GDT: Devils @ Rangers 7PM MSGSN MSG

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I don't see the optimism. Have you seen their upcoming schedule? If they can't fix this fast, they may be competing with Columbus for a wild card spot.

lmao this place is hilarious

you guys live and die on 1-2 game stretches WAY too much. The season is barely half over and they are still on a 100+ point pace.

 

[Triumph]

I think that whole thing is a bunch of nonsense people tell themselves to feel better. Sure they’re “grittier” and more physical but they’re also mediocre offensively at 5v5 and rely heavily on the PP to produce. They have no offensive depth and strong defensive teams will be able to blanket the stars. Shut them down and you win handedly. Then add in the fact that refs essentially stop calling PPs after the first few games of the series so good luck when that happens.

I also don’t feel confident with Keefe as the coach considering Toronto always failed because they had the same problem of dog shit depth and then he couldn’t get enough out of the stars to get the team to succeed. I don’t think this team has it. Cut the fat and overhaul the forwards in the summer and maybe they have it.

They're mediocre offensively 5v5 because they're not finishing. They're creating the chances.

 

[billingtons ghost]

I think that whole thing is a bunch of nonsense people tell themselves to feel better. Sure they’re “grittier” and more physical but they’re also mediocre offensively at 5v5 and rely heavily on the PP to produce. They have no offensive depth and strong defensive teams will be able to blanket the stars. Shut them down and you win handedly. Then add in the fact that refs essentially stop calling PPs after the first few games of the series so good luck when that happens.

I also don’t feel confident with Keefe as the coach considering Toronto always failed because they had the same problem of dog shit depth and then he couldn’t get enough out of the stars to get the team to succeed. I don’t think this team has it. Cut the fat and overhaul the forwards in the summer and maybe they have it.

You stats guys love the 'luck' hand waving. So why can't it be that we are playing a good brand of hockey but not getting the posts and deflections and just have bad shooting luck in this case?

The chances tonight were pretty good.

 

[NjDevsRR]

And thankfully, we only lost 2 pts to the Canes in this last 10 game stretch.

As @ZachaFlockaFlame has said many times. That’s our goal, finish ahead of Canes to get home ice in a potential first round match up.

 

[Bleedred]

Could easily just be fatigue

It’s been happening every game though.

It could just be by chance. I’m not one of those people who buys “teams have figured out how to finally break through us in the 3rd” theories like the “we aren’t catching teams by surprise anymore!” Like I heard all of last year and in December of 2022, from everyone from posters on this forum to players themselves and fans at games in Florida lol.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Columbus is kind of like Philadelphia of last year. They’ve don’t have terrible underlying numbers like this year’s Flyers and the new flavor of the week Canadiens.

But they’re also shooting a bit above league average.

And unlike Philly who were getting good goaltending from the rapist, they’re getting “You ain’t nothing but a soft goal getting by me all the time” by hunk a hunk of burning dumpster and his shitty backup singers or I guess goalies in this case.

I’m not worried about them. There seems to be a new flavor of the week on the bubble in the East every week. It was the Flyers at one point,’it was even Columbus a little over a month ago. It might even be Les Fraude at the moment. The Pens had a pretty good run to go from like 7 or 8 games under NHL 500 to get back to NHL 500.

Lol at the backup singers

Thanks I needed that

 

[NjDevsRR]

It’s been happening every game though.

It could just be by chance. I’m not one of those people who buys “teams have figured out how to finally break through us in the 3rd” theories like the “we aren’t catching teams by surprise anymore!” Like I heard all of last year and in December of 2022, from everyone from posters on this forum to players themselves and fans at games in Florida lol.

Its been happening since Christmas break. It wasn’t happening a lot before

It honestly could be simple as fatigue since the holiday. We shall see

 

[billingtons ghost]

Could easily just be fatigue

Could easily be nights out in LA and sunshine and too much eggnog. Devilss buss?

 

[Bleedred]

Its been happening since Christmas break. It wasn’t happening a lot before

It honestly could be simple as fatigue since the holiday. We shall see

I mean since Christmas break.

We actually perfected this from at least the first Florida game through Christmas. It may have even started before the first Florida game, but I remember very impressed by it in person during that game and it may have also been a thing before that, though maybe not as tight.

 

[njdevils1982]

Could easily be nights out in LA and sunshine and too much eggnog. Devilss buss?

f*** devils bus

 

[NjDevsRR]

Could easily be nights out in LA and sunshine and too much eggnog. Devilss buss?

I was actually surprised to hear Keefe allude to fatigue three times in tonight’s presser. He hasn’t really given excuses earlier this season. I think its a bigger factor here than what people want to admit.

A team just doesn’t randomly go from a historic defensive stretch to this level of play just because.

I am confident they turn it around.

 

[NJDevs26]

And thankfully, we only lost 2 pts to the Canes in this last 10 game stretch.

As @ZachaFlockaFlame has said many times. That’s our goal, finish ahead of Canes to get home ice in a potential first round match up.

LOL if there’s one team I could care less about home ice against it’s them. We’ve had plenty of hideous playoff moments against them here.

 

[Bleedred]

And I really hope they don’t think they gotta play Allen against the Panthers or Leafs just because he won’t have played in two weeks. Give him one of next weekend’s back to back.

Even though he was pretty decent in his last outing, he’s largely been MIA since late November and I’m pretty sure even with this shitty skid we’re still 11-2-2 in Markstrom games to his 0-5-0 since his hot start.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I think we all got accustomed to then playing terrific team defense and very responsible hockey before the break and it really looked like it was a growing thing and was going to lead to something special.

I think we just have to get back on track and we'll be fine. We're still playing good hockey for much of the games but there's definitely some holes in our second tier scoring that need to get addressed, and we need to get in a few good practices to get our stars's confidence back.

I thought we were at our best when we were confident but scared of the other team's abilities, like against Florida and Toronto.

I mean yeah, that's fair but ebbs and flows in a season. The break came at the worst time for them, they were playing fantastic, we'll see how they adjust going into mid-Jan and on. Also would be nice if Timo/Nico got on the scoresheet consistently

 

[guitarguyvic]

Ah, nothing like abandoning ship in the downward stretch of an 82 game season when we're past the halfway mark and in a playoff spot.

December 2022 all over again for some.

This isn’t December of 2022, gtfoh. I defended the team during that stretch, they were playing well enough to win games and just weren’t getting bounces and there was poor perspective because they were playing unsustainably dominant hockey prior to that.

This is dogshit play, straight up. Basically looks exactly like last year where they handle the puck like a bunch of 16 year olds, give up odd man rushes all over the place, selfish play all over the place. On top of that we have no snipers and we go on huge stretches where they look impotent as f*** on offense. And we basically have no one outside of five guys who produce anything.

The fact that they can’t muster up more quality than this during a two week stretch where every game has been against cellar dweller teams is f***ing grotesque.

So no this isn’t winter 2022. This is winter 2023.

All we’re missing is for some key guys to get injured so that the whole train can come off the tracks, cuz you know damn well they aren’t gonna get their shit together if that happens.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

And thankfully, we only lost 2 pts to the Canes in this last 10 game stretch.

As @ZachaFlockaFlame has said many times. That’s our goal, finish ahead of Canes to get home ice in a potential first round match up.

Home ice is going to be massive, Rod is the best coach in the league in my eyes, he'll cook Keefe's life away on matchups. I wonder how each team handles the deadline too, I can see Carolina going the big fish route v the Devils going for depth.

 

[NjDevsRR]

LOL if there’s one team I could care less about home ice against it’s them. We’ve had plenty of hideous playoff moments against them here.

You should have the opposite mindset here.

Canes Home vs Away record

16-5 Home
9-10-2 Away

And I, nor anyone in the current Devils care what the Staal, Recchi, Brindamour, Jokinen, Ward Canes did in years past against NJ. It doesn’t matter

 

[guitarguyvic]

I think that whole thing is a bunch of nonsense people tell themselves to feel better. Sure they’re “grittier” and more physical but they’re also mediocre offensively at 5v5 and rely heavily on the PP to produce. They have no offensive depth and strong defensive teams will be able to blanket the stars. Shut them down and you win handedly. Then add in the fact that refs essentially stop calling PPs after the first few games of the series so good luck when that happens.

I also don’t feel confident with Keefe as the coach considering Toronto always failed because they had the same problem of dog shit depth and then he couldn’t get enough out of the stars to get the team to succeed. I don’t think this team has it. Cut the fat and overhaul the forwards in the summer and maybe they have it.

Agree with this except for the bit about Keefe. Doubt he’s why the leafs choked in the playoffs.

 

[Better Call Sal]

This isn’t December of 2022, gtfoh. I defended the team during that stretch, they were playing well enough to win games and just weren’t getting bounces and there was poor perspective because they were playing unsustainably dominant hockey prior to that.

This is dogshit play, straight up. Basically looks exactly like last year where they handle the puck like a bunch of 16 year olds, give up odd man rushes all over the place, selfish play all over the place. On top of that we have no snipers and we go on huge stretches where they look impotent as f*** on offense. And we basically have no one outside of five guys who produce anything.

The fact that they can’t muster up more quality than this during a two week stretch where every game has been against cellar dweller teams is f***ing grotesque.

So no this isn’t winter 2022. This is winter 2023.

All we’re missing is for some key guys to get injured so that the whole train can come off the tracks, cuz you know damn well they aren’t gonna get their shit together if that happens.

Let's just say I don't agree. That's great you saw that the play in December 2022 wasn't matching the results. That wasn't the case for many on this board if you remember.

Yes, the play has regressed since the Christmas break in many areas. Are the Hurricanes a cellar dweller? Are the Kings? Those are two of the better teams in the league. Yes, the losses to Anaheim and San Jose were kicks in the dick because of where they are in the standings and that we were minutes/seconds away from at least securing a point, but what do you feel is the more accurate reflection of this team? This two-week stretch, or the two months that came before it?

If you believe this is how this team will perform the rest of the way, sorry, but I disagree.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I also have to say, the team is also getting some rough breaks lately. The two posts in period one. The first PP goal allowed. Overturned goals, interesting officiating.

The tide will turn

 

[guitarguyvic]

lmao this place is hilarious

you guys live and die on 1-2 game stretches WAY too much. The season is barely half over and they are still on a 100+ point pace.

What? We’re going on six consecutive games now of crap, with each one basically getting worse instead of better.

I also don’t buy this shit about them just having hard luck offensively. Nobody on this core has ever been known as a sniper and this isn’t the first time where they routinely can’t convert on glorious chances for huge stretches of time, making opposing goalies look stellar no matter who they are.

I’ve been quiet about Timo for 2+ seasons now but how are we supposed to feel about using up $9 million in cap space on a guy who was supposed to be a game breaker but instead doesn’t produce any more than the homegrown younger player on an ELC we traded away for him? Bratt just broke a 9 game scoreless drought…this supposed to be our 1b offensive threat. Jack is a top point producer but when things get hairy he’s still out there making selfish plays like he’s still a rookie, contributing to the shit irresponsible play of the team as a whole. More than half our forwards and all but like one defensemen now are contributing close to nothing to relieve pressure from the top line guys or get us through their dry spells.

This idea that they are sure to be better built for the playoffs is overblown as of now. Sure they have the potential to be stronger defensively than two years ago, but based on these last two weeks how do we know we will even get the better defensive version of this team come playoff time? Not to mention the penchant for offensive ineptitude that can easily be amplified in the playoffs when the opposition focuses in on and shuts down the the best players knowing we have weak depth. Sure Fitz is gonna try to get help but that’s no guarantee at all of anything - the right guys might not be available and we should all know that chemistry with rental players often doesn’t materialize as hoped for.

 

[JimEIV]

Does anyone remember windmill cookies? They're kind of like gingerbread shaped like a Dutch windmill...when I was little they used to be my favorite.

 

[MadDevil]

Kind of reminds me of 2022-23 when some people were panicking after that miserable December they had.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Does anyone remember windmill cookies? They're kind of like gingerbread shaped like a Dutch windmill...when I was little they used to be my favorite.

Those are great

Currently enjoying a black n white. Hard shell with a soft inside, perfect

 

[JimEIV]

Those are great

Currently enjoying a black n white. Hard shell with a soft inside, perfect

View attachment 958940

Classic.