Snowman On Fire

One of our youth hockey coaches likes to tell the kids to pick simple goals for each year: Don’t worry about the league playoffs, or Districts, or scoring 20 goals, but instead pick some simple things on which to build. Skating speed, slap shots, giving and receiving body checks, defensive positioning, thinking about first and second options with the puck are all simple things that can be improved from game to game, and measured over the course of a season.

I have no idea what transpired between the Penguin guano coating and last night’s Phantastic Philadelphia Phlogging, but it worked. Maybe it was the “get in shape” ride; maybe it was Sutter asserting that he’s in charge and half-efforts won’t be tolerated; maybe it was the re-emergence of Jamie Langenbrunner and Colin White at the rink. The turning point in last night’s game was simple enough: After the first Flyers power play goal, the Devils stepped it up instead of shrinking back into dump and chase mode. On both of Zubrus’ goals, he was clogging up the middle, in front of the crease, rather than attempting creativity from behind the net. Simple things. The defense looked good, moving the puck out of the defensive zone and forcing traffic in front by getting shots toward the net. I’ll miss Olli and Big Bird-like defensive qualities, but I have to admit Rachunek gave me reason to wave my Czech flag a bit.

With the season just about at the one-fifth mark, there are many simple goals the Devils can set for the year. Making the playoffs should be first and foremost, most likely requiring 95 points to finish mid-conference. Doing so means tacking on 81 points from here, or about 1.2 points a game on average. That translates to roughly 35-21-11, technically close to 0.500 hockey if you count overtime losses and shoot out shoot downs the same as regulation dings. I’d love to see at least one line that terrifies opponents. Could be this congeals after Langenbrunner is back, could be that Madden and Pandolfo continue with some newly found help from the Lithuanian freight train. And finally, no further G-mez goals in the next six Hudson Summits.

I’m a week late with additional Rock thoughts, and why I’m shocked at the behavior of Toronto fan boys, but the real world, and work, intervened.