Pre-Game Talk: ECQF Preview: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes - We're Playoff Bound!

[MB3]

Some people will only be happy if the devils go 98-0 with a team xG of over 60% every game, pristine goaltending, shut down defense, and score over 5 goals a game.

How. How is this non satirical. How?!

Are you so incapable of understanding nuance that you think this is true? Do you so heavily rely on hyperbole because you don’t even believe the point you’re trying to make?

The Devils are the 4th worst team in hockey since christmas. That is HALF A SEASON of lottery-type play from a team with cup aspirations. Why are you so obsessed with everyone just being okay with that?!

 

[Nocashstyle]

How. How is this non satirical. How?!

Are you so incapable of understanding nuance that you think this is true? Do you so heavily rely on hyperbole because you don’t even believe the point you’re trying to make?

The Devils are the 4th worst team in hockey since christmas. That is HALF A SEASON of lottery-type play from a team with cup aspirations. Why are you so obsessed with everyone just being okay with that?!

Are the Devils making the playoffs? Y/N?

 

[MadDevil]

Yeah this thread sucks. It was supposed to be a playoff hype thread, not a doom and gloom, pissing and moaning for a week straight thread. Get on board or GTFO.

Our first 4 game winning streak in 2 years starts against Carolina.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Yay! I was wondering when the first “don’t be a fan if you’re going to be negative” post of the day was going to be.

I’m not incapable of hope. But when I invest time and money (lots and lots of money) on a hobby I am perfectly well within my rights to post about my displeasure on a F*CKING INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD.

Yeah, and I'm within my rights to suggest that if you can't manage some semblance of non-misery on the eve of the playoffs, maybe you'd just be better off if you invested your time and money on a different hobby.

Just want my buds to do what makes them happy.

 

[NjDevsRR]

The Devils are the 4th worst team in hockey since christmas.

Did you use StatMuse? You have to pay the full version if you did or you will get wrong results. They leave out 20% of teams.

Also, context. Devils are one of the teams that played the least amount of games since December 25 due to their insane first half schedule. So here is pt % since Dec 25 because it’s disingenuous to use Wins or Points.

Sharks .26%

Hawks .34%

Bruins .36%

Preds .41%

Penguins .45%

Flyers .46%

Devils .46%


So tied for 6th/7th worse. Still really bad but supports my point of people here throwing out numbers to make things even worse. Is someone going to attack me again for low standards?

 

[MB3]

Did you use StatMuse? You have to pay the full version if you did or you will get wrong results. They leave out 20% of teams.

Also, context. Devils played the least amount of games since December 25 due to their insane first half schedule. So here is pt % since Dec 25 because it’s disingenuous to use Wins or Points.

Sharks .295%

Hawks .344%

Bruins .367%

Preds .411%

Penguins .455%

Flyers .466-%

Devils .466%


So tied for 6th/7th worse. Still really bad but supports my point of people here throwing out numbers to make things even worse. Is someone going to attack me again for low standards?

I relied on what someone else said. Yay! 6th worst team in the league since christmas. Playoffs baby!!!!!

 

[NjDevsRR]

I relied on what someone else said. Yay! 6th worst team in the league since christmas. Playoffs baby!!!!!

Don’t think anyone here is saying they were good since Christmas. It’s been awful. But the nonstop shit-piling while whitewashing the Canes 3 month mediocrity is a bit much.

Also I reckon the Devils would have more pts in this last month if they weren’t locked in. But again, this doesn’t excuse the shit 2025. That’s why myself and others here are just looking for the playoffs where it is a new slate where anything can happen (in jersey)

 

[Better Call Sal]

Cotter out until the playoffs. They did him a favor.

 

[Clam Jensen]

How. How is this non satirical. How?!

Are you so incapable of understanding nuance that you think this is true? Do you so heavily rely on hyperbole because you don’t even believe the point you’re trying to make?

The Devils are the 4th worst team in hockey since christmas. That is HALF A SEASON of lottery-type play from a team with cup aspirations. Why are you so obsessed with everyone just being okay with that?!

Ironic lol.

To answer your last paragraph, I am not "so obsessed with everyone just being okay with that", I just have a much healthier mindset about sports fandom than you I guess. Do I expect them to beat the Canes? No. Can they? Sure!

Regardless, the endless negativity and doomerism is exhausting, especially when the typically positive posters on this board (myself included) have noted ad nauseaum that the team is imperfect, has played like shit for quite some time, and needs a bottom six makeover in the offseason; however, to let any of that detract from the fact that the team made the playoffs and will gain valuable experience is foolish to me. Just enjoy the ride and maybe yell into a pillow once in a while if you're getting so upset.

 

[Billdo]

Cotter out until the playoffs. They did him a favor.

Nailed that.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Cotter out until the playoffs. They did him a favor.

Still loses his game check doesn't he? A few days of the ice cubes diet lol

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Again, I don't think the time and place is now to completely shred the team or talk future. I've said what I think about this team and mostly management in the past. The next two weeks should be about the playoffs and that's it basically. You're legit rage baiting or trolling if you're talking about the offseason right now or being pessimistic. Also this team has been the same team for virtually the whole year besides December, why are people getting mad now? If you thought they were mid then, chances are nothing was gonna change over the course of a season.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Ironic lol.

To answer your last paragraph, I am not "so obsessed with everyone just being okay with that", I just have a much healthier mindset about sports fandom than you I guess. Do I expect them to beat the Canes? No. Can they? Sure!

Regardless, the endless negativity and doomerism is exhausting, especially when the typically positive posters on this board (myself included) have noted ad nauseaum that the team is imperfect, has played like shit for quite some time, and needs a bottom six makeover in the offseason; however, to let any of that detract from the fact that the team made the playoffs and will gain valuable experience is foolish to me. Just enjoy the ride and maybe yell into a pillow once in a while if you're getting so upset.

The people who are also like this also defend the team in other ways, I defended Timo when he was getting ripped to shreds and he was one of the reasons this team held on late to their playoff spot. While others are more optimistic about Markstrom. Pro sports aren't for you if everything is absurdly negative about a team or a franchise.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

I would like to point out, some context previously provided by @NjDevsRR

"they played 16 games in 31 days in March, we only had two practices."

And we brought in Cody Glass and Dumoulin and Sprong and Cholowski... while losing Hughes and Hamilton in that time. We had to call up Nemec, whatever other garbage AHL forwards came up.... and Markstrom was back but had to shake off his injury

That's a lot of chaos for one month. while essentially playing every other day, and not practicing.

 

[Call Me Al]

Our first 4 game winning streak in 2 years starts against Carolina.

good news is they don’t have to win 4 in a row at any point to win a series.

seriously just save the bitching until the playoffs start. the fact is they’re in it, missing their most important player so at this point a competitive series should be enough.

i admittedly expected them to fall out of the race. i hate fitz’s deadline moves. i think it’s been a chore to watch them for almost all of 2025, and ranks among the most disappointing few months of devils hockey in a decade plus of disappointing devils hockey.

*but* they start with a clean slate next week. timo can step up and be a difference maker in a series. markstrom can shut down a team if he’s hot. our defense is really good even during our shitty run. i genuinely can’t for the life of me understand why some of you want to declare the series lost already. go ahead and have low expectations, or don’t watch at all, but sports are just supposed to be fun, try and let yourself have some

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

The hurricanes-maple leafs game is how I expect the series to go every game. Canes get 50 shots in 1st period, and then just give up weak goals left and right. Unfortunately, the 1st period is also the one devils have struggled with all season. They get out of that 1st period up 1 or 0-0, they are golden.

 

[FooteBahl]

Where’s the damn schedule! I need to spend my money dammit!!!

 

[Better Call Sal]

Where’s the damn schedule! I need to spend my money dammit!!!

Seriously, I might just jump on game 3 tickets and hope it works out.

 

[HoliksGhost]

I’m pretty sure my employer is going offer playoff tickets, I’m hoping we come back from Carolina with a split 1-1, I’ll be pumped

 

[britdevil]

 

[Devs3cups]

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We were only allowed 1 year of immaculate vibes. Back to misery after 2022-2023.

 

[HoliksGhost]

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That about sums it up

 

[FooteBahl]

Seriously, I might just jump on game 3 tickets and hope it works out.

I want game 5 in Raleigh. My wife is allowing me a dads trip, and by lord, I need to plan this dad trip stat! I found a devils nerd in Metuchen who as big of a fan as I am. Same aged kids and everything…he’s my male-soulmate lol

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Seriously, I might just jump on game 3 tickets and hope it works out.

That should be Thursday or Friday with people thinking the latter cause of the concert at the Rock on Saturday. Friday night/Sunday matinee game makes sense

 

[NjDevsRR]

9 more wins and the Devils would still be in the same spot as they are in now. A first round matchup vs Canes. Yeah, 25 sucks but take the damn sulking out of this thread. Some folks are actually excited for playoff hockey.