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Wednesday Caterwaul: Panthers Open Forum

John Madden was a fantastic defensive center with the Devils. He and (usually) Jay Pandolfo made life difficult for the other team’s top forwards. Worked hard, was quick to counter, and he was a PK machine. Did he score a lot or create a lot of assists? Not in the NHL, but his role was a checking center and he was great [in it]. As with life, age saw his speed go, and his role diminished. Yet, Devils fans have and will remember him well for his play throughout most of the 2000s.

In Lou We Trust’s John Fischer, on Florida’s newest forward (pictured above with New Jersey in ’09). More on the Madden signing from our own JB here. Video interview added after the jump…

The Eastern Front

Rank

Team

GP

W

L

OT

PTS

GF

GA

Home

Away

L/10

Streak

1

NY Rangers

37

24

9

4

52

110

79

11-3-2

13-6-2

7-3-0

Won 2

2

Boston

35

24

10

1

49

123

68

13-6-1

11-4-0

7-3-0

Lost 1

3

Florida

39

20

12

7

47

103

107

10-4-5

10-8-2

4-4-2

Won 1

4

Philadelphia

37

22

11

4

48

125

109

8-6-2

14-5-2

5-4-1

Lost 1

5

Pittsburgh

38

21

13

4

46

121

100

11-4-2

10-9-2

5-5-0

Lost 2

6

Ottawa

40

20

15

5

45

123

135

12-8-1

8-7-4

7-2-1

Won 3

7

Washington

38

21

15

2

44

114

110

14-5-1

7-10-1

6-3-1

Won 4

8

New Jersey

38

21

15

2

44

105

108

10-6-1

11-9-1

7-2-1

OT 1

9

Winnipeg

38

19

14

5

43

104

107

14-6-1

5-8-4

6-3-1

Won 3

10

Toronto

39

19

15

5

43

125

128

9-5-4

10-10-1

4-4-2

Won 1

11

Buffalo

39

18

17

4

40

104

115

10-9-4

8-8-0

3-5-2

Won 1

12

Tampa Bay

38

17

18

3

37

107

129

11-5-0

6-13-3

5-4-1

Lost 1

13

Montreal

39

14

18

7

35

99

110

5-7-6

9-11-1

3-7-0

Lost 2

14

NY Islanders

37

14

17

6

34

88

116

8-9-3

6-8-3

5-5-0

Won 3

15

Carolina

41

13

21

7

33

106

139

9-10-3

4-11-4

4-3-3

OT 1

*

Why last night rocked:

  • NYI over CAR, 4-3 (SO); not even fair to include this one/

Why last night jonesed:

  • WSH over CGY, 3-1; don’t need to mention the SE ramifications here (hint: the number “3” comes to mind)
  • BUF over EDM, 4-3 (REG); remember when Western clubs owned the East? Yeah…back when it didn’t matter in Sunrise.
  • TOR over TB, 7-3; struggled with this one, but the Buds continue to be a longer-term threat to FLA. Oh, and Bolts…14 goals-against in two games vs Toronto? 14??? /

Why tonight is a Big Deal in SoFla:

  • WPG at MTL, 7:30 p.m.; thought the WSH result was bad? Ole.
  • BOS at NJ, 7:30; believe it: Broons hold microscopic two-point lead over FLA. Okay, with 4 games-in-hand. Devils three back with 1 in-hand of their own. All about the hand, evidently./

Next up for the Cats:

All at once, everyone: tomorrow from MSG. LBC Game Thread cooks with gas at, yes, 6:30.

Did you know:

Though netminder Scott Clemmensen’s only regulation loss this season came last week after surrendering 3 goals on 14 shots – against the Rangers – his lifetime record vs New York remains, well, okay: 3-4-1 with one shutout.

Still waiting on:

Jacob Markstrom’s inevitable recall, an official update on Jose Theodore’s injury status and a conclusion to BarchGate. Oh, and if you haven’t done your ASG voting duty, today’s the final opportunity. Also…check out how you can help Jack Jablonski here.

Madden speaks:


Talking Points