GDT: New Jersey Devils vs. Toronto Maple Leafs - 7pm, MSGSN

[Devs3cups]

I don't think anybody turned on him. He had the giveaway for a breakaway and was in the box for their game winning goal. So yeah...not good.

I'm sure he'll be fine, but our PP looks atrocious too. Hopefully the chemistry doesn't take long.

It sucks, but I'm not sure I'm putting the SHG on him because I didn't like Dougie's play there, I understand it, but just put it in deep instead of handcuffing your teammate.

 

[John Pedro]

Bratt Hughes Meieir was an absolute juggernaut. That BETTER be the line the next game, with Tatar Hischier Mercer as well.

as soon as Ruff took Meier out of it, they couldn't drive play and TO took over again. Pretty bad move by Ruff

I fear Ruff gonna fell for the "swiss connection" and try and force Nico-Meier together

 

[JK3]

Not worried about the scoring at all or having perfect lines.

They HAVE to clean up these dumb pinches and odd man rushes.

 

[TF1970]

The way they play is even if they dominate stretches and whatnot, they get so leaky that they can give one up at any time, as we continue to see lately.

 

[Devs3cups]

Bratt Hughes Meieir was an absolute juggernaut. That BETTER be the line the next game, with Tatar Hischier Mercer as well.

They had a GREAT 1st period. They can build on this.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Yeah, its a process. It was not a good game. There will be good ones. There were a few people who didn't play good games in this one.

don’t let our fast first period tonight make us forget we got back from Arizona at dawn yesterday after a red eye flight and a weeks trip out west where we played 3 games in like 5 or 6 days.

 

[Forge]

Bratt Hughes Meieir was an absolute juggernaut. That BETTER be the line the next game, with Tatar Hischier Mercer as well.

I assume it will be. I think Ruff was just trying to get things going. But when that line clicks, it's been wonderful. It just hasn't clicked as consistently as they'd want.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

There was no reason for him to be waving his stick on the air on the play.

He was trying to get the puck - but agreed not worth it. That Leaf (whoever) literally was landing from his jump to do something similar.

It was a fluke situation.

 

[Devs3cups]

I think people are overreacting.

NJ Devils HFBoards? Overreeacting? No waaayyyyy

 

[Emperoreddy]

Timo is definitely disrupting things a bit, but that's also to be expected.

It's going to take him 10-15 games to start settling in here and it might look ugly until that happens.

It's not a big deal either.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Bratt had a breakaway in the 3rd that would've put us ahead 4-2. Hate to be that guy, but it's the type of goal you score for the big bucks.

The Devils have missed on those plays for about a month now I'm thinking it's also why we suck in the shoot out.

 

[TF1970]

Yeah I think you give the lines some extended time to cook, aside from if you wanna shake things up midgame.

 

[John Pedro]

I assume it will be. I think Ruff was just trying to get things going. But when that line clicks, it's been wonderful. It just hasn't clicked as consistently as they'd want.

the problem always is on the dzone

they get puck watching and can't really clear the zone effectively

 

[jkrdevil]

They were setting up in the middle with ease all night long.

Yes. Up 1 with under 6 minutes to go you can’t let guys go up the middle like that. Bahl was too wide on the play. I would be surprised to see Smith come in next game.

They played well, but they have to clean some of this stuff up. Allowing this and some of the bad turnovers (they got away with a few tonight) can kill you in the playoffs even if you play well overall.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I assume it will be. I think Ruff was just trying to get things going. But when that line clicks, it's been wonderful. It just hasn't clicked as consistently as they'd want.

Which is normal. It's Timo's second game here.

 

[Forge]

don’t let our fast first period tonight make us forget we got back from Arizona at dawn yesterday after a red eye flight and a weeks trip out west where we played 3 games in like 5 or 6 days.

Good point. We also have two 3 in 4s coming up I believe and there's a good chance that at some point during the back ends of those the guys are super gassed.

 

[NJDevilsFan21]

Didn't take long for some of the doomers to turn on Meier. Shocking.

I'll never forget the treatment that Kovalchuk - the most skilled forward to ever put on a Devils uniform - received at one point. It's a shame that Timo had a rough game for his opener, especially after looking pretty good in the first period. But it's not unexpected. He made some bad plays, but he also looked a lot better in some other areas. I think by April most of the kinks will be worked out.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I think people are overreacting.

To what? Saying Hughes and Bratt play better one separate lines? Bratt plays better on Nico's wing than Hughes'?

I'm honestly asking what you think. Do you think they look better with Bratt on Nico's wing or Hughes'? Without looking at stats to back anything up.

 

[Saugus]

I thought much of it was sarcasm?

Then again this board can be a looney bin.

Some of it is deeply cynical pessimism masquerading as sarcasm.

We can tell the difference.

 

[Ducks4Cup]

The leafs have not had much playoff success but they did win in a playoff game style. Their big stars got on the scoreboard and they executed on special teams. Kind of a statement game from them.
Hopefully all involved take a deep look at their own performances and learn from their mistakes

 

[longislanddevil]

Sal (by his standards) was just critical of Vanecek. WOW.

 

[Forge]

Looks like Canes won

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Dylan9z9]

Lindy is 100%

 

[forceten]

Tito is the last player to blame. First, it’s his second game back from injury AND second it’s second game with a new team. A much faster more skilled team. The timing of the penalty was not ideal, and we didn’t bail him out.