As the autumn winds begin to blow and the temperatures grow colder with each passing day, the annual phenomena of leaves first changing colors and then shaking loose from the trees occurs.  However, that is a topic for another day.  We’re still in color changing territory.  We are a couple of weeks from them falling to the ground en masse.  Perhaps I’ll wax poetic about it then. No, the Leafs (sic) I refer to in the subject refer to the Maple Leafs of Toronto.  Their collective fall coming at the hand of my New Jersey Devils.

Terrence and I descended on Harrison Friday evening in search of that particular brand of joy only a win by our favorite hockey team could provide.  Opening Night had only provided the joy of being in our new hockey palace as the Devils had lost to one Canadian team.  Our hope was that another Canadian team, and certainly a less talented one at that, would provide the proper result.

So, as we are quickly becoming accustomed to doing, we drove down to the Harrison PATH station, separately this time.  We hopped on the first PATH train towards Newark-Penn Station.  As we had discussed on the way home from Opening Night, we took advantage of the various eateries in the Gateway Center.  A couple of slices of thin crust pizza later, we continued our journey through until we arrived at the street entrance, once again on the opposite corner from the arena.  Seriously, if you have any reason to go to the new arena at all, whether it be for concerts, Devils games, etc, and traveling by train to Newark-Penn is an option, do it.  There is no better way to go.

The combination of the smaller, somewhat late arriving crowd plus what I think was likely an earlier opening of the doors allowed us to get inside the arena still having some time to kill.  Unlike Opening Night, where we were forced to quickly get our bearings, visit the concession stands, and find our seats, we were able to do some walking around this time.  Wanting to get the full experience, we made a full circuit of the arena.  We got a look at the giant hockey puck that they had people signing Opening Night, the hockey sweaters of the various New Jersey high schools, the display case that held the jerseys this franchise had worn in its various incarnations.  Throw in all the murals lovingly painted on the walls and I found myself momentarily regretting the fact that I had not brought my camera.  Consolation came quickly as I realized this was not to be my last game there this year.

Having visited the souvenir shop for a game program and then the concessions stand for a beer, we sat in our seats to enjoy the game.  The lack of anyone sitting immediately to our left or right allowed us to keep a seat between us.  To all of those who’ve heard about the tight fit in the upper areas, I tell you that there is nothing wrong with those seats that removing the cup holders wouldn’t fix.  There is enough leg room as long as you’re not of NBA frontcourt size.  Trust me, with the way my knees tend to react, I’d be in some serious pain if leg room was a problem.

The action on the ice certainly entertaining as the teams traded chances.  The Leafs seemed to have gotten the better of the play by a slight margin, highlighted by the shot on goal total.  However, Martin “Marty” Brodeur was showing the brilliant form that had been missing for stretches of the early season.  A goal by my favorite new pest, David Clarkson, resulted in a mostly satisfying 1-0 lead at the end of the first 20 minutes.

The second period did not go quite as well.  The Leafs definitely got the better of the play and the Devs seemed to be content to try and weather the storm.  Marty was again brilliant however he wasn’t completely perfect as the Leafs scored to end the period at 1-1.

The third period would begin with the crowd being somewhat tense and subdued.  Even the organist appeared to have a lack of energy.  Oddly enough it was the Devils making a few dumb decisions, not to mention a couple of awful calls by the officials, that got everyone going.  A full furious roar had begun to erupt and the flowed over as John “Mad Dog” Madden scored while the Devils were short handed.  Zach Parise would add another goal not too long afterward and the party was on.  Even a Leafs goal by the ancient Mats Sundin with less than a minute to play as well as a few scary moments could not completly subdue the mood.  The game ended 3-2 in favor of the home team so Terrence and I could leave happy.  We would enjoy a couple of beers back at the Gateway Center before heading for our train and then for home.

A number of notes from the game:

1. To the guys in section next to us, I appreciate the level of volume and enthusiasm you brought to the game.  However, your constant inferences as to the sexual orientation of one Tomas Kaberle, plus that those inferences were repeated ad nauseum only made you sound like small-minded idiots.  Be loud for sure, be obnoxious if you feel you must, but for crying out loud, be original and varied.

2. I’ve had a couple of chances now to take in a game where the Leafs were the opponent.  Despite my distaste for the team due to some hated players they’ve had over the years, I have to give kudos to their fans.  I’ve always found them to be enjoyable in terms of discussing hockey, respectful of the fact that they are rooting for the visiting team (Rangers fans take note), and for certain loyal.  I don’t mind fans rooting hard and loud for their team at home or on the road.  That’s what being a fan is.  But it’s nice to see it happen without them trying to make a spectacle of themselves.  That only invites trouble.

3. I think the Devils may want to consider asking that night games be moved to 7:30 p.m. from 7:00 p.m.  While the crowd wasn’t as big as I would have liked, it definitely was much larger at 7:30 than it was at the 7:00 start.  Maybe just do it for weekend games when the kids don’t need to be up early the next day?

4. A big thank you to the guy at the Exxon station who assisted Terrence and me in changing the tire on my CR-V after it was punctured trying to find an alternate route around an accident.  Your assistance helped the process move along faster.  The fact that you wouldn’t take any money for the assistance marked you as a true Good Samaritan.  Thank you, sir.

Oh, and a belated Happy Birthday to my brother, Mike.  I’ll be seeing you in a few weeks!

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