GDT: Devils at Bruins 19:00 ET

[CerebralGenesis]

It's supposed to give incentive to not tank because you always have a chance to land the lotto ball and pick above the team who was dead last in the league.

League wanted to put it in before but I think the Orlando Magic had it happen to them and made them stacked which scared off the NHL into the +4 rule.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Bruins played down to the Devils level and barely escaped with the 2 points.

As far as Clarkson goes, it's just not about him not scoring goals, all other facets of his game have declined rapidly and deeply in the last 25 games.

He's a detriment to the hockey club now and not the only one.

They have a chance starting Saturday night to pull together and get back on the right track.
Only if everyone plays to the best of their abilities in their respective roles do they even have a shot.

Their chances are stacked behind the 8-ball because the other teams have more talent than they do.
But, never count out Marty and Patrik led teams.

 

[OOOOIIIO]

Bruins played down to the Devils level and barely escaped with the 2 points.

As far as Clarkson goes, it's just not about him not scoring goals, all other facets of his game have declined rapidly and deeply in the last 25 games.

He's a detriment to the hockey club now and not the only one.

They have a chance starting Saturday night to pull together and get back on the right track.
Only if everyone plays to the best of their abilities in their respective roles do they even have a shot.

Their chances are stacked behind the 8-ball because the other teams have more talent than they do.
But, never count out Marty and Patrik led teams.

They have had this chance to come together and get on track each game for the past month. Its not happening this season.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

It's supposed to give incentive to not tank because you always have a chance to land the lotto ball and pick above the team who was dead last in the league.

League wanted to put it in before but I think the Orlando Magic had it happen to them and made them stacked which scared off the NHL into the +4 rule.

well before only 3 teams could move up to get the 1st overall, now any of the 14 teams can, and playing worse only improves your odds. Sounds like a move in the wrong direction from a holistic anti-tanking angle to me.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Bruins played down to the Devils level and barely escaped with the 2 points.

As far as Clarkson goes, it's just not about him not scoring goals, all other facets of his game have declined rapidly and deeply in the last 25 games.

He's a detriment to the hockey club now and not the only one.

They have a chance starting Saturday night to pull together and get back on the right track.
Only if everyone plays to the best of their abilities in their respective roles do they even have a shot.

Their chances are stacked behind the 8-ball because the other teams have more talent than they do.
But, never count out Marty Broduer and Patrik Elias led teams.

I agree with your post but I don't think the bold is compltey fair. It's easy to point out everything the team does wrong or isn't good at and quite frankly, they've deserved most of the heat they have received. But they were good last night and deserve some credit. Maybe Boston could have been better, but I'm noticing a B.S. theme with that team when it comes to the Devils. NJ tends to really play them pretty well for the most part, but the Bruins just have our # along with having a better team.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

I don't care how good you play defensively, if you don't score... you don't win, period.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

I don't care how good you play defensively, if you don't score... you don't win, period.

No kidding, but if you don't play well defensively, especially a team like this, you give yourself zero opportunity to win or even score for that matter.

It all starts with from goal on out. When those components are clicking, the offense will eventually come from that. They need to play clean well structured games. It's the only way.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

They have to do it consistently and they have failed to play consistently well in most areas of the game since game 14 this year.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Biggest flaw with the Devils for the longest time now is that they really haven't been giving themselves the best chance to win games. Last night that wasn't the case, and really, that's all you can ask for. Give yourself a chance. It's much easier to accept the flaws of the team if they don't go out there and constantly shoot themselves in the foot. That **** is super frustrating. Aside from the Islanders game, the effort is always usually there for the most part. It's just the brains that are lacking.

Speaking of brains, well it's something David Clarkson can use more of. He just has awful awareness out there. He makes some real stupid decisions and that's why he is so easy to get annoyed with imho. That offsides late in the 3rd period really comes to mind in this regard.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

No kidding, but if you don't play well defensively, especially a team like this, you give yourself zero opportunity to win or even score for that matter.

It all starts with from goal on out. When those components are clicking, the offense will eventually come from that. They need to play clean well structured games. It's the only way.

We managed to minise the damage yesterday against the B's and failed to score, losing the game 1-0. We score a bunch of goals against the Bolts but can't close the game, with resulted in a blown point.

I've watched this team nosedive for the past 25 games and to me, it's pretty evident that we are going nowhere this year. Can they prove me wrong and somehow play above their heads and go on a roll... maybe and hope it does happen.

Realisticly, do I think it'll happen, not a chance in hell.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

They have to do it consistently and they have failed to play consistently well in most areas of the game since game 14 this year.

Agreed and I'd say it goes back even further than that. But they have to start somewhere, no?

If they revert back to their usual form over this weekend, then it is what it is and that's a bad hockey team. Anything positive from last night will have been for nothing.

I'm by no means claiming that they're going to turn it on. Like you said, consistency is key now. They have to play this game 3 or 4 times in a row before you can say that they're coming back to life. And with the way the season has gone, it's doubtful it will happen, but there is still an opportunity there.

Needless to say, the weekend is huge. They either start trending upward, of they're dead in the water. But I think last night's effort gets them 4 points this weekend.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

We managed to minise the damage yesterday against the B's and failed to score, losing the game 1-0. We score a bunch of goals against the Bolts but can't close the game, with resulted in a blown point.

I've watched this team nosedive for the past 25 games and to me, it's pretty evident that we are going nowhere this year. Can they prove me wrong and somehow play above their heads and go on a roll... maybe and hope it does happen.

Realisticly, do I think it'll happen, not a chance in hell.

Minimize the damage? The Devils outplayed the Bruins pretty handily.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Biggest flaw with the Devils for the longest time now is that they really haven't been giving themselves the best chance to win games. Last night that wasn't the case, and really, that's all you can ask for. Give yourself a chance. It's much easier to accept the flaws of the team if they don't go out there and constantly shoot themselves in the foot. That **** is super frustrating. Aside from the Islanders game, the effort is always usually there for the most part. It's just the brains that are lacking.

Speaking of brains, well it's something David Clarkson can use more of. He just has awful awareness out there. He makes some real stupid decisions and that's why he is so easy to get annoyed with imho. That offsides late in the 3rd period really comes to mind in this regard.

Showing a effort is all good... but at the end of the day, you need talent as well. I don't care how big a heart you have, if you play against superior talent, odds are you'll be on the losing side of things more often then not.

Our lineup, without Kovy, is really nothing special. Zajac is having a mediocre year, our #1 center got picked up with a 5th round pick, we have zero depth on the wings outside of Elias, our forwards are mostly bottom line players who are asked to step up cause our "top guys" aren't doing anything and our blueline can't help our depleted offense by generating something on their own.

To me, it just comes down to this... we have a team that isn't all that strong and has alot of holes that need to be filled before we can even think about competing with the elite teams.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Minimize the damage? The Devils outplayed the Bruins pretty handily.

We didn't watch the same game then... but that's ok.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Minimize the damage? The Devils outplayed the Bruins pretty handily.

I agree with you. I thought NJ played a really solid game last night. They deserved the game imho.

They've show spurts of this over these last few weeks, but the efforts just haven't been complete. I don't think that was the case last night. They've avoided shutouts this year when they deserved them way more than last night. But that's how it goes I guess.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Shooting pucks left and right and having a high # of shots on net doesn't mean anything if those shots are coming from non threatning areas.

We clanked two posts and outside of that, I didn't see any real solid scoring chances on our part. Can someone shed some light on our several scoring chances, I apparently missed yesterday?

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Showing a effort is all good... but at the end of the day, you need talent as well. I don't care how big a heart you have, if you play against superior talent, odds are you'll be on the losing side of things more often then not.

Our lineup, without Kovy, is really nothing special. Zajac is having a mediocre year, our #1 center got picked up with a 5th round pick, we have zero depth on the wings outside of Elias, our forwards are mostly bottom line players who are asked to step up cause our "top guys" aren't doing anything and our blueline can't help our depleted offense by generating something on their own.

To me, it just comes down to this... we have a team that isn't all that strong and has alot of holes that need to be filled before we can even think about competing with the elite teams.

The Devils are what they are but they're not as bad as they have looked the last 25 games. There is no way that this group should be getting expansion level results. I think everyone has to know that. I'm not going to say they're elite or complete or anything like that, but they're certainly more capable than what they have shown. For what they lack in skill, I think their major issue all along has been a lack of execution all over the ice. They just never found a way to make everything click at once. We've been waiting for it all season. Maybe it never comes, but there are still some games to find out.

They just need to find a way to make the playoffs. That's it. What happens there, who cares. First round blowout, whatever. Just get in and make this season worth something. That's all I'm hoping for at this point.

Last night's game gave me the incentive to stick with them a bit longer. I don't think they're dead just yet. If anything, there is a pulse there.

 

[Tretyak 20]

the effort is always usually there for the most part.

I LOL'ed!

Speaking of brains, well it's something David Clarkson can use more of. He just has awful awareness out there. He makes some real stupid decisions and that's why he is so easy to get annoyed with imho. That offsides late in the 3rd period really comes to mind in this regard.

Remember he also set up our best chance of the game, with the cross-ice pass to Zubrus, who unfortunately hit the crossbar. It was really a great pass to a guy nobody else saw.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Shooting pucks left and right and having a high # of shots on net doesn't mean anything if those shots are coming from non threatning areas.

We clanked two posts and outside of that, I didn't see any real solid scoring chances on our part. Can someone shed some light on our several scoring chances, I apparently missed yesterday?

Clarkson rebound in front, Henrique point blank, Greene toe drag and shot blocked a diving defenseman's skate, follow up rebound hits the side of the net, Zubrus off the crossbar, Clarkson off the post, Elias shot blocked from the slot. I'm sure there's more but those are the ones that immidiately come to mind.

 

[Tundra]

Clarkson is simply trying to do too much instead of playing the game that got him into this league. That's largely the problem.

 

[Tundra]

Showing a effort is all good... but at the end of the day, you need talent as well. I don't care how big a heart you have, if you play against superior talent, odds are you'll be on the losing side of things more often then not.

Our lineup, without Kovy, is really nothing special. Zajac is having a mediocre year, our #1 center got picked up with a 5th round pick, we have zero depth on the wings outside of Elias, our forwards are mostly bottom line players who are asked to step up cause our "top guys" aren't doing anything and our blueline can't help our depleted offense by generating something on their own.

To me, it just comes down to this... we have a team that isn't all that strong and has alot of holes that need to be filled before we can even think about competing with the elite teams.

This team has incredible character and heart, but it's lack of top grade finishers is the prime reason why this team won't qualify for the postseason.

 

[Devils Dominion]

They have had this chance to come together and get on track each game for the past month. Its not happening this season.

Oh trust me I have little confidence it will happen, but stranger things have happened in NHL history.

As far as effort goes, they are paid to give 100% effort each game.

It's a results league.

 

[Sir Fenwick Corsi]

Shooting pucks left and right and having a high # of shots on net doesn't mean anything if those shots are coming from non threatning areas.

We clanked two posts and outside of that, I didn't see any real solid scoring chances on our part. Can someone shed some light on our several scoring chances, I apparently missed yesterday?

You made my point for me. The two posts were great chances. And they had a host of other in range shots in front of Rask. Sure, a lot of the 40 shots were fluff, but the point is that the puck was in Boston's end of the ice last night during those 40 shots. This is a good thing and the way the Devils need to play.

My point is this. If the Devils can generate even 5 solid scoring chances, last night's type of game will get them wins more often than not. They won't need to generate any more because they'll be in control of the game.

There is so much talk about what the Devils didn't generate, well what about Boston? What the hell they did they do besides score a fluke goal. There were maybe 2 strong spurts in the game where they had the Devils on their heels a bit. Maybe that's all they needed, but that's not the point. How many teams are the Devils playing the rest of the way that are as good as Boston.

Don't mind so much what NJ didn't do last night, but rather what they did do. When you strip away their lack of finish last night, you'll find a team who played an excellent road game against one of the elite teams in the league.

It's been nearly impossible to be positive about this team the last couple of months. Well when they finally give us something to be positive about, we just can't ignore it.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Showing a effort is all good... but at the end of the day, you need talent as well. I don't care how big a heart you have, if you play against superior talent, odds are you'll be on the losing side of things more often then not.

I don't think it's talent, I think it's confidence. Elias, Zajac, Loktionov, Henrique, Poni, Zubes, Zidlicky, D'ags... This team has enough talent, they just don't have any swagger. They don't believe in themselves without Kovy. They need to start being a little cocky and say to themselves "We're f'ing winning tonight! We don't care what the other team does." Mentality projects onto reality. These guys are playing like they're desperate not to loose, which tells me they don't really believe they're a good team.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Shooting pucks left and right and having a high # of shots on net doesn't mean anything if those shots are coming from non threatning areas.

We clanked two posts and outside of that, I didn't see any real solid scoring chances on our part. Can someone shed some light on our several scoring chances, I apparently missed yesterday?

Just the ones I recall between facepalms;

Henrique point blank on a pass from behind the net - fired it into the B logo when the top corners were both open.
Gionta on a perfect one-timer pass across the crease had open net - fired it wide on a flubbed shot.
Clarkson on a 2 on 2 rush with Zajac busting to the net - shot it blocker high from way out rather than passing back to Zajac for a good scoring chance.
Elias in the slot with time - puts it right into the glove.
Carter on a rebound right in the slot backhands it right back into the pads rather than go wide and tuck it in behind or up high on Raask.

These were 4 goals waiting to go in if these guys had any luck/accuracy/composure but they are so rattled at this point they blindly fire at net as soon as they get the puck and it screams panic to me. Coaches are probably so fed up with bad passes for the perfect play that now they have preached shoot first at all costs and it's destroying what a quick look could do to help score and pick a shot location.

lose/lose scenario