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

[Devs3cups]

Played a strong 3rd, sucks but we got a point. Really wish Jack snapped a wrist shot on the penalty shot. Things are starting to even out now after a hot start. We're still banking points which is the important part if you can't get a win.

Yup, we’re fine. 13 points out of the last 16 possible. Great position still. Losing will happen. Glad we’re getting points.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Solid Damon screen as well

Yeah his positioning wasn't great. Took the inside post so he screens the goalie but leaves the far side open.

 

[Emperoreddy]

You're not wrong, but in those seriously limited minutes, Holtz missed his assignment twice and forced VV to make some big saves, and Rango cost us a goal by losing his check when Siegs pinched.

They deserved benching, but we basically need better players with Yegor.

It's not a well constructed line. I would swap Yegor and Haula, see if that balances things out a bit.

 

[Dylan9z9]

My man. They have Two regulation loses in the last 50 days…


TWO

It's more how they are losing games lately not that they lost my man

He’s been good lately. Keep him with Jack.

Yes Mercer played good Jack played good and umm

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Yup, we’re fine. 13 points out of the last 16 possible. Great position still. Losing will happen. Glad we’re getting points.

This is what we talked about a month ago. Good teams often get the OT/SO point in a loss. We are doing exactly that.

 

[NjDevsRR]

It's more how they are losing games lately not that they lost my man

Yes Mercer played good Jack played good and umm

A sign of a strong team is collecting points during a “lull”. This isn’t different from any other good team that ever existed. They dominated play today, Isles game could have easily been a big lead in the first, they hit two pipes. Only crap game I’ve seen in the last month was against Philly.

If they keep playing this way they will continue to pick up points at a high rate.

 

[Ol Dirty Bstrd]

The 2 big defensive breakdowns were the difference. Everyone saying we got ‘out-goalied’ must only be looking at the box score. VV could have saved the OT goal but it was a nice shot. He played fine. And let’s not forget Igor let in a brutal softy to on the first goal

 

[NjDevsRR]

The 2 big defensive breakdowns were the difference. Everyone saying we got ‘out-goalied’ must only be looking at the box score. VV could have saved the OT goal but it was a nice shot. He played fine. And let’s not forget Igor let in a brutal softy to on the first goal

I couldn’t care less on OT play. This game was lost on the PP and PK play today. Thought both goalies were fine. They didn’t make or break the game.

Team played a good game and will win more often than not with these performances.

BUT, improve that damn PP. Remove wood from the PP, my god.

 

[Ol Dirty Bstrd]

Special teams weren’t great either but going -1 isn’t the end of the world. Two massive breakdowns that lead to back door tap ins are unacceptable though and reminiscent of prior seasons.

I feel like Marino is our only defensman who can consistently defend 2 on 1s. Would be nice if he taught the rest of the D corps how to take away a pass

 

[NjDevsRR]

Special teams weren’t great either but going -1 isn’t the end of the world. Two massive breakdowns that lead to back door tap ins are unacceptable though and reminiscent of prior seasons.

I feel like Marino is our only defensman who can consistently defend 2 on 1s. Would be nice if he taught the rest of the D corps how to take away a pass

The momentum shift from the two horrendous PPs in the 2nd, the missed penalty shot , the horseshit call on Siegs led to those two goals in 7 seconds. It was the perfect shitstorm. Better PP and the momentum doesn’t swing like that.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

This is what we talked about a month ago. Good teams often get the OT/SO point in a loss. We are doing exactly that.

I'd argue this point should be made for the Rangers for this specific game, Devils had their chances to win in regulation but they didn't capitalize.

 

[glenwo2]

It should be you get the pp if you miss it honestly.

Hey now....let's not get personal.

 

[glenwo2]

But do you really feel that Bratt is playing well also? I dont really either.

Hes hardly shooting. He hasnt really played a dominating game that he started the season with. Thats what others are edging at...

Is he playing bad? No, but relative to his start... Yes. That game-breaking feel is diminishing recently.

That contract thing is really bothering him.

The New Year can't arrive soon enough so he can get re-signed and not worry anymore.

 

[John Pedro]

Bratt has been mediocre for his last 10 games or so. Nico carrying him like Jack did.

We really need a shake up in the lineup

Tatar - Nico - Sharangovich
Zetterlund - Jack - Mercer
Holtz - Haula - Bratt
Wood - McLeod - Bastian/callup

 

[Call Me Al]

mercer quietly having a strong breakout here, i love it.

what i don't love is:

- not putting the hischier-tatar-zetterlund line back together, legitimately one of the most dominant lines we've had in 10 years and we haven't really played as well since
- keeping holtz in the lineup when he clearly isn't ready - what good is he if he can't even get a SOG?
- that entire 4th line staying as it is when they can't be trusted to keep the puck out of the net
- the powerplay not taking a step forward, and pp2 being utterly useless

all that said last night was a better game than the islanders, but huge mistake putting line 4 out after giving up a pp goal, that was a coaching error that just let them take their momentum and run with it. you have to nip that in the bud

 

[AfroThunder396]

Vanacek coming back down to Earth, Siegenthaler has been really bad lately, the 4th line is a disaster, and special teams are completely killing momentum.

Still a great team but all of these are things that need to get better soon.

 

[glenwo2]

Bratt has been mediocre for his last 10 games or so. Nico carrying him like Jack did.

We really need a shake up in the lineup

Tatar - Nico - Sharangovich
Zetterlund - Jack - Mercer
Holtz - Haula - Bratt
Wood - McLeod - Bastian/callup

Is that what's happening?

Or do you equate him not scoring enough goals as being mediocre? (This argument has been discussed before around here)

 

[glenwo2]

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.

What the hell did I just read?

 

[Whaddagoal]

Vanacek coming back down to Earth, Siegenthaler has been really bad lately, the 4th line is a disaster, and special teams are completely killing momentum.

Still a great team but all of these are things that need to get better soon.

I hope this team can go back to playing 4 lines again....

Hope they get Johnsson in there to get Holtz some time to reflect. Boq and Rango are much better gamers than holtz is at the moment. No reason to sideline Rangos shot...

 

[Billdo]

Sharangovich isn't a guy that can play 6 mins a night in a 4th line role and be effective. Neither is Boqvist or Holtz but I look at Sharangovich as part of those secondary players who supplement the Bratt, Hischier, and Hughes group. I might try these lines...

Sharangovich-Hughes-Bratt
Tatar-Hischier-Zetterlund
Haula-Boqvist-Mercer
Wood-McLeod-Johnsson

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Johnsson has managed to be a +3 in 121 games with the Devils on some really poor performing teams. He can take a regular shift and not kill you. And that’s all we need in the bottom 6 until Palat is back.

 

[Azathoth]

I hope this team can go back to playing 4 lines again....

Hope they get Johnsson in there to get Holtz some time to reflect. Boq and Rango are much better gamers than holtz is at the moment. No reason to sideline Rangos shot...

I think this right here is the heart of the problem these last few games. Early on their ability to out-skate and wear teams down was really predicated on rolling 4 lines. But the Rango-Boq-Holtz lines isn't good and the coaches clearly don't trust it and Wood and McLeod don't belong anywhere other than the 4th line.

 

[TBF1972]

Palat slotting into Holtz spot is gonna fix a lot of issues

i don't like to single out holtz as the issue. especially as rango-boqvist-holtz hardly got any ice time. during the win streak they constantly run with 4 lines and were succesful. i don't get why the coaches are now hesitant to trust the players.

 

[TBF1972]

we went from a 4 line team to a 3 line team once Bastian got hurt. that’s what is causing this.

or the coaches are causing it. why not use all 4 lines and try to overwhelm the other team with the pace again.

 

[TBF1972]

they're 1 point off the league lead.

My god. You guys need to take a walk.

yeah and take rangersdoggo with you. he starts to piss all over the board

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This guy gets it. I’ve been telling all of you this for the better part of 3 weeks. The wheels are falling off before our eyes. The breakdowns are back in spectacular fashion and again we got bullied by the Broadway Blueshirts. You can see why they went to the ECF while we were out golfing and taking selfies. I’m sick of this shit.