Post-Game Talk: New goalie, new year, same suckiness

[NjDevsRR]

Can't understand quality versus quantity huh? Just to be clear.

Tonight wasn’t this. Vanecek was barely tested. Team played good in front of him.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

 

[Louskoolaid89]

The only clowns are the ones who don’t have perspective and realize that this team could have easily won the last two games. It’s two f***ing games. Minnesota is 0-2. Bruce Boudreau’s Canucks are 0-2. Toronto lost to Montreal to start the season. Just relax.

Sorry you can't lose to both Philly and Detroit and look bad in doing so. Same old shit. Our fans are ready to revolt like they did in Buffalo last year. I'm just so disheartened right now. Ruff needs to go and that's nothing personal against him. This team should be better. I'm afraid goaltending is no better. So far it's been as bad as last year.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I do feel bad for Ruff, nice guy and what not and says the right things when criticized but yeah, he needs to go.

 

[NJDevs26]

Tonight wasn’t this. Vanecek was barely tested.

Thank you - and trying to find the excuses on even goals 2 and 5 is the peak of giving the goalie a pass to blame the system (which trust me has enough problems as it is). You can literally find something on every darn goal where someone missed an assignment, took a wrong step, held his stick wrong...when you get unscreened short-side wrist shots, those have to be stopped. Doesn't matter what happened before that. Maybe the team and the crowd doesn't quit on the 3rd period if it's 3-2 instead of 4-2, and maybe the team actually finds a way back into the game somehow if 4-2 doesn't become 5-2 with another piece of junk that goes in the net.

 

[SKNJD9]

Feels like a continuation from last yr they play so loose in their own end an slot coverage is non existant once the cycle gets going against them. Too many bodies chasing allowing open looks, goalies not good enough ( not many would be ) to bail them out

 

[Louskoolaid89]

I understand why people would boo. It doesn't change my opinion that it's childish and doesn't accomplish anything.

It's a release of emotions and displeasure. Some handle it that way. I have no problem with booing. I have no problem with not booing. I choose to boo.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Goaltenders just want defenders to do what they've been taught. To play deterministically. I'd have been happy to face 50 shots a game if they were all typical chances.

Look at goal 1. Our defensemen and two wings are all screening Vanacek. Where is a forward to get a stick on that shot? It goes through Mercer's legs bc he doesn't know how to block a shot.
Look at goal 2. First, WTF is Severson doing on that 2-on-1. Second - who CARES what HDC says. It's absolute bullshit stat? It is Lucas Raymond and he picks his frigging spot on a 2-on-1 bc Graves coubhs it up.
Look at goal 3. Classic Severson. Don't tie up the puck, don't make the pass. just turn it over. It's a broken play and Vanacek does something stupid with it bc that's about all he could do with it.
Look at goal 4. Vanacek makes a good blocker save, then Nico and Sharangovich are lazy on their check, Siegenthaler and Smith are nowhere to be found, caught out of position.
Look at goal 5. Tatar doesn't make the safe play and instead tries to lob it it Hughes. Everyone is caught out of position and reaching.

It isn't just D. It isn't just system. Like Seattle and Grubauer, we're a frigging expansion team with REALLY young players who make mistakes and don't know how to play. Our team is chaotic and unreliable in all zones. It isn't really obvious. There's a subtle difference playing behind a team that doesn't know how to cut passes, block shots, clear their zone, and NOT turn it over at the blueline. If you guys would frigging shut your bitching for a second and actually think with your heads - you could all see that our team cannot do any of the above well. And they haven't for years. Partially because they have young guys like... well everyone, and partially because they have some vets like Tatar who get scratched in playoff games for shit like goal5.

But we're 9 bad goalies in. I think we should just keep shopping for goalies because then Vasilevsky or Shesterkin could come here and suck too.

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Sorry to quote you twice but I have to disagree about one thing here related to their age being a factor. First that although they are young, a lot of these guys have been in the league a few years now. Secondly, this is still an indictment of the leadership and coaching. Isn’t it their job to teach these young players how to play at this level, particularly with things that’s might not come instinctually in the defensive end? And to implement a strategy or system that will mitigate these issues and make the sun greater than the individual parts?

I view this as an organizational failure and everyone from players to management to ownership share the blame.

 

[Satans Hockey]

I feel bad for Lindy honestly. The booing of Lindy and Blackwood from the intros forward is bush league from our fanbase. I’m not a fan of how things have played out so far, but do they really think that’s making things better?

Lmfao, you know what's bush league? Making the f***ing playoffs 1 time since 2012 and only winning 1 measly f***ing playoff game since then.

Our once winning team and proud franchise is now a f***ing joke that everyone looks forward to playing because it's an easy win for them. The only thing this team has won in the last decade is lotto picks and a stupid marketing award for a f***ing HAT HAT.

Lindy is a dog shit head coach and Blackwood is dumb as a box of rocks and sucks in goal. These two get paid way more money than they deserve and they have to EARN our respect. Ranger fans laughed hysterically at us when we hired Ruff because they were thrilled to get rid of him cause they hated him and hot shit look at that, they were right.

This shit sure as f*** isn't going to get turned around cause we gave the guys a bunch of pity claps like they were f***ing toddlers playing a meaningless scrimmage game on a Saturday morning.

I'm glad our fan base is finally pissed the f*** off. If you aren't pissed off you don't have a f***ing heartbeat.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Tonight wasn’t this. Vanecek was barely tested. Team played good in front of him.

They played well the other night too, except for the little 5 second periods where they didn't, and that's all it frigging takes man. Blackwood needs to control his rebounds last night for sure - but you leave Konecny or Larkin or Raymond completely alone, they are legit the ONLY really skilled snipers on these two teams.

When you don't clear the zone when you have a chance...(Tatar) when you don't know how to play a 2-on-1 (Severson), when you don't know how to block a shot (Mercer), when you don't know how to cut a pass (Nico+Sharangovich) - you give up opportunities that are FAR more dangerous than just distance or angle are going to account for.

I mean - I'm not going to be explain everything away - these guy have to stop a shot sometimes - but our team makes it so damn hard on goalies.

I honestly think Crawford attended a practice, saw what he was in for, and was like... holy shit I don't want to destroy my legacy with this crap and retired. There's plenty of rolls and rolls of video that we could break down about how really horrid these guys are when it comes to keeping things simple and to the outside.

And I was hoping to be wrong and Vanacek was going to be the .915 goaltender that everyone thought he'd be LOL. As if SV% is the barometer with this team.

Sorry to quote you twice but I have to disagree about one thing here related to their age being a factor. First that although they are young, a lot of these guys have been in the league a few years now. Secondly, this is still an indictment of the leadership and coaching. Isn’t it their job to teach these young players how to play at this level, particularly with things that’s might not come instinctually in the defensive end? And to implement a strategy or system that will mitigate these issues and make the sun greater than the individual parts?

I view this as an organizational failure and everyone from players to management to ownership share the blame.

Absolutely. It's culture too. I mean, we want to be a high flying river hockey team - and when our guys are at their best, we probably can be. There were games we outscored teams 6-5 and shit. I'm a believer - except when you have the Flyers or physical teams take away the center of the ice and we cannot get a sniff because no one will go there.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Also on the booing. The fanbase desperately wants something to cheer for, their frustration is understandable.

The building had a ton of energy tonight and they completely crapped the bed

Felt like the Winnipeg home opener choke job all over again except it didn't take them going to ot to lose this one. People were amped on that season and it was all sent to shit on game 1 and spiraled from there. This season looks exactly the same.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Who is, then?

Mostly the number crunchers and marketing folks.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

It’s only 2 games. The goalies won’t be this bad every game. There’s got to be some regression to the mean. I understand the frustration cuz I feel it too but can we be a little more measured?

Highlight of the night was the Parity video of "Take on me'.. That was brilliant! Chico rules man can act!

 

[Devilsfan118]

The Rock already has a really bad reputation across the league - it's going to be a legit ghost town by December if they keep this up.

 

[Satans Hockey]

It’s going to be awfully quiet when the Devils are 6-3 at the end of October. Clown fanbase. Always blame the coach, never the personnel.

First it was DeBoer’s fault, then it was Hynes fault, now it’s Lindy’s fault. I’m sure the next coach won’t get booed, right?

Somehow garbage DeBoer and Hynes have had plenty of success with different personnel, despite our genius fanbase’s insistence that they were the problem here.

Lmfao 6-3, like this team is going on a 6-1 streak coming up, I know pot is legal here now so you definitely need to share where you're getting the good shit because you absolutely have your head in the clouds.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Watching Calgary and Edmonton now.

Doesn't even seem like the same sport.

 

[Patrik26]

Highlight of the night was the Parity video of "Take on me'.. That was brilliant! Chico rules man can act!

Wondering how many of the under 40 crowd have ever seen the Aha - Take On Me video to understand what they were watching tonight.

 

[Eggtimer]

Goaltenders just want defenders to do what they've been taught. To play deterministically. I'd have been happy to face 50 shots a game if they were all typical chances.

Look at goal 1. Our defensemen and two wings are all screening Vanacek. Where is a forward to get a stick on that shot? It goes through Mercer's legs bc he doesn't know how to block a shot.
Look at goal 2. First, WTF is Severson doing on that 2-on-1. Second - who CARES what HDC says. It's absolute bullshit stat? It is Lucas Raymond and he picks his frigging spot on a 2-on-1 bc Graves coubhs it up.
Look at goal 3. Classic Severson. Don't tie up the puck, don't make the pass. just turn it over. It's a broken play and Vanacek does something stupid with it bc that's about all he could do with it.
Look at goal 4. Vanacek makes a good blocker save, then Nico and Sharangovich are lazy on their check, Siegenthaler and Smith are nowhere to be found, caught out of position.
Look at goal 5. Tatar doesn't make the safe play and instead tries to lob it it Hughes. Everyone is caught out of position and reaching.

It isn't just D. It isn't just system. Like Seattle and Grubauer, we're a frigging expansion team with REALLY young players who make mistakes and don't know how to play. Our team is chaotic and unreliable in all zones. It isn't really obvious. There's a subtle difference playing behind a team that doesn't know how to cut passes, block shots, clear their zone, and NOT turn it over at the blueline. If you guys would frigging shut your bitching for a second and actually think with your heads - you could all see that our team cannot do any of the above well. And they haven't for years. Partially because they have young guys like... well everyone, and partially because they have some vets like Tatar who get scratched in playoff games for shit like goal5.

But we're 9 bad goalies in. I think we should just keep shopping for goalies because then Vasilevsky or Shesterkin could come here and suck too.

View attachment 594672

I agree with most of what you said , but how are other young teams so much better than us? Or at least the young players on good teams look good , unless their mistakes are covered up or go unnoticed because they get bailed out by a teammate ?
I agree that we are shit in all zones Amd get confused and out of position easily. I don’t know exsctly why we are shit but it is getting beyond frustrating now.
Its a combo of a roster that needs more forwards that are harder on the pick and better defensively , lessen the number of complete defensive zone breakdowns , and cant have goalies give up softies like they have been.
Yes I thimk our goalies have been shit , but so has our defensive coverage been. No goalie coild stop some of the chances we have given up so far this year

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Do we still do the Rangers suck Flyers swallow chant because that is peak moronic.

I'm a big part of the generation of fans that started those chants. Now I'm starting to regret it. Plus the end is way too tacky and classless.

 

[Eggtimer]

Watching Calgary and Edmonton now.

Doesn't even seem like the same sport.

Either of those teams would put uo at least a touchdown on us if we played them right now.

 

[Jets012]

It's one game, but if Vancek doesn't pick it up, massive failure by Fitz this offseason. There were better goalie options to be had

 

[Satans Hockey]

I'm a big part of the generation of fans that started those chants. Now I'm starting to regret it. Plus the end is way too tacky and classless.

I'm fine with the Rangers suck chants, I don't know why anyone gets annoyed with that one. I could absolutely do without the other two that follow.

In the 2012 playoffs I liked everyone adding in the, flyers suck, Rangers suck, LA sucks into they hey song when we scored.

 

[njdevils1982]

I do feel bad for Ruff, nice guy and what not and says the right things when criticized but yeah, he needs to go.

i feel the same.....not even my sabrehatred™ has come out even once his whole tenure here....and thats saying something

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Wondering how many of the under 40 crowd have ever seen the Aha - Take On Me video to understand what they were watching tonight.

Exactly! Some people around me got it and others appearing under the age of 40 didn't. Anyway good work on that. We have some talent in the organization at least in the production department.

 

[Killing Joke]

I genuinely feel bad for ruff. Idk how shitty it must feel to hear so many cheer for your firing. He seems like a decent person. And the players like him, but he ain’t it. Shame on fitz for putting him in this position. And shame on his lazy conservative effort of addressing goaltending and stupidly relying on Blackwood. (Vitek is a solid gamble).

fitz needs to do it in the next week and give brunette time to get things going and eat some losses of his own while doing so.

Can’t put AB him in a position like the Nucks did to Bruce B where they just missed the playoffs due to waiting too long to fire a coach and the position they tried crawling out of was too deep.