GDT: Devils @ Rangers 7PM MSGSN MSG

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

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.

Every good team has stretches like this during a season. Go back through the cup finalists last year and you'll find multiple four game losing streaks, etc. It's s frustrating but it isn't the end of the world.

They didn't play that poorly tonight overall. If they didn't take stupid penalties, they probably would have won. The star player also played like a jackass which usually doesn't happen.

They haven't had a day off in two weeks. It caught up to them. Regroup and get it back going here.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Classic.

Look to the cookie

Classic.

And if you like gingerbread, I highly recommend these. Tastes like actual ginger

 

[JimEIV]

Look to the cookie


And if you like gingerbread, I highly recommend these. Tastes like actual ginger
View attachment 958943

Oh snap!

You're stocked well.

 

[guitarguyvic]

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

It’s not even remotely the same. That team was utterly dominant for the first two months of the season and won 13 consecutive games. They looked mediocre during their down stretch, but not outright bad.

This team by contrast hasn’t won more than 3 consecutive games all season. And yeah they looked pretty dominant defensively for about two weeks or so, but otherwise they’ve been average 5v5 overall and go through prolonged offensive dry spells. And this “rough patch” has been two weeks of straight up dog poo that looks like last year’s team, against the cream of the crap teams of the league no less.

I’m not seeing the parallels at all.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Oh snap!

You're stocked well.

Gingerbread martinis for the win

 

[JimEIV]

View attachment 958946

Gingerbread martinis for the win

Painkiller?

Edit:
Oh is that like a chocolate martini?

 

[MadDevil]

It’s not even remotely the same. That team was utterly dominant for the first two months of the season and won 13 consecutive games. They looked mediocre during their down stretch, but not outright bad.

This team by contrast hasn’t won more than 3 consecutive games all season. And yeah they looked pretty dominant defensively for about two weeks or so, but otherwise they’ve been average 5v5 overall and go through prolonged offensive dry spells. And this “rough patch” has been two weeks of straight up dog poo that looks like last year’s team, against the cream of the crap teams of the league no less.

I’m not seeing the parallels at all.

Fine. They're last years team. They're going to spin out of control, miss the playoffs, and never be good again. There? Better?

 

[NjDevsRR]

Painkiller?

From Christmas lmao

 

[Bleedred]

View attachment 958946

Gingerbread martinis for the win

These look really good.

I’d take a virgin, if possible.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It’s not even remotely the same. That team was utterly dominant for the first two months of the season and won 13 consecutive games. They looked mediocre during their down stretch, but not outright bad.

This team by contrast hasn’t won more than 3 consecutive games all season. And yeah they looked pretty dominant defensively for about two weeks or so, but otherwise they’ve been average 5v5 overall and go through prolonged offensive dry spells. And this “rough patch” has been two weeks of straight up dog poo that looks like last year’s team, against the cream of the crap teams of the league no less.

I’m not seeing the parallels at all.

I mean, they actually have a goaltender who's playing out of his skin lately. Welcome to being an NHL team where usually not everything is cohesive for most of the year. When they were on their torrid defensive pace, Markstrom had nights where he looked like a sieve and now he looks like a Vezina winner most nights. Maybe they're closer to the 17-18 Devils v the 22-23 Devils but they're still a good hockey club. When teams go in ruts, they usually revert to previous things they did especially if it's a young core on a new coach, they're doing shit that they did in the Lindy era and it's biting them. Timo/Nico need to step up points wise, Jack/Bratt have carried this team the entire f***ing year with next to nothing besides a hot month from Noesen/Nico to chip in consistently. Getting Jack/Bratt is priority number 1 if I'm Fitz and then Palat falls down into place in the B6 and I think we'll see way more of the team that they envisioned coming into the year.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Every good team has stretches like this during a season. Go back through the cup finalists last year and you'll find multiple four game losing streaks, etc. It's s frustrating but it isn't the end of the world.

They didn't play that poorly tonight overall. If they didn't take stupid penalties, they probably would have won. The star player also played like a jackass which usually doesn't happen.

They haven't had a day off in two weeks. It caught up to them. Regroup and get it back going here.

They played poorly tonight, I have no idea what people were watching. The second period was ok, first was not good, third and OT was embarrassingly bad.

I don’t care about other teams streaks. I know that teams go through tough stretches. Without context those comparisons are meaningless. The way the devils are playing currently cannot be just dismissed because there’s additional context to be considered. This team has not been great 5v5 all year, they haven’t been able to put together a meaningful winning streak, they’ve had multiple prolonged episodes of being unable to capitalize on offense, they have weak forward depth and little to no offensive contribution from the defenseman or bottom six forwards. And this is with having almost no injury issues to the top players and improved goaltending. What do you think we’re gonna get if we face some adversity there? Or when the playoffs start and guys assuredly get injured?

If this was a decade ago I might have more patience or give them the benefit of the doubt, but that’s what years and years of sucktitude and a core of guys who haven’t proven a lot over an extended period of time yet does.

 

[NjDevsRR]

They were the better team the First period. By eye test and stats.

Natural Stattrick
CF% 65-35
xGF% 85-15
Shots 11-8

2nd was good

No one will argue the bad 3rd/OT

 

[Devs3cups]

They were the better team the First period. By eye test and stats.

Natural Stattrick
CF 60-40
xGF 80-20
Shots 11-8

2nd was good

No one will argue the bad 3rd/OT

Yup. Fine first, very good second, underwhelming/poor 3rd and OT.

 

[njdevils1982]

These look really good.

I’d take a virgin, if possible.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I loathe xg. The first was not good. They gave up several odd man rushes that a crappy rangers team couldn’t execute on.

I guarantee if they have that same first period against Tampa they come out of it down 2 or 3-0 instead of just 1-0.

Fine. They're last years team. They're going to spin out of control, miss the playoffs, and never be good again. There? Better?

I’m not even saying that’s gonna happen. Just that I don’t have faith in them doing great things this year. And that makes me angry. This is a cap team with a set core, and I’m tired of seeing junk hockey.

 

[Devs3cups]

The team started off ok, then went on a pretty weak stretch of games (where I went super low on them), then they found their groove and started playing the best hockey I've seen them play in a long time. Then, the break happened. I believe in this group.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The hand wringing over a loss where 3 of the goals were absurdly stupid and self inflicted and calling this team a bad hockey team is asinine and borderline baiting.

1st goal, MacD takes a dumb penalty (why is he playing? who knows? Keefe wasn't here last year and shouldn't be getting baited on the Rempe bullshit). Fox takes a slap shot and it deflects off of Kovacevic's stick and in, down 1-0 in a period where we were arguably better in creating chances.

2nd goal - Nico takes a dumb penalty, their best player gets a bounce and goes shelf on Markstrom who had no chance after they were legit playing well most of that period and it probably deflated them a bit going back to the locker room tied after playing well 2-2.

Nothing happens in the third but they just came back from the West, so it makes sense they had a sloppy third period where the Rangers were sitting at home waiting for them.

3rd goal - Our superstar center who's made for 3v3 gets stripped by SAM f***ING CARRICK and causes a 2-0 the other way in OT.

If you think this team sucks because of what I just described, then I have no clue what to say to calm you down because in each scenario you would expect the Devils to make a play in the prior months that simply isn't happening. Whether it's them getting lazy and thinking they have playoffs clinched or the break actually broke them a bit or long Western trip coming back East is always a tough game. It's 1 game out of 82, breathe and take a deep breath lol. I'm the one who gets on them more than most here but I think the opponent they lost to tonight is adding to the tension more than what we saw.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

The team started off ok, then went on a pretty weak stretch of games (where I went super low on them), then they found their groove and started playing the best hockey I've seen them play in a long time. Then, the break happened. I believe in this group.

Yeah, they're literally fine most likely. It's the same stupid shit we've seen since G1 v the Sabres in Prague. They need their top end talent to show up on the scoreboard and only really Jack/Bratt have consistently this year. Mercer had chances tonight to make this a 5-2 regulation win and he botched both A+ chances. Kovacevic had a chance to win it late and killed a popcorn vendor almost. Games like this happen over a long 82 game season. I thought they played fine considering the circumstances of coming home after the long Western trip

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I loathe xg. The first was not good. They gave up several odd man rushes that a crappy rangers team couldn’t execute on.

I guarantee if they have that same first period against Tampa they come out of it down 2 or 3-0 instead of just 1-0.


I’m not even saying that’s gonna happen. Just that I don’t have faith in them doing great things this year. And that makes me angry. This is a cap team with a set core, and I’m tired of seeing junk hockey.

Want the cold reality then? They probably aren't winning it all this year outside of a Markstrom tear in April-June. There's holes on this roster that Fitz has created somewhat on his own to make this roster mainly in the bottom 6 that he needs to figure out how to properly fix in the offseason unless he has a magical trade deadline which I wouldn't hold my breath on. I'm also still not sure which Devils players will show up in the spring and who won't. Jack/Bratt/Noesen are easy yes's imo but I'm really not sure on Timo this year and Nico will most likely be used a defensive guy to other teams top stars like 2023 where he did really well + he's had a very up and down year so far. Expecting this team to be as defensive tight as they were before Christmas is just not doable for a full 82. You have your off nights and streaks in a season, it's also the f***ing NHL, there's a lot of talent around the league to make a team look stupid individually.

 

[Devs3cups]

Want the cold reality then? They probably aren't winning it all this year outside of a Markstrom tear in April-June. There's holes on this roster that Fitz has created somewhat on his own to make this roster mainly in the bottom 6 that he needs to figure out how to properly fix in the offseason unless he has a magical trade deadline which I wouldn't hold my breath on. I'm also still not sure which Devils players will show up in the spring and who won't. Jack/Bratt/Noesen are easy yes's imo but I'm really not sure on Timo this year and Nico will most likely be used a defensive guy to other teams top stars like 2023 where he did really well + he's had a very up and down year so far.

Yup. I'm fine with them finishing strong, winning a couple of rounds and building from there. All in all the core is still pretty young/gaining experience and the guys are trying to build their identity and mature their game. I like what Keefe brings long term. They're slowly getting there. You have to start somewhere and I like their direction.

If Markstrom goes full on beast mode, the PP is clicking and the bottom 6 starts producing could they go on a run? Absolutely, and I believe it could happen, but I'm absolutely not betting on it. I'm trying to be realistic.

 

[NJDevs26]

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

People can keep bringing that up but there've been plenty of times over the last decade where several poor games portended a downfall, rather than being a blip including the more recent example of last year where people used December 2022 to handwave away real concerns last year.

TBH if it wasn't for Keefe I'd be a lot more worried, I'm somewhat confident he'll be able to get the team out of it eventually but it'd be nice not to have to wade through another three games of crap first before the next 'soft' part of our schedule. If it wasn't for Markstrom, this one game in six stretch would have looked even worse which is hard to believe.

I'm more annoyed at the team for this stretch than worried (though I do think people are overstating the degree to which we're 'safely' in the playoffs)...those two things are not related.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Rempe coming off a suspension was probably not going to do anything stupid tonight and yet MacDermid comes into the lineup. He did have a decent scoring chance or so but for all the good Keefe has done, he has had his quirks when it comes to lineup decisions. If our bottom 6 is struggling to score than MacDermid should not be on the ice at all unless he is skating in warmups as a healthy scratch. We have guys like Kovacevic or Noesen who can drop the mitts with that scrub Rempe.

Either way this was a frustrating loss but atleast they snagged a point. Jack was all over the ice tonight doing his thing but unfortunately he had some bad turnovers and cost them the game. They have been struggling in the 3rd period latley whuvu wasnt the case pretty much all season. It's kind of crazy how they are 1-4 in overtime this year when it has been their bread and butter the last few seasons....

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

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.

I may not always agree 100% with everything you say but you are very good at seeing things from the right perspective. There are too many people on here overreacting after every loss. Yeah this slump sucks but the negativity and the asinine opinions floating around here aren't helping.

The team is playing some real underwhelming hockey the last 6 games but every game has been close on the scoreboard. There's no reason to think they could have stole atleast 1 point in the Carolina, Anaheim and San Jose games. Shit, even the Kings game they had a ton of scoring chances and couldn't beat Kuemper (aside from the Refs screwing them on the overturned goal). The late goals given up and the questionable reffing factored into some of those losses. It doesn't excuse the poor 5 on 5 play but it is what it is. We have seen 2 sides of this team over the last few weeks.