– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
NEWARK, NJ — During his jersey retirement ceremony speech, Devils great Patrik Elias, who was having his No. 26 jersey raised to the Prudential Center rafters, marveled at the fact that he had become one with the state of New Jersey despite coming from thousands of miles away in the Czech Republic.
It was another New Jersey boy that made sure that Elias’ special night, as well as a special night for the franchise and its fans, would end the right way. Kyle Palmieri, born in Long Island and raised in Montvale, N.J., scored both third-period goals as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Saturday night, snapping a two-game losing streak. The win also put a little breathing room between themselves and the Islanders in the race for the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.
Elias’ number is the fifth to be retired in New Jersey Devils history, joining Ken Daneyko, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and Martin Brodeur. Remarkably, with tonight’s win, the Devils are now 5-0-0 in games where there is a retirement ceremony for one of their greats.
