GDT: We're Here: Your New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers, 7 PM, ESPN+/Hulu

[Triumph]

Why would anyone be under the impression that Blackwood was a game change? Sounds like...baseless optimism. (Bat signal activated, I'm sure I'll hear shit).

Blackwood sucks and management should have recognized that no later than I and several others did last year. Perhaps we should learn to stop using injuries as an excuse for extended periods of shit play.

My only point is that Blackwood being bad doesn't account for our skaters also being bad. And this team will not win many games by just fixing only one of those things.

This is one of those things you have insisted on in the past that injuries are an 'excuse' - injuries do result in extended periods of shit play. Like, you can't deny that, it's just a phyiscal fact that when players are injured, they typically do not play up to the level that is expected of them. The question is whether he's healthy or everyone's just bullshitting one another about his health or if he's just bad now, that will be borne out during the season.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Why would anyone be under the impression that Blackwood was a game change? Sounds like...baseless optimism. (Bat signal activated, I'm sure I'll hear shit).

Blackwood sucks and management should have recognized that no later than I and several others did last year. Perhaps we should learn to stop using injuries as an excuse for extended periods of shit play.

My only point is that Blackwood being bad doesn't account for our skaters also being bad. And this team will not win many games by just fixing only one of those things.

Because we've seen what Blackwood can be? He was literally getting shelled under Nas at a worst rate than he is now. If you wanna say that's a fluke stretch which is totally understandable then this is completely on the Devils for not going after a stud goalie. Hell even going after Campbell or Kuemper would be better than this in the offseason. But 3/4 goals he gave up tonight were utterly atrocious, anyone else arguing otherwise is just being foolish. Also this team is not gonna win shit by playing the Islanders by neutering Hughes like they've done with Barzal, they're built like Pittsburgh/Colorado where they actually need their goalies to make some saves with how high tempo they play. They don't score enough to completely go into a shell with a mediocre goalie, maybe if they had Shesty or Vasy.

 

[Triumph]

I’m sure this has been talked about in the previous 60 pages but it really boggles my mind how other teams can make tape to tape passes look so easy and the Devils make passes look like they are blindfolded, drunk and never held a stick in their hands before.

Every fan thinks this about their team because every fan is only watching their own team.

 

[Devils090]

I can't stand it when people in positions of authority get pissed off about getting asked tough, but legit, questions. Displays a real lack of accountability and leadership. Gross.

Country club type BS, this organization is rotten from top to bottom

 

[guitarguyvic]

Because we've seen what Blackwood can be? He was literally getting shelled under Nas at a worst rate than he is now. If you wanna say that's a fluke stretch which is totally understandable then this is completely on the Devils for not going after a stud goalie. Hell even going after Campbell or Kuemper would be better than this in the offseason. But 3/4 goals he gave up tonight were utterly atrocious, anyone else arguing otherwise is just being foolish.

How long ago was that now?

This board just has a hard time coming to grips with accepting that some of these players really aren't as good as hyped.

 

[megajake]

Wonder how much longer people going to blame the goaltending. We scored 2 goals vs the Flyers, that just can't happen.

 

[guitarguyvic]

This is one of those things you have insisted on in the past that injuries are an 'excuse' - injuries do result in extended periods of shit play. Like, you can't deny that, it's just a phyiscal fact that when players are injured, they typically do not play up to the level that is expected of them. The question is whether he's healthy or everyone's just bullshitting one another about his health or if he's just bad now, that will be borne out during the season.

This seems irrelevant. It doesn't matter why he's bad...if he's been suffering this long from injuries affecting his play to this degree...he's damaged goods that we should move on from.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

How long ago was that now?

This board just has a hard time coming to grips with accepting that some of these players really aren't as good as hyped.

2 and half years ago. Like I said, this is also partially on the Devils for believing this dude's excuse about his heel being the whole issue. He has the worst mechanics of any NHL goalie I've seen but it is what it is at this point. We can probably all agree that this team's franchise goalie or goalie who'll bring them out of this disgusting era of Devils hockey isn't on the roster.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Every fan thinks this about their team because every fan is only watching their own team.

I watch tons of non-Devils games.

I don't know about the passing specifically. I think that's more a symptom of the fact that they don't seem to play as a unit with any kind of structure. And watching other teams pretty darned often, I'd say yeah the only teams that look similar are other bad ones.

Country club type BS, this organization is rotten from top to bottom

It's hard to not get the sense that there's something really amiss about the org at all levels.

I like what Fitz did in the offseason (minus keeping f***ing MB) but if this garbage continues and he doesn't lay the hammer down within 5-10 games...at that point there can't be any doubt that it's rotten.

 

[Triumph]

I watch tons of non-Devils games.

I don't know about the passing specifically. I think that's more a symptom of the fact that they don't seem to play as a unit with any kind of structure. And watching other teams pretty darned often, I'd say yeah the only teams that look similar are other bad ones.


It's hard to not get the sense that there's something really amiss about the org at all levels.

I like what Fitz did in the offseason but if this garbage continues and he doesn't lay the hammer down within 5-10 games...at that point there can't be any doubt that it's rotten.

Every fan thinks their team cannot pass but other teams can pass. You have completely changed the topic, and of course, you have done exactly what I predicted based off one game tonight.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Every fan thinks their team cannot pass but other teams can pass. You have completely changed the topic, and of course, you have done exactly what I predicted based off one game tonight.

You predicted what? I told you I thought this game matters a lot more than usual. I'm doing exactly what I said I would.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

So you be eating dry ass bread and ham for a quick lunch?

Mind blown.

Oil, vinegar, capicola, soppresatta, ham, onion, lettuce and tomato. Mustard or a little bit of mayo on a turkey sandwich.

Welcome to NJ.

Butter and ham? Tf?

 

[guitarguyvic]

Every fan thinks their team cannot pass but other teams can pass. You have completely changed the topic, and of course, you have done exactly what I predicted based off one game tonight.

Just because every fan thinks their team passes worse than others, automatically means our fans are wrong about it? You like your fallacies. I also didn't agree with the sentiment, hence why I "changed the topic".

 

[Triumph]

You predicted what? I told you I thought this game matters a lot more than usual. I'm doing exactly what I said I would.

I predicted that a loss tonight would be regarded as a top-to-bottom organizational failure. It isn't, not yet.

 

[megajake]

I watch tons of non-Devils games.

I don't know about the passing specifically. I think that's more a symptom of the fact that they don't seem to play as a unit with any kind of structure. And watching other teams pretty darned often, I'd say yeah the only teams that look similar are other bad ones.


It's hard to not get the sense that there's something really amiss about the org at all levels.

I like what Fitz did in the offseason (minus keeping f***ing MB) but if this garbage continues and he doesn't lay the hammer down within 5-10 games...at that point there can't be any doubt that it's rotten.

How can you like Fitz giving Palat that giant ass contract? When we will be ready to compete he will be washed up and an anchor of a contract.

 

[Triumph]

Just because every fan thinks their team passes worse than others, automatically means our fans are wrong about it? You like your fallacies. I also didn't agree with the sentiment, hence why I "changed the topic".

It is the biggest case of confirmation bias that exists, if someone is right about that it is only by accident. The Devils turning it over is a mistake, the Devils forcing a turnover is 'them playing well'. If you want to know the actual answer, go look up Corey Snzajder's passing data.

 

[guitarguyvic]

I predicted that a loss tonight would be regarded as a top-to-bottom organizational failure. It isn't, not yet.

I'm not making that bold of a statement yet either. I have had bad vibes since Shero came here, yes. I'm still trying to give Fitz some benefit of the doubt to course correct early if this continues.

It is the biggest case of confirmation bias that exists, if someone is right about that it is only by accident. The Devils turning it over is a mistake, the Devils forcing a turnover is 'them playing well'. If you want to know the actual answer, go look up Corey Snzajder's passing data.

Why are you directing this at me? I didn't agree that the Devils pass worse than other teams.
I think people may get that perception as a result of other issues the team has.

Jeezus.

 

[Emperoreddy]

It's hard to win when you handicap yourself by not playing your best players

 

[Devils090]

I watch tons of non-Devils games.

I don't know about the passing specifically. I think that's more a symptom of the fact that they don't seem to play as a unit with any kind of structure. And watching other teams pretty darned often, I'd say yeah the only teams that look similar are other bad ones.


It's hard to not get the sense that there's something really amiss about the org at all levels.

I like what Fitz did in the offseason (minus keeping f***ing MB) but if this garbage continues and he doesn't lay the hammer down within 5-10 games...at that point there can't be any doubt that it's rotten.

This organization has been a tire fire for a decade minus one season where Hall went god mode, and every season seems to be worse than the one before it which is almost impossible to imagine. The owners don’t seem like they mettle and they put money into the club, but their underlings in the organization are all morons. Hugh Weber was an idiot and this Reynolds clown seems even worse. Fitz had a lot of respect around the league and was thought to be a good replacement for Shero but his hiring of Ruff was such a disgrace and the fact he got brought back for a 3rd year is beyond comprehension. And yeah his first season we got ravaged by Covid, last year it was the goalies but guess what, all the breakdowns, lack of awareness in our zone, etc etc never has changed. There has been no growth in our team game, and tonight was just more of the same garbage hockey we’ve sat through under this clown.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Hughes was the best forward.. Marino was the best defenseman. but i thought on the whole the defense was dreadful... the forwards were not much better and Blackwood

Hughes was the same player he's been the past two years.

Making all kinds of fancy plays and doing all kind of individual things that looked impressive; leaving opponents wide open and mostly disregarding his own end of the ice.


Same game. Same results.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Wonder how much longer people going to blame the goaltending. We scored 2 goals vs the Flyers, that just can't happen.

For as long as the goaltending is the #1 problem.

Hughes was the same player he's been the past two years.

Making all kinds of fancy plays and doing all kind of individual things that looked impressive; leaving opponents wide open and mostly disregarding his own end of the ice.


Same game. Same results.

It's hilarious how much you think every player has to be Jay Pandolfo

Jack Hughes is paid to produce offense. He set up about five or six grade A chances tonight.

Really f***ing weird how all you do is you hate on the Devils best players. Like SUPER weird.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Yes, this is a terrible goal given up by Hart, no question about it. Holtz didn't even put in that great a location.



An atrocious rebound given up on a muffin shot. Yeah, Graves should've played it better, Blackwood's rebound control is awful here.



Players will not score on this shot very often.



No, xGF doesn't, but this is one you have to have, Konecny isn't some brilliant sniper. NHL goalies stop this shot.



This one's on the defense for sure, Marino has to be more aware there.



Defender did, just barely, very lucky for it to stay out.



He's also being screened, obviously if he weren't being screened this one should be stopped.



The Flyers are a less talented team on paper. I'd also question your claim that Konecny goal is 'uncontested' - there's a defender right there, no there's no body contact but he's being forced into a low-percentage shot that he scores on.

This game looked like a ton of games we have had in the past against Torts’ club in Columbus. In the first two periods we got out muscled, out hit and also just blew a lot of our chances. Jack has a glorious chance in a tied game with 30 seconds left in the first period and . . . misses the net.

For the game we got out hit like 28 hits to 14 and Columbus also blocked about 28 shots.

We have struggled against heavier and more physical teams for years now and it looks like we could do so again this year. Though it’s only one game.

Get Zetterlund and Bahl in there and bulk up.

I also thought they wanted the game more than we did in the crucial moments. It was their home opener after all and Torts first game as coach, and we didn’t seem ready for the intensity level.

 

[Emperoreddy]

This game looked like a ton of games we have had in the past against Torts’ club in Columbus. In the first two periods we got out muscled, out hit and also just blew a lot of our chances. Jack has a glorious chance in a tied game with 30 seconds left in the first period and . . . misses the net.

For the game we got out hit like 28 hits to 14 and Columbus also blocked about 28 shots.

We have struggled against heavier and more physical teams for years now and it looks like we could do so again this year. Though it’s only one game.

Get Zetterlund and Bahl in there and bulk up.

I also thought they wanted the game more than we did in the crucial moments. It was their home opener after all and Torts first game as coach, and we didn’t seem ready for the intensity level.

Issue is even if you throw a ton of bulk into the lineup, there is no push to get to the net on a team and system level.

Ruff isn't trying to instill that mindset into the players.

 

[Xirik]

Did the Devils lose so bad that the Devils youtube page decided to make tonights game videos "youtube kids" so comments wouldn't be allowed?

 

[megajake]

For as long as the goaltending is the #1 problem.


It's hilarious how much you think every player has to be Jay Pandolfo

Jack Hughes is paid to produce offense. He set up about five or six grade A chances tonight.

Really f***ing weird how all you do is you hate on the Devils best players. Like SUPER weird.

Sure goaltending isn't perfect, but we are getting bullied every single year on the ice. Guys just skate over and mow us to the ground. The team is way too soft.