GDT: Devils vs. Habs / 9 Pages of Apathy 7:00 PM MSG+

[Csonked Out]

Type of box score you really like to see. Reid and Matteau with goals. Lars and Merrill with helpers and a win for Kinky.

All good things.

Last night was the first time I saw Matteau play and was happy that we didn't give up that pick in the draft. He was strong on the puck, showed good vision, and stands up for himself and doesn't back down. He had a nastiness to his game that I absolutely loved. Hopefully he continues to develop because he could turn into a good one

 

[NJDevs26]

Apparently no supplemental discipline for Gomez, let the anger from the rest of the league commence

 

[Missionhockey]

I think that Reid should watch some old tapes of Brian Gionta. If he could pattern his game a little more like him he'd have an easier time sticking in the line up.

 

[JimEIV]

A couple of young forwards that play the game like Matteau plus a more finesse/skilled forward that can create a little more will transform the lineup.

But when I see a performance like I saw from Matteau last night who many have dubbed "a 3rd or 4th liner" I have tremendous hope for guys like Coleman, Blandisi, Quenneville, Black, Kujawinski and Ben Thomson to be real contributors in the very near future.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Last night was the first time I saw Matteau play and was happy that we didn't give up that pick in the draft. He was strong on the puck, showed good vision, and stands up for himself and doesn't back down. He had a nastiness to his game that I absolutely loved. Hopefully he continues to develop because he could turn into a good one

He's a breath of fresh air. Not the shiny "skill guy" everyone is craving, but he's big, fast, physical, and plays with intensity and aggressiveness. It's the complete opposite of the rest of the roster. Add a little bit more of a scoring touch and he'll be a fantastic piece for this team.

 

[JimEIV]

I think that Reid should watch some old tapes of Brian Gionta. If he could pattern his game a little more like him he'd have an easier time sticking in the line up.

I don't if anyone noticed but Boucher found dead spots in the offensive zone all night last night...I watched him go to the high slot 3 or 4 times, wide open and the puck never got to him.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Boucher was noticeably shifty. Like he'd disappear for a while, but in a good way. I'd find him sneaking in a soft area and say "clever girl" like Muldoon in Jurassic Park.

 

[glenwo2]

My ideal situation to finish the season would be to cost the Rags the 1st seed in the East and then send them into a 1st round date with Boston.

That won't potentially happen if they don't beat the Rags in Regulation, though. NO LOSER POINT!

Even if they do still end up the 1st seed, I don't want the Devils to have any hand in them getting it by giving up points to them.

 

[JimEIV]

Boucher was noticeably shifty. Like he'd disappear for a while, but in a good way. I'd find him sneaking in a soft area and say "clever girl" like Muldoon in Jurassic Park.

I agree but the only problem with that is he absolutely needs someone to get him the puck.

 

[glenwo2]

Apparently no supplemental discipline for Gomez, let the anger from the rest of the league commence

You mean "Let the anger flow, young jedi", right?


Good job by the League. They must've saw the sequence prior to Scotty's actions and thought to themselves "If that IDIOT Ref called the OBVIOUS interference penalty on the Habs, what happened next wouldn't have occurred".

 

[Claudi27]

Just watched the highlights, man Matteau was everywhere, loved the energy and how tall he looked out there, didn't notice his size in his previous stints but did in a 4 minute video, that's a great sign.

Boucher had a couple of quick nice plays aswell which is what he should do, if all you have is a great shot, keep it simple with the puck and wander around the high percentage zones, everyone on the Devils seems to play with more confidence now, a lot more passes, smart simple plays, all in all it looked like a good effort all around compared to what I saw from this team two months ago.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Glad that Gomez isn't getting any further discipline. How the entire sequence played out plus Gomer's lack of history with hits like that probably kept in the clear. I don't really care how bitter the rest of the site is, because half of them also thought that Stamkos should be suspended for accidentally throwing a stick into the crowd.

As for Matteau and Boucher, I really liked what I saw from both of them last night, and I appreciate that they bring different things to the table. Matteau looks to be shaping into the mold of a power forward, while Boucher is more of the skilled sniper. Matteau is learning how to throw his weight around to create an impact on the game, and Boucher knows how to become invisible like a Great White about to attack (and the only downside of that is the Devils need a playmaker to get him the puck to take advantage of those situations). Either way, I think that Matteau and Boucher can be real contributors to the Devils. The team just needs to keep developing more pieces like that, and the Devils can get back on track.

 

[Missionhockey]

I agree but the only problem with that is he absolutely needs someone to get him the puck.

Well that's kind of my point about Gionta. Gionta made a living at the front of the net and Boucher has the build and the strength on the puck to do that.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Thinking ahead, Barzal to Boucher could be catchy.

 

[JimEIV]

I'm watching the replay and 13:25 of 3rd period there is just an awesome sequence...

Merrill carries the puck into the offensive zone and makes a beautiful move around the defender and sets up Matteau perfectly. Then Matteau gets in the scuffle behind the net. Just made me so happy to watch that again.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I'm watching the replay and 13:25 of 3rd period there is just an awesome sequence...

Merrill carries the puck into the offensive zone and makes a beautiful move around the defender and sets up Matteau perfectly. Then Matteau gets in the scuffle behind the net. Just made me so happy to watch that again.

That was a great sequence. Hopefully we'll see moments like that for years to come.

I thought Merrill in general had a strong game. Loved what he did on the Boucher goal.

 

[tr83]

I don't think it's going to happen, but I'd like to see a Boucher-Gomez-Matteau line.

I love how mean Matteau was last night. It's something this team hasn't had since...I don't know

 

[JimEIV]

My gut feeling is Boucher would play best with Zajac.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Boucher was noticeably shifty. Like he'd disappear for a while, but in a good way. I'd find him sneaking in a soft area and say "clever girl" like Muldoon in Jurassic Park.

on both sides of the puck, too.

a play that sticks out to me is when he caught up to de la rose in the neutral zone and shrugged him off the puck, turning the play the other way.

 

[Oneiro]

A McDavid, Strome or Marner might be what the doctor ordered for our little Reidy.

 

[Devilsfan992]

Where does everyone see that kinkaid is a ufa. He's only 25 and hasn't played 7 years in the NHL. Plus capgeek has him as an RFA this year. Would it suddenly change as the season went on?

 

[JimEIV]

Where does everyone see that kinkaid is a ufa. He's only 25 and hasn't played 7 years in the NHL. Plus capgeek has him as an RFA this year. Would it suddenly change as the season went on?

Group 6 - A player fits under the Group 6 definition if:
He has completed three or more professional seasons
His SPC has expired
For a player other than a goalie, has played less than 80 NHL games, or for a goaltender, has played less than 28 NHL games (30 minutes minimum to qualify as a game played for a goaltender)
Like the other unrestricted free agents, the player is free to negotiate and sign with any club.

 

[downtown56]

NHLPlayerSafety: New Jersey's Scott Gomez has been fined $1,478.49, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for elbowing Montreal's Alexei Emelin.

 

[Devilsfan992]

Group 6 - A player fits under the Group 6 definition if:
He has completed three or more professional seasons
His SPC has expired
For a player other than a goalie, has played less than 80 NHL games, or for a goaltender, has played less than 28 NHL games (30 minutes minimum to qualify as a game played for a goaltender)
Like the other unrestricted free agents, the player is free to negotiate and sign with any club.

I see.. and Albany counts as professional? Kinda annoying Lou couldn't get him to 28 NHL games. I blame Pete D in 2013 for not playing him, but have moose start like 15 straight or whatever it was.

 

[Devils Dominion]

It's essential that we sign Kinkaid and don't let him walk for no return.