GDT: Devils @ Sharks, 4PM - MSGSN

[Hisch13r]

We were really closer to a true talent 75-80 point team last year with a little health and simply regularly bad goaltending instead of apocalyptically bad.

But 80 to likely 100+ is still huge

Tbf Jack being healthy all year probably adds at least another couple wins and Dougie being himself maybe like a game. That'd put us at like 86 from 80. Still not a small jump but you see teams make that kind of jump every single season.

Palat was awesome today.

Let him and Hischier cook

Add Meier to the mix and give Bratt back to Jack.

 

[Bleedred]

We need to bring back GDT bingo. This was a great card from the time.
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I forgot about this, but all the references are definitely 18-19 season.

I always thought it was funny that I didn't make this by name (while two other posters did), but the ''Cory sucks and has for a while'' and ''Kinkaid's not a starter'' were no doubt completely inspired by myself.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

Palat was awesome today.

Let him and Hischier cook

 

[Billdo]

3 of the last 4 really. This one was the big one though. They came up big against the Canes in a game the Canes were better and then Quick gifted us last game

Eh, I think we were at least equivalent in the Kings game but I'll give you the Canes and today. Good teams win games they shouldn't.

 

[Hisch13r]

 

[Based Anime Fan]

I forgot about this, but all the references are definitely 18-19 season.

I always thought it was funny that I didn't make this by name (while two other posters did), but the ''Cory sucks and has for a while'' and ''Kinkaid's not a starter'' were no doubt completely inspired by myself.

You also kinda popularized F'ire XXXX into the sun/Space Junk'.

I think it started with Zubrus and moved around between older vets for a few years.

 

[Hisch13r]

Eh, I think we were at least equivalent in the Kings game but I'll give you the Canes and today. Good teams win games they shouldn't.

The Kings definitely wasn't on the same level as the others. At the minimum I'd say it shouldn't have been as easy as it was.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Eh, I think we were at least equivalent in the Kings game but I'll give you the Canes and today. Good teams win games they shouldn't.

I think they were alright against the Kings. Not the best but not the worst.

Canes game they were not good outside the 3rd period. Weren't very good today either.

 

[The Wumpus]

3rd in the league

Longest current win streak

2nd in goal differential

 

[Hisch13r]

 

[New Jersey Devils]

I want Meier. Moreso than I did before. Dude would be amazing on either Nico's or Jack's wing.

 

[billingtons ghost]

The tide turned when Haula was reunited with Jack

I'll say this tho: Rango had a hard time collecting pucks tonight for that top line. I was really hoping we'd relegated Haula to the bottom six but it does prove that our top line guys require some grinder type to get them out of our zone. I love Rango but I'm concerned that he's just not the right fit somehow for our top six. When Bastian comes back it isn't a slam dunk that Boqvist goes out anymore, esp if he and Mercer and McLeod click.

I want Meier. Moreso than I did before. Dude would be amazing on either Nico's or Jack's wing.

Agreed.

 

[severian]

I wouldn't get too comfortable with that. I'd say Vitek should probably play close to 3 of every 4. Maybe 2.5 of every 4.

I think it was after the Detroit/St. Louis back to back set that I said we have 2 more sets of back to backs this month and the only games Vitek shouldn't play if available are one of each of the back to back's and maybe one other. He sat the LA game and the next back to back are the final two games before the break. So maybe he sits one other game other than that?

Although, there's only 5 more games before the break and 4 of them are against teams either in a playoff spot or just outside (Pittsburgh) who probably will be in a playoff spot by the time we get to that game, if I had to guess. The one non-playoff team being Nashville.

And the schedule is actually kind of spread out until then, except for the back to back. Two whole days without games between this one and Seattle. Another two whole days without games between Seattle and Pittsburgh (though a cross country flight in between). And then one night between Pittsburgh and Vegas both at home, with one other night in between the Dallas/Nashville back to back road games.

I haven’t gone through the schedule that closely. I’m just figuring 2/3 gets Vanacek roughly 25 more starts. That would put his game total at 53 for the season. That would be roughly 10 more games than he’s ever started in an NHL season before. No reason to push him that far with the Devils pretty comfortable in their playoff position.

 

[Hisch13r]

We're 3rd in the league btw

Boston really warps perception. If they were normal it would feel much more like it since we'd be in striking distance of the Presidents trophy. Instead they're just comically good so being 1 pt off 2nd doesn't feel like it as much since we're 10+ off 1st

 

[Emperoreddy]

I'm convinced this show was a fever dream

 

[Emperoreddy]

Biggie ft Thomas the Dank Engine new victory anthem

 

[Hisch13r]

I'm convinced this show was a fever dream

It was really good and also yes it was.

 

[Based Anime Fan]

Biggie ft Thomas the Dank Engine new victory anthem

I dunno, Starlight Brigade is more satisfying.

And remember, the post season is Pillowy Mounds.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Odd that Foote had to ride the pine too after early shifts. He didn’t f*** up at all and I have liked what he has brought to the lineup.

He actually had a few different moments failing to clear and missing assignments. I liked our play once they gave Mercer and Boqvist more ice time.

 

[severian]

I mean…I have to imagine every team’s win expectancy is pretty damn high with a lead and 10 seconds to play. Honestly I’m shocked the math worked out to giving the Devils a 1.1% chance of winning.

 

[Guttersniped]

Not 100+

But a good team? Absolutely.

I also showed Jim in the offseason of how many teams had 30+ point improvements over the years. So he was specifically told, many times.

He was very wrong about the offense. I do remember him having random numbers involving our shots & shooting % to bolster his argument that we were incapable of scoring more.

And then we generated a lot more offense this season, because you can do that to score more goals.

But our offense is better this season. Our possession game is better this season. This isn’t just last year’s version of the team with Marino and better goalies either.

I was generally aware of our strengths last season and I’ve been presently surprised by the team.

As a side note, I don’t think there’s a “still not actually good, but kind of better and not a doormat anymore” phase. Not in a NHL where half the teams don’t make the playoffs. You have to get to the actually good stage or you’re still bad.

It doesn’t mean anything when people say Detroit was supposed to be “better”. If they aren’t going to be good, they’re bad.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

We were really closer to a true talent 75-80 point team last year with a little health and simply regularly bad goaltending instead of apocalyptically bad.

But 80 to likely 100+ is still huge

Simply not true. The Devils regular lineup featured PK Subban and Ty Smith on defense with both Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes missing long stretches of the season.

The additions of forwards Eric Haula and Ondrej Palat have been huge upgrades.

With regards to goaltending, both Mackenzie Blackwood and Akira Schmid have far better numbers than they did a year ago.

The Devils issues a year ago were a lot bigger than goaltending.

 

[forceten]

During the losing streak in December to not remember, we lost several games we totally should have won. I am really most impressed that we're gutting out games we most definitely should not have won. This is good.

 

[Guttersniped]

We need to bring back GDT bingo. This was a great card from the time.
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There’s a Johnny Mac version of this.

 

[The Wumpus]

18-2-1 on the road, which is just silly