PapaGeorge
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The red hot New Jersey Devils still have a long way with a lot of hard work to go to really enter the Eastern Conference playoff race. But, Ilya Kovalchuk and a lock down defensive system are making it very interesting for all of us hockey fans out there.
Kovalchuk scored for the fourth straight game while Johan Hedberg made 15 saves to give the streaking Devils a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night. Now keep in mind the Rangers played the night before and were probably tired. But, this is hockey there are no excuses. Especially when you only fire the puck on net 15 times total in one game.
Where was Gaborik all game? Actually, where has Gaborik been all season long? If you have him on your fantasy hockey team like I do, you are probably kicking your self repeatedly. I could say the same for Kovalchuk, but as of late he is making me not regret my decision of taking him in the first round, second overall in my fantasy draft.
New Jersey won its season high sixth straight and improved to 14-1-2 in its past 17 games to enter the post-season discussion. Eight of their last nine games have been decided by one goal (8-0-1). That is a total of 30 points in the past 17 games.
Despite their winning ways, the Devils are still 12 points behind eighth place Carolina and will need to jump over five teams to make the playoffs with only 24 games remaining. They trailed the seventh place Rangers by 31 points on Jan. 8, but are now 14 points behind. The Devils play the Hurricanes on 2/19, this will be a true test for the Devils if they have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.
Hedberg got the start over Martin Brodeur, activated from the injured list Friday, and earned his second shutout of the season and 16th in the NHL. The 15 shots were a season-low for New York. But do the Devils continue to play Hedberg? Some say yes some say No. Let’s not forget, Brodeur has been part of that remarkable 14-1-2 run before he was injured.
Kovalchuk has a nine game points streak, recording seven goals and four assists and fueling New Jersey’s success. He scored the goal that seemed to be coming for quite some time as the Devils controlled the puck and kept the Rangers pinned in their zone.
But the play that produced the goal originated in the New Jersey end as Kovalchuk capitalized on a miscue at the right point by Marc Staal. The defenceman tried to keep the puck in but let it get behind him. He then seemed unable to get his skates going to chase Kovalchuk on a breakaway. Can anyone actually catch Kovalchuk once he starts flying down the ice?
The $100 million man then raced to the glass beside the Devils bench and emphatically thrust his arms up several times to pump up the already exuberant crowd.
If these Devils make the playoffs, every team in the East needs to watch out. As momentum will get these Devils deep into the playoffs upsetting possibly the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
http://www.georgepappasjr.com
Kovalchuk scored for the fourth straight game while Johan Hedberg made 15 saves to give the streaking Devils a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night. Now keep in mind the Rangers played the night before and were probably tired. But, this is hockey there are no excuses. Especially when you only fire the puck on net 15 times total in one game.
Where was Gaborik all game? Actually, where has Gaborik been all season long? If you have him on your fantasy hockey team like I do, you are probably kicking your self repeatedly. I could say the same for Kovalchuk, but as of late he is making me not regret my decision of taking him in the first round, second overall in my fantasy draft.
New Jersey won its season high sixth straight and improved to 14-1-2 in its past 17 games to enter the post-season discussion. Eight of their last nine games have been decided by one goal (8-0-1). That is a total of 30 points in the past 17 games.
Despite their winning ways, the Devils are still 12 points behind eighth place Carolina and will need to jump over five teams to make the playoffs with only 24 games remaining. They trailed the seventh place Rangers by 31 points on Jan. 8, but are now 14 points behind. The Devils play the Hurricanes on 2/19, this will be a true test for the Devils if they have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.
Hedberg got the start over Martin Brodeur, activated from the injured list Friday, and earned his second shutout of the season and 16th in the NHL. The 15 shots were a season-low for New York. But do the Devils continue to play Hedberg? Some say yes some say No. Let’s not forget, Brodeur has been part of that remarkable 14-1-2 run before he was injured.
Kovalchuk has a nine game points streak, recording seven goals and four assists and fueling New Jersey’s success. He scored the goal that seemed to be coming for quite some time as the Devils controlled the puck and kept the Rangers pinned in their zone.
But the play that produced the goal originated in the New Jersey end as Kovalchuk capitalized on a miscue at the right point by Marc Staal. The defenceman tried to keep the puck in but let it get behind him. He then seemed unable to get his skates going to chase Kovalchuk on a breakaway. Can anyone actually catch Kovalchuk once he starts flying down the ice?
The $100 million man then raced to the glass beside the Devils bench and emphatically thrust his arms up several times to pump up the already exuberant crowd.
If these Devils make the playoffs, every team in the East needs to watch out. As momentum will get these Devils deep into the playoffs upsetting possibly the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
http://www.georgepappasjr.com
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