GDT: New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals - 7:30pm

[NJDevs26]

I think a lot of us here figured there would be some growing pains and some adjustment just based off the turnover on the back end and the forward spots.

However, the slow starts need to be addressed. I can live with the rookies and newcomers finding their way but the effort level is a didfeeenr story


I just don’t want them to fall into the mindset of “oh we can dig ourself out of multiple goal leads consistently because of the talent we have “

That might get us to the playoffs but we will flame out quickly like some of those high scoring pens teams with no defense in the early 2010 era

This team so reminds me of 2001, only without the D and goaltending. We haven’t even earned the right to be as arrogant as that team, who’d just won a Cup but wasted their chance for another by giving away too many playoff games. Nor do we have as much margin for error to be arrogant because of the said lack of D and G. This division and league is too tough to expect to coast to the playoffs every year.

 

[Incharge1976]

This team so reminds me of 2001, only without the D and goaltending. We haven’t even earned the right to be as arrogant as that team, who’d just won a Cup but wasted their chance for another by giving away too many playoff games. Nor do we have as much margin for error to be arrogant because of the said lack of D and G. This division and league is too tough to expect to coast to the playoffs every year.

People need to be realistic. They were ahead of schedule last year and quite frankly they probably need another year.

Just get some seasoning for Nemec and Luke. Go out and find a goalie.

Enjoy Jack becoming one of the best in the game, behind Bedard of course.

 

[Clam Jensen]

It’s almost like we discussed ad nauseam that there would be growing pains with the D. Rather they take their lumps now than in February/march. It’ll all be okay!

 

[TheUnseenHand]

It’s almost like we discussed ad nauseam that there would be growing pains with the D. Rather they take their lumps now than in February/march. It’ll all be okay!

It's more concerning to me that Marino seems to have forgotten how to hockey....

 

[BurntToast]

The Devils have a problem with slow starts, and it also concerning the play at home vs away.

This was a trap game, and they got trapped. The Devils have enough talent on offense to make it interesting, but then the doors fell of in the 3rd.

 

[NJDevs26]

It's more concerning to me that Marino seems to have forgotten how to hockey....

Yeah people keep complaining about growing pains (and surprise, when things got tough Holtz got benched again) but Marino, Mercer, Siegs, Dougie when he doesn't have the puck, Timo until last night, they're the ones that have to be better or we're going nowhere, even if the goaltending improves.

 

[Clam Jensen]

It's more concerning to me that Marino seems to have forgotten how to hockey....

Rationally, I’m not putting a ton of stock into how Marino and Mercer have looked based on how great they were last year. If we’re 20 games in and they look like pumpkins, then yea I’ll be a wee bit nervous lol.

 

[theoptimist]

Anyone disappointed by Bastian taking an offensive zone penalty in the final minute of the second? Is he at fault for the goal or the PK? #absolveSmith

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

4:42 am and I'm still a bit pissed at this team. Threw 2 points away. No signs of being last years juggernaut that played awesome dynamic offensive hockey yet supported it's goaltenders and got goaltending. This is 2021-2022 like B.S and what made me chant "fire Lindy". Dogshit at home again too. Crowds have been excellent for Devils standards and your not rewarding us just teasing us. f*** you! I'm so glad I'm driving south for a weekend of Nascar in Southern Virginia. f*** you Devils and I hope you unf*** yourselves soon!

We didnt get much goaltending early in the season last year. Vitek and crapwood lost games on their own.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Frustrated Again, Ruff Defends Devils Goaltending

Following an ugly 6-4 loss to the Capitals, an angry Lindy Ruff places blame on defense, not goaltending.

newjerseyhockeynow.com

“Did you see the number of times (the Capitals) skated right through us,” Ruff asked New Jersey Hockey Now following the loss. “Is that our goalies’ fault? The start of the third period when they skated right through us? Is that our goalies fault? The (McMichael) goal when they skated right through us? The disallowed goal when they skated right through us? There were five (Capitals) in front of our goaltender.

We made an unbelievable effort to play good defensive hockey last year. If we’re going to play like this… we’re going to be extremely tough on ourselves.”

“(Lineup changes are) a way to get the attention about playing better defensively,” Ruff griped. “We were starting to gain a little bit of traction. I know we’ve got a ways to go. We got some new people, but some of that is puck management. Some of that is attention to detail. Some of that is just a will to win battles. Cut people off, get in front of people. You saw how good we were at the start of the second when we were challenged. All of a sudden we started winning some of the battles and started winning some of the foot races. We have to do that consistently for 60 minutes.”

 

[MasterofGrond]

Game is hard

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Most of us knew the D was going to take a hit. It's magnified by really bad goaltending. That needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Problem is it's all of the D corps. Not Luke struggling. He's hasn't been exactly Scott Niedermayer back there I get that. It's Siegs and Marino last night.

Game is hard

Tough building

 

[MadDevil]

It's more concerning to me that Marino seems to have forgotten how to hockey....

Meh, it's been 6 games. I highly doubt he's suddenly turned into a pumpkin and won't ever recover. It doesn't excuse his play of course, but the team as a whole hasn't looked all that cohesive. Jack being in God mode has covered for it enough to get us some points. Hopefully they can find some consistency soon. Going on the road to start November might actually do them some good.

 

[NJDevs26]

Anyone disappointed by Bastian taking an offensive zone penalty in the final minute of the second? Is he at fault for the goal or the PK? #absolveSmith

That was the 'captain' taking a bad penalty in the final seconds, but that line had a shit shift that looked like it was about to lead to a goal against in general and actually changed the momentum.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I think the problem is @Capt Nico Poo is probably back in Finland......

We had a good run with Nico Poo coming to like 60% of our games last year.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Who should they have gotten?

looks like anyone at this point

Not holding this one against Vitek after he played last night and had to come in cold.

Schmid is in a rough patch though

Rough patch? more like the dead zone

 

[Whaddagoal]

Jack was so good yesterday also managing puck (up until the EN).

A few moves where he dangled some guys and the puck was on a string. It was poetic. remember a move in the 2nd period I think.

Guy is a wizard.

 

[Nocashstyle]

The bad starts are absolutely a concern because this goes back to last year. Ruff and co., just as much as the players, need to kick themselves in the ass until they figure something out. Inexcusable.

But it’s 6 games. I’m not worried yet. They have not been outplayed for 60 mins and have really not been the benefactor of any good luck, only some poor luck. No other team in the division is lighting it up yet either. Carolina will climb, Philly and likely Columbus sink. Philly and Islanders at the bottom. Rags are only one point ahead.

I'd like to point out that in every game I've watched, Marino and Seigs have committed bigger and more numerous dipshit plays than Smith.

They’re also on the ice more, but I also don’t think this is inaccurate. Smith, save from his routine momentum killing penalties, has played a pretty sound game. Marino and Siegs can’t get out of their own ways.

 

[Whaddagoal]

The bad starts are absolutely a concern because this goes back to last year. Ruff and co., just as much as the players, need to kick themselves in the ass until they figure something out. Inexcusable.

But it’s 6 games. I’m not worried yet. They have not been outplayed for 60 mins and have really not been the benefactor of any good luck, only some poor luck. No other team in the division is lighting it up yet either. Carolina will climb, Philly and likely Columbus sink. Philly and Islanders at the bottom. Rags are only one point ahead.

1st period was a problem last year until we went on that massive streak or was it in December and then we got out of it by New Year. There was a chunk of media focus on it last season too until it just stopped.

Frankly, I kinda wish our NJD media would just stop talking to them about "it" and let them figure it out.

It is what it is, pretty obvious for them to know it is unacceptable.

 

[Call Me Al]

it’s 6 games and we’re 1 point out of the top spot in the division. some of you guys need to take a step back from the ledge

 

[Clam Jensen]

Also, Jack is the most skilled player this franchise has ever seen. They were talking pregame how the younger generation skates differently, and it’s true. He really uses change of pace and acceleration/deceleration in such a unique way. Reminds me of Makar and McD.

Jesper/TT are playing great, timo despite the horrid start is almost a PPG. Nico is picking it up, we have a nasty 4th line, haula has been gritty as hell, Holtz not doing terribly, but Mercer has to pick it up.

 

[Call Me Al]

i would start the 4th line every game at this point. set the tone with a hardworking shift, throw some hits and play a simple game. deboer used to do that all the time when we had 3 legit scoring lines

 

[MartyOwns]

Goaltending is what is is. If you don't draft an elite dude, you pretty much just ride the wave of average dudes coming they get hot at the right time like with what happened in Vegas

Just isnt a lot of high end goalie talent up there and it costs an arm and a leg to get one.

and yet, when an elite goalie is available in the first round, nobody here wants to pick him. go figure

 

[Better Call Sal]

The people yearning for a goaltender seem to continue to conveniently forget the Cup was just won by a team on about their 3rd or 4th goaltender based on the depth chart.

There is virtually no sure thing in net in this league. Hellebuyck is off to a worse start than Vanecek out of the gate. He’d be prone to bad stats too if he had to face the level of chances our defense is giving the opposition on a nightly basis.

You do your best to find average goaltending by any means. Schmid hasn’t been good out of the gate, while Vanecek has at least put together some decent performances vs. Detroit and Montreal. I won’t fault him tonight coming in for mop up duty, though I wish he had made the save on McMichael since he got most of it.

I’d give Vanecek the next couple of starts before the next back-to-back, and see if he gets on a roll the same way he did last year. The sloppiness on defense hasn’t done either goalie any favors, either.

 

[Nocashstyle]

and yet, when an elite goalie is available in the first round, nobody here wants to pick him. go figure

How many of those first round goalies really pan out? Jake Oettinger 6 years ago and Vasilevskiy 11 years ago?