Pre-Game Talk: Devils game 5 (Game is Thursday 4/27)

[The Gloaming]

That's actually how fast most of them skate lol

Nah, I've seen these players race to pucks before. They're not as slow as they played on Monday. Even GG said in the post game they were reaching with sticks instead of bodying the Devils off the puck in board battles. It was just a piss poor performance. Losing every puck battle along the boards, perimeter play in the O zone with no one at the net. No big hits to get the team going. Hell, there wasn't even a single scrum. The midgets on the other team are perfectly happy with that. How often do you see that in a playoff game? They played with the passion of a preseason game.

 

[Machinehead]

Nah, I've seen these players race to pucks before. They're not as slow as they played on Monday. Even GG said in the post game they were reaching with sticks instead of bodying the Devils off the puck in board battles. It was just a piss poor performance. Losing every puck battle along the boards, perimeter play in the O zone with no one at the net. No big hits to get the team going. Hell, there wasn't even a single scrum. The midgets on the other team are perfectly happy with that. How often do you see that in a playoff game? They played with the passion of a preseason game.

Well, yes, that game sucked major ass but the Rangers are also slower than little @EdJovanovski trying to get down his second slice.

That's still true.

 

[The Gloaming]

Well, yes, that game sucked major ass but the Rangers are also slower than little @EdJovanovski trying to get down his second slice.

That's still true.

Yes but they're not as slow as Game 4.

Also, do you think they're slow as in they can't skate fast or slow as in dumb? Because in isolation, we have players with wheels...but them figuring out what to do takes forever. Seems like that's true for our D in particular. Just Fox is the opposite. Like Schneider had a moment in this series where he flew up the ice all of a sudden like #4 Bobby Orr, but usually it's like the other night with him, where he had no idea what to do and then they played catch and lost the puck to the Devils forecheckers.

 

[Machinehead]

Also, do you think they're slow as in they can't skate fast or slow as in dumb?

Yes.

In all seriousness, I don't think it's "dumb" they just don't play fast because they don't transition well.

They don't skate fast and they don't play fast. It's both of those things.

 

[Machinehead]

Some fans are ready for this. Ready to win and ready to go down with the team either which way.

Some fans are soft. So scared to lose that they spend the whole year, year after year, building up "the team just didn't try" as a ready excuse, and they never really have to face the idea that another team was just better.

This is the time in a series where we find out who's who, just like we found out last year when the team lost game 4 7-2, started game 5 down 2-0, and didn't flinch, even though a lot of people here shit their pants.

 

[Machinehead]

Honestly, I like the work Valiquette does.

In this series, it's matching what I see. MoneyPuck has also done a good job matching my assessment.

Natural Stat Trick had the Devils way out in front in xG in game 1 and game 3, and I'm sorry, I just don't see that at all. Especially game 3. The Devils entered our zone like twice between Hughes' goal and Hamilton's goal. I still think NST is overvaluing distance from the net and undervaluing cross-ice movement.

Both Hamilton's winner and Siegenthaller's winner were classic royal road goals.

 

[haohmaru]

Some fans are ready for this. Ready to win and ready to go down with the team either which way.

Some fans are soft. So scared to lose that they spend the whole year, year after year, building up "the team just didn't try" as a ready excuse, and they never really have to face the idea that another team was just better.

This is the time in a series where we find out who's who, just like we found out last year when the team lost game 4 7-2, started game 5 down 2-0, and didn't flinch, even though a lot of people here shit their pants.

I mean, yeah, game 4 was something to surely forget but anyone, no, everyone with playoff experience essentially says the same thing: each game is played in a vacuum and the next won't be like the last.

I'm as negative as it gets about that last unwatchable experience but this team has always picked itself up when knocked on its ass and it's not like the Devils were a whole lot better.

It's going to be something tomorrow night.

 

[Chytilmania]

We’ll be ready for these schoolboys
Tomorrow we’ll be far away
Tomorrow is the judgment day

Tomorrow we’ll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store

 

[Machinehead]

I mean, yeah, game 4 was something to surely forget but anyone, no, everyone with playoff experience essentially says the same thing: each game is played in a vacuum and the next won't be like the last.

I'm as negative as it gets about that last unwatchable experience but this team has always picked itself up when knocked on its ass and it's not like the Devils were a whole lot better.

It's going to be something tomorrow night.

Yeah, exactly.

The "no killer instinct" and "no effort" crowd just wanted to go up 3-0 or 3-1 because they want it to be easy.

It's not. Sorry.

Don't accuse the Rangers of succumbing to the pressure if you can't handle a series that goes more than 5.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Yes.

In all seriousness, I don't think it's "dumb" they just don't play fast because they don't transition well.

They don't skate fast and they don't play fast. It's both of those things.

"Let the opponent play fast. Once they go by, then we'll score our goal. At our own pace."

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

View attachment 697048

Honestly, I like the work Valiquette does.

In this series, it's matching what I see. MoneyPuck has also done a good job matching my assessment.

Natural Stat Trick had the Devils way out in front in xG in game 1 and game 3, and I'm sorry, I just don't see that at all. Especially game 3. The Devils entered our zone like twice between Hughes' goal and Hamilton's goal. I still think NST is overvaluing distance from the net and undervaluing cross-ice movement.

Both Hamilton's winner and Siegenthaller's winner were classic royal road goals.

NST is terrible.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Yeah, exactly.

The "no killer instinct" and "no effort" crowd just wanted to go up 3-0 or 3-1 because they want it to be easy.

It's not. Sorry.

Don't accuse the Rangers of succumbing to the pressure if you can't handle a series that goes more than 5.

They're paid for this though. Give me a couple of million & I won't complain.

 

[duhmetreE]

Can we shoot on the PP? From tighter angles? Why does Zibs back up as far as possible?
Attack with 4 at 5v5. Defense is not getting engaged enough. Devils defenseman won the last 2 games with getting involved... crazy, I know.
If Hughes is on the ice, always have 1 guy back.
Trouba, do not pinch, you're slow as shit.
KAM on PP2.
Get the puck deep. Their defense is not good and turn over the puck with any semblance of pressure.
Bang.
Stop the east/west from blue line to blue line.
Shoot. Not right at the goalie. Maybe aim for a corner or above pad. I know it's a lot to ask for.
A shooter tutor would have the same exact save% as the Devils goalie over the past 2 games.

Some passion and urgency would be nice too.

 

[The Gloaming]

Rangers in 6. I voted for it in the poll and I still stand by that. They got their stinker out of the way. Now it is go time.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

Yeah, exactly.

The "no killer instinct" and "no effort" crowd just wanted to go up 3-0 or 3-1 because they want it to be easy.

It's not. Sorry.

Don't accuse the Rangers of succumbing to the pressure if you can't handle a series that goes more than 5.

Listen i love you bud, but for me who was at game 4, who will most likely never go to a playoff game again after watching that effort, Its not about going up 3-1 in the series and hoping its easy. Its about showing up and playing with heart! I couldnt care less if they lost 5-1 as long as i saw hustle, scrums, hits, and players playing like they want to be in the playoffs. This team did NOTHING of that in game 4.

Im still extremely upset about being at that game. Absolutely pathetic excuse for a hockey game. I do accuse them to succumbing to the pressure. They dont play well at home, they look like a country club, and for a team that is playing for themselves, the team, and the f***ing city, it was down right a smack in the face to use fans who use our hard earned money on the team to go see them. How they played was inexcusable.

 

[DanielBrassard]

It's imperative they score 1st, otherwise the Devils are gonna just sit back and force the Rangers to dump pucks all night.

 

[Machinehead]

NST is terrible.

In game 3, the Devils had like 1.3 xGF after three minutes and I was just like

They barely even had the puck.

Valiquette's system isn't perfect but he's heading towards what I think is the next evolution in evaluating chances: the clarity of the chance and how well the defenders were beat in the development of a chance. The current analytics are still too wrapped up in shooting imo.

I don't think a chance has to be a shot. If you have a 2-on-1 and the pass goes across leading to what should be a tap-in, and it bounces off the guy's stick, that's still a massive defensive breakdown, and the goalie is still hopelessly out of position. That's a better chance than actually shooting from most places on the ice.

 

[Machinehead]

Listen i love you bud, but for me who was at game 4, who will most likely never go to a playoff game again after watching that effort, Its not about going up 3-1 in the series and hoping its easy. Its about showing up and playing with heart! I couldnt care less if they lost 5-1 as long as i saw hustle, scrums, hits, and players playing like they want to be in the playoffs. This team did NOTHING of that in game 4.

Im still extremely upset about being at that game. Absolutely pathetic excuse for a hockey game. I do accuse them to succumbing to the pressure. They dont play well at home, they look like a country club, and for a team that is playing for themselves, the team, and the f***ing city, it was down right a smack in the face to use fans who use our hard earned money on the team to go see them. How they played was inexcusable.

Get over it. This is hockey.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Sometimes in sports, especially hockey - you can collectively fall out of it as a team.

Just as easily, you could get it together and dominate. Its a weird, organic-type of shift in the mental psyche of a group that works both ways.

It's hard to understand or make sense of, especially in a playoff series but look around the league. No sweeps. Back and forths. Comebacks. Blowing leads. Not ready to play. Coming out like gangbusters. Horiffic mistakes and mental errors. Incredible focus and dream-like chemistry.

There is a usual ebb and flow to 7-game NHL playoff series. I actually felt that Game 3 would be all Devils. We didnt see that. Instead it was a pretty even game that was won by a great shot in OT. This series could very well be over, or at least 3-1 Rangers

I still dont think we have seen the Devils best either. Honestly I think the best we've seen from them was in Game 1 before the Rangers ran up the score. Game 4 was better for them, but it was pretty much a snooze fest that if the Rangers ever decided to take control they could have.

I think the Rangers are upset and somewhat embarrassed by their effort in Game 4. I dont think they immediately noticed how pedestrian they looked because they were trapped in that collective mental swamp, not until they were able to review the tape did they realize.

I'm not sure how the extra day off will affect either team, help or hurt - but I think we'll see the most spirited game of the series in Game 5, and even if they come out on the wrong end of it, I dont think the Rangers will be done. This group seems to play their best with their backs against the wall.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

Get over it. This is hockey.

and hockey is meant to be played with passion, heart, determination, and all the above. NONE of that has been evident since the first two games. This team is not a gamer. the coach sucks ass. This team is donzo. I wish it wasnt true but its gonna be a long offseason of figuring out who is going and who is staying.

Sometimes in sports, especially hockey - you can collectively fall out of it as a team. Just as easily, you could get it together and dominate.

Its hard to understand or make sense of, especially in a playoff series but look around the league. No sweeps. Back and forths. Comebacks. Blowing leads. Not ready to play. Coming out like gangbusters.

There is a usual ebb and flow to 7-game NHL playoff series. I actually felt that Game 3 would be all Devils. We didnt see that. Instead it was a pretty even game that was won by a great shot in OT. This series could very well be over, or at least 3-1 Rangers

I still dont think we have seen the Devils best either. Honestly I think the best we've seen from them was in Game 1 before the Rangers ran up the score. Game 4 was better for them, but it was pretty much a snooze fest that if the Rangers ever decided to take control they could have.

I think the Rangers are upset and somewhat embarrassed by their effort in Game 4. I dont think they immediately noticed how pedestrian they looked, not until they were able to review the tape.

I think we'll see the most spirited game of the series in Game 5, and even if they come out on the wrong end of it, I dont think they'll be done.

We as fans, as a city ARE embarrassed by their game 4 performance. They damn well should be. I dont think we will see spirit from them,. THis is who they are. A team who plays games like its practice.

 

[Machinehead]

and hockey is meant to be played with passion, heart, determination, and all the above. NONE of that has been evident since the first two games. This team is not a gamer. the coach sucks ass. This team is donzo. I wish it wasnt true but its gonna be a long offseason of figuring out who is going and who is staying.

If they win this series, I want an apology.

I'm not letting it go like I did last year. I'm making a list.

 

[The Gloaming]

Rangers looking to be the first team in NHL history to come back from being down 2-2.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

If they win this series, I want an apology.

I'm not letting it go like I did last year. I'm making a list.

If they do win sure i will apoligize but from what we have consistently seen out of this team is that they are NOT up to the challenge,. and they have shown that couldnt care less and have the mental fortitude of a baby. Game 5 will see the devils finally play up to their standard while we continue to play game 3 and 4 type hockey

 

[haohmaru]

Rangers looking to be the first team in NHL history to come back from being down 2-2.

I see what you did there

 

[Machinehead]

If they do win sure i will apoligize but from what we have consistently seen out of this team is that they are NOT up to the challenge,. and they have shown that couldnt care less and have the mental fortitude of a baby. Game 5 will see the devils finally play up to their standard while we continue to play game 3 and 4 type hockey

You said the same thing last year when they were down against the Penguins.