Ok, we are trying something different.  The Devils are home tonight playing the Caps.  Greg and I are at the game.  Seperately.  He is with his friends, getting drunk and having fun.  I am dressed properly, in the press box about 9,000 feet from the ice looking directly down.  I am like looking into a well of hockey.  The coffee is really strong.  Really strong.

For reasons out of my control, I showed up a little late.  I walked in about half-way through the first period. 

I did get the chance to see the Devils stellar powerplay.  Which, well, sucked, to be honest.  Greg will be contacting me via text message to chime in from time to time.  He mentioned “he loved the cycling on the powerplay.”  I am mentioning he was being sarcastic. 

The constant repeating of the ”Rangers Suck,” chant is really annoying.  But, I guess I knew that would happen coming in.  Broduer starts the second period with a right pad kick save.  To keep everyone updated, it is scoreless and the Devils are outshooting the Caps 7-5.   Zach Parise with a shot, and Cristobal Huet with the save.  With the whistle, the “make more noise,” graphic appears on the video screen and the crowd gets louder.  This is followed up with a ….guess what? “Rangers suck,” chant.  My neck is starting to hurt.  Back to the action.  Broduer with a save on Matt Bradley with the rebound coming loose and a player hitting the outside of the net before Broduer covers up.  I am assuming Greg is on his third Amstel at this point.  Broduer makes a flurry of saves and play continues.  Broduer makes a geat pad save on Alex Semin.  Best save of the night.  Let’s not forget Semin had his way with the Devils D last weekend.  The Sergei Federov line for the Caps has been good thus far.  Not a lot of offense from the Devils. 

Just a footnote here, I will be posting and editing for anyone reading as the game is going on.  

Pandolfo with a shot and it is blocked.  Would have been a good shot.  12:30 to go in the 2nd period, we are scoreless.   Parise with a BREAKAWAY…..Save by Huet!  Langenbrunner with a shot, wide of the net.  Best chances of the night so far.  Langenbrunner shot, save, rebound…wide!  The Devils are getting things going, with a stoppage of play and a commercial break.  Now I crack my knuckles and relax for a few seconds….Now they show two unattractive females on the big screen, poor job by the camera man.  Back to the action….

Ovechkin has been quiet.   As is Tartaglia.  Good pace here, back and forth.  Zajac with a shot, kicked away by Huet.  Another anti-Rangers song from the crowd.  Good times.  Ovechkin with a pass to Backstrom, save by Broduer.  Now a “you suck,” chant from the crowd.  Poor guy.  Ovechkin IN, POKE CHECK BRODUER.  Bad job by Alex.  Now a penalty on the Devils.  I think it will be tripping.  Commercial break….<phone vibrating>  Greg is checking in!  “Did the Caps sign Dikembe Mutombo and Manute Bol, cuz they are blocking every shot.”  The answer is….”no.”  That would have made headlines there big fella.  On a sidenote, Manute Bol did play hockey for one game to raise money or something.  I remember seeing that on Sportscenter.  Andy Greene with the penalty.  Off the draw a glove save by Broduer.  Capitals cycling, pass to Mike Green and he SCORES!  What a shot by the defenseman, an even better pass by Alex Semin.  Wow.  That will make the highlight reel.  Andy Greene is probably again in Sutters doghouse.  And the crowd comes back with a “Rangers suck” chant.  On the announcement, Sergei Federov gets an assist on the goal. 

Right off the draw, the Caps take a delay of game penalty.  The Devils are cycling.  Mike Mottau tees up and a save by Huet.  Shots are 14-14.  Devils moving the puck, but no shot gaps.  Caps having trouble clearing the puck.  Colin White takes a shot, blocked.  Lots of action in front of the net, but nothing.  We go to commercial.   A few observations…this is my second time here, this is the best lit arena ever.  There are plasma TV’s everywhere.   Back to the game.  We are in the latter stages of the second period here at the Rock.  1-0 Caps on a goal by Mike Green.  Tom Poti (hahahaha) takes a shot for the Caps and it goes wide.  Federov with a chance and a save by Broduer.  Federov didn’t get all of it.  The Devils take an icing.  John Madden with a 2 on 1 and he can’t get a shot off.  To the point, Colin White and it is blocked by Dikem…I mean, Alex Semin.  Devils come in, Zubrus with a shot and a glove save by Huet.  I am realizing there is an ad on the boards for “Swedish Fish.”  You don’t see that often.  That is going to wrap things up for second.  My hands are tired…..on a late note, Broduer makes a late save to end the period.

I got lost between periods, sit down and Viktor Kozlov SCORES!  43 seconds into the 3rd.  Alright than.  <Phone Vibrating> It’s Greg.  He says his pal comes back with pizza and 5 seconds later (literally) Mike Green makes it 1-0 Caps.  Way to be on top of things.  Unless we are in some kind of time paradox.  You can’t rule anything out in Newark I guess.  If the Devils are going to get back into this game, they are going to need to open things up a little bit.  I can’t help but giggle in my head everytime Tom Poti touches the puck.  And I am not laughing because he is allergic to peanuts, but because he the Rangers back in the day, more than he helped them.  Devils break in, a blocked shot.  Big hit along the boards and I think Mike Green is dead.  Yup, he is dead.  Ok, he is back up.  Things getting a little testy out there.  Seeing the replay, he caught a stick to the face. Elias takes the penalty and will sit for 4:00.   A double minor for high sticking.  Devils break in on a  2 on 1 shorthanded!!! and ….can’t get a shot off.  Caps powerplay moving.  Federov gets stopped by Broduer.  Ovechkin rocket of a shot, gloved by Broduer.  Devils move in again…Gionta shot, and a save by Huet.  Devils gettig better chances shorthanded than the Caps are with the powerplay. <Phone Vibrating>  Greg chimes in with “I’m wracking by brain thinking of something more annoying than an ex-Devil scoring on his former team and I can’t think of anything.”  Well Greg, how about …..forget that, Semin one-timer and he puts it homeee….Barring a miraculous comeback, this one looks to be headed towards the books.  3-0 Caps with 11 minutes to go. <P.V>  Greg says “Hates the 4 minute penalty, but loves the fact that Mike Green bled on the ground next to the ‘please donate blood’ ad.”  Well said my friend, well said.  Back to the action….

With the goal being announced, Tom Poti is named with an assist.  Boo! <P.V.>  Greg mentions the fact that being on the black train will be his only win tonight.  I don’t even know what that means, but…hey…good times.   During the commercial break, on the big screen, they point out the fact that there are Mario Lopez and Stone Cold Steve Austin look-a-likes in the crowd.  That’s what is has come down to…..it is 3-0 with 7 minutes to go, barring any changes, I am ending this…..this has been fun and tough on the wrists.  It’s been real.  Till next time, cheers!

One more thing, if there any typos, please forgive me.  I am doing this as fast as I can.  Thanks.

Quick update, Donald Brashear just scored.  Wow.  4-0 Caps.