Blittner’s Blue Line: The Nameless Team Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - October 15, 2024October 23, 20240 Sports teams are always recognizable, based upon their names, their logos and sometimes even their color schemes. But when the Arizona Coyotes were forced to move to Utah – Salt Lake City to be precise – back in The Spring, they left behind their identity. Currently masquerading around The NHL as
NJ Devils Home Opener: Sheldon Keefe Haunted By Former Team Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - October 11, 2024October 11, 20240 50 seasons of New Jersey Devils hockey. The 30th anniversary of their first Stanley Cup championship in 1994-95. A new Head Coach and potentially a new era. That’s the stage that was set for Thursday night October 10, 2024. Yes, the Devils played and beat the Buffalo Sabres twice in
Jacob Markstrom Has Devils Feeling Confident Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - September 23, 2024September 23, 20240 Say it with me, “pre-season hockey is finally here!” With it comes the annual reminder to please not read too much into a veteran player’s performance. Don’t get too caught up in line combinations and defense pairs. Try to remember that a player’s usage during the pre-season may not be
Devils Introduce Sheldon Keefe As New Head Coach Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - May 29, 2024May 29, 20240 Sheldon Keefe, come on down. Tuesday morning, one week after the news initially broke, the New Jersey Devils officially introduced Sheldon Keefe as the 22nd Head Coach in team history during a press conference at Prudential Center. And with that announcement came the customary pageantry of fans, family, organizational people, and
That’s A Wrap For The Devils Uncategorized by Matthew Blittner - April 16, 2024April 16, 20240 To borrow a phrase from Shakespeare, “to be, or not to be, that is the question.” In this particular case, that question was: would the Devils play the role of spoilers with the Islanders looking to clinch a playoff berth? Monday night, in New Jersey’s season finale, the already eliminated Devils
One Final Nail In The Coffin for New Jersey Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - April 10, 2024April 10, 20240 Farewell 2023-24, the New Jersey Devils hardly knew thee. Tuesday night at Prudential Center the Devils entered their game with the Maple Leafs on what can only be described as double-secret probation. A regulation loss, coupled with either the Islanders or Flyers gaining at least one point, or the Red Wings
History For Luke Hughes Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - April 8, 2024April 8, 20240 Records are meant to be broken. It’s a saying that feels as old as time itself. Sunday night the Devils hosted the Predators for a game that both teams desperately needed as the push for the playoffs continues. And while the Devils’ playoff odds have been almost entirely extinguished, there is
A Different Goaltender Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - March 24, 2024March 24, 20240 It’s all about goaltending. It’s such a simple, yet novel idea. Then again, maybe it isn’t. It’s a small sample size, but the Devils have had the look of a different team ever since Jake Allen was acquired at the Trade Deadline. Or, at least, they usually look like a different
Devils Looking Back And Looking Ahead Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - March 9, 2024March 9, 20240 Can you believe what a difference one year makes? Saturday afternoon the Devils hosted the Hurricanes for a matinee at Prudential Center that served as a stark reminder of just how different things are this year as compared to last season. The end result, a 4-2 loss for the Devils only
Devils Wheel And Deal, Rangers Tinker, Islanders Stand Pat, And More Hockeyology by Matthew Blittner - March 9, 2024March 9, 20240 Well, that was, sort of…weird. Friday afternoon’s NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone and many don’t know what to make of it. There were just under two dozen trades made. There was a last-minute buzzer-beater in Vegas. And there were some eyebrow-raising moves. But, for the most part, it felt
