The number six seed in the NHL Eastern Conference has plowed through two teams seeded #3 and #5. The final game tonight in Philadelphia capped an impressive performance with four straight wins.
With a record of 8 - 4, the New Jersey Devils are back in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2003 - the year of their last Stanley Cup. Only one year ago, this was a team that failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. The team that showed up for the first part of 2010-2011 was not the same team that has now risen to the top of the Eastern Conference.
And what explains this phenomenal turnaround? It is simple. Devils management (aka Lou Lamoriello) continues to make the right decisions in player acquisition and coaching staff. Peter DeBoer and Larry Robinson arguably are the best tandem in the NHL. DeBoer is already being considered as Coach of the Year.
Player acquisition? Consider Johan Hedberg, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marek Zidlicky. Hedberg allowed Martin Brodeur to enter the playoff season rested and in top form. Zidlicky has added to an already solid defense. Combine that defense and #30, and the result is a third period save percentage of 0.952 - a stat that is about as good as it gets. Teams just can't score against NJ in the third period.
And then there is #17, "Kovy". He entered the league and put up stellar figures. But his team (the Atlanta Thrashers, now Winnepeg Jets) was never able to do much in the second season. Over time, his performance declined. His defensive abilities were always in doubt. Even so, the Devs picked him up with a league-shattering contract negotiation that took an entire summer. Even into this year, there were doubters. Was this just another Eric Lindros debacle?
So take a look at the last six months. Kovy has been the consumate team player. And although he did not get the game winner tonight (credit another Ilya with that - the Philly goaltender, Ilya Bryzgalov allowed David Clarkson to get the easiest goal of Clarkson's career), Kovy was the difference. He got the game sealer, with a bomb from the blue line that was aimed with pinpoint accuracy. It was a great shot - one of the best that I've seen in a long time.
So the storyline is this. The Devils are back in the conference finals. Kovy has never been there before. It's why he moved to NJ. Bring on the winner of that other contest. It will either be Kovy vs. Ovy, or else a Battle of the Hudson. Hockey season in New Jersey is not yet over.
DEVILS RULE!
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