All you need to know is that Kovalchuk put home the winner AGAIN, this time in OT. It was a nice setup that got Johnson out of his net and saw Elias skate behind the net who found Kovalchuk in front. You give Ilya that type of open net, he isn't going to miss. Say what you will about the gift the refs gave NJ to put them up a man, but those things happen and as long as you're on the good end of it, who's going to complain!! Devils continue the improbable.

Next up, New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

That didn't take long!! Ilya Kovalchuk watched his consecutive points in a game streak come to an end on Sunday against the Pathers but scored the game winner Wednesday night against the Lightning. With 9:50 remaining in the game, Kovalchuk took a Zajac pass and fired it past Roloson.

Thoughts on the game:

• Broduer made a nice stop on a Nate Thompson break away late in the first. Thompson had a terrific shot, Marty had an even better save.
• The lone goal by Tampa Bay was a nice deflection. You can't really do much about those goals except maybe try to stop them before they begin.
• Kovalchuk seemed to be all over the ice tonight. Everytime I looked up, it seemed like #17 was front and center with the puck.
• I don't know if I have said it before but I like what Palmieri brings to ice on most nights. He's got energy and a hunger for the puck and its good to see.
• Talinder had a nice goal through traffic to tie the game at 2.
•  Everytimg I watch the Lightning, I am always amazed at how quick of a team they are. You don't think much is happening and then all of the sudden it seems they put it into gear and are right on top of the opposition. They certainly are a dangerous team that will be a handful for anyone in the playoffs.
• Kovalchuk put EVERYTHING into that slapper that won the game, I mean EVERYTHING!!
• Give Roloson credit. Watching him in NY when he was an Islander, I thought his career was dead, that he needed to retire but he's giving TB everything he's got and it just so happens, he's got some stuff left.

The league is starting to take notice when it comes to the Devils. This is a team that is 9 points out of the final playoff spot and while making up those final 9 points isn't going to be an easy, the Devils are getting respect from other teams in the league. It's hard not to respect this team, having gone 18-2-2 in the last 22. "In my eyes, the Devils are definitely a playoff-caliber team right now," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "Their record in their last 22 games speaks for itself."

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, whether the Devils live to play game 83 and beyond or go home for a long summer, at least this team has given us something to watch. Admit it, most of us just wanted to shut the TV off before Christmas and forget that this season ever happened.

I am completely prepared to be called a Homer!!Now, go ahead, I know I am going to be called a homer but you have to give some thought as to nominating Jaques Lemaire for the Jack Adams this season, no matter what happens from here on out. If you look at the beginning of the season, you see a team struggling and unable to accomplish anything but frustrating an entire fan base. Sure, moving Jamie Langenbrunner out of town was probably a smart move but John MacLean didn't know how to make this team work. He couldn't get production from one of the most dangerous snipers (Kovalchuk) in the league. Once Lemaire got here, whipped them into shape, this team is finally playing like we thought they would be. Some people don't want to blame Johnny Mac but this run over 22 games speaks volumes on his ability to lead a team from behind a bench. It doesn't matter, Lemaire is here now and this team is doing things that 2 months ago we never thought were possible. As far as I see it, the 2 most important things the Devils need to do once the season is over is 1) sign Parise long-term and 2) find a way to convince Jaques Lemaire to stay.

Give David Clarkson some credit. Some guys would have sat for a few days if they were nursing a skate cut that required 18 stitches to close it. That's exactly what happened to David Clarkson on Friday night in Tampa Bay but there he was on the ice for the Panthers game. Sure, the cut isn't on the leg which if it were, he might have had to sit some games, but rather on his forearm.

Clarkson snapped a scoreless tie at 5:46 of the second period with his first goal in 18 games. It was his first since Jan. 15, also against the Panthers while the Devils were on the road. Maybe he's just comfortable playing against the Panthers!!

Rolston followed up Clarkson with a PP Goal a 9:11 and the Marty Broduer and the Devils held on to beat the Pathers 2-1. The Devils finish their 4 game road trip 3-1-0 and remain 9 points behind 8th place Carolina. The Devils sit in 13th overall, 1 point behind the Pathers.

Jason Arnott - News came out after the game that if a team that has a lock on a playoff spot is interested in acquiring the veteran center, Arnott indicated today that he would be willing to go.

I'm really not happy about this and would like to see Lou just watch this day pass him by. The Devils are hot, hotter than any other team in the league right now and even one move can screw that up. Sure, Arnott doesn't bring  a lot to the table. 13 goals, 11 assists this season but he does do certain things on the ice well and he does bring size to the Devils. Trading him not, at this point in the playoff race doesn't make sense at all.

I even fear what happens to this team when Parise is healthy enough to return. Chemisty, confidence and momentum can be such a funny thing that one change can throw all of it out the window. The bottom line, trading Arnott won't return anything more than a draft pick to NJ and for me, its just not worth it.

Devils Next Game - The Tampa Bay Lightning head north to take on the Devils at The Rock on Wednesday night.

Is it safe to say that Ilya Kovalchuk is FINALLY feeling comfortable in a Devils sweater? In the last 10 games, which includes last night against the Hurricanes, Kovalchuk has 7 goals and 6 assists. THIS is what the Devils top brass pictured when signing this guy to big money. Last nights goal was just rediculous. He kept turning Joe Corvo inside out before he used Corvo and Palmieri as a screen to put the Devils on the board 1-0 in the second. If you haven't seen the goal, you have to watch it!!

Rolston scored his 9th of the season on a rebound from an Elias shot. Elias made a nifty little cross over move to add to the Devils lead early in the third period. The Devils did let the Hurricanes cut the gap to 3-1, which made the game interesting. I know the game ended 3-2 but that Canes 2nd goal came so late that it really didn't matter. I'll be honest, Cam Ward didn't look like Cam Ward tonight. The Kovalchuk goal was rediculous because Kovalchuk can put a puck into a the net with very little space to work with, its just the type of player he is but the Rolston and Elias goals I thought he should have stopped. Whatever, I'll take it.

The Devils, who are now a hot 13-1-2 in the second half of the season. Hedberg has REALLY stepped up for us this season and the Devils now trail the 8th spot by 12 points with 25 games to play. If they can keep playing this type of hockey, they could make it very interesting.

Devils play the Rangers tomorrow night in a game where both teams need points BADLY!! Should be a great game.

I guess the defense for both the Devils and the Leafs decided to take the night off. The Devils out shot the Leafs 39-32 on their way to a 2-1 OT win, which happens to be Lemaire's 600th Career win.

The Devils certainly gave the Leafs ample oppurtunity to take control of this game as they found themselves in the box 7 times... SEVEN!!! Big round of applause for disciplined hockey!!

The Nikolai Kulemin happened because the Devils looked quite sloppy, where in the middle of a line change and Colin White was missing his stick. Still no excuse that Kessel got so deep behind White but is it White's fault or should Salmela have been in the slot?

Devils got lucky on the Bozak miss. Tallinder missed the puck on a pass attempt which led to a great oppurtunity for the Leafs but they couldn't bury it.

Zubrus had a beautiful deflection to get the Devils on the board.

Kovalchuk's goal in OT is exactly why he got the contract money he did. I expect Kovalchuk to score when he's 1 on 2. He's that type of player, we haven't seen much of it but when we do its beautiful!!

The Devils made the mistake again tonight of letting a team they are chasing get a point out of the game. That needs to stop. Devils also need to do a better job of hanging on to the puck. WAY too many turnovers last night.

Devils return to NJ tonight for a match with the Sharks.

Do you think sitting on the bench for the entire 3rd period against Montreal spoke to Tedenby? Tedenby found the net twice as the Devils sunk the Canes in OT. I'll be honest, with his benching in Montreal, I was a little surprised that Lemaire looked Tedenby's way for the OT but he did have some jump in his game all night.

The problem with the game last night was that the Devils allowed the Canes to get a point out of the game. Sure, the Devils shouldn't be so focused on the playoffs because they are quite a ways out but a playoff run is always going to be in question. If the Devils want to make it, they need to get 2 points out of the Carolina games while not allowing the Canes to get a point.

Volchenkov took some bad penalties and the Devils looked bad on the PK, allowing Skinner to find the net twice while up a man. Volchenkov delivered an elbow to the head of Carolina forward Zach Boychuk which is probably going to get the leagues attention. It was, without a doubt, the type of hit that needs to go away.

I thought Hedberg played well. I'm still not sure how Skinners first goal even got in there. Hedberg wasn't giving up much but it found some hole. Clarkson picked a good time for a scrap as it gave some energy to the Devils and the crowd. Tedenby answer a few minutes after the scrap on a nice feed from Arnott.

Palmieri did a good job following up a Kovalchuk shot to knot the game at 2 late in the third. He did exactly what we need guys to do, which is drive the net. The Devils really tried to pound home the game late but Cam Ward made a nice stop on Eliase in the final minute.

Tedenby made a nice move and beat Cam Ward high for the OT winner.

The Devils certainly have things to work on but the head to Toronto for a game against the Leafs tomorrow night. Marty is still day to day and we will see in the NHL has anything to say to Volchenkov today.

A lot of people probably didn't tune into this game as the game was at 3pm on Super Bowl Sunday. I was only able to catch some of it on TV and some of it on the radio.

The Devils continue to pick up points and look impressive. Montreal is a good team but the certainly didn't show it yesterday. Marty left the game after the 1st period but it doesn't sound like it is anything serious. He was seen walking around the arena and more importantly walking up steps with ease after the game.

Just something for thought, was there a better signing last summer than Johan Hedberg? The guy has answered everytime we have looked to him. I mean I would have been happy if the Devils had been able to hold on to Clemmenson back in the summer of '09 but Hedberg is a very good goalie to have on the bench.

Tomorrow night, the Devils host the 8th place Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow night at the rock. Check back tomorrow for our preview.

 Tough loss tonight because I thought the Devils played a decent game but they made a mistake late in the third which allowed the Pathers to knot the game at 3 on a shorthanded goal. The Panthers have been tough in 1 goal games this season.

Just a few notes/thoughts:
* Panthers beat the Devils because of special teams. 1 Power Play goal and 1 shorthanded.
* Voukoun is a great goalie and I hope he gets shipped somewhere that he can help a team chase the cup. He got the Panthers the 2 points tonight.
* Kovalchuk once again lost a puck at the point and this time the Devils paid the price. We've seen him struggle with puck control so much... WHY???
* Good to see Zajac snap his 8 game drought by putting home a goal.

I still remember Kovalchuk's first game in NJ 1 year ago when the Devils shocked the Maple Leafs by scoring 3 late goals. I was hoping for a win tonight on Kovalchuk's anniversary but I'll take the point, at least it puts us up 1 point on the Islanders.

Devils head to Montreal on Super Bowl Sunday. The game is early so maybe people will watch.