Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part IV

[Saugus]

I'm starting to get a faint sense of hope in this team, which is usually the point at which they completely shit the bed against an inferior opponent. Checks out that Ottawa and a pair of back-to-back games are on deck.

Sens have dropped 3 straight by at least 3 goals while the Islanders are on their own 6-game losing streak.

These next two games are absolutely must wins.

Don't make me tap the sign.

 

[JrFischer54]

Don't make me tap the sign.

View attachment 839974

i'm so guilty of that trap circle this year

i still think this team if they snuck in would catch some team off guard big time. really wish they got their shit together earlier.

 

[Guttersniped]

Washington would obviously have to not make up ground. It’s tough. The only way I see the Devils getting in is against Flyers while the Isles (we play them twice) and Caps struggle.

Detroit has Larkin back so they should be able to survive now

I’m not worried about the Isles. We’re very close to them and we play them twice. If we’re winning enough to make the playoffs that will include beating the Isles.

Not particularly worried about the Pens (seemed cooked) or Sabres (are the Sabres).

But that leaves 3 teams with sizable leads, or a lead plus games in hand, competing with us for two spots.

We play the Flyers once but a 7 point lead is huge. Detroit just got back Larkin. And then there’s still the Caps. Oh, we also have to win a bunch of games in a row for once.

I will say that if some other games go our way, and we beat Ottawa, Sunday’s game against the Islanders will feel meaningful.

I’m not particularly optimistic but this isn’t garbage time yet. We’re all too familiar with what that feels like and we aren’t there yet.

If we lose the Sens game, we’re there.

 

[MadDevil]

It would be nice if the final two games of the season against the Flyers and Islanders actually meant something. Either with us getting in or potentially keeping one or both out.

 

[glenwo2]

I’m not worried about the Isles. We’re very close to them and we play them twice. If we’re winning enough to make the playoff that will include beating the Isles.

Not particularly worried about the Pens (seemed cooked) or Sabres (are the Sabres).

But that leaves 3 teams with sizable leads, or a lead plus games in hand, competing with us for two spots.

We play the Flyers once but a 7 point lead is huge. Detroit just got back Larkin. And then there’s still the Caps. Oh, we also have to win a bunch of games in a row for once.

I will say that if some other games go our way, and we beat Ottawa, Sunday’s game against the Islanders will feel meaningful.

I’m not particularly optimistic but this isn’t garbage time yet. We’re all too familiar with what that feels like and we aren’t there yet.

If we lose the Sens game, we’re there.

Suffice it to say, that Sens game is a MUST-WIN.

It's basically the season officially.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Don't make me tap the sign.

View attachment 839974

But we are now at a 2 game win streak. I think we need a new sign!

Surely at 3 this will be considered obsolete...

 

[Bleedred]

Suffice it to say, that Sens game is a MUST-WIN.

It's basically the season officially.

We've won our last 4 against them. Did we beat them in a shootout last year? Or OT? I remember the game Schmid came in and stopped everything, including an OT power play. I can't remember if we won that in OT or a shootout. I should remember if it was a shootout because we don't win many of them at all. We did beat the Sharks in a shootout last year in San Jose, as well as the Capitals later in the year on a Timo winner.

Maybe it was OT? Regardless, I know we won another game with Schmid against them and then one in the final few weeks of the season with Blackwood that we won like 5-4. They had some AHL lifer jabroni in net that night.

Not that Korpisalo/Forsberg are much better than AHL lifer jabroni.

And we won our only game against them this year, in what I think was the first NHL game Daws played this year.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Bleedred]

#BUYOUTTIMO

 

[JimEIV]

I went to physical therapy and then Taco Bell today.... everything was so disgustingly wonderful.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Yeah passing the Isles isn't really a problem, we will do that on our own assuming we win the games we need to win.

One of the biggest issues is needing the Caps to lose games so we can catch them but also win games against the other teams we are chasing. It's a super fine line and probably requires us to go on a massive heater.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Reminder to update your Iphones fam

 

[My3Sons]

Do you remember what Elias did from January to the end of the season?

He should've won the MVP that year ...or something. It was the single most awe inspiring performance I have ever seen from any Devil.

You obviously never saw Ben Lovejoy sing Paliachi. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Doc's call on Patty's goal was fantastic.

Geez I forgot how we could skate. That was a fast team.

 

[glenwo2]

Geez I forgot how we could skate. That was a fast team.

Skating is not enough.

Notice the PASSING?

Notice the lack of pucks hitting the back of teammates' skates?

Notice the tape-to-tape passes that seem to be a lost art on this team today?

 

[theoptimist]

Do or die game.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

I went to physical therapy and then Taco Bell today.... everything was so disgustingly wonderful.

Especially a few hours after the Taco Bell trip

 

[Better Call Sal]

Geez I forgot how we could skate. That was a fast team.

That team had a lot of skill up front. The EGG line with Gomer and Gionta taking full advantage of the new NHL, Langs, Zach starting to figure out the pro league late in his rookie year. And old reliables Madden, Pando and Brylin. Hell even Viktor Kozlov!

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Raffy and Martin moving the puck on the blueline. Raffy was one of my all time favorite players growing up. Loved his story of getting into the league given I’m about the same height as him.

I need to revisit that Ranger series today when I have free time. It was so much fun pummeling them.

 

[Clam Jensen]

That team had a lot of skill up front. The EGG line with Gomer and Gionta taking full advantage of the new NHL, Langs, Zach starting to figure out the pro league late in his rookie year. And old reliables Madden, Pando and Brylin. Hell even Viktor Kozlov!

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Raffy and Martin moving the puck on the blueline. Raffy was one of my all time favorite players growing up. Loved his story of getting into the league given I’m about the same height as him.

I need to revisit that Ranger series today when I have free time. It was so much fun pummeling them.

I remember it got so bad I think they started weekes in a game lol.

 

[JimEIV]

I'm not sure what's is worse...That Timo has only scored 31

Or

Only 31 goals has led this team over a full season worth of hockey..... either way it's a pretty low leader total for the supposed talent on this team..

Now I need to know what did Nico, Jesper and Jack do over that same time frame.

Off to hockey reference...

 

[Devilsfan992]

I'd think the Jack would have more if not for his injuries? Toffoli would have more if he played those extra games Timo did.

The only other company is Nico, Mercer and Bratt. Mercer has had a rough year. Nico and Bratt contribute more than just goal scoring, with Nico being a 2way God and Bratt being more of a playmaker.

 

[Homedresser]

I don’t think people realize how difficult it is to jump three spots when you’re 6 points back with just 12 games left. You need a scenario where all three teams they want to jump go .500 or worse for the remainder of the season AND the devils would need to win like 9 of their last 12. In gambling terms, it’s basically a four leg parlay. The odds are wildly slim and it would take a true miracle.

it takes 1+ point per game to catch a team so figure they are about 7 games behind detroit.

 

[JimEIV]

So Timo Meier played his first game March 5th last year against Arizona.
Since then NHL 78 31 24 55 -23

Jack

21 7 17 24 -1
54 23 44 67 -15

75. 30 61 91 -16



Nico Hischier
21 5 18 23 +3
59 23 32 55 0

79 28 50 78. +3


Jesper Bratt
21 7 8 15 -1
70 22 45 67 -5

91 29 53 82 -6



Pretty good actually. Injuries considered about as good as anyone could ask really. I'm not going to complain about that....guess I just needed to see it?

Biggest problem is only Bratt stayed healthy.

 

[glenwo2]

So Timo Meier played his first game March 5th last year against Arizona.
Since then NHL 78 31 24 55 -23

Jack

21 7 17 24 -1
54 23 44 67 -15

75. 30 61 91 -16



Nico Hischier
21 5 18 23 +3
59 23 32 55 0

79 28 50 78. +3


Jesper Bratt
21 7 8 15 -1
70 22 45 67 -5

91 29 53 82 -6



Pretty good actually. Injuries considered about as good as anyone could ask really. I'm not going to complain about that....guess I just needed to see it?

Biggest problem is only Bratt stayed healthy.

"Bratt for Tkachuk"...hurr hurr....(let's do the merry-go-round again....wheeeeeeee!)

 

[JimEIV]

"Bratt for Tkachuk"...hurr hurr....(let's do the merry-go-round again....wheeeeeeee!)

In a second. No a fraction of a second.