GDT: Devils @ Lightning 7:00 PM EST (MSG, FDSNSUN

[jkrdevil]

Devils are a playoff contender, not a cup contender.

We won’t know who the try Cup contenders will be until after the trade deadline when rosters are finalized.

 

[Hisch13r]

Theyre too young and inexperienced, with our best future defenseman being all below the ages of 22 and not even in the league

Our captain only turns 26 this season. Its not our time yet, but well surely get in line

Why are we acting like a core of 23, 25, 26, 28, 21 is young? This is no longer a young team. There also is a lot of experience on this team. Those excuses are gone. This team SHOULD be a legitimate contender. Whether or not they're actually good enough remains to be seen.

The defense has 1 21 year old sure (who is great and looked like their best D when they were in the playoffs) and then 2 27 year olds and 3 guys 30+. The goalies are 2 old guys. The forward group has 4 30+ guys and only 2 guys under 25

 

[Emperoreddy]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1857976402781286736

 

[Killing Joke]

It's not a lot. He's given up 6 goals on 7.59 xGA. They've scored 3 on 7.12. He's the one D so far that's underwater in xG%. Since they've come back Siegs-Kovy obviously dominant. 59% xGs and up 9-5 and 10-4 in goals. Dillon-Dougie at 52-53% xGs although I don't really care about the xGs for that pair since the chances they do end up giving up are egregious. They're each even in goals. Luke's got a 54% xG and down 2-5 in goals. Pesce 48% and down 3-6 in goals.

He’s also the d that’s coming back from the worst injury that impacted his skating. Hopefully he picks it up, but I’m not too worried.

 

[BurntToast]

7-3 out of 10 is

2-1
2-1
2-1
1

Which is ok but they also lost 4 in a row. They should not have lost to the Shark/Flames without at least looser points.

They don’t close out games like before (win or lose).

 

[Devs3cups]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1857976402781286736

At some point it's absolutely 100% true that our schedule has been absurd. It's actually weird how bad it's been. These guys aren't robots. It affects them.

 

[billingtons ghost]

This version of Tampa has proven absolutely nothing and has just as many question marks as we do. Hedman isn’t close to what he was when they were champions. Every single team has question marks right now. Health and who has a hot goalie/PP will determine who moves on as it usually does in the playoffs.

If our forwards play defense like they did against Florida, I believe we can beat anyone. The problem comes with playing these teams like Florida, Washington, Boston, Rags, Carolina when it's all board battles and elbows and special teams.

You need vets who've been there and can figure out how to play in those games and third/fourth liners who can grind it out. Noesen helps. Cotter might help. Healthy Meier playing better than he did tonight could make us a contender.

I know Sam Bennett or Kopitar isn't walking through the door but I'm interested about a third line center spot who can make an impact and win the corner battles.

 

[Killing Joke]

7-3 out of 10 is

2-1
2-1
2-1
1

Which is ok but they also lost 4 in a row. They should not have lost to the Shark/Flames without at least looser points.

They don’t close out games like before (win or lose).

They shouldn’t have lost to the wings or islanders either and shouldn’t have have coughed up 2 goals in a minutes to
the islanders and have gone to OT with them (it was good they did since they won but my point is they should’ve won in regulation if they didn’t shit the bed.)

 

[My3Sons]

So I was out to a nice dinner with the wife and some friends and missed thr game. Sounds like I picked the right one to skip.

 

[Killing Joke]

If our forwards play defense like they did against Florida, I believe we can beat anyone. The problem comes with playing these teams like Florida, Washington, Boston, Rags when it's all board battles and elbows and special teams.

You need vets who've been there and can figure out how to play in those games and third/fourth liners who can grind it out. Noesen helps. Cotter might help. Healthy Meier playing better than he did tonight could make us a contender.

I know Sam Bennett or Kopitar isn't walking through the door but I'm interested about a third line center spot who can make an impact and win the corner battles.

The bruins are trash. Not worried about them what so ever.

 

[NJDevs26]

I disagree that they're not playing good enough, especially given the context. 7 out of their last 10 including a tough Western Canada road trip and a tough Florida road trip is plenty enough in my opinion. We don't have to agree on this, it's fine. We're all passionate about the team! Hopefully they go on a run soon with more practice time and some well needed rest.

While I agree the early schedule's been abnormally tough, thing is they need to prove later in the season they can beat up on teams at home and won't lose games to cream of the crap teams.

 

[jkrdevil]

I think the can and will stay above the "bubble " teams.

Speaking of “bubble teams” they all lost today. The gap between Devils and the cut line didn’t move even with them losing.

 

[billingtons ghost]

So I was out to a nice dinner with the wife and some friends and missed thr game. Sounds like I picked the right one to skip.

Tbh I thought they played a very good game and just got beat by a team that took away space, won the board battles and was better rested/stronger along the boards

 

[NJDevs26]

They’re only 3 games above five hundred. Let me know when they can consistently win 3 games in a row or get 3+ a few times and I’ll consider them a playoff team.

They're 7-2 in their last nine games lmao...they probably weren't going to get any long winning streaks with this schedule although the Sharks loss is still annoying.

 

[Devs3cups]

While I agree the early schedule's been abnormally tough, thing is they need to prove later in the season they can beat up on teams at home and won't lose games to cream of the crap teams.

Yup. They need to take advantage of the practice time and the rest. That should only help in theory. I'm quite happy with where the group is at since the first TB game.

Also 7-3 in their last time with the dreaded Florida and Western Canada road trips? I'm happy with that.

 

[billingtons ghost]

The bruins are trash. Not worried about them what so ever.

You're right, for right now, and maybe Marchand is cooked, but it's early.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

If our forwards play defense like they did against Florida, I believe we can beat anyone. The problem comes with playing these teams like Florida, Washington, Boston, Rags, Carolina when it's all board battles and elbows and special teams.

You need vets who've been there and can figure out how to play in those games and third/fourth liners who can grind it out. Noesen helps. Cotter might help. Healthy Meier playing better than he did tonight could make us a contender.

I know Sam Bennett or Kopitar isn't walking through the door but I'm interested about a third line center spot who can make an impact and win the corner battles.

Funny, you didn’t mention any of our best players. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are two of the best in the entire sport. As is Jesper Bratt. They’re all vets now.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

Honestly, I didn't hate the effort tonight. Just wasn't our night. Vasilevskiy played great. Get some rest and some practice in this week and come back strong.

 

[Killing Joke]

You're right, for right now, and maybe Marchand is cooked, but it's early.

Nah they’re cooked. They got no cap space and no depth.

 

[Hisch13r]

The special teams are fantastic. The process has been great and the results have been great. I think they've been very mediocre at 5v5 this year and how much that improves will determine how good they end up being.

 

[Saugus]

For my own sanity, I might need to do the anti-doomer thing and only show up after wins.

Man, shit gets weird on here after losses.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Well that sucked, on to the next one.

 

[Hisch13r]

Well that sucked, on to the next one.

It's annoying they had to lay the egg before the break so we're left one with this one. Would feel better if the last 2 were flipped.

 

[Whaddagoal]

So I was out to a nice dinner with the wife and some friends and missed thr game. Sounds like I picked the right one to skip.

Kind of. But don't let the score deceive completely.

It was a 1 goal game coming into the 3rd period. They gave up an early 3rd period goal off a point shot which pushed it back to 2 goal deficit.

So in a way it was a very close game until that point. NJD had chances in both 2nd and 3rd period to claw back, but they didn't overwhelm at any point other than the beginning of the 1st and small parts of 3rd.

 

[Devs3cups]

The special teams are fantastic. The process has been great and the results have been great. I think they've been very mediocre at 5v5 this year and how much that improves will determine how good they end up being.

Yup. I expect that to get better with more practice time to establish the system. 16th in xGF% 5v5 right now, 14th in GF/60 5v5, 15th in xGF/60 5v5, 15th in HDCF/60 5v5.

Average 5v5 with awesome special teams. I'll take that right now. I'd expect them to sneak into the top 10 as the season goes on 5v5 in most categories.