Relentless, They Are

I got to be honest with you, it pained me greatly to make that the headline. To put it lightly, Star Wars isn't exactly my thing, but if the Devils are going to follow up a corny promotional stunt with the most  improbable of comebacks then embrace all things Yoda, I will. Hell, at this point some fictional "force" might be the only explanation for what's driving this team's success. Jedi mind tricks are as good a reason as any that the Devils have managed to continue to rack up points despite being down their top two centers. 

The other reason this headline made me cringe as I was typing it is because it means that I officially have to embrace the "relentless" motto. I know, I know, I've tried for the longest time not to be hypocritical, but this team has given me no choice. Before the season started I was taking every opportunity afforded to me to poke fun at the Devils for incessantly pushing that hashtag on the fanbase, but do you know what happened? This Devils team somehow took it to heart. Prophecy, self fulfilled. There's just no other word that better suits this team than relentless. While on the mend from critical injuries there is no way they should have won last night, especially entering the third period down two, against a more talented team with a hot goaltender. Other than an outright refusal to quit on themselves when literally nothing was going in their favor, nothing makes sense about the Devils winning last night. So fuck it, relentless it is, and relentless, we are. 

□Palmieri with an unreal OT win□ https://t.co/7UM5beL89s

— CherryPickHockey (@CherryPickHky) December 12, 2015

This is what I instantly thought of as I watched Kyle Palmieri roof the game winner off a beautiful feed from Lee Stempniak...

I am not saying that the chemistry that exists between this team compares to that of Devils teams of the past, nor am I saying that Kyle Palmieri is the second coming of Zach Parise. What I am saying is that it is a hell of a lot closer than ANY of us could imagined. This team has come together faster than a homo-erotic sleepover party. My 7th grade haircut took more time to gel. That's the only way to account for what these guys have accomplished in such short period. Barring serious injury (crosses fingers), there are currently four players in the top six that are on pace to SHATTER their career highs. An AHL caliber bottom six hasn't even looked remotely out of place. An unimpressive defense on paper looks nothing of the sort on the ice. Cory Schneider's consistent greatness in net has only been rivaled by outsiders consistent lateness in recognizing it. The only reason this TEAM is making a playoff spot look like more and more of possibility is that they are the very definition of the word. So the Red Wings and their evil empire might currently be our father, but at least for one night they can refer to us as daddy.