I had the opportunity to attend the Canadiens-Devils game last Friday night in Newark. Here are a few thoughts on the game and the rink, both pro and con.
Pros:
- The rink is quite nice to look at. Nice wide entrances, staff is well dressed and very helpful. The practice rink features big windows making the action viewable from the sidewalk (You can watch the Devils skating while fleeing a mugger!)
- Tons and tons of very enthusiastic Habs’ fans made the trek and resulting atmosphere in the rink was great.
- So, so many hot French chicks coupled with so, so many hot New Jersey chicks.
- The local kids sitting beside me asking the Quebecois kids in front of me, “Are like, all Montreal chicks sluts or what?”
- Scott Clemmensen was the real deal. Square to the shooter, very few rebounds and adroitly steers pucks out of trouble. He was fun to watch.
- Montreal’s speed and creativity. Max Pacioretty’s major league wrist shot.
- Pacioretty and Brian Gionta both scoring goals from the wing. It looked like it was 1982 out there.
- Kovalev’s stick handling. I am sure he could do that in a phone booth.
- The Clarkson-Kotsopolous fight was fantastic. It just kept going and going with both guys exchanging punches.
- The New Jersey Devils cheerleaders. In addition to being esthetically pleasing, they can dance.
- An eight year old kid ignoring the game to take pictures of said cheerleaders.
- Buying tickets from Eddie, the snarkiest scalper this side of the Rockies.
- Lou Lamiorello: snappy dresser.
Cons:
- The fans on both sides telling each other to go/stay home, etc. New Jersey fans should be happy people filled their rink up. Montreal fans should be happy they weren’t standing on the street in Newark.
- The Montreal Dad who proceeded to translate the entire menu from English to French for his three little snowflakes because he doesn’t want them to learn English. (Fair enough, they are his kids. But this is Newark, hold up a line like that again and someone is going to get stabby.)
- Bobby Holik looks done.
- Mike Mottau is a serviceable defenseman, until he decides to move.
- Komisarek is good, but shouldn’t be on an All-Star team, let alone starting.
- I dislike guys trying to start fights after a clean hit.
- Newark is frightening. And I spent time in Detroit.
- John Madden outskating both the Montreal defenseman and Mike Rupp on a 2 on 1. Funny stuff.
- The Habs fan wearing a Mike Ribeiro shirt in public.
- Montreal fans not standing for the Canadian anthem, then rising for the Star Spangled Banner and vice versa. Bush-league stuff right there. (To be clear, these people were in the minority, but stili. Bush league.)
- $25 to park outside the arena. I paid less than that at MSG.