Thank goodness for Philadelphia.

If the Devils can’t beat their neighbors across the river, at least the Jersey faithful can take a small bit of consolation in repeated success against the team at the other end of the Turnpike. I speak of the Phlyers, and let’s face it, that’s really the way it should be spelled. Not that I have any specific distaste for Philly as compared to, say, just about every major city in New England; but be honest, who doesn’t enjoy poking fun at a rival? Plus, the city brings it upon itself — you named your baseball team the Philadelphia Phillies, what do you expect? Hm, I wonder how long I can go writing my words with a little “ph balance” (sorry, had to do it) before it gets annoying…

Relieph is really the appropriate word for the Phlyers win — the Devils’ 6-1 record against Philly this year aside — because Brent Sutter’s team finally showed a bit of liphe. In fact, I was really happy to see the coach himselph giving each of the players a pat on the helmet as they lepht the ice for the dressing room at the end of the game. Yes, if I accused coach Sutter of wearing down his team in the latest Devilscast, I have to give due credit because he showed appreciation to his players for buying into his relentless über-hard work mantra.

New Jersey also got a nice kick in the pants from my old BC pal Mike Mottau (FYI, Boston College is playing Minnesota for a trip to the Frozen Four as we speak). Okay, he wouldn’t recognize me from a Zamboni tire iph I ran into him, but as a proud Eagle alumnus, I must recognize the spark Mottau provided with his phirst-period phight with Randy Jones. Penalty minutes, schmenalty minutes, Mottau did his job and gave the Devils an emotional lipht (okay, I’m done now) — lift, and they responded with three straight goals. And while I’m on a BC kick, props to Brian Gionta too for scoring in both regulation and the shootout.

Now… is it becoming a wholly disturbing trend that this team seems to keep giving up late third-period goals? Yes. Am I going to dwell on that when I could be heaping lavish praise on Our Captain, the honorable Jamieson Jehosephat Langenbrunner IV, esq., shootout star among game-winning shootout-goal stars? No. And, I’m pretty sure that’s NOT Jamie Langenbrunner’s full name, but if you do good by me, you get a nonsensical, important-sounding name upgrade. So there.

Ok, four games to go as of this writing, Jersey one point shy of clinching playoffs. I think the Penguins helped today by beating the Rangers… no, I think the Rangers failed to help by losing to the Penguins… well, either way, those two play again tomorrow. But since the Blue Shirts lost today, which is usually a good thing by me, I send out token condolences to my Devilscast co-host Brian-son Zachariah Cornelius Forsythe Monzo XVI.

(P.S. If New York wins on the final day of the regular season, he’ll be lucky if I refer to him as BM – which is precisely what an 0-8 season against the Strangers might give me if the Devils let it happen.)