I’m in the process of a much better goodbye than this: but the outpouring of well wishes from everyone tonight has been overwhelming and means so much. Thanks everyone.
Excited for the
@NJDevils
return to the ice tonight. I won't be calling tonight's game as I've been battling COVID for the past two weeks. Making progress, but not ready to return. Thanks to the ultimate pro
@KennyAlbert
for taking the headset tonight. Hope to see you soon.
Akira Schmid just played the first two Stanley Cup playoff games of his
@NHL
career in one of the league’s most hostile environments and doesn’t seem to give a damn. That’s something.
Throughout his 21-game winless streak, not once did Cory Schneider stop saying the right things and being supportive of his teammates, including Kinkaid and Blackwood. Everyone in that room is elated the streak is over.
Can't recall more important consecutive come from behind wins for the Devils since late in 2017-18 -- that unforgettable stretch when they hung on versus Islanders, and Hall had the (SH) goal in MTL. They'd clinch playoff berth days later. Pleasure watching the first 41.
Almost every faction of the sports universe will be touched by the loss of Kobe Bryant. The Devils’ Wayne Simmonds on his time with the LA Kings: “We shared a practice facility (El Segundo) with the Lakers. Ask anyone in LA, an absolute legend. My thoughts are with his family.”
Let’s acknowledge perfection: Eric Comrie is the only goaltender in
@NJDevils
history with a perfect win percentage (1-0-0).
@KennyAlbert
is the only Devils’ broadcaster with same (2-0-0).
Wishing
@BillSpaulding
the very best as he assumes the role of play by play for the
@NJDevils
on
@MSGNetworks
at such an exciting time for the team and the
@NHL
. Hoping you call many Ws for fans that deserve them. Enjoy the ride Bill!
This is the first time the Devils and Rangers will miss the playoffs in the same season. Prior to last year, the Stanley Cup Playoffs had featured Brodeur and/or Lundqvist every year from 1997 through 2017 except the lockout year. The Times They Are a-Changing.
Thank you everyone for the messages of support and kindness. More than anything, I am thankful and fortunate for the progress I've made in the past ten days. Stay safe.
A lot of hearts broken on days like this. Take this into your summer: it’s a young team, very well coached, professionally run, and one that never made excuses. The Devils’ future is extremely bright. Reaching the next level is hard. But they’re equipped to give it a good shot.
Taylor Hall’s time as a New Jersey Devil is one of the most unique, and strangest pit stops of an NHL player’s career. I can’t decide if it was a successful failure, or a failed success story.
Drawing no conclusions after two games, but when Florida allowed a 4-on-4 goal last night it left only one NHL team to NOT allow an even strength goal this season: the
@NJDevils
. So there’s that. (And yes that has a lot to do with 29).
The irony of yesterday’s announcement is that the Devils celebrated their most successful 27 hours of the season — consecutive wins over the top tier Capitals and Lightning — using 20 players. 16 of the 20 were either drafted or acquired by Ray Shero.
A quick shout to Marcus Johansson — who was so generous with his time and with
@NJDevils
fans at tonight’s event — despite the likelihood of this being the last night around his NJ teammates. Whatever team has him Monday at 3 pm has a good one.
Blake Coleman. That’s a hell of a player who if he gets to play regularly with Stamkos or Point, should score 30+ in a season. Enjoyed my chats with him immensely. He’s on NHL’s most cap friendly contract now. Hope he strikes it rich soon (No personal income tax state too)!
Travis Zajac’s first
@NHL
game was my first with the
@DevilsMSGN
crew. Never met a more genuine athlete. Total respect for his 15-year career. Always played the hardest minutes of games. I learned a lot from him about what it means to be a pro.
The legend is here. Covered his first game as a member of the free press in 1955. When Stan Fischler attends Islanders-Devils Thursday, it will mark his eighth decade in an NHL press box: ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s, ‘10s, ‘20s.
Lindy Ruff on giving Jack Hughes 44:28 of ice time through first two games (most among
@NJDevils
forwards) “I can play him against anybody. I’m not worried about matchups.”
I’ll never forget two goals on the road to the playoffs in 2018: 1) Taylor Hall penalty shot goal v. Lundqvist at Prudential Center (the fans nearly blew the roof off the place). 2) Taylor Hall’s first ever short handed goal in Montreal. Thanks
@hallsy09
and good luck.
Rangers the first team to exit the NHL bubble. Shots of Lundqvist on bench in 3rd period were not easy to watch. Great player, great competitor, probable Hall of Famer. Like Giacomin, his Rangers’ career may end without elusive ring.
Actually woke up this morning ready to prep for Game 6, and then It hit me a second later, like cold water in the face. Thanks to all who offered a kind word or just a smile as we crossed paths at
@PruCenter
. See you soon.
He probably wants Buchnevic goal back, but Mackenzie Blackwood gave all you can ask of a goaltender playing for the first time in 28 nights. I just never saw him expend unnecessary energy. So important in this situation. Top shelf mature performance.
First Saturday in May. Usually breakfast with Premier League, Stanley Cup Playoffs, a baseball game, Kentucky Derby, MLS, and NBA playoff games. Different world. Hang in there.
Bettman announces 2019-20 regular season now complete. The Devils finish 28-29-12, went 6-2-2 in last 10 games prior to pause. Had Devils defeated the Penguins in their final game March 10, their points % would have been higher than MTL (enough to qualify for 24 team tournament)
Patrik Elias is best Game 7 player
@NJDevils
ever had. I once asked him what key to excelling in this situation is. Never forgot his answer: “Trust yourself. Trust the work that you put in to get this far. Then just play.” Team checked that box. Terrific win. Congrats boys.
I asked Sharangovich if he wears 17 in honor of the late, great Valeri Kharlamov. The Belarus born player said simply that “17 is my favorite number, that’s all.” He speaks limited English and kudos to him for doing post game interview with
@MSGNetworks
3 quick observations. 1) Other than the 7-1 win at Chicago, this might have been Devils’ best game of season. 2) Even without the GWG, Hischier was game’s best player. 3) Blackwood close to playing himself into conversation of top 5 Calder candidates.
Blackwood biggest save of young season on Pastrnak just before time expires.
@NJDevils
take 5 of a possible 6 points in first three meetings versus Bruins, handing Boston just its third regulation defeat in 15 games this season.
It is impossible to measure right now what this night means for the
@njdevils
and
@NYRangers
rivalry. Will Hughes-Kakko be forever measured against each other, playing home games 15 miles apart.
Andy Greene was recalled from Lowell Devils after Colin White was injured in 2006-07. Wasn’t his first recall but it was the one that stuck — for 14 seasons. Heck of a run for an undrafted player, or any player.
Putting this into perspective, the
@NJDevils
had never had a Hart Trophy recipient or Hart Trophy runner up in the team’s 35-year history that includes three Stanley Cup winning teams.
@hallsy09
groundbreaking night for the organization.
With tonight’s win Mackenzie Blackwood has a career record of 29-22-7. He owns a .500 record. Not NHL .500. Real world .500. On a team that’s won 37 percent of its games over the last two seasons. 52 saves tonight before the shootout.
Cory Schneider reminiscing with the crew from SN about his days with Canucks. Says he’ll never forget what Roberto Luongo did for him, and wants to pay it forward to 22-year-old Mackenzie Blackwood, who starts tonight.
I think most
@NJDevils
fans can relate to what
@NYIslanders
fans are feeling today when Parise went home in summer of 2012. It hurts. Plain and simple. Takes time for the sting to go away. But it will.
The
@NJDevils
wanted to keep Patrick Maroon. He took less money from the
@StLouisBlues
because he wanted to be home. How rewarding this must be for him. Can’t tell if he’s crying in post game interview. The Blues have never won the Stanley Cup. 8 wins away.
We’re live on MSG Plus with coverage at noon. Devils seek their first four game winning streak since the first four games of 2018-19. (Nice to be back).
It wasn’t the season
@NJDevils
fans wanted, but there were still so many tremendous moments that I’ll carry with me into the summer. Enjoy the Stanley Cup Playoffs and thanks for being there all year.
You’ll hear many rumors leading up to the Feb. 24 trade deadline, and I’ve learned that these situations are fluid, but this from my chat with Travis Zajac this morning: “I’ve thought about the situation a lot. This is where I want to be.” He has a full no trade clause.
Devils play their 500th regular season game at
@PruCenter
tonight. Favorite memories of first 499 for me:
1-Brodeur breaks Roy record.
2-Jagr oldest with hat trick.
3-Boyle scoring on Hockey Fights Cancer Night.
4-Playoff clincher 2018
499-Lights go out v. TBL
25 points from
@NJDevils
Rookies in 2021:
Ty Smith 8
Janne Kuokkanen 6
Nathan Bastian 4
Yegor Sharangovich 3
Nick Merkley 3
Mikhail Maltsev 1
Only CHI with more (29). Only LAK more rookies with a point (7).
This is Donna. She is:
A social worker.
My wife.
The kind of person I aspire to be (but often fall short).
Reminder today that there are good people out there to help. She’s just one of them.
#BellLetsTalk
7 goals in 28
@NHL
games for Sharangovich. He’s played most of that outside the team’s top six. That’s a nice entry into the best league in the world at age 22.
Blake Coleman scored for the
@NJDevils
with this tremendous effort opening night. He also scored tonight to help the
@TBLightning
win the Stanley Cup. The goals bookending his remarkable season came 360 days apart.
Late in his Hart Trophy winning season, Taylor Hall made a point of saying that he had never experienced as superior a level of coaching as he had received from John Hynes and his staff.
Me to Mackenzie Blackwood: “You’re playing against a team that you faced last year and...
MB interrupts: “Scored lots of goals (9) I know... I’m not playing the game outside the game. I’m just stopping pucks tonight.” He then chuckled. It’s his fourth straight start.
4 things about
@DebPlacey
1-She’s brilliant. Knocks off
@nytimes
crossword puzzle in her sleep. 2-She eats 1 meal a day, but it’s the same amount of food you consume in 6 meals. 3-She makes difficult jobs look easy. 4-Deserves the very best. Good luck buddy.
If Davies and Ty Smith are NHL ready in October, it’s easy to envision half of the Devils’ D-Corp overhauled next season. Bracing for a very interesting summer.
Former Devil Ryan Carter now a color analyst for Minnesota Wild. I asked him if being at MSG last night brought back memories: “Ohhh Yeeaah.!” Everyone remembers Henrique, but that goal by Carter in Game 5...
What Pete DeBoer and John Hynes have in common: both vilified by Devils’ fans in the final weeks/months prior to their firings. Both excellent coaches. I’ll be shocked if both aren’t NHL head coaches by summer 2020.
This is such an ambitious project with some amazing people behind it. Hoping we can take coverage of a terrific league to new heights. Mostly thankful to MLS for using the 1989 file photo.
To call
@NYIslanders
run impressive would be an understatement. They came within six victories of winning it all. Four wins from his first Stanley Cup is
@BColes25
, congrats to him but feel for Andy Greene who deserves this before he retires.
Larry Brooks’ story. He labels the Devils’ six defensemen in those playoffs —
Stevens, Rafalski, Niedermayer, Daneyko, Malakhov, and White —
the deepest group assembled in NHL history.
Hall has been extremely generous with his time on this trip. Has been terrific with our crew, and agreed to represent
@NJDevils
at the podium for a third straight day. Pro.
#NJDevils
: Taylor Hall ahead of ssn opener: “The whole lead up to this has been quite a long time. We were really excited to get to Europe and now that we’ve been here for a few days we’re all just looking forward to getting the game started tonight and playing as well as we can”
Something we’ll discuss tonight: Nico is one of 7
@NHL
centers with 30+ points and 6 PIM or less. The whole list is below. He’s done this as top liner, having just turned 20, with Taylor Hall absent for more than a quarter of the
@NJDevils
games this season.
Good for Kyle. His consistently professional approach to the game has been inspiring since the day he became a Devil. He’s on pace to eclipse 30 goals for the second time in his NHL career.
Our focus Sunday will be on players and teams battling on
#DecisionDay
. When I called my first game with my friend, Cristiano Ronaldo was a month shy of his Man United debut, and Apple, which presents
@MLS
next season, was just introducing iTunes…1/3
Luis Robles is example of why sports remains the most important unimportant thing in this world. He was 10 minutes from selling real estate and giving up. Imagine if he did. Inspirational.
Sami Vatanen played 30:40 Saturday v. Colorado. That is the most ice time by any Devils’ player in a game ending in regulation since Brian Rafalski played 30:55 in a 3-2 win v. Blues January 10, 2007. If Vatanen stays healthy and is not moved by the deadline.. team MVP?
Cory Schneider says Ray Shero put him in touch with Pekka Rinne about what to expect at this stage of his recovery from hip surgery, in addition to chats with Roberto Luongo and Eddie Lack. “The goaltending fraternity is tight... and I feel great.”
I asked Ty Smith if he had any idea he would be cut by Devils last year with TV cameras rolling (Behind The Glass Series). “No,” he deadpans. Pauses, then laughs. Says he is roughly 7 pounds heavier than one year ago, and better equipped to make the team this year.
Andy Greene in for the Islanders today. The last time he faced the Florida Panthers in a playoff game, he played a solid 31:53 in Game 7 of 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinal. Guy named Henrique fired last shot of double overtime.
Fans boo all the time, and that is their right. But I don’t think I’m wrong when I say Parise was the most popular Devil never to win the Stanley Cup in NJ.
Zach Parise on returning to NJ: "I don't get the warmest reception, but it's a fun place 4 me. It's not the same feelings I had the first couple of times I came back, but I still love playing in this building. It was a great place to live for a while and I always enjoyed it here.
The last time the Devils played on Thanksgiving Day, this guy assisted on a goal in the Devils’ 6-1 win at LA on Nov. 23, 2000. It was part of Patrik Elias’ 96-point season, and he would finish the season an NHL best +45. Happy Thanksgiving as we’re live in Montreal at 7p.
Jack Hughes tied for NHL scoring lead this morning with six others, and tied for most even strength points with four other players after his first career 2-goal game, and second career 3-point game.
Our coverage begins 6:15p on MSG Plus. Two
@NJDevils
potentially make their NHL debuts tonight in Ty Smith and Yegor Sharangovich. Devils’ last season opening win at Prudential Center was in October 2017 versus Colorado. It was step one towards the playoffs.