The Devils not only have won eight consecutive games, but also all five that Brendan Shanahan has played in since signing with the team.
In fact, he has not seen the team lose since he joined them in Columbus for his first practice on Jan. 15 and has scored three goals in his five games.
"It's been fun," he said. "It's been good timing, fortunate for me. Obviously, I came at a good time. I think also you've got to look at some of the guys we have out of the lineup. They're really good players and they're going to be very important for us down the stretch and there's not a guy in the lineup that doesn't recognize the importance of those guys and I think that competition and knowing that there are very good players that deserve to be in the lineup pushes everybody harder."
That seemed to be a nod toward Jay Pandolfo who came out of the lineup when Shanahan played in his first game in Nashville on Jan. 19 and has not played since.
Although Shanahan has been around the Devils for only two weeks, he is not surprised by the resiliency they've shown recently, particularly in the last two games.
"It's a veteran group and there's a lot of Stanley Cups in this room and that's one of the things you get when you have guys that have been through that, especially when you've been through that together," he said. "You don't win the Stanley Cup without having your back against the wall many times."
Unbelievable win. Great confidence and what a great addition of B.Shan.to already great team.I have noticed after tying goal they showed the bench after the goal was scored and everyone was jumping and smiling except one player B.ROLSTON. I wonder why.He better start performing and play up to expectations.Maybe coach should try him with different players. Its so sad seeing him like that. He is not even killing penalties where lately we have better and better chances to score SHG.
Posted by: AK47 | January 31, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Unbelievable win. Great confidence and what a great addition of B.Shan.to already great team.I have noticed after tying goal they showed the bench after the goal was scored and everyone was jumping and smiling except one player B.ROLSTON. I wonder why.He better start performing and play up to expectations.Maybe coach should try him with different players. Its so sad seeing him like that. He is not even killing penalties and we starting to play more in offence mode on the kill.
Posted by: AK47 | January 31, 2009 at 12:43 AM
Sorry for a double post
Posted by: AK47 | January 31, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Maybe Shanny will have a change of heart about his Rangers and turn it towards NJ, their experience.. and their STANLEY CUPS AND DIVISION/CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS......... THEIR GLORIOUS FRANCHISE!
Posted by: modnarm | January 31, 2009 at 01:15 AM
i think shanny is over the rangers. why wouldn't he be, the devils are rolling and giving him the role best suited for him to have personal success.
Posted by: jermz | January 31, 2009 at 01:32 AM
hey guys just got home and watched the highlights...amazing.. this team is so exciting... i cant wait til next game hey guys any word if brodeur did in fact take shots yet???? go devils
Posted by: dan from western ny | January 31, 2009 at 01:37 AM
Rolston i think has played great he's shooting the puck and is extremely well rounded. i think he and shanahan are the two players outside of the play of elias and parise that are really helping to give the devils a new identity this year
Posted by: Dan | January 31, 2009 at 01:45 AM
I dropped to the floor and reamined motionless for about a minute after Langs scored late in the third. I just can't believe we came back. Shanny with a sick shot on the PP to cut the lead to 3-2. Zajac was a monster tonight as was Parise. Travis is just so much better this year. Winning battles in the corners, making phenomenal cross ice passes and his speed has improved tremendously....
Just a solid win for a team bursting with confidence. 8 in a row devs! MARCH ON BABY!!!
Posted by: Brodeur30 | January 31, 2009 at 02:40 AM
we want the cup!!!
making arab mone
Posted by: Rico Suave | January 31, 2009 at 02:57 AM
Shanahan still has a beast of a shot. Hell of a game, I mean wow.
Posted by: Gilly | January 31, 2009 at 03:54 AM
By the way, after all of that Madden trade talk; Look who was our savior tonight. Down 3-1 after 1 could have sealed the Devs fate.
Posted by: Gilly | January 31, 2009 at 04:09 AM
AK47- if you count your post in the previous blog entry, that would make it a tripe post.
Posted by: Salvatore from Garfield | January 31, 2009 at 05:27 AM
Gilly- You still read those blog posts where people propose their own trades and lines?
Posted by: Salvatore from Garfield | January 31, 2009 at 05:29 AM
Salvatore- They get kind of hard to ignore when there are 4 pages worth of them.
Posted by: Gilly | January 31, 2009 at 05:55 AM
TG, what do you make of Everson's article that Sutter may not return next season because he is essentially homesick?
Posted by: Segundo | January 31, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Sick game last night! I went to Brick City Grill last night, and must admit, the smoke show blonde who worked at the front bar was the best part. The place was mobbed, meat heads all over the place, it was actually comical how closely it resembled Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant... Beer wasn't overly cheap but it couldn't be worse than the Blue Comet in Newark Penn Station where they jam you for $6 for a bottle of Amstel. I know 40 places in the city that don't charge that, get a clue.
Anywho, I didn't eat this time but intend to next time i make it pregame. As for after game festivities, it probably would have been less of an animal house if the Devils lost but if you want to be loud and celebrate another great win, its a good spot. If you want to relax, and possibly run into the Devils girls, who most of are equally impressive and sweet hearts, go to Hell's Kitchen closer to the train station. To me, it's a better place to go because it wasn't trying to be a club and you never get the feeling big brother is looking over your shoulder like at Brick City (see well dressed Italian goon walking around arms crossed after pounding back a cycle of steriods today alone.)
Posted by: Jacko | January 31, 2009 at 08:49 AM
TG,
By any chance did you ask Langs what Crosby was saying to the refs before they finally started the overtime? Emrick speculated he was complaining about their failure to call a hook on that last-second rush in regulation, which may heve been a legitimate complaint - But the thing that bothered me was the way Crosby went on and on, and that the refs patiently listened to him whine.
He uses his status as a Captain to complain at some point in almost every game to the refs, and it's almost always about penalties or non-calls relating to HIMSELF. You have to respect his hockey skills, but he seems like he's a selfish whiner.
Shut Up and Play, Crosby.
Posted by: Dave | January 31, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Also, it sure was good to see Shanahan keep his butt out of the penalty box for a change. And all of the Devils' defense - esp Greene and Oduya - were outstanding once again.
Rolling four lines - everyone chipping in, and positionally sound - creating all sorts of offensive chances, and snuffing those of their opponents.
This team is such fun to watch right now!
Posted by: Dave | January 31, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Let's look back a year....
Elias stripped of captaincy....
Langenbrunner barking back at Sutter...
What a difference a year makes.... GO DEVILS
Posted by: axondog | January 31, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Jacko...lmao..great info you wrote and it rings quite true. To some of the classless Devil fans last night ribbing Pens fans during after the game...one word...be humble. I would hate being compared to the reputation of many Flyer fans. I was behind a father and his daughter both Pens fans and some meathead actually was taughting him to fight..unreal. I was up in 231 and a fight broke out...it's no wonder why many families dont bring their kids out to see the Devils besides the cost. To be a passionate fan is one thing but man some folks take it way too far...just my two cents. Great game last night...this team is poised to go far...great to see them play with alot of tenacity.
Posted by: zman | January 31, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Last night't Devils comeback victory was the fourth time this season they won when trailing after two periods. They did that eight times all last season.
IF Brodeur comes back before the March 4, 2009 NHL Trade Deadline, then the Devils might be in a position to trade Kevin Weekes, but I am not counting on Brodeur coming back before then.
It would be great if the Devils were to win the Cup this season. A lot has to go right for that to happen.
We will need to see what happens leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline.
GO DEVILS!!
Posted by: Noam N. Kogen | January 31, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Why can't we just have fun going back and forth ribbing the visiting fans without fights breaking out? I just don't get it. There's a line you just don't cross if you have class. It really sucks because to this day I can't get my girl to go to games with me because her father took her to a Flyers game when she was a little girl and now she hates hockey because off all the dumb@sses that scared her. It's not like she hates sports either, she's a HUGE Giants fan but she's convinced that hockey is "WAAAAY more violent than football". Oh well, I'll keep trying. :)
Posted by: JJ | January 31, 2009 at 11:07 AM
I love how the Post publishes articles based completely upon nothing but speculation, and the speculation is from one end of the spectrum to completely the other. I'm almost ashamed to put a link to this story.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01312009/sports/devils/coach_sutter_evasive_about_jersey_return_152926.htm
Posted by: JJ | January 31, 2009 at 11:27 AM
no backhanded shots at shanny this time, shocked.. like the he is to slow and no room on the team for him, or the it was a 5 on 3 goal, or the goal on a rookie netminder, ( like he was the only one) or the 5 minors in 5 periods.. seems like TG might be pando
Posted by: nnjrules | January 31, 2009 at 12:40 PM
brodeur30- classic. i did the same thing when thomas made that save on elias a few kevin weeks ago. i was at a bar when the jamie scored last night and i screamed "yes" so loud, and watched msg replay it about 23 times, and savored every one. it got my adrenaline going and proceeded to get smashed.
by the way, theres a great bar real close to the arena. i forget the name, but if your facing the arena its about two streets to the right and past a bootleg parking station. try the guinness wings. its all devils fans and its more of a classy establishment. no bennys, unless were playing the rangers.
Posted by: Ray | January 31, 2009 at 01:30 PM