Post-Game Talk: Devil I

[Rongomania]

he can't make a shot higher than knee


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.

To me, he is that perfect combo of Kev Klein / Girardi. Has good offensive instincts (plays very well off foxy) and he is honestly more terrifying than Girardi. Girardi was a warrior but Lindy looks like a serial killer out there, he's meaner. This series not being tough on him combined with his recent rest, he will be a huge key for us. He was not well last year, this year we're getting a different version and it immediately is paying dividends.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

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

Wow. Such a bad take. What game were you watching? Low energy? WTF? I just saw a completely different team than the team that played the last couple of weeks when the games didn't matter much. They just played a nearly perfect road playoff game. Devils were pushing because they were down 2-3 goals as teams often do. That's hockey.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

First year since 2015 we are looking at the playoffs as more than just a 'how far can we go' exercise. Expectations are sky high

I've seen people directly or indirectly say that the Devils are the better team, so what expectations?

 

[GAGLine]

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.

He does get hurt a lot, but he mostly plays through it. Prior to this year, he has only missed 9 regular season games and 3 playoff games.

We have no one to replace him. No prospects who are ready and no one we can sign who will do as good of a job for the same or less money. We might be able to trade for someone, but it would cost us whatever assets we got for Lindgren, so what's the point?

Unless we use that pick on a stud dman who will immediately come in and replace what Lindgren brings, I can't see how trading him would make any sense short or long term. He'll be 26 when he starts his next contract, not 30. He's a long ways away from breaking down.

 

[cheech70]

He does get hurt a lot, but he mostly plays through it. Prior to this year, he has only missed 9 regular season games and 3 playoff games.

We have no one to replace him. No prospects who are ready and no one we can sign who will do as good of a job for the same or less money. We might be able to trade for someone, but it would cost us whatever assets we got for Lindgren, so what's the point?

Unless we use that pick on a stud dman who will immediately come in and replace what Lindgren brings, I can't see how trading him would make any sense short or long term. He'll be 26 when he starts his next contract, not 30. He's a long ways away from breaking down.

And it is very clear Fox loves him as his partner which is worth a lot

 

[MrAlmost]

Wow. Such a bad take. What game were you watching? Low energy? WTF? I just saw a completely different team than the team that played the last couple of weeks when the games didn't matter much. They just played a nearly perfect road playoff game. Devils were pushing because they were down 2-3 goals as teams often do. That's hockey.

I don't think it was that bad of a take. I was watching the Ranger game. I liked the way the team opened the game, first 15, and I liked the last 15 minutes of the 3rd. However, they were sluggish, sloppy and couldn't get the puck deep in the entire 2nd. The defense played great and Igor made a few good saves when he had too, but I don't think he actually had to be that good cause the D didn't give up too much.

I just think getting literally zero zone time from the end of the first to the beginning of the third is not great. It is still a team that turned the puck over in the neutral zone way too many times.

Also, did you not read the parts where I said they remind me of the Stanley Cup Champion Ducks team from 2007? I'd say that is a pretty positive take. We have a great PP, a good PK and we are efficient with our chances. Meaning if a team makes a mistake against us, we are probably going to score, and that is a good way to be. It makes your opponents grip their sticks too tight cause every little thing they do wrong will likely be a goal against. It is mentally taxing.

 

[bl02]

Motte made a bad play on the penalty but other than that he is such a likeable player. Never stops. In your face. We got him for basically a 7th (no offense to Gauthier) instead of probably having to trade multiple high picks for a guy like Lafferty (probably a 2nd and decent prospect).

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

It’s very NYR to never take a 2-0 series lead.

Good.

Last 2 times we did so we lost in 6

 

[Levitate]

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.

eh...I saw Kane standing around a whole lot, and most of his offensive zone touches were bad passes or shot attempts. I'm not expecting him to carry that line or anything but I do expect him to help facilitate it generating some offense and he didn't do that last night. PP work is fine but it's not like the Rangers were bereft of PP talent before he got here.

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.

Dunno about Hughes but in general the Rangers didn't pass up a chance to hit a guy or make their life a bit more miserable physically. Devils seemed a bit taken aback by it though it's not like it made them "afraid", more that I think it contributed to disrupting some of their style of game. The stick work, backchecking, hitting, and clogging passing lanes etc kept a lot of the Devils fancy stuff to the outside or created turnovers. I guess it's a good gameplan if you can keep it up consistently and be ready to adapt if the Devils find a way to change it up, but for one game at least it worked.
Again I feel like this game was far less "the Devils outplayed the Rangers 5v5" and more "The Rangers got the early lead and then played the game they wanted to play and were opportunistic when necessary to extend their lead". They massively respected the Devils transition game and it kept them from getting a consistent forecheck and attack going at times, but with a 2 goal lead at least they didn't need to be pushing for a goal at every turn.
Still, playing with fire a bit with a team like the Devils. I'd rather they make the Devils spend their time defending, but yeah you gotta respect their ability to turn it up the ice in a hurry if you get too many players caught down low

e: and while they obviously got nothing going early in the second they did come back in the later half and put some pressure on, and scored a goal.

 

[MrAlmost]

We just won a road playoff game 5-1 LOL

Forgot to add this to my reply, but I elaborated a little more above. I am not down on the team at all, I am just not sure if they can beat a team like the Bruins with these peaks and valleys. Though interestingly enough, the Bruins beat the Panthers in a very similar fashion in their Game 1.

 

[Levitate]

Forgot to add this to my reply, but I elaborated a little more above. I am not down on the team at all, I am just not sure if they can beat a team like the Bruins with these peaks and valleys. Though interestingly enough, the Bruins beat the Panthers in a very similar fashion in their Game 1.

I think that the rangers would play the Bruins differently. To me they obviously gameplanned for the Devils. If they do beat the Devils and get to face the Bruins in the ECF, I don't think they'd be gameplanning for playing a very fast transition offense styled team

 

[Machinehead]

I don't think the concern with Lindgren is that he's going to "break down" like Girardi. Girardi was never good.

The concern is 1) what he's going to seek in his next contract and 2) if a shot hits him in just the right spot, he misses 50 games.

 

[bhamill]

eh...I saw Kane standing around a whole lot, and most of his offensive zone touches were bad passes or shot attempts. I'm not expecting him to carry that line or anything but I do expect him to help facilitate it generating some offense and he didn't do that last night. PP work is fine but it's not like the Rangers were bereft of PP talent before he got here.



Dunno about Hughes but in general the Rangers didn't pass up a chance to hit a guy or make their life a bit more miserable physically. Devils seemed a bit taken aback by it though it's not like it made them "afraid", more that I think it contributed to disrupting some of their style of game. The stick work, backchecking, hitting, and clogging passing lanes etc kept a lot of the Devils fancy stuff to the outside or created turnovers. I guess it's a good gameplan if you can keep it up consistently and be ready to adapt if the Devils find a way to change it up, but for one game at least it worked.
Again I feel like this game was far less "the Devils outplayed the Rangers 5v5" and more "The Rangers got the early lead and then played the game they wanted to play and were opportunistic when necessary to extend their lead". They massively respected the Devils transition game and it kept them from getting a consistent forecheck and attack going at times, but with a 2 goal lead at least they didn't need to be pushing for a goal at every turn.
Still, playing with fire a bit with a team like the Devils. I'd rather they make the Devils spend their time defending, but yeah you gotta respect their ability to turn it up the ice in a hurry if you get too many players caught down low

e: and while they obviously got nothing going early in the second they did come back in the later half and put some pressure on, and scored a goal.

Yeah, it's not about "intimidation" so much as wear and tear, frustration, and disruption. Devils played high level pond hockey all year when teams gave them room to do so. They aren't peak Oilers. They can't force teams to give them space. The only way we lose this series is to stop taking away that space/playing the game we know we need to play. Playoff hockey. This isn't some new or made up thing. It's ALWAYS this way. It's real. The Devils are getting their eyes opened. They are not built for the playoffs. The Rangers played the regular season knowing where they had to put their real focus: winning 16 games in the real season.

 

[Lion Hound]

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.

I didn't see that. I saw Hamilton knock him down good. Both game summaries i looked at didn't credit any hits against him either.

 

[Levitate]

I mean I'm not gonna say "not built for the playoffs" exactly, but you do have to be able to grind and find your own space to make it to the cup. Last night the Devils didn't do that. Will they find a way? Maybe

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I didn't see that. I saw Hamilton knock him down good. Both game summaries i looked at didn't credit any hits against him either.

Devils game scorers are unreliable as F. Probably the most unreliable on the planet in any sport.

They will give points to players who don't even touch the puck on a play.

 

[bhamill]

I didn't see that. I saw Hamilton knock him down good. Both game summaries i looked at didn't credit any hits against him either.

I saw that too, later in the game. Not sure how you didn't see Hughes get hit by a Blueshirt, all I can vouch for is what I DID see. I also saw opportunities to hit Hughes that they passed up on, mostly when it would take them out of position. In hindsight, looking at the game result, that was probably for the best. You get carried away, get out of position and the Devils have space... At some point late in the game the Devils scorers had credited Goodrow with ONE hit. Hahahaha. Totally useless.
This was game one there are going to be some Devils feeling it in game two, and then more in game three. The beauty of the cumulative affect in a series.

 

[bhamill]

I mean I'm not gonna say "not built for the playoffs" exactly, but you do have to be able to grind and find your own space to make it to the cup. Last night the Devils didn't do that. Will they find a way? Maybe

Fair. I just saw nothing last night, nor all season to show me that ability. Wood, McLoud, Hirschier, Palat and Meier. The sum total of their forwards that may be able to effectively grind. And on D? Not any better. I saw Hamilton get muscled off a puck by Panarin.... Severson and Graves are fake tough guys. Washington exposed Hamilton in the past. I see it getting worse for NJ as there's a cumulative effect, not better. But that's why we play the games. We shall see.

 

[Anthony5967]

People will finally get it in July when they see what Kane has to get done. You'd have to be blind to think he's mailing in shifts. He's in pain. It'll have to be managed. However, just his presence is massive for a team looking to get over the hump. He will be fine on the PP. He will have his moments. He looks very stiff, however, but that goes back to my original point.

 

[Krams]

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

I don't want to trade him but my only concern is longevity/durability with his style of game and cap implications if he's a shell of himself halfway through his next contract. No doubt he's the type of player you win with

 

[LOFIN]

Kane is there more in the role of a mascot. I guess you can argue that a SC contending team can't afford to have a mascot on the lineup if it wants to win. Probably yes, but until Kane actively starts to hurt the team I don't really care. Tarasenko was our big forward add, Kane was a bonus.

I think his presence in the locker room is massive. And I think despite him looking poor, the opposing teams still have to respect his skill on the ice.

 

[Levitate]

People will finally get it in July when they see what Kane has to get done. You'd have to be blind to think he's mailing in shifts. He's in pain. It'll have to be managed. However, just his presence is massive for a team looking to get over the hump. He will be fine on the PP. He will have his moments. He looks very stiff, however, but that goes back to my original point.

I dunno, it's not like the team doesn't have playoff/cup experience. That's not what they really need Kane for. If he's so badly injured then like...why even bother with him? If he has to have his hip replaced then that sucks for him but why did the Rangers trade for him? He needs to be able to provide something tangible on the ice and not be a complete passenger.

I think he'll get better but he was mediocre last night. I doubt he was happy with his play either. If he's so banged up he can barely play then that's not an excuse, it just means they should have never traded for him to begin with

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I dunno, it's not like the team doesn't have playoff/cup experience. That's not what they really need Kane for. If he's so badly injured then like...why even bother with him? If he has to have his hip replaced then that sucks for him but why did the Rangers trade for him? He needs to be able to provide something tangible on the ice and not be a complete passenger.

I think he'll get better but he was mediocre last night. I doubt he was happy with his play either. If he's so banged up he can barely play then that's not an excuse, it just means they should have never traded for him to begin with

At worst, getting Kane solved their lineup woes. It moved Vessey and Goodrow to the 4th line (which is one of the best in the league now) and gave them another legit threat in the top 6. Who else was out there at that price? I have faith that at some this post season, Kane will come through bigly.

 

[Larrybiv]

Great game. Not their best performance ever but I’m stoked after that.

My heart is not good though. I don’t think I can do 6 more of those.

If that gamne was difficult for your heart......well then maybe you shouldn't watch any more. maybe it's just me, but I felt very confident throughout and the game never seemed in jeopardy. The refs tried, but even they couldn't make the outcome different from the obvious.

 

[The Gloaming]

Kane is the kind of player that can adjust. His numbers are better in the last games of a series vs the first. I do think he'll get better over time. But last night was...rough.