This seems like a broken record at times with the New Jersey Devils. They play well against the New York Rangers this year but still come up the loser. Three times they have went to battle and three times they have come away empty against their cross town rivals. Last night, it was a 3-1 loss that was more noteworthy for what went wrong again as opposed to what did go right. With New Jersey a win should never be too much to ask yet so mane feel that this was a moral victory of sorts.
The first thing to combat that is with this fact. There are no more moral victories at this point. Even Coach Jacques Lemaire has said that those go out the window now and rightfully should for a talent laden team (even with the injuries). Clearly there is a frustration that goes beyond the mental psyche which is very fragile.
When 44 shots hit the other team's goalie, most would think that team would come out on top. If it is the New Jersey Devils, the first thing that is asked is how did they lose tonight? This really is a true story. That my friends is the worst feeling in the world as expecting the worst and then seeing it as well. Not to sound cold but this New Jersey team just looks really old. They come and go far too often, never being able to fully put together a sixty minute effort even when they win.
Tonight was more the it came in waves effort that should have resulted in a win but did not for a litany of reasons. The bottom line is Henrik Lundqvist was sharp in net for the New York Rangers but he was also lucky several times as Devils seemed to be there but could never cash in.
The hitting was there as the team was hitting everything in sight. The scoring chances and shots were there especially when the team was piling up 36 shots after two periods. However, again, it just seemed the New York Rangers had luck on their side. One bad angle by Jamie Langenbrunner and a glove by Andy Greene and the game may just have been different.
Give that team across the Hudson credit, they parlayed those two mistakes into a win tonight when they clearly did not have their best game. That is something New Jersey has failed to do all year and the difference between the two teams. Just to think not too long ago, it used to be the other way around. Now the minute adversity strikes, New Jersey finds the lack of courage to execute when it could mean something. That fatal flaw is what has allowed the losses to mount.
Then you hear the same quotes as well. What is worse now is that this team never really was in hockey shape. That is something most knew all along but almost systematically could not believe. This is the Devils after all. Yet it happened and for it to get to this point is troublesome. Can New Jersey win once before 2010 ends? First they have to figure out how to win a period. It seems a long long time since they have even done that on the score sheet.
Brian Rolston was indeed officially placed on waivers at Noon today and there are several teams at least inquiring of his services. Whether he clears re-entry is really anyone's guess. Should he be the only player to go? I highly doubt it. The bottom line is Brian is a nice guy but the points were not there. They still could be somewhere else but in New Jersey, it was clearly not working out. Feasibly if there are no suitors, Rolston could be "showcased" but that is a bridge that has not been crossed yet and hopefully will not have to be.
At any rate, there is more to come as there always is.
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