns with playoff predictions for Wild Card Weekend

Panthers over Cardinals 24-14
Cowboys over Lions 35-30
Steelers over Ravens 21-13
Colts over Bengals 28-14

Last week:5-5
Season: 98-40