Devils “lack professionalism” in Philly

April 5, 2008   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

That was only a part of coach Brent Sutter’s scathing review of his team’s effort - or lack thereof last night, but more on that later. 

New Jersey’s 3-0 loss in Philly last night ensured a playoff berth for the Flyers.  It also assured that at least home-ice for the first round would still be on the line for Sunday’s season finale at the Rock against the Rangers. 

The almost unprecedented eight-game series between the Devils and Rangers is all but set, but if Boston wins tonight and the Devils somehow beat the Rangers in regulation tomorrow then New Jersey would wind up playing Boston in the first round.  How ironic would that be, Claude Julien getting a chance to one-up Lou and the Devils?

Before they get there though, the Devils need to find some semblance of a game and fast.  I could bother to review last night’s game but really there was nothing worth reviewing.  If any other goaltender had played last night the score’s at least 6 or 7-0. 

Granted, the Flyers had everything to play for and home-ice isn’t as much of a carrot as actually making the playoffs so from that perspective last night wasn’t a total shock.  Still, you would hope the team would at least try to show up against one of its biggest rivals with a chance to screw them out of a playoff berth.  Obviously Brent Sutter did:

“We didn’t do anything tonight. We were terrible. That’s what happens when you don’t prepare to play a game that’s meaningful and every game at this level is meaningful…Tonight was a lack of professionalism on our hockey team’s part. If anybody wants to tell you different, they’re liars.”

And that’s pretty much all the review last night requires.