Post-Game Talk: Devil IV

[Shesterkybomb]

We are the healthiest team in the playoffs it would seem so there are no excuses for us, they just need to be better. The cross ice passes and stopping at the blueline crap isn't gonna work vs NJ. They need to get it behind their d and make them turn, make them pay the price to get it, thats how you win a 7 game series, we aren't wearing anyone down, we're 4 games in and i bet Hamilton and Seganthaller dont even have a bruise on them.

 

[JHS]

At least Gallant is as pissed as the rest of us.

I was at the game- that’s a direct shot at Mica who was screaming at linesman number 94 to the point where Kreider stepped in to take the face off because mica was such a mess.

 

[CLW]

And Lindy Ruff, who couldn't be run out of town fast enough as an assistant by our fanbase, has made the adjustments necessary. That sucks!

I think Brunette is the brains there now.

 

[bouds]

Its hard to get offense going when both teams just drop 4 back all game long. Becomes a game of attrition and ST. They have to do something about the PP, Z can't be put in a spot where he is uncomfortable considering his production on the PP.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

That was nine years ago in a league where 3-2 was a shootout.

It is all about speed now.

You have to have skill as well. Gauthier had speed too.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Dale Purinton. Now that's a name I haven't thought about in quite some time!

 

[cheech70]

It's true. Zib and Panarin are great regular season players. Kreider at least has been doing his one thing he knows how to do well. Always felt Zib is one dimensional with some flash on the rush. But he's not a cycle player board monster that you need in the playoffs.

I don't need to repeat about Panarin.

Easy Poppy...he has been a turd so far in this series...BUT his nickname is 5 minute Mika... in game 7 tying game against Pens

 

[Filip Chytil]

Tbf, did it look like Mika or Bread were ever going to score in this game?

Still was an absolutely moronic decision

Haha true

 

[Mike in Houston]

Two goals? Two lousy goddamn goals at home? Poop.

 

[will1066]

Absolutely. But this team can barely get the puck up the ice because of how things are set up and what they've practiced all season. Thankfully the next game is away and I expect them to win that one. At least we get a 3rd shot to win at home.

We were good Games 1 and 2 with the weak side diagonal/lateral pass, going from the strong side D or F to the winger on the other side. That was the strategy. NJ has caught on to it and they're stopping it better now. They're stacking 3 across in the neutral zone and at the entry blue line.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

It's not.

It's just sexy on paper.

If we had Kane from 2010, Tarasenko from 2017, and half of what Lafreniere and Kakko were supposed to be, then yeah, we'd be the best team in the league.

That being said, I don't necessarily subscribe to the doomy "this is as good as it gets" mentality. We can and should put a better product on the ice.

We just need the front office to wake up and address actual problems that continue to fester. This organization desperately needs to get over the mentality of having a token PMD and everyone else is either Dan Girardi or a dump truck. Also, paging management: the Rangers were fast NINE PISSING YEARS AGO and have gotten slower every year since. I don't think you need to be the fastest team ever to win but we have nobody (like a Hagelin, just for example) who's gonna go in and get the puck in a game like this.

Again, I like Tarasenko as a player and Kane, analytics be damned, is way better than I expected, but were they addressing anything fundamentally wrong with this team? No.

The organization needs to spend money on infrastructure & personnel to develop young players. Like Tampa & some other teams do. They have the money.

 

[I Eat Crow]

That team also lost in 5 games to a Kings team that was much slower. It's not all about speed.

Bad matchup stylistically. They also lost THREE out of the four in OT. Essentially coin flips that had a 12.5% chance of that outcome three times. The Rangers even win one of those and win Game 6 at home in an anything can happen Game 7, I would have bet my house on Lundqvist in Game 7.

 

[will1066]

Easy Poppy...he has been a turd so far in this series...BUT his nickname is 5 minute Mika... in game 7 tying game against Pens

Yeah well he's gotta do more

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Honestly not really worried. We played like hot dogshit and the Devils still only put up 2 (edit: well 3 I guess, but you know what I mean). Go to the tape and figure out some things and come back ready to go. Also Kakko needs PP time.

Kreider - Zib - Kakko was a good line.

 

[mti79]

I get that our big guns have not done much but neither have theirs. Hughes has a penalty shot goal, a ridiculous snipe on a power play and a cherry picked, not gonna play defense breakaway. We never make it easy so why start now. Shesterkin has been on his game and I think Thursday we'll get the offense going.... at least we better.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Noone remembers that the GWG goal would have been stopped 99 times out of 100 if they move along in the Playoffs.

Same excuse after the OT loss that it was a coin-flip.

Excuses mean nothing in the Playoffs. You need 4 wins. How you get those wins, no one remembers.

Yes, I know that. My point was people are acting like the Devils dominated. They did not. They did play smart and efficient hockey and made the necessary adjustments on the PK which was enough for 2 wins. They did just enough to win in both games.

 

[Kovalev27]

Biggest problem with the pp right now is Mika losing every draw clean burning 30 secs and then gallant pulling P1 after 55 secs. Mika can’t win a draw right now Just can’t. He’s been abysmal

 

[will1066]

Devils board wasnt exactly confident in Ruff after Game 2. They were packing it up. Just shows if the players want it, it can turn back.

 

[Machinehead]

You have to have skill as well. Gauthier had speed too.

We have skill. We need to marry it with speed on offense and defense.

 

[Mike in Houston]

Brett Howden has a goal. Mika and Panarin with goose eggs. Sad.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

Biggest problem with the pp right now is Mika losing every draw clean burning 30 secs and then gallant pulling P1 after 55 secs. Mika can’t win a draw right now Just can’t. He’s been abysmal

Them winning every draw and not allowing zone entries is literally how they’re killing penalties. Once we’re set, it’s still clicking as it normally does. They’re just not getting to that point often.

 

[will1066]

Biggest problem with the pp right now is Mika losing every draw clean burning 30 secs and then gallant pulling P1 after 55 secs. Mika can’t win a draw right now Just can’t. He’s been abysmal

Gallant needs to rethink the PP. As others have noted, we ride or die on the PP because 5v5 has been a slog. For me, it's giving PP1 the full 2 mins if possible because PP2 does not look good. And Zib needs to be back at the left circle.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Want to make a statement and catch the Devils off guard?

Scratch Panarin Game 5 and insert Brodzinski. At least the latter skates and will pressure the Devils puck carriers. I'd throw the even strength lines in a blender, anyway.

Kreider-Trochek-Kane
Lafreniere-Zib-Tarasenko
Vesey-Chytil-Kakko
Goodrow-Johnny B-Motte

 

[Filip Chytil]

Brett Howden has a goal. Mika and Panarin with goose eggs. Sad.

David Quinn's son with a playoff goal. Must have tears in his eyes

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Bad matchup stylistically. They also lost THREE out of the four in OT. Essentially coin flips that had a 12.5% chance of that outcome three times. The Rangers even win one of those and win Game 6 at home in an anything can happen Game 7, I would have bet my house on Lundqvist in Game 7.

Sure but they didn't and lost in 5. This Rangers team wins that OT game and the series is basically over but they didn't so here we are.