Once or twice a year we like to prove to our non-hockey-lovin’ friends that we are capable of leaving the house on a night when the Devils are playing. If one or two of those nights just happen to fall on nights when the Devils are playing our most hatred rival, at a time when we are convinced there’s no way the game can end in anything other than pain and tears, well, so what, right? In any event, we’re leaving the stately confines of IPB Manor this evening for a evening of old fashioned board games (which may or may not end in pain and tears). We’ll be catching up on the game on TiVo delay following said bout of social activity (because we may be capable of leaving the house on a night when the Devils are playing the Rangers, we’re not really capable of giving up on the game altogether) and we hope to complete another TWC-style illustrated game diary in the process.
PREGAME
Our Mood: Goalless. Two straight shutouts is… not fun.
Our Least Favorite Devil: Everyone and anyone who played in the two straight shutouts. (That includes you, Holik! Don’t think we’re letting up on you by not singling you out!)
Our Favorite Devil: Bryce “Iron Ear Boar” Salvador. We can only assume the boys can’t score without him in the line-up. We have no proof that this isn’t so.
Our Prediction: Devils – 0. The Rangers – More than 0. The Ookies – Tears and pain.
Playmobil Picture Representing Our Hopes That The Devils Win This Game:
Don’t bother sending a life raft.
AFTER THE FIRST
Our Mood: Stunned! The shutout streak ended, and ended early! And on the special teams, no less!! Wha-huh?!!!!
Our Least Favorite Devil: Brian “I Might As Well Be Bobby Holik What With These Dumbass Penalties I’m Taking” Gionta. For obvious reasons.
Our Favorite Devil: Patty “I”m Tired Of This Scoreless Streak And Hey, If I’d Been Playing Like This In The Past Two Games We Might Not Have Been Scoreless” Elias. Also for obvious reasons.
Our Summary Of Events: So far we see no reason why we shouldn’t leave the house every time the Devils play the Rangers. Of course, it’s not like we’re from the future or anything, so there’s still plenty of hockey left to be played.
Playmobil Picture Representing Our Hopes That The Devils Win This Game:
It’s a valiant fight. So far.
AFTER THE SECOND
Our Mood: Happy but exhausted. We started watching this at midnight. The bad news is that we’re fading fast. The good news is that if the Devils are going to suck in this one, they’re only going to suck for one period.
Our Least Favorite Devil: Scott Gomez. Christ but he sucks! How many more years are we stuck with him again? Wait, what’s that? Oh, right! He’s a Ranger now! HAHAHAHAHA!
Our Favorite Devil: Travis Zajac. If Lundqvist had a book on Travis, it was missing the chapter about slapshots. Who knew Travis had that shot? Did Travis know he had that shot? (Honorary mention would go to Clemmer for the five-on-three, but we don’t want him to get a big head.)
Our Summary Of Events: This is a Devils/Rangers game, and we’re enjoying it. Down is up. White is black. Something must be terribly, terribly wrong in the universe.
Playmobil Picture Representing Our Hopes That The Devils Win This Game:
Travis’s game has so many new facets.
AFTER THE THIRD
Our Mood: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! And zzzzzzzzz…
Our Least Favorite Devil: Impossible! We don’t not-love ANY of them! Wait, what’s that? Blobby who? No, he’s not a Devil, is he?
Our Favorite Devil: Everyone and anyone who played in this game tonight.
Our Summary Of Events: Gloriousness! Gorgeousness! Wonderfulness! We are tapping into our primordial memories of back when the Devils used to win at the Garden regularly. It feels so great! If it wasn’t after 2:00 in the morning right now, we’d probably be dancing in the streets.
Playmobil Picture Representing What This Win Feels Like:
Is that a heavenly chorus we hear? No, it’s just Rangers fans booing the loss. Sweet!
