GDT: ECQF GM1 - New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers - 7PM EST on MSG2 and MSGSN

[PKs Broken Stick]

In essence, the Rag's played a very typical playoff game, while we tried to play what was successful for us all season.

Exactly. I don't think they played bad tbh 5v5 but their offense was completely shut down.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Eggtimer]

I was thinking midway through the game that, if I'm the Rag's, I clutch and grab all night.

But no way do the Rag's come into this game thinking, let's take a couple early penalties and see what happens.

Our PP was bad, which kind of makes sense given they are a good PK team, but then we gave up PP goals against, which was out of character given we were also a good PK team this year.

But I'm just not buying into this "outcoached" or "proper gameplan" business.

They gave us prime oppurtunities early and we didn't take advantage.

Um what prime opportunities are you talking about ? We didn’t generate anythimg really dangerous and the Rangers absolutely game planned perfectly and executed it well. We outplayed them handedly all year but not tonight. That’s not because our players all had their skill sucked out of them recently. That’s the Rangers figuring out what makes the Devils so good and planning and executing a way to negate what makes us effective.
We shit down their PP very well before. Now they switched it up and we were not expecting it at all. They nearly scored a couple more goals by looking for the tip outside of the normal shooting lanes.
They 100% game planned better than us .

 

[devilsblood]

A lot of people were saying the Rangers were probably going to have a counter plan and the devils will have to dump and chase and the question was would they...well we all know the answer to that.

Nico maybe, but I think it's pretty hard for Hughes to accept a dump and chase game.

But he was also the main culprit in terms of skating right into their defense.

I think he tries something else before resorting to giving up possession.

 

[Devs3cups]

Exactly. I don't think they played bad tbh 5v5 but their offense was completely shut down.

60.07% xGF% 5v5. Even with that, I agree we weren't at our best offensively 5v5. That xGF% goes to show how little the Rags created 5v5.

 

[guitarguyvic]

It’s fair to worry now. I can’t give him the benefit of the doubt given the history and his sporadic play. Until there’s a reason and evidence to think otherwise, you have to assume the Devils are going to have to make up for a massive goaltending disparity in these games.

No it isn’t fair. How do you put stock into “history” when it entails one game where he left injured and one where his numbers looked fine, with just two others where the numbers don’t look good? That’s just ridiculous, come on.

 

[racamdim]

This game came down to one thing: the Devils defense was manhandled -- overwhelmed, actually -- both physically and mentally in the forecheck all night. It was painful to watch. Marino, Bahl and Siegenthaler looked simply overmatched, and their mental decisions were horrendous. Graves wasn't anything special either. Hamilton was just invisible. Amazingly, from my seat in the lower bowl Severson was by far the best NJ blueliner -- not even close.

If tonite was a true reflection of the disparity between the NJ defense and the NYR forecheck, this series will be over in a blink, and deservedly so.

It's late early now. If I am Fitzgerald and Ruff I am seriously considering inserting both Luke and Smith into the lineup in Game 2 -- the former because he has shown in a limited NHL audition (and a lengthier college career) that he can start the breakout effectively, the latter because he has the physical size and strength that Marino lacks and Bahl doesn't use.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Um what prime opportunities are you talking about ? We didn’t generate anythimg really dangerous and the Rangers absolutely game planned perfectly and executed it well. We outplayed them handedly all year but not tonight. That’s not because our players all had their skill sucked out of them recently. That’s the Rangers figuring out what makes the Devils so good and planning and executing a way to negate what makes us effective.
We shit down their PP very well before. Now they switched it up and we were not expecting it at all. They nearly scored a couple more goals by looking for the tip outside of the normal shooting lanes.
They 100% game planned better than us .

ty for explaining it in detail for me. I'm too lazy.

Nico maybe, but I think it's pretty hard for Hughes to accept a dump and chase game.

But he was also the main culprit in terms of skating right into their defense.

I think he tries something else before resorting to giving up possession.

He did try something different in the 3rd. Instead of passing, just bulldoze right through the defense. It almost worked couple times.

 

[devilsblood]

Exactly. I don't think they played bad tbh 5v5 but their offense was completely shut down.

I know Rag's were able to play a defensive game, but it's not like they had a ton of chances either.

We didn't capitilize on our chances unfortuneatly, while they did. 5v5 at least.

Special teams is another story. I see no way of arguing that special teams was anything less then a disaster. 2 failed PP's early. 0-4 total, no shots. 2 PP goals against. Terrible.

 

[Eggtimer]

It’s like we lost all the swagger and confidence we had during the regular sewosn where they knew they can win any game . Amd nkw that it’s the playoffs , it loked like they we not sure of themselves because of,all the talk and hype of how different the playoffs are. Just play their game . Dont over think everything and just play with the confidence that made them successful all year .

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I know Rag's were able to play a defensive game, but it's not like they had a ton of chances either.

We didn't capitilize on our chances unfortuneatly, while they did. 5v5 at least.

Special teams is another story. I see no way of arguing that special teams was anything less then a disaster. 2 failed PP's early. 0-4 total, no shots. 2 PP goals against. Terrible.

No they didn't have anything dangerous either. For that, the goaltending just shit the bed, simple as that really.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

This game came down to one thing: the Devils defense was manhandled -- overwhelmed, actually -- both physically and mentally in the forecheck all night. It was painful to watch. Marino, Bahl and Siegenthaler looked simply overmatched, and their mental decisions were horrendous. Graves wasn't anything special either. Hamilton was just invisible. Amazingly, from my seat in the lower bowl Severson was by far the best NJ blueliner -- not even close.

If tonite was a true reflection of the disparity between the NJ defense and the NYR forecheck, this series will be over in a blink, and deservedly so.

It's late early now. If I am Fitzgerald and Ruff I am seriously considering inserting both Luke and Smith into the lineup in Game 2 -- the former because he has shown in a limited NHL audition (and a lengthier college career) that he can start the breakout effectively, the latter because he has the physical size and strength that Marino lacks and Bahl doesn't use.

I genuinely didn’t see any of this happening. They executed on the PP. Getting “manhandled”? The Rangers barely did shit all game.

 

[devilsblood]

Um what prime opportunities are you talking about ? We didn’t generate anythimg really dangerous and the Rangers absolutely game planned perfectly and executed it well. We outplayed them handedly all year but not tonight. That’s not because our players all had their skill sucked out of them recently. That’s the Rangers figuring out what makes the Devils so good and planning and executing a way to negate what makes us effective.
We shit down their PP very well before. Now they switched it up and we were not expecting it at all. They nearly scored a couple more goals by looking for the tip outside of the normal shooting lanes.
They 100% game planned better than us .

Nico drive on the goal line which he chipped over the net. Hughes busting through the defense that was stopped by Shesterkin. Haula missing on the cross ice pass from Boq. Palat had that great op that was a great save by Shesterkin. Another solid power move by Nico. Do we count the Tatar shot?
We had some prime opportunities.

 

[NjDevsRR]

This game came down to one thing: the Devils defense was manhandled -- overwhelmed, actually -- both physically and mentally in the forecheck all night. It was painful to watch. Marino, Bahl and Siegenthaler looked simply overmatched, and their mental decisions were horrendous. Graves wasn't anything special either. Hamilton was just invisible. Amazingly, from my seat in the lower bowl Severson was by far the best NJ blueliner -- not even close.

If tonite was a true reflection of the disparity between the NJ defense and the NYR forecheck, this series will be over in a blink, and deservedly so.

It's late early now. If I am Fitzgerald and Ruff I am seriously considering inserting both Luke and Smith into the lineup in Game 2 -- the former because he has shown in a limited NHL audition (and a lengthier college career) that he can start the breakout effectively, the latter because he has the physical size and strength that Marino lacks and Bahl doesn't use.

I dont get this. Rangers barely had a forecheck going and barely had any sustained offensive zone time

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I guess there needed to be someone to add another reason to why they lost this game

 

[Killing Joke]

Bitching about Vanecek when this game was there for the taking at 2-0 while also going 0-4 PP with no shots is incredible. He had a shit game but he's not the first one I'm pointing at.

Vitek was the god damn reason the first and 3rd goals both happening. He did the team no favors.

 

[racamdim]

I dont get this. Rangers barely had a forecheck going and barely had any sustained offensive zone time

I watched it right in front of me all night.

And Marino and Bahl were manhandled off of the puck in both zones.

 

[Devs3cups]

I know Rag's were able to play a defensive game, but it's not like they had a ton of chances either.

We didn't capitilize on our chances unfortuneatly, while they did. 5v5 at least.

Special teams is another story. I see no way of arguing that special teams was anything less then a disaster. 2 failed PP's early. 0-4 total, no shots. 2 PP goals against. Terrible.

Thing is also, the goals they scored on 5v5 were FAR from huge chances.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I watched it right in front of me all night.

And Marino and Bahl were manhandled off of the puck in both zones.

Yeah , me too bud. Rangers were barely in our zone. Idk wtf you were watching.

Rangers won due to the PP and and some opportunistic chances (also soft goals), all that was NOT due to sustained O-zone time or forecheck. Get out of here

 

[Devs3cups]

Rangers won due to the PP and and some opportunistic chances (also soft goals), all that were not based off a zone time presence or forecheck.

 

[Devilsgrl35]

This game and now the Met game is double whammy. woof. Tough sports night

 

[guitarguyvic]

This game came down to one thing: the Devils defense was manhandled -- overwhelmed, actually -- both physically and mentally in the forecheck all night. It was painful to watch. Marino, Bahl and Siegenthaler looked simply overmatched, and their mental decisions were horrendous. Graves wasn't anything special either. Hamilton was just invisible. Amazingly, from my seat in the lower bowl Severson was by far the best NJ blueliner -- not even close.

If tonite was a true reflection of the disparity between the NJ defense and the NYR forecheck, this series will be over in a blink, and deservedly so.

It's late early now. If I am Fitzgerald and Ruff I am seriously considering inserting both Luke and Smith into the lineup in Game 2 -- the former because he has shown in a limited NHL audition (and a lengthier college career) that he can start the breakout effectively, the latter because he has the physical size and strength that Marino lacks and Bahl doesn't use.

What? I saw zero evidence of this.

People look at the final score and literally just apply whatever pre-conceived narrative of playoff failure they already had to the game.

Goaltending failed. Special teams failed. 5v5 Offense couldn’t make up for it after the rangers went into a defensive shell with the lead. That’s it. Not really that complicated.

 

[NJDevs26]

You all know Blackwood is gonna start game 2 right?

I'd fire Lindy before he could get in the locker room after the pregame skate if that happened.

 

[NjDevsRR]

What? I saw zero evidence of this.

People look at the final score and literally just apply whatever pre-conceived narrative of playoff failure they already had to the game.

Goaltending failed. Special teams failed. Offense couldn’t make up for it after the rangers went into a shell with the lead. That’s it. Not really that complicated.

That was the single most ridiculous review of the game I read. The things he wrote literally did not happen.

 

[NJDevs26]

No it isn’t fair. How do you put stock into “history” when it entails one game where he left injured and one where his numbers looked fine, with just two others where the numbers don’t look good? That’s just ridiculous, come on.

Yeah if you want to think Vitek hasn't shown enough over his career or over the last few months that's one thing, but using less than a handful of playoff games to prove your point is silly. We destroyed Hank in 2006 but he was a pretty good big-game goalie after that.