Ducks Gameday—NJ Dreamsmashers

New Jersey Devils (12-7-1, 7th in East) at Anaheim Ducks (15-2-6, 1st in West)

Today’s afternoon tilt is a rematch of the ever-painful 2003 cup finals, where my 2nd favorite team decided to become my 30th favorite team all in the course of 7 “home-team-wins-them-all” playoff games.

This will be the Devils’ 2nd trip to Anaheim since that series (and first since Nov. 2003), while the Ducks have never been back to NJ to avenge their G7 loss. (Of course, only three current Ducks really have anything to avenge—only J.S. Giguere, Sammy Pahlsson, and Rob Niedermayer remain from that ’03 squad). Incidentally, this will be the first time Scott Niedermayer ever plays against the Devils.

Of course, there’s lots left to hate from the Devils’ side of the ledger: Marty Brodeur, who shut out the Ducks in 3 out of the 4 Jersey games. Mike Rupp, who scored the G7 winner. Scott Gomez, Patrik Elias, Sergei Brylin, Jamie Langenbrunner, John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, Brian Rafalski and Colin White.

These are the 4th and 6th best teams this year in terms of preventing shots and preventing goals this year, so stock up on the Tryptophan, get cozy on the couch, and go Ducks!

Prediction: Ducks 3, Devils 2 (OT). Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Stumpy Thomas with the winner.