Post-Game Talk: Devil I

[PuckLuck3043]

The playoffs are a learning experience for teams that haven't been there in a while. We were down 3-1 to a kind of old but battle tested Pens team last year before things clicked in. That might be the deal with the Devils right now. For a lot of their players things still have to click.....but another thing is they're not playing an older team like the Penguins were last year. We have a lot of youth too and ours have been through all the shit from last year. The only guy we have that might be a bit broken down is Kane.....maybe Halak (but he's going to sit mostly unless something happens to Igor and if that happens we're f***ed anyway).

Still the Devils are very much an up and coming team. Very good already. I look at them as a real challenge and to be honest I think who we might get in the second round (should we get there) might be easier for us to handle. Can't take the Devils for granted. It's one game. We need to win three more.

We also weren't facing top flight goaltending against the Pens like the Devils will be. That could be the difference in this series. Igor seems like he is on top of his game.

 

[bl02]

It still blows my mind that some of you want to trade Lindgren.

Winning type of hockey player. Also don't wanna spark any debate but Fox is on another level especially in his own zone playing with Lindgren. His confidence goes from above average to over the freaking moon above average. You can see it in his own zone especially. Both guys have eyes on the back of their heads.

 

[The Gloaming]

It still blows my mind that some of you want to trade Lindgren.

Yeah we can't have a top pairing defenseman making....(checks notes) 3 million dollars!

Some people are more interested in playing 20 ELC players rather than competing for a Cup.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Too funny. I love this team.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Winning type of hockey player. Also don't wanna spark any debate but Fox is on another level especially in his own zone playing with Lindgren. His confidence goes from above average to over the freaking moon above average. You can see it in his own zone especially. Both guys have eyes on the back of their heads.

This is very true. He played ok with Mikkola but he is just plain better with Lindgren as his partner. It's just so obvious.

 

[bl02]

Too funny. I love this team.

Awesome video!!!!
Mikkola has low key been a terrific addition.

 

[LORDE]

For my eyes, he was easily the slowest player out there, and literally just a body with a reputation. Reminds me of Hodge and Esposito in their last year.

Even Reggie Dunlop was more effective as a player/coach

No one can take away the experience he brings to the table or what he will go in history books as, but last night was an abomination.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Too funny. I love this team.

Shesty's giant shit-eating grin was golden.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

It still blows my mind that some of you want to trade Lindgren.

he can't make a shot higher than knee

100% Girardi PTSD.

It really is. People confuse Lindgren with Girardi because they're both physical & fearless. And some resemblance facially.

Imo Lindgren is distinctly better. He has better vision & puck-moving ability.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Glad they brought back the cup of pucks, that’s probably why we didn’t go all the way last year

 

[IDvsEGO]

A lot of small and speedy guys. Got to be able to win grind games in the playoffs. Meier is kind of built like Tarasenko and Hischier isn't that small either. Palat's been through a lot of wars. Great two way player though he ended up -3 last night.

Sure but they're main offensive guys are small and speedy.

 

[80s Kid]

I think the hating on Kane is a bit overblown. If we start losing games and he's not scoring and/or turning the puck over, then I'll be concerned. We got him for the playoffs and aside from his poor attempt to get the puck into the offensive zone, I thought he was fine.

Our PP was rolling and thought he looked better handling the puck as the game progressed IMO. We were up early and often so it's not as if the team needed to be overly aggressive with putting pucks on the net. At the very least I think the opposition has to respect his ability to score and it opens up more opportunities for other players.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Goodrow isn't going anywhere.

 

[IDvsEGO]

It still blows my mind that some of you want to trade Lindgren.

Want? No. Might be the best thing long term? Possibly.
Get a mid first round pick this draft, gain cap space, because lindgren needs an extension next season and he does get injured frequently.

 

[New York RKY]

Still can’t believe we had to lose Hunter Skinner to get Tarasenko and Makkologana

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Kane is here in a support role. He’s not needed to be the franchise. He’ll be important eventually. I’m confident of that

 

[EdJovanovski]

Game kinda went the opposite of what I expected, I thought the Devils would come out flying and blow their load early with their speed and lack of experience. I thought we’d sit back and weather the storm, then pounce on their mistakes. But we were much more aggressive than that and seemed they wanted to score as soon as possible and just sort of stun them at home to instill fear

 

[bhamill]

It looks like Fox only played 20:17. That needs to be 30:00 plus

Not when we have a big lead. Manage his time. It's a marathon.

 

[bl02]

I think the hating on Kane is a bit overblown. If we start losing games and he's not scoring and/or turning the puck over, then I'll be concerned. We got him for the playoffs and aside from his poor attempt to get the puck into the offensive zone, I thought he was fine.

Our PP was rolling and thought he looked better handling the puck as the game progressed IMO. We were up early and often so it's not as if the team needed to be overly aggressive with putting pucks on the net. At the very least I think the opposition has to respect his ability to score and it opens up more opportunities for other players.

Agreed on the second part. I think the opposition has to respect his abilities with the open space he has on the pp. He still has a decent shot and good passing abilities.
I just think he was more of a liability then you feel he was. I counted at least 2 or 3 times where he made unforced errors that led to devil rushes which for the most part was contained well by the other 4 Rangers on the ice as well as Shesty.

 

[Kovalev27]

Well that answers the questions I had. They are just a low energy team. Low energy teams win sometimes, but would rather have more pep in the step. I guess it ain't gonna happen. I just don't know how long this will last.

Kane is bad. If he really wanted to help the team going forward he would take himself off PP1 and get Tank in that spot.

Devils are going to keep pushing. Probably even harder than in the second. I still think the Rangers just don't play the right way. They are far too arrogant and refuse to get the puck behind their opponent.

To not be all negative, cause we did just win, this team reminds me of the Ducks Cup team. Calm, opportunistic and difficult to get quality chances on. That Ducks team would let teams punch themselves out, look like they were losing the game, but would be winning 4 to 1. Haha

We just won a road playoff game 5-1 LOL

 

[The Gloaming]

I think it was pretty clear that the Rangers basically dicked around all season while the Devils gave it their best in most regular season games. After losing in the conference finals, there is no way a team is going to give it 100% playing on a random Tuesday night in Columbus in November. But if you're a team that's been in the basement for years, you will be showing up every night.

Now the Rangers get to show what their best looks like, while the Devils have to find another gear.

 

[bhamill]

Was really nervous going into the first game. I didn't like how the Rangers have played against this Devils team all season. I felt like for whatever reason the Devs have them on their heels and they just don't respond well. Despite taking an early penalty in the early minutes of the game, the killed it off and scored the first goal. That was the start they needed.

The rest of the first period went super well for them. The killed off 2 penalties. One of which I didn't think was even a penalty. The Timo Meier high stick called on Schneider. They scored on the PP, and made the Devs pay on the makeup call. They also missed a few calls.

With that said, i still felt like the Devils had the momentum for a lot of the game. Igor took over, and he was a beast last night. I think that got in the Devs heads. He made some really nice saves.

Fox was on another level last night. That was some real Norris shit we witnessed last night. Offensively and defensively. Had more hits then any dman, cept for Trouba. He also blocked more shots then any other player on both clubs. Then of course, there were the 4 assists he put up.

Good​

Rangers took game 1

The shot blocking was excellent last night for the Rangers.

Chytil had a very strong night. Goal and an assist and was 76.9% in the faceoff circle!!!

Goodrow was in playoff mode

Ryan Lindgren scores the prettiest goal of the night, shortside on a Pat Kane like snipe!

Kreider was a beast in front of the net.

Rangers shut down the Hischier line. He was a -3 on the night.

Mikkola didn't screen Igor all night.

The kid line put up a strong performance.

All of the Rangers top producers put up points cept for Mika.

Bad​

Not 1 single NYR player hit Hughes all night long. Not 1. The only player to knock him down was his own man Dougie Hamilton. I felt like for the Rangers to win this series, playing Hughes with more of an edge needed to happen. They got amazing results, so i hope im wrong here, but I fear if they don't knock him around he's going to take over games.

46 Shot attempts, by a team that has some real solid goal scorers. Can't expect 23 blocked shots a night from this team. Over the last 5 games the Rangers blocked an average of 12 shots per game. Can they sustain 23 shot blocks per game?

K'Andre has to play better, smarter, and a more physical brand of hockey in the Playoffs. The pass to Tarasenko in the offensive zone with Hughes right behind him, on his blindside was like a mistake that players in Jrs would make. In a closer game that could have been a disaster, and unfortunatley it likely caused Igor the shutout. Miller is bigger, and physically one of the strongest players on the ice. He's a freak of an Athlete, but he needs to impose that will on the opposition. He is still among my favorite players on the club, but need to see more.

Officiating was subpar. During the playoffs this is unacceptable. High stick on Miller completely missed. Should have been 4 mins. High stick on Igor was compltley missed. Forget the 3rd call i was yelling at the TV about, but it wasn't called evenly. Lastly, Penalty shot was rediculous. That was a penalty. It should have never been a penalty shot.

Kane registered a point but did seem a bit disengaged last night. Had a bad giveaway again. He's been a playoff Monster for so long, im hoping he shakes off the rust and is a larger factor.

I saw Hughes get hit a lot. Knocked down at least 5-6 times... Were they monster Trouba hits? No. And he still got knocked down. At some point it looked like he got tired of the abuse and tried to hit someone. He ended up with the worse of it. Hahaha.

 

[EdJovanovski]

If anybody wants some good comedy read the Leafs series thread, I haven’t even gone into the Leafs board to read theirs yet which is probably even more unhinged. They’re calling for fans to start throwing things at the refs and that if Wes Mcoughly knows what’s good for him he won’t step foot in Toronto again (threat?) and saying the refs are the only reason they lost and that the league should face consequences for cheating LMAO

 

[Kovalev27]

It still blows my mind that some of you want to trade Lindgren.

Nobody wants to trade lindgren. Just like Tampa didn’t want to trade McDonagh. There’s a ridiculous salary cap. Some guys can’t be traded at all. There’s only a handful of movable contracts. I don’t want to trade goodrow. Never have but I’m sure we’re going to have to this summer

 

[bhamill]

They sure were in the second period.

We came out and got a quick 2-0 lead and maybe that caused us to sit back and turtle, but that's a bad idea if it's what we did.

And if it's not what we did, then it's even more concerning.

Devils had a decent first half of the second. They skated well, we didn't chase them, stayed positionally sound for the most part. A lot of single shotting, mostly from distance. ZERO rebounds and few chances off the rush. They couldn't maintain it and we took it back.
The bottom line is the Devils have won all year with a brand of hockey that is not good for the playoffs. If they can't adapt, and I'm not sure they have the personel to do so, they will have a fraction of the success they saw in the regular season. There's no mystery here.