Mmmaaaaarrrrrrtttttyyyyyyyyy

What a stunningly awesome scene in NASCAR nation. Mmmmaaarrrtttyyy comes out of his crease too far, gets bumped, doesn't get back into position quickly, punches the guy who bumped him and the game-winning goal sails into the net with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. Carolina wins 4-3 to tie the series at two. He chases down the ref and throws a tantrum, slamming his stick at the ice as souvenir towels rain down around him. Check it out, courtesy of MJM at HockeyDump.

That was spectacular; listen to Chico cry for his boy!! As a Ranger fan, I can only applaud. Sheer awesomeness.

Mmmaaaaarrrrrrtttttyyyyyyyyy, Mmmaaaaarrrrrrtttttyyyyyyyyy

Class Acts in Quebec

Now, I hate Mmmmmmaaaaaaarrrrrrrtttttyyyyyy more than most any NHLer not named Poti, Redden, Malik or Crosby and I am certainly going to give the Habs fans hell on Tuesday but what they did tonight for Fatso was a wonderful moment in NHL history.

If you didn't see it, the Devils topped the Canadiens 3-1 to secure Mmmmaaarrrtttyyy's 551st career win, tying him with St. Patrick Roy. That wasn't so great. What was great was the loud, prolonged ovation that the packed house at the Bell Centre gave Brodeur in recognition of his accomplishment. You can watch it with the final seconds of the game here.

Maybe it is because he is a hometown boy, maybe it is because the two teams aren't rivals, who knows? Honestly, I can't say that I would have cheered him had he reached the mark at the Garden so kudos to the Canadien fans for their class. This display ranks right up there with the notoriously tough Boston Garden fans giving Ron Tugnutt a standing o' after his 70 save performance for the Nordiques back in the day and rivals the display of virtue by Jarome Iginla after Trevor Linden's final game in more recent history.

So nice work Hab fans and congrats to Fatso, who remains an overrated and classless clown.

What A Great Photo

Sure it was the Isles that made Fatso sad, but any time Maaaarrrrrrrttttttttyyyyy is miserable is a good time. Six goals against on 26 shots. Superstar!

ATTN: NYC Stalkers

I got this press warning:

Martin Brodeur, Vincent Lecavalier and Henrik Lundqvist will be in attendance for the NYC premiere of the HBO hit series, "Entourage," at the Ziegfeld Theatre tonight.

No word if the hefty Devils goaltender will try to steal Henrik's wallet. He already stole the Vezina from him ...

NHL Four-cast: New Jersey Devils

1 - Why is this team worth watching? Did you enjoy Beijing? If so, then the second best diver in the world will be in the crease for the Devils. Fatso puts on a show every night, the overrated, classless ass. Other than Mmmmaaaarrrrttttyyy, the less-famous John Madden is really a defensive genius and Brian Gionta proves that members of the Lollipop Guild can make the NHL. And if those three are enough to convince you to watch these guys, then have fun with the other thousand or so Devil fans who sit in the empty Prudential Center. Hey, I never said these Four-casts weren't going to be unbiased - this is a Ranger blog after all.

2 - Are they better or worse than last year? Better. Bobby Holik is happy to be back in Jersey - I can't imagine why after a stint in Atlanta - and you can expect him to play happily and well. Holik, when used properly, is the best shut-down center in the league and that includes Madden, Draper and Datsyuk. Brian Rolston also is making a return to the Garden State and he adds a little offense.

3 - Who should YOU draft in fantasy? I said Rolston adds a little offense and that is it. Do not expect him to improve on his 59 points from last year, not in New Jersey. Zach Parise should be good for 70 points and Patrik Elias, aka Hepatitis B, should hit the 65 mark. If Gionta can find any chemistry with Rolston, then he could regain his 30 goal form. Jamie Langenbrunner showed signs of breaking out in coach Sutter's system so keep an eye on him. If you are in a deep league and PIM is one of many categories, then David Clarkson is worth picking up - 20 points, positive plus/minus and plenty of penalties as the only tough guy on the team. John Oduya should continue to improve across the board and get 30 points, plus 30 and 50 PIM. As for a dark horse, Noah Clarke played one NHL game and scored one goal and has a injury-filled-yet-solid AHL resume that had 230 points in 314 games.

4 - What are five ways that the Devils can sell-out the Prudential Center? 1 - Play the Rangers 41 times, 2 - Have Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen play during the intermissions, 3 - Slot machines since New Yorkers aren't willing to go all the way to AC, 4 - Free tickets for the mentally challenged, and 5- Cheap beer, E and bad techno music could bring da guidos in from da Shore.

MAAAAAARRRRTTTTTYYYYY

For anyone interested, I got this e-mail from the NHL today:

Meet one of the greatest goalies of all-time! New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, three-time Stanley Cup winner and three-time Vezina Trophy winner, will be at the NHL Powered by Rbk store at 47th St./6th Ave. on Tuesday March 18, 2008 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. signing autographs. The first 250 people will be guaranteed an autograph with free Brodeur cards being provided. No other memorabilia or merchandise will be signed.

Unfortunately I will be at a season ticket holders event but I figured I would bring it to everyone's attention if they wanted to go heckle the biggest baby in hockey before the Rangers play the second biggest, Cindy Crosby and his Pens. Or not, as the little girl has already bagged the next week of games.