GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (2-1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (3-1), 7 PM, MSG

[My3Sons]

I will have no expectations tonight.
I will have no expectations tonight.
I will have no expectations tonight.
I will have no expectations tonight.

Win or lose just try to find something enjoyable to watch. Even if it is just Mercer or Daws.

 

[JimEIV]

Must win.

Rested , all our regular D playing , pep talk from Ruff , opponent that is beatable . No excuses for this game. Yes Jack is out but other teams deal with injuries and find a way to win. Pens were missing Crosby Malkin Geuntzel and are now without Carter and they found ways to win.
If we don’t see a good effort tonight it’s going to be a long season. I know it’s game 4 but this is a game we should win if we are thinking we can play meaningful games come the end of the regular season.

Yup these are the exact games you have to win to progress.

 

[Bleedred]

The return of Will Butcher and Hayden.

I forgot John Hayden ever even existed until I read this.

And wasn't he traded for John Quenneville?

 

[WetWholphin]

its important that the players show a response to last game. i expect the nico line to be out there creating opportunities. were gonna need to be buttoned up defensively. i want daws to have a nice first game so lets help him out.

 

[Mgd31]

Dustin Tokarski? This guy is still in the league? We need to light this guy up.

 

[JimEIV]

Win or lose just try to find something enjoyable to watch. Even if it is just Mercer or Daws.

Maybe I am reading too deep into this post but it almost sounds like you have given up on this season? Or least the idea that we can be a competitive team?

 

[captainscott]

Decided to grab some tix ..... talk to me goose

 

[My3Sons]

Maybe I am reading too deep into this post but it almost sounds like you have given up on this season? Or least the idea that we can be a competitive team?

Not at all. I just can’t do anything other than watch it unfold. If they stink the worst thing I could do would be to let it bother me beyond a superficial level.

 

[WetWholphin]

Dustin Tokarski? This guy is still in the league? We need to light this guy up.

yea. lord knows we wouldnt be able to pot one on grandpa anderson

 

[NJ Fan 12]

I wasn't worried that much about the loss to the caps. I just want the injured guys to be healthy and I am more concerned about the team getting points against the Sabres and Flames which are two teams they could/should beat.

Flames beat Washington today. May be better than expected.

 

[Devils090]

Hynes and other crew "just stares confused and doesn't say anything when the team sucks."

Man it is nice to have a better coach

Ruff has been around the league forever, he knows what is expected of guys.

 

[Eggtimer]

I am nkt trying to be a stick in the mud but this game is important as a building block for the rest of the season.
See how the boys respond to being challenged by the coach.
I really like Ruff and what he’s done with this team. When he was first hired I hated it and thought he was the team going with the cheap hire vs Gallant or a higher profile coach. I think Ruff is perfect for us. He knows how to get the most out of young players and has coached young teams before.

 

[Eggtimer]

Flames beat Washington today. May be better than expected.

Yes I thought the flames would be a favourable matchup.
Sutter teams are never out worked . It will be a tough matchup.
They have a very slow team though and if we can use our speed we can hang with them .

 

[Dialamo]

We are gonna win this shit let's f***ing go!

 

[Maine Fan]

Maybe I am reading too deep into this post but it almost sounds like you have given up on this season? Or least the idea that we can be a competitive team?

I have been thinking the same. I can't believe it to be true. We know the talent is questionable on offense to be a strong competitor.

 

[JimEIV]

I have been thinking the same. I can't believe it to be true. We know the talent is questionable on offense to be a strong competitor.

I was sort of hoping that the defense and goaltending could be better enough from last year that it could make up for lack of offensive talent on this team? Basically if we could move to the middle of the league in Goals Against it might be enough to get us to the bubble.

 

[JimEIV]

Anyway always excited to see someone's first game..I hope Daws does well.

3rd first game already this year and I'm sure we'll get a fourth with Holtz pretty soon.

 

[Bleedred]

Dustin Tokarski? This guy is still in the league? We need to light this guy up.

He was kind of out of the league for a VERY LONG TIME, but Buffalo had him as their third string last year and had to come him up because both the goalies they had on their roster (Ullmark and Hutton) were injured and then they traded Johansson to Colorado. So he got to play some games last year.

So this year they go out and sign Craig Anderson, who should probably be retired. Then they went out and signed Aaron Dell. Yes, the Aaron Dell that was so bad for us last year, he made Wedgewood look competent. So right there, having a goalie tandem of Anderson/Dell tells me you don't wanna win hardly any games this year. So I guess Dell blew up a lot in preseason games, and so Tokarski (who was supposed to be a third string goalie, but when you have Dell on your roster or even Old Anderson and you're the third string goalie, you probably have a good opportunity at eventually being on the NHL roster) made the NHL roster as the backup over him and that's how we got here.

The only team that put as little effort into their goalies this offseason was maybe Arizona, who signed one of the Buffalo rejects from last year.

 

[Maine Fan]

Tonight is a challenge.
As you know, we are missing Hughes and Bernier. That's big when you are playing the #2 power rated NHL team. Boston soften Buffalo up last night in Buffalo. The Sabres had to travel to NJ to play. These are help for the Devils.

Tonight the defense must start to click together. PK's ice time must be reduced, I am talking about 2 minutes with Hamilton and Graves increased by the same. The offense must start controlling and passing the puck better, this is basic NHL hockey. The Nico line must produce, these are the best offense we have to compete. Everyone player on the Devils must up their game to beat Buffalo.

Go Devils

 

[My3Sons]

I was sort of hoping that the defense and goaltending could be better enough from last year that it could make up for lack of offensive talent on this team? Basically if we could move to the middle of the league in Goals Against it might be enough to get us to the bubble.

they are only going to be able to slot their defense properly starting tonight and they don’t have a proven goalie. If they could get back Bernier and/or MBW next week hopefully we can start to see what the define and goaltending are actually capable of. Bernier looked good to me the first two games and that was with Subban playing major minutes. When Smith and Sevs get their games together and shake off the rust they may be relatively tough to score on. That would give the inconsistent offense time to find its groove

 

[Nico Hischier]

Bernier and Hughes aren’t even playing. Completely messed up my fantasy week

 

[Billdo]

I forgot John Hayden ever even existed until I read this.

And wasn't he traded for John Quenneville?

Yessir

 

[Maine Fan]

I was sort of hoping that the defense and goaltending could be better enough from last year that it could make up for lack of offensive talent on this team? Basically if we could move to the middle of the league in Goals Against it might be enough to get us to the bubble.

I thought the same, for me it is defense first. When Fitz signed our new defensive players plus Bernier I was excited that this improvement would help them win their low scoring games. Unfortunately the season starts with injuries within the defense. Bernier, IMO, the starter has an injury, that hurts with close games against good teams like Buffalo. So tonight it is up to every player to up his game and do the basics well. We still could be beat by our goaltending tonight. If the defense gets healthy and plays to the level necessary to compete, I think we will see improvement.

 

[Maine Fan]

they are only going to be able to slot their defense properly starting tonight and they don’t have a proven goalie. If they could get back Bernier and/or MBW next week hopefully we can start to see what the define and goaltending are actually capable of. Bernier looked good to me the first two games and that was with Subban playing major minutes. When Smith and Sevs get their games together and shake off the rust they may be relatively tough to score on. That would give the inconsistent offense time to find its groove

Absolutely

 

[HughesForPrez]

Let’s go devils!! Haven’t been on here in a while but seeing as how my giants are god awful I’m giving the devils my 100% this season. Let’s get this W