Ed Mulholland-USA Today Sports
The only thing at stake for the New Jersey Devils in this evening’s final home game at the Prudential Center against the Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Penguins was pride with a little splash of self-respect.
Two horrendous losing streaks left the Devils barely breathing and almost without a pulse. Yet, there was a small glimmer of light in the endless tunnel of darkness that was the second half of this lockout shortened season. However, it was their dreaded Hudson River Rivals, the New York Rangers who squashed it last Sunday with a 4-1 defeat in front of the Madison Square Garden faithful who were loving every minute of it.
This left the Devils feeling empty and looking for answers for their downward spiral. For some like unrestricted free agents Marek Zidlicky, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Peter Harrold, it may have left them looking for work.
While the temptation may be to phone in the final two games, it wouldn’t be the wisest of choices for a team which may be getting a complete overhaul during the summer. For these players along with other free agents, Dainus Zubrus, David Clarkson and Patrik Elias this may be the last time they will be pulling on a Devils’ jersey. After failing to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, clearly it is time for change.
Yet for one player this evening, the meaningless game is one he will remember for the rest of his life. 21 year old Eric Gelinas made his NHL debut wearing number 32 on his Devils’ jersey. The 2009 second round pick was paired on defense with Peter Harrold. In 57 games with the Devils’ AHL affiliate in Albany, Gelinas had six goals and 16 assists.
“I’m real excited,” the Vanier, Ontario native told Tom Gulitti in an interview on his Fire and Ice Blog. “It’s going to be my debut and against a team like this it’s special.”
Gelinas had his jaw broken earlier this year when he was hit by a shot on Oct. 6 in a preseason game in Albany, but he has bounced back and doesn’t let the fear of another hit on the chin bog him down.
His parents and brother drove six hours from Canada to see him make his NHL debut on fan appreciation night at the Prudential Center. Gelinas had been called up earlier this week and was hopeful he might get an opportunity to suit up in one of the last two games of the season.
” My family asked me whenever I know to just tell them and they’ll find a way to get here tonight,” Gelinas explained. “So it’s going to be nice. It’s going to be nice for them as it will be for me.”
Gelinas didn’t figure in the score sheet in the 3-2 comeback win against the Penguins though he did have one shot on goal. Regardless of the Devils’ place in the standings, it is a moment he and his family will always find special.
Dawn Miller is a New Jersey Devils writer for Rant Sports. Follow her on Twitter, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
