The Outfield Assist

Put it on Ice

I have dedicated myself to watching the NHL playoffs in their entirety this year. The Devils are my squad which makes it nice that they feature the best goalie in hockey history. You will hear lots of people argue for George Hainsworth and his impeccable goals against averages but he played around the time FDR's New Deal was being radio broadcast into people's living rooms. The game has changed and so with it the requirements for claiming the #1 spot. Patrick Roy had a phenomenal career, but if you want to get technical and look strictly at statistics, Martin Brodeur tops more statistical categories than the other roughneck frenchman. The fact is that as far as active goalies are concerned, Brodeur, Belfour, and Curtis Joseph have posted the most impressive career numbers in regards to wins, shutouts, playoff wins, playoff shutouts, and goals against average. Dominik Hasek can't go without mention but he's been around the same amount of time as Brodeur (15 seasons) without nearly the numbers. Brodeur has proven a winner too, having hoisted the Stanley Cup 3 times. Whatever the measure, Brodeur has to be argued as the game's best.

I post this with a couple of motives. One, to praise and commend Martin Brodeur for his accomplishments during a very impressive career. And two, to defend the guy after allowing 4 goals last night in a 4-1 romp at the hands of some team that doesn't really matter. The match-up between the Devils and Rangers couldn't be more inviting as a first round battle. The Devils finished the season better than the Rangers but the season series sways strongly in the favor of the Rangers (7-1). I'm not scared. Three of those losses were decided in OT or a Shootout and the remaining games were decided by no more than 2 goals in any case. On top of that, the most recent clash had the Devils victorious moving into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The game is played on ice but it is all about who gets hot.

The bottom line is that the NHL playoffs are bigger than the Devils-Rangers first round series. There are excellent teams in the post-season and no one team is clearly dominant. The Red Wings and the Sharks come in as the teams to watch, but how about the surging Capitals that came from last place to clinch a shot at the cup? The Flames showcase Jerome Iginla who can change a game every time he touches the puck. You've got gritty veterans like Shanahan, Jagr, Fedorov, and the aforementioned Hasek. You've got young phenoms in Crosby, Ovechkin, and Fleury. These players have to show up and make fireworks. Their teams need it. The NHL needs it.