from Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch,
I was on the road, in a car with a satellite radio, and I was tuned into the New Jersey Devils’ feed of the Devils-Blue Jackets game Sunday. I couldn’t help but feel for Devils play-by-play man Matt Laughlin and color analyst Chico Resch.
This should have been an empty netter for these guys: The Devils, poised for a letdown after an impressive 1-0 victory over the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, did not let down. They ran the Jackets out of whatever the name of the building is in Newark, final score 7-1. If you are the home announcers, it should have been an easy-peasy Sunday.
The problem was Laughlin and Resch had a hard time watching the spiritless, hapless, halfhearted Jackets. Resch, the old goalie, was particularly affected. It killed him that Jackets goaltender Elvis Merkins was “playing his heart out” while the rest of the Jackets fled from the net front. He used words like “embarrassing” and “pathetic.”
I felt for Chico. He’s 74 years old now. He roots for everybody – the Devils, especially – but mostly, he roots for hockey. He has 50-plus years logged as a player and a broadcaster, and he loves the game as much as life itself. The Jackets let him down Sunday. And if the Jackets let down Chico, who bleeds Devil Christmas tree colors, it goes without saying they let down Columbus and its true-blue fans. Once again, they failed to show, with the possible exception of Elvis – who seems to be the only Jacket with any fight in him.
Wow, I did not see this game. I am always bullish on CBJ over recent years - they played a tough brand of hockey and when Tortorella was there - they were a tough out. I get more in tune with the rest of the league after baseball ends and on dates when I am not at UBS. I saw CBJ recently smoke the Rangers 5-1 so this comes as a surprise. They are in Finland now playing TB so that won't be easy either. I would not count them out. Laine and Gaudreau will heat up. Laine is back in the lineup so we shall see.
And yes, Chico is great on both TV and Radio. We are lucky in the Metro area - MSG Networks often has 3 games on the same nights for the three area teams and I watch many of them. While I totally understand how fans associate him with NJD and rightfully so! But my boyhood was filled with Chico being a star goalie and so glad he was on one Stanley Cup winner. A pure joy and treasure and one of the best goalies I have ever seen play. His heroics in 1975 helped make me a fan for life. I can totally see him getting upset if CBJ was that bad that night. I love watching all NHL teams (well, maybe except for West 33rd Street and Toronto) and it's a glorious sport. Well contested - high energy games are what brings people back. And how I hate it when my team plays a DUD of a game at home after I spent over 100 bucks to attend and transport to the game - but even more - my time. I will make it a point to watch CBJ's game on Saturday afternoon and wish them well!
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