Most hockey fans would say that there's nothing more unlikely than a 29 year old journeyman/ fringe professional leading an NHL team in goals while more than doubling his previous career high just a quarter of the way through a season that most thought he stood little chance of being a part of. My ex-girlfriends - on the other hand - would argue there is nothing more unlikely than me happily admitting when I am dead wrong. Usually I would completely dismiss their opinion without a second thought, but in the interest of proving their allegations false (and the impressiveness of his play right) I offer Brian Gibbons this...ahem...::takes bite of humble pie, pounds chest to force the swallowing of pride::...apology. I really thought he was training camp roster fodder. Just a warm body saving Joseph Blandisi's place in the lineup as some sort of temporary logistical move that I'm not smart enough to fully understand. Turns out Brian Gibbons' was a disruptive top for the penalty killing diamond diamond that was waiting to be dug out of the rough by a system and situation that caters perfectly to his skill set. Him turning the puck over in overtime on a play that could, should, and would turn into an odd-man situation going the other way 99.99% of the time only for it to immediately end up on his stick and in the back of the net is undoubtedly the peak of him magically fertilizing a shitty situation. That said, this isn't like Bobby Farnham blindly squirreling his way to a goal streak that was nothing short of nuts. Brian Gibbons' is scoring in every which way and even when his shooting percentage inevitably plummets from 30% and the spectacular wears off, what will remain is a solid, relentless player that can contribute up, down, and all-around the lineup. If there's a player that Ray Shero can point to as the personification of a batting average that's humbly hovering right around .950 it's Brian Gibbons, so I hopes it's not too late to say "sorry" to a guy who has instrumental to the Devils' early season success and the General Manager that believed in him. I'll get used to breathing through my nose if he wants to keep feeding me my foot.
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