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02/09/2007 -
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Unlike a year ago, the New Jersey Devils aren't waiting until the end of the season to make a playoff run.
They're rolling right now, with wins in 15 of 20 games, and points in all but two.
With two months left in the regular season, the Devils lead the Atlantic Division by nine points over second-place Pittsburgh, and they have pulled within four points of Buffalo in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, having played one less game than the Sabres.
``It's been a great couple of weeks and a great couple of months we are having as far as being consistent,'' said goaltender Martin Brodeur, who leads the NHL with 34 wins, 10 shutouts and a 2.04 goals-against average.
``We just worry about us and what we do...In my 13 years here, this team is close, and we have a lot of fun,'' the 34-year-old added.
It's a far cry from the rollercoaster 2005-06 season. An exhausted Larry Robinson resigned as coach in December and had to be replaced behind the bench by general manager Lou Lamoriello. New Jersey didn't get going until February, and they needed to close the regular season with 11 straight wins to capture the division title.
After sweeping the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs, New Jersey was eliminated in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes, the eventual Stanley Cup winner.
``It was a learning experience, and the best part was it gave us a lot of confidence coming into this season with the same group of guys,'' center Scott Gomez said.
The one change made was behind the bench. Lamoriello went back to the front office and hired former Canadiens coach Claude Julien to run the team.
The new coach and the team needed about a dozen games to get used to each other, but they are now on the same page. In the new wide-open NHL, New Jersey has gone back to old Devils' hockey. They clog up the middle of the ice. They protect Brodeur, and, when an opponent penetrates the defense, Brodeur is there to stop them.
It's boring low-scoring hockey, but it works. New Jersey has played 31 games decided by a goal, and it has won 21 and gotten points in six other games.
``When you come into this building you know the type of game you are going to have,'' Islanders forward Mike Sillinger said after Brodeur posted his 90th career shutout on Thursday night with a 2-0 win. ``As far as frustrating, I don't think it's frustrating at all. It's what you expect.''
What's interesting about the Devils is the way they accept their roles. Gomez, Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta are the skilled top line, but the No. 2 group of Travis Zajac, Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner have combined for 50 goals. John Madden, Jay Pandolfo and Sergei Brylin make up one of the finest checking lines in the league.
While the defense no longer has either Scott Stevens (retirement) or Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim), All-Star Brian Rafalski anchors a group that has surrendered a league-low 129 goals.
``We have a good feeling but we don't want to have any letdowns,'' Pandolfo said. ``We want to keep peaking and get everything squared for the playoffs. You don't want to peak too early. You want to keep building. It's nice to keep gaining points so you don't have to kill yourself towards the end of the year.''
Last year also has made the Devils wary. If they could make a late run, they know someone can do it this year.
Pittsburgh might be that team. The Penguins and young sensation Sidney Crosby, the league's leading scorer, have won 10 of 12 with two overtime losses.
``Our focus is: 'No letup.''' Langenbrunner said. ``We've got to keep getting wins to end up where we want to be - a top three spot. That's our focus.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Hank Bauer dead at 84
NEW YORK (AP) -Hank Bauer, the hard-nosed ex-Marine who returned to baseball after being wounded during World War II and went on to become a cornerstone of the New York Yankees dynasty of the 1950s, died Friday. He was 84.Bauer died of cancer in Sha
<< Grizzlies sign guard to 10-day contract
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -Guard Lorinza Harrington signed a 10-day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, who released him before the start of this season.Harrington, 6-fooot-4, was scheduled to be in uniform for Friday night's game with Minnesota.He repla
<< Wisconsin gives Bielema 5-year, $7.5 million contract
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema was rewarded Friday for his highly successful first season with a new five-year, $7.5 million contract.The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved an amended contract on Frid
<< Stern adds Anthony, Howard to All-Star team
NEW YORK (AP) -Carmelo Anthony is going to the All-Star game after all.The NBA's leading scorer was picked by commissioner David Stern on Friday as an injury replacement and will make his first All-Star game appearance on Feb. 18 in Las Vegas.Stern
Wizards seek to downplay hype as Arenas aims for 50-point game against Portland >>
WASHINGTON (AP) -Perhaps the Washington Wizards are showing the effects of a little too much Gilbertology. Two days before what Gilbert Arenas has proclaimed will be his next 50-point game, no one wanted to say much about it.``I'm not going to comme
Park and Mets near deal >>
NEW YORK (AP) -Chan Ho Park is joining the expanding list of pitchers trying to earn spots in the New York Mets' rotation.Park and the Mets reached a preliminary agreement on a $600,000, one-year contract, giving the team another option for its star
Park and Mets reach deal >>
NEW YORK (AP) -Chan Ho Park is joining the expanding list of pitchers trying to earn spots in the New York Mets' rotation.Park and the Mets agreed Friday to a $600,000, one-year contract, giving the team another option for its starting rotation head
Iwamura eager to get started with Devil Rays >>
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Akinori Iwamura stepped up to the podium, took a deep breath and smiled.The last time the five-time Japanese League All-Star remembered feeling so nervous, his country was facing the United States on the way to winning the
MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.
(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977. Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.
Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer. In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season.
MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite. After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.
Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions. They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown.
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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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