GDT: Devils @ Flames - 9:00 PM - MSG2

[NJDevilsFan21]

This kind of stuff is pretty normal. Look at the Oilers. How long did it take them to actually start making the playoffs. Took McDavid and even then, they're still meh

It could be. It's possible our 52 win season was Edmonton's 2017 season (first season they made the playoffs after missing it for 10 straight, before missing for 2 again and then they started to make it year after year for the past 5).

Unfortunately that trajectory would put us until next season until we start consistently making the playoffs. =\

 

[Devs3cups]

It was one of their best defensive performances but also by far their worst offensively.

Absolutely, fair take.

 

[Whaddagoal]

There’s more to talk about during a loss than there is during a win.

I'm not sure why this still is a narrative. They do show up, they just nitpick some things to downplay the win lol. Been seeing that consistently

Sure (to both), but there isn't any sense of balance in the discussion. The overwhelming extreme negativity after a single loss when the team isn't anywhere dangerous yet, just seems so off the rails and gets draining to read after each loss.

Before this day started, NJ was top of division and like 2nd or 3rd in the NHL (yes we played some extra games)

I wouldn't lose my shit over this situation currently.

 

[Better Call Sal]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852566066699833382

Keefe is never one to sugarcoat anything. It's refreshing.

 

[jkrdevil]

It was one of their best defensive performances but also by far their worst offensively.

Yes, but I rather see defensive performances like this. They just aren’t going to have many offensive performances like tonight, so the good defensive play recently is encouraging,

 

[Devs3cups]

I think they were both bad in their own ways, both super winnable, I give the Caps a lot of flowers this year so that game didn't totally bother me as much to lose especially the 2 separate 2 goal comebacks we had. The worry about that game was we wondered if Markstrom would show up, this game was a lot less annoying if that makes sense. I don't think people expect us to be shutout most times this year but shutout to Calgary after they've been bleeding goals is a bit aggravating lol

The Caps game was a piss poor defensive effort with great offense. Tonight was a great defensive effort with the offense not clicking. It was basically a complete reverse of the Caps game tonight. I think we have a pretty solid group defensively, and I don't expect this group to get shutout often this season.

 

[NJDevs26]

It's disappointing in the past 10 years 2x #1, a #2, a #4, #6, #7 (bust), haven't led to better results.

They've proven they have the talent to get to 112 points with an even lesser roster, but mentally they don't have it. They honestly just come off as a team that lacks work ethic. Like a lot of them have their paychecks, make more in a single year than most people here will in a lifetime, and that's it.

I don’t think two years ago was a ‘lesser roster’ at all…same top end players, more depth and speed up front. Defense is different - better in some ways, worse in others. Only the goalies and coaching are better on this year’s team but by how much remains to be seen

 

[Devs3cups]

I wouldn't lose my shit over this situation currently.

Especially with how they've played since the TB game.

 

[NJDevs26]

Sure (to both), but there isn't any sense of balance in the discussion. The overwhelming extreme negativity after a single loss when the team isn't anywhere dangerous yet, just seems so off the rails and gets draining to read after each loss.

Before this day started, NJ was top of division and like 2nd or 3rd in the NHL (yes we played some extra games)

I wouldn't lose my shit over this situation currently.

Can we actually have a three game winning streak again before lecturing the board on obsessive negativity? Two wins in a row doesn’t mean all the stink from last season and the hideous stretch a couple weeks ago is erased. Let them earn some leeway with more consistency

 

[MadDevil]

Some nights teams just don't have it, so I think it is kind of encouraging they played well enough defensively to at least be in it. Last year's team would have probably cracked earlier and ended up losing by 5 or 6.

 

[Devs3cups]

Can we actually have a three game winning streak again before lecturing the board on obsessive negativity? Two wins in a row doesn’t mean all the stink from last season and the hideous stretch a couple weeks ago is erased. Let them earn some leeway with more consistency

I'd argue games like they've played against Detroit and the Isles should be more encouraging (even if they were losses) than games like they've played against the Sens (game they won).

So while I understand the winning streak stuff, the process and playing good hockey as they've had in the last week and a half should matter and hold some weight.

 

[jkrdevil]

I don’t think two years ago was a ‘lesser roster’ at all…same top end players, more depth and speed up front. Only the goalies and coaching are better on this year’s team but by how much remains to be seen

And outside the 13 game winning streak, they played .524 hockey. This team is at .571 right now. Hitting a streak at some point will put them back in that 100+ point realm. Every team that puts up that many points has a longish streak at some point.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think they were both bad in their own ways, both super winnable, I give the Caps a lot of flowers this year so that game didn't totally bother me as much to lose especially the 2 separate 2 goal comebacks we had. The worry about that game was we wondered if Markstrom would show up, this game was a lot less annoying if that makes sense. I don't think people expect us to be shutout most times this year but shutout to Calgary after they've been bleeding goals is a bit aggravating lol

Idk which one was “worse” but this one certainly annoys me more. Calgary’s wayyyyy worse than the Caps and it was even for 55 minutes. Caps were ahead most of that game. If the offense just shows up at all in this game or Jack buries one of the breakaways we likely win this game convincingly. I said during the game at I think around the start of the 2nd if we pot some goals here this could end up similarly to the Utah game. Instead they no show and we lose in the last 5 minutes. I never once felt like we were in that Caps game. We were in this game the whole way

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The Caps game was a piss poor defensive effort with great offense. Tonight was a great defensive effort with the offense not clicking. It was basically a complete reverse of the Caps game tonight. I think we have a pretty solid group defensively, and I don't expect this group to get shutout often this season.

Yes, I also think it's somewhat better they didn't get wins in those games while playing like ass in a certain facet of the game. People here saying they deserved a point while being outplayed are out to lunch. It's just waiting for them to play better teams and get railroaded. If they show up with that effort against Edmonton, that game is gonna be lost in the first period with Edmonton's firepower even with no McJesus.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Can we actually have a three game winning streak again before lecturing the board on obsessive negativity? Two wins in a row doesn’t mean all the stink from last season and the hideous stretch a couple weeks ago is erased. Let them earn some leeway with more consistency

It's less of a lecture and more just trying to see some balance, people want to doom here go for it, but I want to weigh in some balance. But I don't complain that much about doomers, usually I stay silent about it.... Or try to. Today I can't.

We should have probably won two of those games we ended up losing (the two OTs) and that Detroit game probably too. That was more a f***up.

There was some stink but the team was resilient in a lot of those recent lack of 2pts, but unable to get full capitalization on that resiliency. A crossbar and a better change we get an extra point out of the OT loss game, and the tune is a little different.

I guess what I'm saying is I don't think we are far off being in good shape either. They haven't won 3 in a row, but I don't see their game being a tire fire to worry yet.

 

[Devs3cups]

Idk which one was “worse” but this one certainly annoys me more. Calgary’s wayyyyy worse than the Caps and it was even for 55 minutes. Caps were ahead most of that game. If the offense just shows up at all in this game or Jack buries one of the breakaways we likely win this game. Instead they no show and we lose in the last 5 minutes. I never once felt like we were in that Caps game. We were in this game the whole way

They looked like a better and more concise hockey team to me tonight while generating pretty much 0 offense than they did against the Caps game at home. That was pond hockey at its finest and was a scary defensive effort. I don't think this team is getting shutout much more this year. The defensive effort was nice though.

 

[JK3]

They didn’t have it offensively tonight but these are the games where you have to hang on for another five minutes and get a point.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Idk which one was “worse” but this one certainly annoys me more. Calgary’s wayyyyy worse than the Caps and it was even for 55 minutes. Caps were ahead most of that game. If the offense just shows up at all in this game or Jack buries one of the breakaways we likely win this game convincingly. I said during the game at I think around the start of the 2nd if we pot some goals here this could end up similarly to the Utah game. Instead they no show and we lose in the last 5 minutes. I never once felt like we were in that Caps game. We were in this game the whole way

Yeah it did feel like that type of game where the talent in rosters would show up in one or two spots and tilt the game in our favor but never did.

 

[Devs3cups]

Yeah it did feel like that type of game where the talent in rosters would show up in one or two spots and tilt the game in our favor but never did.

Probably won't happen often this season at least. Hopefully we get a many more defensive efforts like tonight. They've been damn good defensively in the last 5 I think.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

They looked like a better and more concise hockey team to me tonight while generating pretty much 0 offense than they did against the Caps game at home. That was pond hockey at its finest and was a scary defensive effort. I don't think this team is getting shutout much more this year. The defensive effort was nice though.

They also win that Caps game if Markstrom shows up slightly like he hadn't earlier in the season, that was the worry from that night as well. We just can't gloss over that fact why people were pissed, lol. He looks like he's settled now which is a very good plus and something we can hang our hat on even after this loss.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Sounds like one of those nights.

It is annoying this team isn't better at being OT merchants because it makes getting into the playoffs a lot easier getting a few extra OTLs.

Is Nate ok?

 

[Devs3cups]

He looks like he's settled now which is a very good plus and something we can hang our hat on even after this loss.

And the defensive efforts and positioning have been way better for a prolonged period. That's definitely encouraging.

I'm not worried in the slightest about this group offensively. If the goaltending and defense is solid more often than not, this team is going to be fine.

 

[Emperoreddy]

They also win that Caps game if Markstrom shows up slightly like he hadn't earlier in the season, that was the worry from that night as well. We just can't gloss over that fact why people were pissed, lol. He looks like he's settled now which is a very good plus and something we can hang our hat on even after this loss.

That was a major concern from those games. Team wasn't playing well, but the goaltending was really bad.

Seeing Markstrom at least settle back in a bit is encouraging because I firmly believe the skaters will give good performances enough nights to make the playoffs.

 

[Hisch13r]

They looked like a better and more concise hockey team to me tonight while generating pretty much 0 offense than they did against the Caps game at home. That was pond hockey at its finest and was a scary defensive effort. I don't think this team is getting shutout much more this year. The defensive effort was nice though.

It’s a difference of annoyance vs pissed off. This game is massively annoying because it’s a game they should not lose. The Caps game I was pissed off the whole time because they looked like shit and had no business winning or ever felt like they could win.

They won’t get shutout much this year but I do think their puck play has been sub par for a lot of this year and has been a problem that has popped up a lot more than there being problems defensively

 

[Emperoreddy]

Also i would be shocked if this team is playing poorly offensively more nights then not.

The issue was always whether they could play good consistent D and get saves.

An off night where the offense doesn't have it to me just isn't concerning.