Played the Devils last week; there is nothing new under the sun. I wrote a long-ass game thread for the other half of the season series and shan't do so again. Frankly, I only made a thread because I really like the song and album I took the title from. I'll make it up for the Habs game.

Anyway, my silly bullshit aside, goals scored and allowed have both gone down for Jersey since Christmas-Eve-Eve, they're now even in differential but playing below expectation. Let's hope the Hawks have shaken off the rust. It's a bad night when Ben Smith is the only player distinguishing himself on a roster full of Olympians.

Hawks: 28-7-8 (64), 24-10-9 adjusted (57), 57.544 expected
Devils: 17-16-8 (42), 17-18-6 adjusted (40), 41.000 expected

Hawks: 3.628 scored (1st), 2.628 allowed (13th), 1.000 differential (2nd)
Devils: 2.366 scored (24th), 2.366 allowed (8th), 0.000 differential (13th)

Hawks: 35/141 24.8% on the power play (3rd), 99/129 76.7% on the kill (28th)
Devils: 21/118 17.8% on the power play (16th), 112/129 86.8% on the kill (3rd)

Here's hoping this one's quick and easy. If I procrastinate on the real-world writing I need to do today, I'd like to be able to miss two periods of a shitty Devils game to do it.

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RIDICULOUS goal by Sharpie

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Not a mult.

Not watching as working on a project but disappointed 1-1.

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Elections have consequences.

You could say he took that shot from a.... sharp? angle? yes?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Nevermind just got updated.

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Elections have consequences.

Yes.

Quite.

Oh: Hossa.

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Not a mult.

3 goals in 4 mins? somewhere puddy's facepaint is streaking badly.

edit: nevermind. 4-2. here comes the devils' comeback to get a shootout win =/

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That's better.

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Elections have consequences.

Need a Sharpie hatter.

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Not a mult.

well.... fuck. 4-3 / 6mins left: can they hold on?

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They've been solidly outplayed since the 8 minute mark.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Another Hat Trick (not a natural hat trick though) for Sharpie.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

DOUBLE M CALLED IT!!!!!!!!! woot. somewhere jeff joniak just up and belted out an emphatic FADE TO BLACKKKKKKK.... that no doubt is drawing a bunch of weird looks from his company.

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Sharpie!

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Not a mult.

Hahahaha Brodeur got undressed like an easy date. Sharp on pace for 40+ goals; I can't believe it. Hossa scored too! And Saad! And Kaner got a point! I'm so glad I missed the first two periods and only caught the fun one.

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My greatest CSFMB accomplishment.

And now, back to my van down by the river.

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Not a mult.

LOLBarbera got booted back to Rockford, Raanta is staying. There may be people out there who are like "but this isn't good for his development to rest so much!", and as a longtime acolyte of the Grand Rapids plan for prospect-aging, I would usually be one of those people, but come on: 11-1-3 with a 2.27 and a .911. He's playing well enough to win at an NHL level, and so he's more valuable here than there. Besides, it's not like he's behind Martin Brodeur in his prime; there are 38 games left and I wouldn't give Crawford more than 25 of them. With the back-to-backs we have, he'll most certainly play, and if he keeps playing this well, he'll deserve to. To spend the entire season developing him in Rockford was a nice plan when we thought Khabibulin would be able to not suck. This backup plan, if you'll pardon the expression, has worked well enough.

Also, sending LaBarbera down should free up another $450,000 or so in cap space, which helps a little. They'll still have to send money the other way to get anyone of even minimal consequence. I'd recommend Bollig, but that's only like $200,000 and dropping.

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