The New Jersey Devils have been fighting the perception for years that they're a boring, sluggish team that simply sits back and clogs up the neutral zone, trapping teams into mistakes. The return of Jacques Lemaire, the trap-master himself, behind the bench probably didn't do much to help that perception. No matter the system, he's coming to a team that finished 15th in goals scored this past season, and boasts one of the best young wingers in the NHL, 25-year-old Zach Parise.
It had to be this way -- the most evenly-matched series in the league's opening round, two parallel teams who have been equals in the stat sheet through six games, naturally leads to a Game 7. That fate was sealed for the Hurricanes and Devils after the Hurricanes played near-perfect hockey in dispatching the Devils in front of a thoroughly pleased Carolina crowd that included elite Panthers wideout Steve Smith and Tyler Hansbrough of the national champion Tar Heels.
The 'Canes did their part in living up to the presence of those two, responding to a shutout loss in Game 5 with a forceful effort in which Brent Sutter summed up thusly, "The difference was that one team played like there was no tomorrow and the other didn't."
Pavel Datsyuk has owned the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy the past three seasons, and he's going to have an opportunity to claim another one as the Red Wings' star is, once again, one of the top vote-getters in 2009. Joining Datsyuk in the top three are New Jersey's Zach Parise and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis.
The 30-year-old center matched a career-high with 97 points this season, fourth best in the NHL, while also setting a new personal-best with 32 goals. One of the best -- and most underrated -- players in the NHL, Datsyuk is the total package as a player, and is also one of the all-time great draft day steals, going in the sixth-round of the 1998 draft, 187th overall.
They might not be getting love on Versus or NBC, relegating live television coverage of their series to those who get NHL Center Ice or live in their respective areas.
However, there hasn't been a more competitive series than the one between Carolina and New Jersey. The teams were tied 1-1 heading into Game Three Sunday night, which became the second straight in the series to require overtime. After losing home-ice advantage with a 2-1 defeat Friday, the Devils took it back with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday in Raleigh.
The New Jersey Devils lost home-ice advantage Friday, and they lost their captain in the process. Game Two of their series against the Hurricanes went to Carolina in overtime. That leveled the series at a game apiece, and Game Three is Sunday night in Raleigh.
In a set of first round playoff series that look, at least on paper, to be more competitive than usual, the most hard-fought battle might be the one between the Devils and the Hurricanes. The teams entered the postseason at opposite ends of the spectrum -- the Devils waded through March like they were wearing cement boots, while the Hurricanes, despite losing their last two of the season, finished remarkably hot.
Tom Gulitti is the Devils beat writer for the Bergen Record and, as the voice of Fire & Ice, one of the best beat bloggers in the league. He took some time out to speak with FanHouse about the Devils and their first-round matchup.
Exactly 1,230 regular season games have been played. We're down to the best eight teams in each conference. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday night with four series lid-lifters.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins rallied from a bit of a swoon around the All-Star Break to easily win the top seed. Even if you subscribe to the idea of Boston being favored because of their strong overall record, there are no sure things in these here playoffs. Who will threaten to knock the Bruins off their pedestal?
As the Frozen Four begins late Thursday afternoon, there will be 22 players showcasing their skills that have been drafted by NHL teams. While many of the others will be, as the NCAA says, "going pro in something other than sports", a good number of them will showcase their talents in an effort to join a growing population. Every year, more and more college players end up getting a shot at the NHL. Not only that, but a greater number of them are making a real name for themselves when they get there.
Sometimes what should be and what has to be aren't the same. So, as much as you would have wished to see the Devils keep Scott Clemmensen with the big club after winning 25 games in Martin Brodeur's stead this season, logistics demanded otherwise.
With three NHL-caliber goalies (Kevin Weekes being the third) and not enough practice time for all, one had to be sent down to Lowell, and Clemmensen was the only one who wouldn't have to clear waivers and risk being claimed by another team. Tough break for Clemmer, who should be considered the team's MVP this season, Zach Parise or no Zach Parise. His 2.39 goals against average, after all, is still good for sixth in the league. But, because of the apparently serious injury Weekes suffered Friday night against the Lightning, Clemmensen is back.
Thanks to his two-goal, two-assist effort in Washington's 5-3 win over Tampa Bay on Friday night, Alex Ovechkin hit the 100-point plateau for the second consecutive season and third time in four years.
He's essentially clinched his second Rocket Richard award as the league's leading goal scorer, and is within six points of Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin for the Art Ross Trophy for most points overall. His two goals on Friday also pushed him past Mario Lemieux's mark of 215 goals in the first four years of his career.
In the process, Ovechkin joins a list of all-time greats.
FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 22 is New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise.
It had to be this way -- the most evenly-matched series in the league's opening round, two parallel teams who have been equals in the stat sheet through six games, naturally leads to a Game 7. That fate was sealed for the Hurricanes and Devils after the Hurricanes played near-perfect hockey in dispatching the Devils in front of a thoroughly pleased Carolina crowd that included elite Panthers wideout 
They might not be getting love on Versus or NBC, relegating live television coverage of their series to those who get NHL Center Ice or live in their respective areas.
The New Jersey Devils lost home-ice advantage Friday, and they lost their captain in the process. Game Two of their series against the Hurricanes went to Carolina in overtime. That leveled the series at a game apiece, and Game Three is Sunday night in Raleigh.
Sometimes what should be and what has to be aren't the same. So, as much as you would have wished to see the Devils keep 
Thanks to his two-goal, two-assist effort in Washington's 5-3 win over Tampa Bay on Friday night, 
