The recap will come later tonight. In the meantime, please enjoy this picture I took of the crowd at the Prudential Center from my seat. I believe this was after Andy Greene's goal in the second period.
Looks pretty full. I can tell you it was quite loud too.
almost 2 years ago
John Fischer
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Quick, send this one to Broad Street Hockey! That'll teach 'em to doubt a fanbase!
The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL
The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back
The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Let's hope they get past the first round this time, eh?
That dudes going to show pictures when the arena just opened, the 1st intermission, the 2nd intermission, when he’s in the last one in the arena….
Not matter what, the crowd tonight was pro-Devils, LOUD, and it lasted the entire game…
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 16, 2010 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions
There were a pretty decent crowd of Devils fans outside and inside the arena even an hour before the game.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 17, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Even better. I wonder if he will even show photos then. My point was that he was going to show pictures at points where obviously some fans aren’t going to be in their seats.
It’s outstanding that the masses come for that duration (hour before the game) of the night for the playoffs. Yeah attendance may “struggle” during the regular season, but we Devils fans know that the real season starts in April, and Lord Stanley is the objective every year. We are just as passionate, knowledgeable, crazy, and numerous just as any other crowd in the NHL, and tonight undoubtedly showed that.
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 17, 2010 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Truth be told, the cloudy, kinda-drizzly/rainy weather helped draw fans inside so early. When the game started, everyone was pretty much where they needed to be.
Not to blow up his spot, but I met him at the game. He was in 228, if I recall correctly. Per the Associate who sits in the opposite corner; he was likely the only man in orange in the entire section.
Travis was very nice and civil in person and I shouldn’t have to remind you all to be nice and civil in return.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 17, 2010 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
While its a pretty lame and stupid taunt its all they have and they use it a lot. The one I hear most is “this would never happen in Philadelphia” to which my usual retort you know what else never happens there, a Stanley Cup. Simply put its annoying.
The fact is, the Devils were the latest arrival of the least popular major sport into a saturated sports market. Originally they didn’t have much of a good product to market, and later they probably didn’t do the best job at marketing the success they did have.
It’s not a reflection on us Devils fans that another fanbase can purchase tickets to Devils home games. All you need is the cash and the willingness to take a drive. It’s not like there’s some secret way of doing it or that you need to be particularly clever or devoted.
The numbers show that attendance is growing, even in a down market and despite all of the poor coverage (if not outright hostility) by the NY and Philadelphia media and lack of major sports network coverage of the sport as a whole, and that not only is the team’s overall value growing, but they’re taking strides in their marketing (I just recently read, but can’t currently find, an article about how they’re leading the way in digital marketing through things like Twitter and Facebook, etc. Will post a link if I can re-find it).
If that’s all they’ve got to taunt us with, I say let them say what they want – they’re going to anyway, regardless of facts. Did you happen to read the absolute gem that was BSH head ape Travis Hughes’ SBN Prediction Preview?
The “highlights”
WHY YOU SHOULD ROOT FOR THEM: You’re American, as are the Devils. There’s young superstar Zach Parise, who led the US team through the Olympics. There’s Jamie Langenbrunner, Team USA captain. They even have Marty Brodeur, who tried his best to blow the Olympic gold for Canada and lost a game in the preliminary round to the red, white and blue. It’s patriotic.
WHY YOU SHOULD ROOT AGAINST THEM: They’re boring. Everybody knows this. And if they’re to win the Cup again, even the parade will be boring. It’ll be in a damn parking lot. Or maybe the streets of Newark, to which you immediately think “hm, that parking lot idea isn’t so bad… .”
But, what are you going to do? You’ve as much chance of convincing a Flyers fan that their team tries desperately, and mostly fails, to emulate the Devils and relies more on the trap than the Devils are even accused of by jealous Penguins and Capitals fans, or that the Devils aren’t boring as you do convincing them that Pronger is dirty, Richards has no honor and that the rest of the league’s perception of their team as a bunch of goons isn’t outdated and stale, but perfectly accurate.
Everybody knows that they were boring? But if Devils fans think otherwise, then it can’t be everybody. Oh, how people slaughter the English language!
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 17, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
You’re preaching to the choir here. The attendance is up about 1000 fans a game since the move and since the Kovalchuk trade a non-sellout is the rarity.
“If that’s all they’ve got to taunt us with, I say let them say what they want – they’re going to anyway, regardless of facts.”
Ultimately thats my point its a pathetic taunt because I guess we all missed the memo that all these other things are more important that actually winning. The reason for pointing out that they’re wrong (regardless of whether it changes their minds or not) is to simply combat the tired old stereotypes of the Devils as a franchise.
We are boring...face it
I almost fell asleep just as the game began when Parise enraged the crowd with a beautiful shorty. I mean, the lack of scoring last night made it feel like I ate Thanksgiving dinner before the game. That other game on Versus, where both teams scored early in the first and then the GWG in last 5 minutes was much more exciting for the fans at the arena and watching it on TV, with all that defense and goalies saving the puck (I mean, c’mon..Who ever heard of that?). Not to mention that lack of noise from the Rock last night after the 5 goals the home team scored.
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 17, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
The whole “outsider speaking bad about Newark” thing got me wondering, so I looked up some comparable stats.
In ’06 (most recent data I could find – and keep in mind that Newark has been getting better every year), Philadelphia had Newark beat in all the reported crimes (rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny theft) except murder and auto theft.
“Well” I hear you say, “having more murders per year in Newark is a big deal. Philadelphia must be a safer city.” And to a degree you might be right (unless you were a woman – forcible rape was double the national average in Philly. Just goes to show their disrespect extends to their womenfolk too, I guess). Per 100,000 people, Newark, NJ had 37.4 murders, whereas Philadelphia only had 27.7. But consider the fact that the national average was 7. So, in 2006 you had roughly 5 times the national average of being murdered in Newark and almost 4 times the national average of being murdered in Philadelphia. Four times. Five times. Dead is dead, I say.
Now, I’m not saying I’d move to Newark or anything (and I’ve had enough experiences there and in the neighboring cities of Irvington and Harrison and South Orange [WSOU] to know better), but the whole thing does bring to mind a certain expression about pots and kettles…
I’m not responding to anything else here, but I appreciate you calling me an ape.
I poked fun at every team in that playoff preview. I called the Caps bandwagon, I called you guys boring, I called the Pens front-runners, I called the Habs arrogant. Lighten up, jeez.
That said, I’m about to publish something over on BSH about my experience last night. I hope you’ll all come over and read it. Civilly.
Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. Got goaltending? Searching since 1987.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 17, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Anytime, bud.
I appreciate the offer to read your latest thinly veiled insults, but I’ll pass. Civilly.
Thinly veiled insults? Whatever you say?
Steve Lepore, who writes at this fine site we’re on right now, said my account was “”http://twitter.com/stevelepore/status/12366161048" target="new">tough, but absolutely fair and mostly accurate." But sure. I’ll just go eat some bananas.
Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. Got goaltending? Searching since 1987.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 17, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Link fail: he said it was “Tough, but absolutely fair and mostly correct.”
http://twitter.com/stevelepore/status/12366161048
Broad Street Hockey - SBN's Philadelphia Flyers blog. Got goaltending? Searching since 1987.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 17, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, well, if Steve says it’s fair then I’ll trust you managed somehow to go against form, but I’ve read enough of your work to know I shouldn’t waste further time reading any more.
Enjoy the bananas.
You’re just jealous you can’t dance like that.
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 17, 2010 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
His article about The Rock what exactly what I expected it to be.
Premium seats are expensive.
People drink too much.
Me and my companion were made fun of.
Most chants were dumb. (I do give him credit for pointing out the “Kill” PK chant..one of the best ever IMO)
Fans weren’t into it.
- I would go to his blog and say this, but I will not ‘agree’ to the conditions, I’m not a troll, and if the BSH people that came here after Game 1 (Where did they go btw?) are the majority, then nothing is going to get through them.
Honestly, I’m glad he crapped on the Rock, the fans, the atmosphere, the Devils. Maybe he and his fellow Flyers fans won’t come to another game there. He says the ‘crazies’ weren’t crazy at all, but afterwords he mentions a good number of events them deem “crazy” to me. Pretty conflicting. He tried to be civil about it (credit I guess), but honestly, it has that bias to it.
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 17, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
A whole article of duh save for the last point.
Premium seats are expensive.
That’s why they’re premium.
People drink too much.
True at literally every most sporting events regardless of importance.
Most chants were dumb. (I do give him credit for pointing out the "Kill" PK chant..one of the best ever IMO)
Chants are generally to the point to get everyone into it. It’s about making noise, not making arguments. Even the ones by soccer ultras which are more complex in form aren’t exactly intelligent.
Fans weren’t into it.
I met Travis and I know he’s not deaf. So that’s just 100%, Grade F bull excrement. The only fans that weren’t into it were Flyers fans.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 17, 2010 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Steve speaks for no one but Steve. You should know this unless you want me to take something Ben or Geoff says as your own.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 18, 2010 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Travis, you’re in college so you seem like you’re fairly smart. So I’m only going to say this once – and I know you’re reading this:
IF YOU CAN’T TAKE A HIT, THEN STOP TRYING TO ATTACK.
Pretty much nobody here had any issue with you or anything at BSH until the lies and little hit-outs happened. Because it wasn’t enough to be happy about the Flyers winning Game 1, no, I had to be either dumb or a liar about what I witnessed and was part of at the game. Perhaps I should have said nothing about it and ended it there. But even if I did that, people take notice regardless.
Either way, you can’t have it both ways: you can’t “playfully” talk some smack and then act in horror or post whiny comments when others hit back or call you out on it. Either grow thicker skin or relent from talking smack – quite simple.
At the end of the day, the series is tied up at one and the Rock was solidly a Devils arena for Games 1 and 2. If you can’t admit that, then you don’t know what you’re talking about The next two games will be at the Wachovia Center, solidly a Flyers arena. What will happen on the rink, who knows.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 18, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
To Travis.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18UBISy0Aao
2. http://imgur.com/1SeLA.jpg
3. http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs464.snc3/25496_1420490999270_1442531721_31094049_4118319_n.jpg
So, about atmosphere again…
I am on pins and needles in anticipation of some pictures of intermission or warm-up crowd shots from Game 2.
The blatant denial in the face of hard evidence is mind-boggling. We get it Philly, you have a great fanbase, you have the city of Philadelphia to yourself. We have our own state broken up into three parts, and still this team survives, has a solid and healthy amount of support, and turns an excellent profit.
The truth is, our predominately young fanbase is growing up, and we are coming out for this series. There were more Wings fans and Hawks fans respectively at our arena for regular season games. Devils fans are coming out for this series and preventing the “invasion” that used to happen at CAA. It is a testament to our younger fanbase growing, and the improved and more proud atmosphere at our arena. We got pretty damn close to looking like the Caps fans at Verizon Center the other night. The place was loud and incredibly RED.
The only time Flyers fans have truly showed up in 4 digit droves at Prudential Center was opening night this season. 500 Flyers fans in a 17,625 seat arena does not an invasion make.
Eating crow is not the worst thing in the world. Tip your cap and move on man, good luck the rest of the way. Complimenting our fans will not take away your Orange Crush card.
by Randy McKay on Apr 18, 2010 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Aside
No, this isn’t actually Randy McKay.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 18, 2010 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I just read that he claimed 1/4 of the fans there were Flyers fans.
So someone please point out the 4,000 Flyers fans in those pictures.
Curse you Flyers fans, you showed up wearing Devils jerseys and cheered on the Devils. You sly dogs.
And no, of course I am not Randy McKay, but I debunk false claims by Flyers bloggers the same way Randy McKay scores Game 6 goals against Ron Hextall.
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