GDT: New Jersey Devils (21-5-1) @ New York Rangers (14-10-5), 7 PM, MSG, MSGSN, NHLN

[Brooklyndevil]

We gave up two more 2 on 1 goals. It’s becoming a bad habit.

 

[Mgd31]

They probably played better tonight than the last game against the Rangers

 

[Dylan9z9]

We dominated. Not worried at all. If we have a great powerplay (which we should) then we are easily the best team in the league.

Need Bastian and Palat back I know that much

 

[Devilsfan992]

Intellectually I know the Devils' current level of play is not that much different than it was a few weeks ago when the team could seemingly do no wrong.

But emotionally, it's frustrating to blow leads. And in such a dramatic fashion too, with awful goals within 7 seconds of each other. I'd like to see them close out more games like this, but that's the way it bounces sometimes.

It just sucks.

We are playing well, but seem a bit off. Especially on odd man rushes.

 

[DerekDevils30]

This team was always going to go through a rough patch. Pretty much everyone here was hoping for a bubble team and maybe hopes of a wildcard heading into the season. These guys are way ahead of schedule. I think they bounce back and get 2 points against Dallas tomorrow.

 

[jkrdevil]

Division lead shrinking quickly before our eyes. Like I’ve said for the past week, this team has been in an extended run of bad play.

it’s dropped by like two points and we have game in hand. These things wobble and you had to expect some regression after the win streak.

Frustrating game because of the opponent. It isn’t time to panic, they need to get through this month.

 

[haak84]

We don’t have a great pp. ours is pretty mid and can’t finish. And our defense is coming crashing down to earth.

We need a great powerplay which will happen given the skill level and puck possession of this team. The defense was perfectly fine this game.

This is year 1 of the bull run of our rebuild and we have a huge green dildo to start the season. This team is going to trade sideways for a bit. Only natural.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Intellectually I know the Devils' current level of play is not that much different than it was a few weeks ago when the team could seemingly do no wrong.

But emotionally, it's frustrating to blow leads. And in such a dramatic fashion too, with awful goals within 7 seconds of each other. I'd like to see them close out more games like this, but that's the way it bounces sometimes.

It just sucks.

Im just happy theyre facing some adversity now and not in March. Its a tough league. A lot of people picked Rags as cup contenders. 3/4p at MSG. Very good.

 

[NJDevs26]

Not sure why people are saying it should have been 4-1. Penalty shots are not automatic goals.

But that subsequent penalty call against was terrible, which lead to the goal and center ice faceoff. It should have never been 3-3 at that time in the game.

The fact he didn’t even get a shot on net was the real killer even more than not scoring, the way it happened was the momentum shifter

 

[Brooklyndevil]

IIRC, Jack kind of sucks in the shootout. I wasn’t expecting him to bury the penalty shot.

Too much time for him to think instead of just reacting.

 

[Forge]

good call, we should wait until he cools off before we throw him in there

hell yeah, same amount of goals as ryan graves! excellent point

Oh, kind of found out what I need to know about engaging with this any further.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

hell yeah, same amount of goals as ryan graves! excellent point

Jesper Bratt is 12th in the entire league among forwards in 5 on 5 scoring per 60

but yeah, "he has dried up"

 

[glenwo2]

The magic Vtek had has definitely disappeared

Yeah. He's turned into the Vitek we expected : Someone who is Average and will give the Devils a chance (unlike Blackwood).

The Vezina Vitek was a mirage (a pleasant one but a mirage nonetheless).

 

[MachoDiablo]

Basically. Extended run of bad play, when we were talking about "controlling play" a few days ago. Metrics are WAYYYY in our favour, especially 5on5. We really really didn't play a bad game.

Just feels like a few aspects of their game aren't clicking the way they were before, mainly keeping things focused coming out of the neutral zone. Teams might be adjusting to the Devils, Devils need to adjust back. The fact their 5-on-5 numbers are still strong is a positive, so they're not terribly far off, but with the current injuries hurting their ability to roll four consistent lines they really need to focus on whatever the tweaks are that they need.

 

[NJDevs26]

This team was always going to go through a rough patch. Pretty much everyone here was hoping for a bubble team and maybe hopes of a wildcard heading into the season. These guys are way ahead of schedule. I think they bounce back and get 2 points against Dallas tomorrow.

The funny thing is if they had won in a walk the way it looked early I would have bet on a no show tomorrow, but now that they blew tonight in craptacular fashion there won’t be any trap game tomorrow.

 

[Unknown Caller]

When you were doing this a month ago, I clearly thought it was ball busting and not serious.

You're actually serious about this? Why because the guy was solid (never great) THREE YEARS AGO?

Look up all save percentages through February 20th of 2021 with a minimum of 15 games played. The only full time NHL goalie you'll find under Blackwood in that period is Joonas Korpisalo.

The rest of the list are AHL guys that were called up and even some old guys that have since retired (Miller, McElhinney) since that date.

Blackwood is shot to shit. You have no argument other than FAITH ALONE!

That's all you've got here.

The process of belief is literally all you have here. And maybe Faith in God. And All Good Soldiers should.

Blackwood isn't the Answer.

So maybe one day these thoughts can Cease and you can Come Join Us in reality.

@Its Always Sundstrom How did I do with the Bad Religion references?

I’ll stand by my opinion that the only goalie on our roster with the ability to be truly elite is Blackwood. His issue is he can’t stay healthy. Love Vanecek’s play and not writing him off after a couple games, I just think he’s limited in terms of upside. It’s okay for people to have different opinions on this stuff.

 

[Bleedred]

This place is getting BRUTAL

It stinks in here right now

You got people calling for Blackwood now (even though the first person to do it was clearly kidding)

People are acting like we're gonna lose every game now and the season is about fall apart.

I'm sure Bratt trade proposals are next.

 

[haak84]

I for one really expect Washington to give us a vezina goalie for the return we gave them.

 

[severian]

Intellectually I know the Devils' current level of play is not that much different than it was a few weeks ago when the team could seemingly do no wrong.

But emotionally, it's frustrating to blow leads. And in such a dramatic fashion too, with awful goals within 7 seconds of each other. I'd like to see them close out more games like this, but that's the way it bounces sometimes.

It just sucks.

Dramatic fashion? This wasn’t like the way the Rangers blew the lead to Edmonton or how Edmonton gave up two late quickies to us to blow a lead. Bang bang goals happen in the NHl. It sucks it happened to the Devils tonight, but this wasn’t like game 7 against Carolina in 09 or anything.

The bigger issue is facing the Devils is how that 4th line of Sharangovich, Boqvist and Holtz looks like utter garbage and other teams are keying on this. This is forcing Ruff to shorten the bench and take away one of the keys to the Devils early success, namely the ability to roll 4 quality lines at all times of the game.

 

[DerekDevils30]

They probably played better tonight than the last game against the Rangers

I would agree. Difference tonight were the two breakdowns off the rush. They played a fine game overall and paid for their two big mistakes.

 

[Satans Hockey]

IIRC, Jack kind of sucks in the shootout. I wasn’t expecting him to bury the penalty shot.

I recall that too, he just seems to try to do too much cause he has all that extra time. Just wish he came in faster, I've never liked that slow movements and going down below the circle. I have no clue stats wise but from just memory with all shootouts I've seen that kinda stuff doesn't work often.

 

[Bcap88]

 

[MartyOwns]

Jesper Bratt is 12th in the entire league in 5 on 5 scoring per 60

but yeah, "he has dried up"

how many times did you notice bratt 5v5 tonight?

he had a great start that is drying up recently, deal with it

 

[OmNomNom]

ranger lurkers are in here thinking "lol holy meltdown"



also, PSA: if you don't like that, think about it next time you lurk elsewhere

 

[Eggtimer]

Agreed.

This game should've ended in Regulation if the Devils played their game the way they normally do.

This is what worries me. That we can no longer play “The way we normally do”
It has been awhile since we have used our speed to give the opposiion a handfull they cannot handle.

But , we are not really getting outplayed either.
I just want us to look like how we were playing over the 13 game winning streak . Skating teams into the ground . Where has that been lately ?