But does himself in after the game....
Homeless and on a 4 game winless streak the Devils took to the road in Washington today to meet up with the Washington Capitals. After losing their last game 5-0 and burning down their home the Devils were looking for anything positive to happen in todays game. 10 days ago the two teams met and played to a 3-3 draw in which the Caps outplayed the Devils. Todays game was similar in the fact that the Caps again held the majority of the play but were unable to get the win they deserved. The game was different than it's predeccessor as the Devils walked away victorious and the Caps were left to look for moral victories that really don't amount to anything.
The Caps came out early and took it to the Devils as they were able to control the puck, and force the Devils to cheat in order to avoid being run out of the rink. Arron Asham and John Madden were both flagged for two first period penalties each which contributed to 3 first period powerplays for the Capitals. But the Caps tried to be a bit too fine on the PP and were only able to generate 12 first period shots, and zero goals. Mike Dunham robbed Joe Thornton with a desperation stick save at the 14 minute mark as the Caps were in the midst of a 1:18 two man advantage. The Devils thought they had opened the scoring at the 15:04 mark when Fernando Pisani put a puck at the net that found it's way in, but the goal was waived off as John Madden was called for goalie interference as he crashed into Caps netminder John Grahame.
The Devils did eventually manage to open the scoring 8:51 into what was a listless looking second period. This time John Madden held back long enough that he was able to redirect Pisani's crossing pass into the net before crashing into the Caps net. Grahame and the Caps protested the call vehemately, but it fell upon deaf ears. The Devils extended the lead to 2 late in the frame when Ales Kotalik was able to find some open ice and Niklas Sundstrom fed a nifty pass through the seem that the young Czech was able to hammer home for his 8th goal of the season.
The Devils looked content to draw out the clock in the third period as they didn't forecheck very hard, and sat back not giving the Caps very much room to work. Eventually Aaron Miller made it a 3-0 game late in the third. Fernando Pisani made a brilliant end to end rush that was thwarted by Grahame, but Pisani stayed with the puck, and controlled it on the end boards long enough for Miller to stand all alone in the high slot. Pisani quickley got the puck to Miiller who flubbed the shot, but an over reaction by Grahame allowed him to slide out of position as the lame duck puck rolled into the net somehow illuding several Cap defenders on the way. Mike Dunham recorded the shut out for the Devils for his 8th win of the season.
After the game Sylvanfan agreed to take Dunham out to a local DC strip joint for a brief period of time before the team made it's way back to Albany for their game tommorrow against the Sens. After taking over the Devils Syl as he's know told all his players that if they earned first star he would take them out on the teams nickle and let the player chose the activity be it golf, gambling, or something along those lines. After the Devils last game against the Caps Dunham had asked to go to a New Jersey strip club, where he tweaked his groin after getting up stage to dance, and unsuspectingly hitting a pool of baby oil. With this in mind the Devils GM was reluctant to again take Dunham to the peelers and tried to talk him into a round of golf, or a tour of the Whitehouse. But Dunham insisted that he wanted to see the strippers that impress the government leaders of his country. Since Dunham had earned it Syl had no choice but to take him to Nexus Gold club which is renowned as the best Gentlemans club in the DC region. Somehow Mike Dunham ended up in the VIP area where he decided to try and dance with the girls. This time it was a politician who apparently crossed the line and was slapped by another girl. This caused the man to spill his drink and Dunham unsuspectingly slipped on the suddenly wet floor and really did some damage this time. The girls at the club tried to ice his groin but it appears that the Devils top player will be out indefinitely as a result.
"I really don't know whats with the guys in this league." gasped Sylvanfan. "They can play a brutal game and look invicible, but off the ice they're a bunch of clumbsy buffoons who constantly suffer freak injuries. Luc Robitaille hosts a ballroom dance for Hurricane victims and some girl steps on his foot injuring his ankle. Keith Primeau suffered a concussion when he got liquored up on the golf course and and rolled his golf cart. Now Dunham injures his groin at a gents club. It's just a crazy string of luck I tell you. I guess we better stock up on cigarettes since it looks like Hurme's going to play quite a bit here in the next while."