We Believe....

Well, this is a rough spot to be in. The Devils have fallen to a 3-1 deficit in their series against the Ottawa Senators. I will be going tonight, Section 217, Row 24, to help the thousands of other Devils faithfuls rally our team to capture a win at home. 90.7% of teams facing a 3-1 deficit in a series are eliminated. In 2000, the Devils faced such a scenario, falling to a 3-1 deficit in their Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Devils rallied back to eventually win the series and the Stanley Cup.

Tonight, we can't remember what that rally felt like. We can't concentrate on winning three games in a row (incidentally, something we did just last round against the Lightning). We have to play tonight's game one period at a time, one minute at a time, one shift at a time. Defensive accountability and solid offense the things that need to happen tonight for the Devils to have a chance.

Emery has been giving up huge rebounds all series long, but we haven't been there to capitalize on any of them. The offense has come too little, too late. In a perfect world, the Devils would score one or two early goals and just shut down the game for the remainder. Fans of other teams tell me that Devils Hockey is boring hockey because of the defensive mindset of our team. I'll tell you what, defense wins hockey games folks. You need only look at our last couple of games to figure that out.

I'll be there tonight, for what could quite possibly be the last Devils game in Continental Airlines Arena, as the Devils are slated to move to the brand new arena being constructed for them in Newark at the beginning of next season. Maybe I'll be there tonight because I've seen the Devils be eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes and I know how crushing that is. Maybe I'll be there tonight because I've driven to Ottawa to see the Devils beat the Senators in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003 en route to their 3rd Stanley Cup win. Maybe some of those things factor into why I need to be there in person, instead of just watching on TV.

But I know with all of my heart that I'll be there tonight because I believe in the boys in red. I believe that the man wearing number 30 on his back can lead this team to victory. I believe that these boys can take home a victory tonight, and march into Ottawa to take a game. But tonight, it's about one game. One minute. One shift. I'll be there. In red.

Believe....