GDT: The Blue Note @ Your NJ Devils, 1/5/2023

[Triumph]

I missed last night's game entirely and couldn't watch the replay on ESPN+ bc it was a national game so I can't comment.
But I have no idea how good any of Detroit's chances were bc none of Vanacek's saves made the highlights, even if he was the perceived diff in the game.

But I sure won't simply look at the shot counter and 'know we played worse'. I'm not *that* stupid esp considering Detroit's home accounting.

Seemed like Jack Hughes and Nico (and dougie) versus the world though, as it has been for a month.

lol, home accounting, like you know anything at all about that. This is so funny for you to cite scorers bias. Just selectively applied shit, all the time.

 

[NJDevs26]

I've been with you guys about this for most of the games this year, but this one was definitely a combination of cruddy goaltending and horrible defending on the only chances they gave up. You cannot give opposition players the opportunity to skate freely for several seconds in the slot like they did on two of those goals. The seas parted on those two chances, even with all the crazy chances the Devils had the whole game none were as unimpeded as those two for St. Louis. That's exactly the kind of thing we saw almost every game last year and it was part of the reason the goaltending was so goddamn FUBAR last year.

Yeah Hamilton and Siegs definitely had a ROUGH night...if I didn't know better I'd swear they were both wearing cages.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

You know what ... They won the game last night ... that's all that matters

for one game, yes. For an entire stretch of games, no.

Their play tonight at 5 on 5 was probably a top 4 or 5 game of the season.

 

[Killing Joke]

You know what ... They won the game last night ... that's all that matters

So low bar bs

 

[Devs3cups]

Oh they had some glorious breakdowns in Detroit, much like tonight.

Like every NHL team, in every NHL game. Breakdowns are part of the game and for how many we gave up tonight, we should’ve won. Blues gave up WAY more than we did.

 

[Bleedred]

It's not even factually correct...the turning point was the shit goal Barbashev scored. Mercer was just one of like ten or twelve guys that fobbed chances

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought the Barbashev goal was shit.

It was a good shot, the guy is a good shooter, but these are shots that are hitting goalies more than they aren't. It wasn't a terrible goal, but it was a stoppable goal.

And the third goal was just nasty. Deflated the team for probably 5-8 minutes or however long it was between then and when we got the power play with the 5 on 3. It deflated the building too.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I missed last night's game entirely and couldn't watch the replay on ESPN+ bc it was a national game so I can't comment.
But I have no idea how good any of Detroit's chances were bc none of Vanacek's saves made the highlights, even if he was the perceived diff in the game.

But I sure won't simply look at the shot counter and 'know we played worse'. I'm not *that* stupid esp considering Detroit's home accounting.

They played a much worse overall game last night. Detroit had more chances, and they were pretty good saves that VV had to make.

However, the two wide open slot shots the Blues had today that resulted in goals were more glorious than anything Detroit had last night, IMO. So even though the Blues barely did anything else, the few things they did get were just way too easy. They were given oodles of time and space to beat a noob unproven goalie, and they did exactly that.

 

[billingtons ghost]

A horrible take, made in bad faith. Shame on you. Devils were the much better team in the first two periods.

Yet they were down by 1 after one period bc Buchnevich made a nice play and convertedb when we had a breakdown.

I was hopeful we win after Jack's second but we sure made Binnington look good.

 

[guitarguyvic]

lol

I honestly understand that. My problem with it is that things like that happen multiple times a game for both teams on the ice. A few guys had wide open looks for us (way more than the Blues) and Binnington made the saves.

Did they though? Like THAT wide open? I don't think they did. I am more than open to be proving wrong with some clips.

 

[britdevil]

And this is why Lindy may lose the room. The Mercer mistake was a physical error. A missed opportunity, but not a giveaway or something that hurt the team. Just odd to single that out.

This guy is a f***ing moron.

In his mind, Mercer flubbed a glorious chance provided by All Star Erik Haula.

 

[NJDevs26]

no they absolutely have not.

Then why has there been this same debate like 5-7 times in the last month about 'played well' versus 'doing enough to win' with the deserve-to-win meters constantly being cited after losses?

 

[billingtons ghost]

Oh they had some glorious breakdowns in Detroit, much like tonight.

Well. How many do you want back tonight? There was one that looked terrible. The third didn't look great, but we are reaching to say it was 'bad'.

 

[Dylan9z9]

for one game, yes. For an entire stretch of games, no.

Their play tonight at 5 on 5 was probably a top 4 or 5 game of the season.

I disagree ... like I said bad passing not being able to clear the puck and not being able to finish on open nets, or breakaways besides losing coverage in the defensive zone doesn't look like a winning formula to me...

 

[DerekDevils30]

They played a much worse overall game last night. Detroit had more chances, and they were pretty good saves that VV had to make.

However, the two wide open slot shots the Blues had today that resulted in goals were more glorious than anything Detroit had last night, IMO. So even though the Blues barely did anything else, the few things they did get were just way too easy. They were given oodles of time and space to beat a noob unproven goalie, and they did exactly that.

Strongly disagree. There were several instances of Wings in all alone last night. Vitek was on point with his angles and made them look much less dangerous than they were.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Then why has there been this same debate like 5-7 times in the last month about 'played well' versus 'doing enough to win' with the deserve-to-win meters constantly being cited after losses?

because they have gotten a lot of shitty goaltending lately? It isnt that hard to understand.

 

[Dylan9z9]

So low bar bs

Winning the game is a low bar

 

[NJDevs26]

I think Lindy knows better than to say the wrong thing to 'lose the room' tbh, he was in Buffalo a long time and I don't think got fired in Dallas because he lost the room. The only thing I worry about him doing to lose the room is playing inferior goalies when he doesn't need to.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I disagree ... like I said bad passing not being able to clear the puck and not being able to finish on open nets, or breakaways besides losing coverage in the defensive zone doesn't look like a winning formula to me...

19 shots allowed. 4 high danger.

If they averaged that for the season, they'd be the best defensive team in NHL history.

 

[Devs3cups]

for one game, yes. For an entire stretch of games, no.

Their play tonight at 5 on 5 was probably a top 4 or 5 game of the season.

Our 3rd best game in CF% 5on5
Our 2nd best game in CF% all situations
Our 3rd best game in SCF% all situations
Our 2nd best game in HDCF% all situations

Legitimately might be our 2nd-3rd best game this year. Ridiculous.

 

[billingtons ghost]

This guy is a f***ing moron.

In his mind, Mercer flubbed a glorious chance provided by All Star Erik Haula.

Yeah I don't disagree with Lindy, it was the turning point....but maybe ya don't throw the kid under the bus, especially as you say for just a physical mistake

 

[Nico13]

It really is mostly bad luck, like this is incredible.

Luck?

We are bad at scoring goals.

And then you see a lot of other teams who play worse than the Devils but have guys who can score goals.

I saw Devils game on the PC and Toronto-Seattle on TV. SEA plays a random hockey (they were very strong defensively today) and doesn't have great playmakers but they are full of players with scoring abilities. I prefer the way the Devils are built but at some point Fitz will have to adress this problem.

We have a good core of top players but depth is really meh and has to be upgraded badly.

 

[HersheyBob27]

Recap:

CF%: 68.75%
SCF%: 71.19%
HDCF%: 84%
xGF: 4.47
xGA: 2.4
xGF%: 65.03%
Shots: 38-19 NJ

View attachment 631055

I'm actually sick. This is ABSURD. One of our 3 best games ALL YEAR.

In my book our 3 best games are wins. Might recommend laying off the stats

 

[Bleedred]

For what it's worth, I still don't believe Schmid is the worst goalie of the 3 we've played this year. At most it's a tie between him and Blackwood for who the worse goalie is at the NHL level.

But Schmid is currently in his worst stretch of the season since that last start he got against Florida before he was sent down. He had a couple blowout games in the AHL since being returned.

Not sure if he'll be NHL ready next year. It's safer than paying Blackwood his qualifying offer and having him here for a million a year, but is it the best we could do for next year besides Vitek? Probably not.

He needs to get his game together in the AHL right now. And you just ride Vanecek until the wheels fall off. He should play every game this month that isn't a back to back. I think there's 2 more back to backs this month? I think he should play all but those 2 and MAYBE one other random game goes to whoever happens to be on the roster as the other goalie.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Winning the game is a low bar

serious question- if the teams switched goalies tonight, who would have won?

 

[DerekDevils30]

Well. How many do you want back tonight? There was one that looked terrible. The third didn't look great, but we are reaching to say it was 'bad'.

All we needed was one tonight. Again, I hate harping on Schmid because he just got called up today. Wish we could have put Vitek in there tonight but that would have likely meant Schmid against the Rangers in a big division game.