GDT: ECSF Game 4: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7 PM, ESPN

[britdevil]

It really bugs me to see there being such negativity stemming from these losses. I get the lopsidedness being a real kick in the dick, and I'm not trying to be someone who is "happy to be here", but talk about a "What have you done for me lately?" type of attitude given the season that we've just had.

Look at the teams that are left.

Carolina - Lost in the playoffs 4 straight years, second round twice in a row.
Florida - Lost in the playoffs 3 straight years, including second round last year as President's Trophy winners.
Toronto - Do I really need to detail this one?
Edmonton - Has 2 of the best players in the universe, has been eliminated 3 years in a row.
Dallas - Eliminated 3 of the last 4 years, missed the playoffs in one of those seasons.
Vegas - Eliminated 4 straight years, missed the playoffs last year.
Seattle - Missed the playoffs last year, they're of course an outlier.

Most recent Stanley Cup Winners:
Avalanche - Lost in the first or 2nd round 4 years in a row before winning Cup.
Tampa - Prior to their 2 Cup wins, embarrassed in first round by Columbus. Lost in conference finals 2 of the 3 prior years, with the middle year being them missing the playoffs all together.
St. Louis - Perennial disappointments before riding Jordan Binnington and Co. to a championship.
Washington - Perennial disappointments.

Every single team goes through some adversity before they can win it all. It is rare (see Pittsburgh) to see a team put it all together quickly on the back of youngsters. And even then, they were considered perrennial disappointments for a period of time before winning back-to-back.

I know patience is hard, but we're ahead of the game here. This should just be the beginning of our competitive window and us learning how to respond to taking a punch in the mouth. And, by the way, it's not over yet.

This season has been such a success from top to bottom. Beating the Rangers was the icing on the cake for me.

It hurts right now, but wow what a future this core has.

Still, it isn't over yet. The fat lady might be warming up for a crescendo, but she hasn't sung yet.

 

[JimEIV]

Also, not for nothing on Dougie but people were worried going into the playoffs that he'd be a problem defensively. Unless I'm really overlooking something, I think he's been really solid in his own end. If we're able to win games and he has to sacrifice his offensive chances to be sound in his own end, I'm not going to complain.

Of course I want him to be shooting the lights out, and he's a part of the PP flailing right now but he's far from alone in that category.

I don't think Dougie has been good in his own end at all.

 

[devilsblood]

Honestly, at this point I would be fine seeing Blackwood get the next start. Actually, I hope he does get the start. Not sure how it could be any worse than what we've seen in the nets this series.

View attachment 706044

An instance where #'s can be misleading. We've been given up tons of high quality chances.

I really don't see this as a goal tending issue.

Blackwood could most definitely be worse.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I don't think Dougie has been good in his own end at all.

Maybe I'm being too complimentary, especially given the number of goals in this series we've given up, but I'll put it as he hasn't been any bigger of a problem back there than anyone else. And I was one who also was concerned that he'd be taken advantage of for being a bit softer and slower of foot.

I think Lindy did call out a big issue last night which was the lack of support. Against such a heavy forecheck, if our forwards are flying out right away, our defenders are left scrambling to make a quick decision that ultimately will result in a turnover. Whether it's in our zone or the neutral zone.

 

[Devs3cups]

He went out and got Lazar...I presume that's to eventually replace Wood? Obviously Lazar isn't the "skilled" scrappy guy but I don't understand why he's not being used more. He has played well in his limited opportunities.

He’ll definitely get time next season, I like what he brings. Simple game. Exactly what you need from your fourth line.

 

[JimEIV]

Maybe I'm being too complimentary, especially given the number of goals in this series we've given up, but I'll put it as he hasn't been any bigger of a problem back there than anyone else. And I was one who also was concerned that he'd be taken advantage of for being a bit softer and slower of foot.

I think Lindy did call out a big issue last night which was the lack of support. Against such a heavy forecheck, if our forwards are flying out right away, our defenders are left scrambling to make a quick decision that ultimately will result in a turnover. Whether it's in our zone or the neutral zone.

Just on an ancillary level, look at this

Playoffs
Marino averaging 21:59. -1
Hamilton averaging 20:49 -9
Siegenthaler averaging 20:43 -1
Graves averaging 19:51 -1
Severson averaging 18:45 -4

That -9 sticks out like a sore weener.

 

[HBK27]

An instance where #'s can be misleading. We've been given up tons of high quality chances.

I really don't see this as a goal tending issue.

Blackwood could most definitely be worse.

I know the team has been dogshit, but giving up 5 goals a game and having a combined .828 SV% suggests the goaltending has been sub-par.

Really don't see how Blackwood could be even worse.

 

[JimEIV]

I know the team has been dogshit, but giving up 5 goals a game and having a combined .828 SV% suggests the goaltending has been sub-par.

I really don't think it does suggest that.

When your best players are giving the puck away at record pace and providing almost no sustained attacked there is almost nothing the goalie can do.

This is not even the slightest bit of hyperbole...it's demonstrable. We literally had fewer shots than giveaways last night. That's absurdly cartoonish.

 

[NjDevsRR]

A lot of blah blah blah on here


Win the next game.

If not, GREAT SEASON, GREAT FUTURE.


Why is this so hard?

 

[HBK27]

I really don't think it does suggest that.

When your best players are giving the puck away at record pace and providing almost no sustained attacked there is almost nothing the goalie can do.

This is not even the slightest bit of hyperbole...it's demonstrable. We literally had fewer shots than giveaways last night. That's absurdly cartoonish.

It's not just about last night, but through 4 games of this series. I'll accept that the goaltending overall hasn't been as bad as the numbers suggest, but it hasn't been remotely good either.

 

[devilsblood]

Also, not for nothing on Dougie but people were worried going into the playoffs that he'd be a problem defensively. Unless I'm really overlooking something, I think he's been really solid in his own end. If we're able to win games and he has to sacrifice his offensive chances to be sound in his own end, I'm not going to complain.

Of course I want him to be shooting the lights out, and he's a part of the PP flailing right now but he's far from alone in that category.

I don't think Dougie has been good in his own end at all.

Certainly wouldn't say he's been good. But we don't lean on him defensively. Sieg's is the d-first guy on that pairing, Marino's pair probably get's the more difficult assignments in general (Haven't really looked to back this up), and Hamilton plays very little on the PK. He's been on for a bunch of 5v5 goals against, but so has Marino.

The issue with Dougie is you expect more offensively. A huge goal vs the Rag's but otherwise the production is poop, he's the QB on what has been a lousy PP(how much is at his feet is debateable). He's still shooting a ton, though I'm not sure that's good, but it does pump up his on ice #'s.

It's kind of typical Dougie lack of of urgency which stands out more in the playoffs that is the issue, and yeah that's evident in the defensive side of the ice.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Just on an ancillary level, look at this

Playoffs
Marino averaging 21:59. -1
Hamilton averaging 20:49 -9
Siegenthaler averaging 20:43 -1
Graves averaging 19:51 -1
Severson averaging 18:45 -4

That -9 sticks out like a sore weener.

Fair enough, but I'll be completely honest, I don't put a ton of stock into plus/minus no matter how poor this may look. We've collectively gotten the doors blown off in all of our losses in the postseason, and from my (potentially poor) recollection, I can't recall a play that he has been the specific problem on.

Again, I shouldn't be trying to polish anything here and that isn't really my intention. There's little positivity to take. But someone like Graves has stood out in a more negative way to me with his lack of speed and poor decision making. I feel Marino has been lifting him up considerably.

 

[devilsblood]

A lot of blah blah blah on here


Win the next game.

If not, GREAT SEASON, GREAT FUTURE.


Why is this so hard?

What do you have against blah blah blah?

 

[devilsblood]

I know the team has been dogshit, but giving up 5 goals a game and having a combined .828 SV% suggests the goaltending has been sub-par.

Really don't see how Blackwood could be even worse.

I'm not seeing our guys give up brutal softies. Maybe the Burns goal last night, but Vitek was def shaken at that point, and the game was over.

Where as Blackwood gives up softies all the time.

Sure you want to see your goalies make some saves, but this has predominantly been the team giving up great chances.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

 

[Camille the Eel]

This season has been such a success from top to bottom. Beating the Rangers was the icing on the cake for me.

It hurts right now, but wow what a future this core has.

Still, it isn't over yet. The fat lady might be warming up for a crescendo, but she hasn't sung yet.

I’ll be so happy if they can go win one more game. And besides self respect, that too is experience, playing a game with your back against the wall.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

No sugarcoating that. Vitek has been awful.

 

[NJDevs26]

Vasy and Hellybuck being just above him is ironic lol

 

[NJDevs26]

I’ll be so happy if they can go win one more game. And besides self respect, that too is experience, playing a game with your back against the wall.

They’ve proven they can play backs to the wall a lot more than handling actual prosperity

 

[Emperoreddy]

I’ll be so happy if they can go win one more game. And besides self respect, that too is experience, playing a game with your back against the wall.

Give us another home game at least

 

[Better Call Sal]

Goaltending makes zero sense. And in my best "old man" voice, it's because they're all butterfly robots now.

 

[Eggtimer]

Goaltending options for next game :
1.Schmid



2.Blackwood



3. Me
4. Bernier




5. VV

 

[JimEIV]

Fair enough, but I'll be completely honest, I don't put a ton of stock into plus/minus no matter how poor this may look. We've collectively gotten the doors blown off in all of our losses in the postseason, and from my (potentially poor) recollection, I can't recall a play that he has been the specific problem on.

Again, I shouldn't be trying to polish anything here and that isn't really my intention. There's little positivity to take. But someone like Graves has stood out in a more negative way to me with his lack of speed and poor decision making. I feel Marino has been lifting him up considerably.

Regardless of the value of +/- Dougie is the worst on the team by a lot. The next closest is Tatar with a -6.

I think Dougie is a symptom of a common theme with this team.

A lot people here like to breakout charts showing xWhatever stats and highlight HD chances, and heat maps...well Dougie definitely generates more when he's on the ice than he gives up. His CF% is the highest of any Dman on the team - CF is 218 vs CA 179. For 54.9 CF% in the playoffs.

But a lot of the 179 Against is horrific coverage and a lot of the 218 For is meaningless filler. This is a theme with this team not just Dougie... and has been for a while.

 

[NjDevsRR]

What do you have against blah blah blah?

I prefer the yada yada

 

[Cheddabombs]

I alluded it to it yesterday but this is the reality of average goaltending. And even though you don't necessarily need an elite goalie to win the cup, it makes things easier when you don't have to worry as much about your goalie going through hot and cold streaks.