Devils and The Playoffs: A Numbers Game
The Devils have played 32 games, won 9 and lost 2 in overtime, good for 20 points. They are earning 0.625 points per game, or about 31% of the possible points. To put that in perspective, the last few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference go to teams with between 86-94 points. More specifically, to [...]
Hanukah and Christmas and Hockey
For as long as I’ve been around “hockey people”, I’ve known them to be the most passionate and most personable people. This is true at the youth level, in high school, and in the NHL. It’s why parents will drive two hours on a rainy Sunday morning to a rink with only two walls to [...]
Taking Lazy To A New Level
The Devils are not going to make the playoffs because they are a lazy team. Even if they get a few wins in a row, it’s not enough to offset the institutional laziness that has become acceptable on the ice. Exhibit A: Ilya Kovulchuk does not skate hard to the end boards with four minutes [...]
Kevin Youkilis Does Not Eat Bacon
Part two of my Israeli travelogue. Tuesday morning, Toby and I were invited to volunteer at the Ben Gurion elementary school in Bat Yam, Israel. Our route to school was a cab ride to Elana’s apartment, walking half a kilometer to the #19 bus stop (picking up my morning soofganiya – Hanukah jelly donut – [...]
Saving The Devils Season
The Devils are an unmitigated disaster this year. What should have been an unreal season for the players and fans – Parise, Kovulchuck, new D, new coach, Jason Arnott back in red and black – has been a series of single limping wins followed by stretches of looking lost, hopeless and honestly, frightened. If they [...]
Movember and The Parros Stache
Movember is an organization that raises awareness for men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer. As part of their efforts, they sponsor a mustache growing contest as a way to garner funds, “change the face” of men’s health issues, all under the mashed-up banner of Mo (stache) and the month of November. Snowman and Tiger favorite [...]
Parise’s Injury Is A Defining Event
Zach Parise had a torn meniscus repaired in his knee and will miss three months of the season. First of all, I hope Parise heals quickly, fully, and comes back stronger than ever. Yes, it’s his free agency year, and in baseball parlance he’d be looking for a “contract season”. He’s had those already, and [...]
The Devils Are In Hell
I’m a Devils fan, and I’m going to continue to be a Devils fan, but it’s very hard to get excited to buy new merchandise, go to games, or even watch games on TV when it’s the same sad story played out game after game. The Devils are in hell. They are horrible right now, [...]
Tiger Biscuit In The Basket
Thanks to Wally McDonough for this one. Last night was possibly the first time two Princeton University hockey alumni have scored goals in the NHL on the same night. Darroll Powe scored for the Flyers (his second) and George Parros picked one up for the Ducks (unassisted, his first of the year) on a slick [...]
How Not To Start A Season
The Devils are off to their worst start in 27 years. As far as I’m concerned their 1-4-1 record is an overstatement. They’ve lost five games and haven’t won a game in regulation yet this year. Their inability to score goals is a sign that something is very wrong with this team, and with the [...]