Devil Fans Worship Champions
Hundreds of Devils fans were confident Saturday that this was the moment. Their team could win its first Stanley Cup championship.
And the Devils proved them right as they beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 to sweep the finals 4-0.
“It’s over baby. We got it,” Seth Rogers yelled as he held a pitchfork over his shaved head, half of which was painted red and the other half black in honor of the team.
Fans listening to the game from their car radios in the Meadowlands stadium parking lot banged on cars with brooms as they heard the Devils score the gameclinching goal. They counted down the last seconds of the game and erupted in cheers.
Those pouring out of the stadium praised the team.
“They played awesome. They came back and showed their depth as a team,” Jeff Feigenwinter said. “The Devils better be here to stay.”
Two men carrying a banner proclaiming the Devils the 1995 champions ran along the hoods of cars yelling, “We are the champions!”
Fans sporting the Devils’ logo on their faces sang fight songs as they crowded into a bar here to watch the game. They trumpeted the merits of their team and argued about their favorite players.
Guy Madsen, owner of the Jersey Sports Cafe, called it “New Jersey pride night. We’ve been taking a beating from the press, and finally we’re doing something right, something to be proud of.”
Some residents were worried that their team might not be in the Garden State much longer. Officials in Nashville are wooing the team, and owner John McMullen has expressed his displeasure with the Devils’ lease at the Brendan Byrne Arena.
“I wanted to make a banner and address it to Mr. McMullen to say, ‘It’s not going to get any better than this,”’ one fan said. “The team can’t go to Nashville. They don’t know hockey there. They think ice is only for Coca-Cola.”
Even a Rangers fan was moved to come out and watch.
“Finally a New Jersey team that’s gonna win,” Jerry Janowski said. “Tonight we’re here to show that we’re more than just the Bruce Springsteen, toxic-waste state.”