Devils chances at playoffs - The Final Push - Points and Standings Discussion

[Emperoreddy]

I'm trying to stay reserved because our situation is still pretty dire, but these last two games almost make me feel like the season was worth it. All the frustrations and letdowns, well it's super rewarding watching the team play the way they did against the Caps and hurricanes. They really showed a ton of character over these last two nights.

I hope they find a way to sneak in even if it's only for a week, but if not, that's okay too. It will just be extra motivation for the franchise to make sure that next year is better.

Just make this last week fun for the fans. Make it like the first week of the playoffs for us.

And just try and make that game against Boston mean something. It's my birthday and I'll be there.

 

[ThePSEGPowerPoster]

Do. It. For. Eddy.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

Just make this last week fun for the fans. Make it like the first week of the playoffs for us.

And just try and make that game against Boston mean something. It's my birthday and I'll be there.

Exactly. All I've wanted all season long was to play meaningful puck in April and well, here we are. The path that they took to get here was maddening, bizarre, cringeworthy, heart attack inducing, whatever adjective you want to put on it, but we have a legit shot to make the playoffs. After the horrifying start in October, I'll take playing for the playoffs in mid April, 7 days of the week and twice on Sundays.

I've criticized this team and organization ad nauseaum all year but these last 2 nights have made me the proudest I've been of this team since 2012. The way they've dug deep and got 4 points, under the circumstances, is nothing short of herculean. No Elias, Henrique, Clowe, and Josefson tonight, and to go on the road against a team who has a known history of eating our lunch, was phenomenal.

 

[glenwo2]

Have a bad feeling that ONCE AGAIN the Devils will fall flat on their face for, IMO, the final time against Calgary this Monday.


Why? Because we're in the dreaded "Potential 3-game-win streak" zone again. WE NEVER CASHED IN ON THIS.

Hopefully they'll bring the same effort they brought against the Caps(mostly) and against the Canes(definitely), and let the pucks(not chips) fall where they may.....in Calgary's net.

 

[Emperoreddy]

For the people who enjoy odds. A Columbus loss in regulation tomorrow jumps our playoff odds to 39%. Add a Philly loss and it jumps to 43%. Nearly a coin flip.

 

[EnglishDevil]

I think we can beat Calgary, i really hope Henrique and Elias are back for that game though; the Flames are actually pretty decent offensively so i could see us needing 3 or 4 goals to win potentially.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

The last two nights shown heart and effort we've been asking for all season long. This is the team I love to watch and have rooted for since I started watching hockey in 93. I don't know what switch flipped or what exactly happened but this is a different team we're watching than we have been for most of the season. They want it. They want it bad and they're not just hungry, they're starving. If someone had told me earlier in the season we'd ice the lineup we did last night and would not just win but play a good game and get a deserved win, I'd have laughed at them but wow that was nice. Here we are heading into the last week with not only 1 but 2 playoff spots within striking distance. Meaningful hockey in April did not seem possible 2 weeks ago but with points in 7 straight games, Columbus middling, and surprisingly the Flyers losing 6 of 7 we see our chances looking believable. I think we finally get the monkey off our back and win more than 3 straight. This team, and certainly us, want this and if we fail it won't be for lack of effort or desire and I can live with that. Go Devils!

 

[Team Concept]

One of the concerns I have about next Sunday's Boston game is that the game is winnable because Boston will rest its best players. This isn't baseball with expanded rosters. Boston can plug in only 3 reserves if it wishes to do so. If they do I wonder which 3 would sit out?

On the other hand some players do not like to sit out. We can all remember the fuss Langenbrunner made when I think it was Lemaire who wanted him to sit out a game at the end of the season to rest for the playoffs.

I guess the best we can hope for is reduced ice time by Boston's top 6 forwards and top 4 d-men and a start by Chad Johnson and not Tuukku Rask although Johnson is no slouch either.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

One of the concerns I have about next Sunday's Boston game is that the game is winnable because Boston will rest its best players. This isn't baseball with expanded rosters. Boston can plug in only 3 reserves if it wishes to do so. If they do I wonder which 3 would sit out?

On the other hand some players do not like to sit out. We can all remember the fuss Langenbrunner made when I think it was Lemaire who wanted him to sit out a game at the end of the season to rest for the playoffs.

I guess the best we can hope for is reduced ice time by Boston's top 6 forwards and top 4 d-men and a start by Chad Johnson and not Tuukku Rask although Johnson is no slouch either.

If I had to guess it would be players like Bergeron, Z, and maybe a Lucic type guy. Z has been a little tired due to workload/Olympics so I'd imagine he would rest for a couple days. Any time he isn't on the ice, it makes it better for us. Personally, I like the idea of just locking up a spot before that game though so I think we should just do that.

 

[NJDevs26]

One of the concerns I have about next Sunday's Boston game is that the game is winnable because Boston will rest its best players. This isn't baseball with expanded rosters. Boston can plug in only 3 reserves if it wishes to do so. If they do I wonder which 3 would sit out?

On the other hand some players do not like to sit out. We can all remember the fuss Langenbrunner made when I think it was Lemaire who wanted him to sit out a game at the end of the season to rest for the playoffs.

I guess the best we can hope for is reduced ice time by Boston's top 6 forwards and top 4 d-men and a start by Chad Johnson and not Tuukku Rask although Johnson is no slouch either.

I hope we get to that point still alive...that's no guarantee even with three wins.

That said, Chara'd probably be one of the three they sit cause of age/importance. Although some of that'll be determined by their prior games since they've clinched everything already they can take turns sitting guys out this week. And not only sit them out but play other guys in increased roles, and some in decreased roles.

Langs wasn't annoyed at Lemaire for sitting out, as much as he was annoyed because Lemaire made him fly to Carolina when he was sitting out (and tried to give the C to White for a game).

 

[CerebralGenesis]

I don't think there's a roster limit at this point of the year so they certainly could cycle in several bodies. Plus Boston has nothing to play for right now for a week.

 

[NJDevs26]

I only remember them sitting maybe three or four guys in 2011 when they also had nothing to play for the final game of the season fwiw.

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

I only remember them sitting maybe three or four guys in 2011 when they also had nothing to play for the final game of the season fwiw.

The only reason I say they will rest players is they have publicly said they would. How many or which ones remains the question. They have already been rotating Dmen in and out so I would guess it would be that plus maybe some forwards and Rask.

 

[DenisSamson3]

One game at a time guys.

 

[glenwo2]

For the people who enjoy odds. A Columbus loss in regulation tomorrow jumps our playoff odds to 39%. Add a Philly loss and it jumps to 43%. Nearly a coin flip.

The odds of the Islanders beating the BlueJackets in regulation are equal to the odds of you winning the Powerball jackpot.

 

[NJDevs26]

The odds of the Islanders beating the BlueJackets in regulation are equal to the odds of you winning the Powerball jackpot.

One point up now...let's see how tight the sticks get. And fwiw the Isles ARE 5-0-2 in their last seven games

 

[glenwo2]

I think we can beat Calgary, i really hope Henrique and Elias are back for that game though; the Flames are actually pretty decent offensively so i could see us needing 3 or 4 goals to win potentially.

Or for Cory to only give up a goal and for the Devils needing 2 goals to win potentially. (I like those odds better).

 

[Devils1029]

Yes, chara and also I think Iginla, mainly as they're older and then I could see Bergeron. I woudl think that Lucic and Krejci would play and of course Johnson would be in net.

Interesting thing is that they could potentially control who they play in the first round. If they beat us, they'll likely play Columbus but if they "go easy on us" we'll see them a few days later up in Boston to start the playoffs.

Teams don't go out and claim to "pick their partner" but I'm sure there are preferences and of course they'll have thoughts on the actual match-ups.

If we get to that point, we would be going in pretty hot so I would think BOS would lean towards Columbus, who might just stumble into the playoffs, in which case, we might not see the "resting"

Also, Boston is battling with St Louis for the Presidents Trophy and having home ice in the finals could be huge.

 

[glenwo2]

One point up now...let's see how tight the sticks get. And fwiw the Isles ARE 5-0-2 in their last seven games

yeah I don't know what's got into them. Hopefully it continues tonight.


But it means NOTHING if they can't beat the BlueJackets in REGULATION today. If they don't allow Columbus to get even a point, that sets up tomorrow's game as the ULTIMATE opportunity to put ourselves in the 2nd wildcard.

 

[jagrgodr]

this is the craziest play off push i can remember in awhile. I'm sure it happens every year for a few teams but i have never been in the middle of it watching a team like this.

I feel bad for you regular devils fans.. i don't know if i can take another year of this, lol

 

[Wingman77]

this is the craziest play off push i can remember in awhile. I'm sure it happens every year for a few teams but i have never been in the middle of it watching a team like this.

I feel bad for you regular devils fans.. i don't know if i can take another year of this, lol

Fortunately this is pretty much the second time for as long as I can remember being a Devils fan where it came down to the last bunch of games and unfortunately the second year in a row

 

[DevilsFanInFla]

You want crazy, check out this scenario that is not entirely impossible.

Columbus loses their next 4 in a row means we have to win 2 of our remaining 4 and we go into the playoffs with 89 points. Sounds crazy, right?

Columbus plays 5 games in 7 nights, including 4 in 5. the Isles are 5-0-2 in their last 7 and 6-2-2 in their last 10. Then you have Phoenix followed by Dal on back to back nights, both teams fighting for a playoff spot. Follow that with Tampa Bay who will likely be fighting for home ice followed by Florida on back to back. For probably 2 games they will likely rely on their backup goalie unless they want to risk exhausting Bobs, which I am ok with

If I were a Columbus fan, I would not have warm fuzzies about the next week.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

The ex just broke up with her fiancée and says she wants to get back together!

I'm not falling for it Devils.

 

[SeidoN]

The ex just broke up with her fiancée and says she wants to get back together!

I'm not falling for it Devils.

reminds me of the Dave Chappelle sketch

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/k4kthv/chappelle-s-show-dave-gets-revenge-pt--1

 

[DenisSamson3]

yeah I don't know what's got into them. Hopefully it continues tonight.


But it means NOTHING if they can't beat the BlueJackets in REGULATION today. If they don't allow Columbus to get even a point, that sets up tomorrow's game as the ULTIMATE opportunity to put ourselves in the 2nd wildcard.

The Devils have another game against the Islanders too you know.