Division Snapshot: 1/1/09 - 1/7/09

by John Fischer on Jan 1, 2009 5:17 PM EST in Division Snapshot Comment 3 comments

It's a brand new calender year and it's the beginning of what will be a difficult month for New Jersey. They will play 14 games and 9 of them will be on the road. Over the next 7 days, the Devils will get two home games and two of the three teams they will play are far from being world-beaters. With Atlantic Division as it stands, the points will start becoming more important. Especially with the Devils' advantage in games played eroding.

Atlantic Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
New York Rangers	39	23	13	3	49
Philadelphia	37	20	10	7	47
New Jersey	36	21	12	3	45
Pittsburgh	37	19	14	4	42
New York Islanders	38	12	22	4	28

(updated 1.1.2009 at 9:15 AM EST)

One note about these: Pittsburgh plays tonight in Boston, so it is entirely possible that the Pens pull within 1 of the Devils. However, given how the Penguins lost 5-2 to Boston on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, a repeat of the results could be in the cards. There's a reason Boston is 28-5-4, of course. Anyway, here's how it looks for the Atlantic over the next 7 days:

Team	Games This Week (H, A)	Potential Points	Last 5 Games
NYR	3 (2,1)	6	2-2-1
PHI	3 (0,3)	6	2-2-1
NJ	3 (2,1)	6	2-3-0
PIT	4 (2,2)	8	2-3-0
NYI	3 (0,3)	6	2-2-1

Fortunately for the Devils, as they haven't been on fire, the rest of the division hasn't been super great either. Though, it is nice to see the Islanders get some wins before end of the 2008. Unfortunately, the Devils don't play any more games than anyone else so they will need to succeed where their rivals fail to continue rising up the division. Given everyone's current form, I don't expect a rise to second place for New Jersey. On Monday, Pittsburgh goes to MSG so those two teams will cancel each other out in terms of point, so that could be helpful or harmful depending on how the Devils do and how Pittsburgh performs.

The Devils have Montreal tomorrow, Ottawa on Sunday, and then a trip to Carolina. The Flyers continue the second half of a three game road trip through Anaheim and LA on back-to-back nights and Washington (who is having a great season!) on Tuesday. Philly should beat LA, but who knows about the other two games. The Rangers visit DC on Saturday and then come home to take on Pittsburgh and Montreal. None of those will be easy for the Rangers, but they have the advantage of being at home for two of them. While Pittsburgh may not win tonight against Boston and going to MSG will be tough; they are at home to Florida and Atlanta in this timespan - those should be wins for them. As for the Islanders, well, they visit Phoenix, San Jose, and Edmonton. It would be nice if they got some points out of those games, but it's doubtful. I don't anticipate any of these three teams sweeping this week, nor do I expect the Devils to do so either.

As it stands, the Devils should remain in third and within striking distance of the Rangers and Philly by this time next Wednesday, with Pittsburgh dangerously close behind. Of course, I've been wrong before, so take anything I predict with a grain of salt - as you all should with all predictions by anyone. Unless it's Clubber Lang, he's probably 100% right about there being pain.

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Devils' Next Three

I wouldn’t be surprised to see us take all three of our games this week.

We’ve got Montreal: at home, without Koivu and Tanguay, on the third game of a three-game road swing, with Halak instead of Price. The Canadiens beat Florida on Monday by scoring four goals on three shots (well it seemed like it!) on Panther goaltending that was as cold as it had been hot in the previous games, and then cruising with Price. Then they just barely squeaked by Tampa — yes, barely squeaked by – with Price standing on his head. Our goaltending is solid. And Price isn’t playing. I say Devils 3 – 1.

We’ve got Ottawa: at home, been home since Thursday, Ottawa on the sixth game of an eight game road trip, second of back-to-back games, fifth game in nine nights, have won one so far (Toronto tomorrow — loss?). No need to list the Sens’ woes. They’ll be a tired one-line team. I say Devils 4 – 2.

We’ve got Carolina on the road. No time zone change. Short flight. The Hurricanes are turning it around, there’s no doubt; and they’re good at home. But it’ll be their third game in four nights. And we’re the better team. I say Devils 3 – 0.

by Bob Roberts on Jan 2, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions

Excellent thoughts

This is great Bob! Have you considered making it a fan post?

Anyway, you were prescient on the Montreal game: Price didn’t play and the goaltending was shaky for Montreal, which contributed heavily to a 4-1 win for NJ.

You’ve got good points about the Ottawa team, though the last time they played NJ, they actually proclaimed splitting up their Big Three forwards. To no avail as they weren’t more physical, they weren’t a factor, and they lost 5-1 then. Maybe they are back together; but I don’t see Ottawa really taking Sunday’s game unless they are rolling like a flaming wooden carriage looking to get to Oregon and quick! I also hope you’re right about Carolina; road games are a bit of a trick and as we saw with St. Louis and Dallas recently, you can’t underestimate the “lesser teams” in their house.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!

by John Fischer on Jan 2, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Fan Post?

Thanks for the compliment, John — have only a vague idea what a "fan post " is, though!

Didn’t see that fourth one coming, but it was sweet, wasn’t it? Nice setup by that little number 9. He seems to be quite a good young prospect, don’t you think?

Everyone seems to bow down to Montreal, but they can be had just like anyone else. Detroit, for example, last weekend.

On to the Sens…

by Bob Roberts on Jan 3, 2009 11:17 AM EST reply actions

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