Oh Kovy, You Devil: The Return

Admittedly, the sight is quite odd...

Atlanta Thrashers play-by-play guy and FOSG Dan Kamal interviewed New Jersey Devils' winger Ilya Kovalchuk about what the vibe is like coming to the place where he was the face of a franchise for eight seasons...

The word Kovy used was "weird."

And, yeah, it was weird seeing someone who, literally, grew up in front of you turn into a hired gun for Devils GM Lou Lamoriello. Who is that guy after Jamie Langenbrunner...???

Yup... Number 17 is in road whites...
((the line-up card is your pictured evidence, thanks to me))

Much like Dany Heatley, whether it was in Ottawa or San Jose road sweaters, Kovalchuk got booed every time he touched the puck. And where Heatley is considered something of a quitter by the fan base in Atlanta, Kovalchuk is a Benedict Arnold-type. Kovy was offered the largest contract in the history of the franchise ((10 years and US$100M)) that would have crippled the team financially under its own budget constraints, and Ilya stil said "No."

Although the HQ thinks that it was more Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, turning the team down more than his player.

So, tonight was the return... sitting on the right-hand bench for a change.
((Philips Arena crow's nest view pictured, again thanks to me))

And it was a game that the Thrashers needed far more than the Devils. If the Devils won, they would be a step up for the #2 Seed in the east, while the Thrash were trying just to close the gap and make the playoffs to be the sacrificial 8-seed to Washington.

The Thrashers showed they are who they are- disappointingly average- and the Devils are who they are- the #2 seed in the East. A microcosm of the season happened in the second period, a Devils turnover gave Maxim Afinogenov a breakaway opportunity. Instead of skating in and shooting, he put on the brakes in the slot in front of Martin Brodeur and tried a centering pass. It was deflected and the opportunity, probably the Thrashers best on the night, was out the door...

"It was a different experience," Kovalchuk admitted afterward, "but it was fun, yeah." He expected to be booed by the crowd, but he also said it happens that way all the time.

Brodeur picks up his 110th career shutout and 600th career win in the 3-0 final.

"It was nice to have won the game," Kovalchuk added. "I think we may have eliminated them tonight, but it's all about winning. It was nice to see friends and ex-teammates, but it was nice to win."

And that's the difference and the bottom line as to why 17 had to leave...
Salary cap and the size of the wallet be damned...

Here's your highlights...
((HT: FS South/NHL))