New series — Top Lists — First one: Top 5 places I’ve seen Devils road games over the years

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —

I’ve been thinking of some new things to do here on the website — and I realized that except for Doc’s 10 Best Calls of All Time, I’ve never done a Top 10 or Top 5 list of any kind. So I am going to start off with the first of what I hope are many Top lists — starting with the Top 5 places I’ve ever seen a Devils road game.

Here it is.

#5 — The T.D. Bank Garden, Boston. 

Dec. 12, 1996 was the last time I went to a game there, but it just happened to be the very first game of Patrik Elias’ career. The Devils won the game, 7-4, and a career was born. Scoring for the Devils that night were Elias, Dave Andreychuk, Shawn Chambers, John MacLean (2), Denis Pederson and Randy McKay.

The TD Bank Garden, Boston, formerly the Shawmut Center and Fleet Center.

The only bizarre thing about seeing a game there — and I have no idea if this is still the case — if you’re not from Massachusetts, you cannot buy a beer unless your ID says you’re 25. At the time, I was 22 — I wanted a beer (I drank beers back then) and they refused me the sale.

“You’re a real coc***cker,” the attendant said to me after I had a few choice words for him for not selling me the beer. “Typical New Jersey ass**ole.”

I guess my red and black Devils sweater gave away that I was from the Garden State?

#4 — The Old Spectrum, Philadelphia. 

My one and only game there was in 1996, also, and I paid the price for it.

The Devils won the game in OT on a goal from, of all people, Phil Housley. When my buddy and I erupted for joy after the Devils scored and won, a Flyers fan sucker punched me on the side of the head. I went flying a row or two in front of me — and a Flyers fan bear hugged me and would not let me go.

The Spectrum — a true hockey dump.

“I’m doing it to protect you,” he said when I asked why he wouldn’t let go. “I’d rather see that moron get arrested for assaulting you than you getting into any kind of trouble.”

Years later, I am grateful for what that man did.

#3 — The Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y. 

Yes, it’s a complete dump. But it’s small. And small arenas have great acoustics — especially when road teams come to town.

It’s hard to find a working seat, but it’s fun seeing games on the Isle.

When the Devils play there, especially on the weekends, it’s like a home game. And I must have seen at least 20 games there over the years, including all of them in the 1997-98 season, when my friend, Dom, had season tickets that year.

#2 — Madison Square Garden, New York. 

Oh what a joy it is to go to see the Devils play there. But what I think a lot of people do not know is that Rangers fans are very courteous to visiting fans.

The Garden before the makeover was complete.

Sure there are a few blitzed dopes who will make remarks in the bathroom or along the concourse, but for the most part, if you go there, and root for your team — and otherwise take it easy, it’s a great experience.

It’s simply an amazing spot to see an NHL game.

#1 — The Hartford Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Conn. 

Ah an arena right in a mall. Yes, it’s true. The Mall is the loudest arena I’ve ever been in. And when you couple that with the steepness of the upper tier, the smallness of the place (it sat just under 16,000) and “Brass Bonanza,” you have a great spot to see a game.

I saw the Devils play there about 10 times — and saw the Whalers play other teams, too, while I was in college in Newport, R.I.

Crowds in Hartford were, unfortunately, often very, very small.

In 1996, I was at the Whalers’ final home game that season against the Boston Bruins — and at the time, there’d been rumors that could have been the last-ever Whalers home game. (I won’t remind you it was the same day the Devils lost to Ottawa to become the first time to win the Cup and not make the post-season the following year).

Of course, the Whalers would wind up playing one more season at the Mall. And I do hope one day Hartford gets a new NHL franchise and calls it the Whalers.

‘The Mall’ in Hartford — AKA the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum.

Still, a great — and very loud place — to see a hockey game, and my No. 1 spot to have seen a Devils road game.

What are your thoughts? Comment here, on Google+ or on our Facebook Group. We hope you’ll consider sharing posts you enjoy with other Devils fans on Facebook, Twitter and Google so that we can continue to grow.