Are my Devils doomed?

[Ground Fighter]

My boys from Dirty Jersey choked in the first two games against the Canes. Is this series over?

I just can't understand how a team who came off such a rampant high of totally demoralizing the Rangers in four games, can get ass-raped 6-0 in game one of round 2 against Carolina AND lose game two as well. Feel free to share your thoughts.

 

[Don Wassall]

It's all but over now. The Devils remind me somewhat of the '93 Penguins. That teamwas the two-time defending Cup champs and finished the regular season with an NHL record 17 game winning streak then blew out the Devils in five in the first round, only to lose tothe Islanders in the second round in seven games in a huge upset. I can remember Sports Illustrated running a cover story on the Pens during their record winning streak, calling them the most dominant pro sports team in the world. Pretty high praise from that Caste System media bastion. That Game 7 overtime loss to the Islanders ranks as my most heartbreaking sports moment.


The post-mortem consensus was that the Devils had been defeated too easily in the first round, that they hadn't gotten the Penguins battle-hardened for the endurance test that the Cup playoffs are. It could be that the Rangers were too depleted by injuries to players like Jagr to give the Devils enough of a fight to prepare them for the Hurricanes. I really thought the Devils or Senators were gonnawin the Cupthis year after the first round.

 

[Ground Fighter]

Yeah Don, I agree, its just about over. Its hard to admit too, especially after watching such a successful 1st round against NY. I'm starting to truly believe that the only reason NJ did so well against NY was because of Jagr's injury. Either the Canes are just too strong or Jersey's just f-ing up. The team chemistry just isn't there this round.