GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (20-4-1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (7-13-4), 7 PM, MSG

[Hisch13r]

I thought Spaulding had a good observation about the Devils continuing to roll out the third and fourth lines repeatedly late in the third, giving the top 6 a bit of a break. Speaks volumes about Ruff's well-placed trust in the quality of our depth forwards.

The Wood line has been great all year so really no reason not to run them. The Boqvist line was great tonight too but even if they weren't it would've been the smart move to run them in a game with a 3 goal lead against arguably the worst team in the league. Give the other guys some rest and give Holtz more time to get acclimated

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Boqvist was buzzin tonight

 

[Camille the Eel]

The Wood line has been great all year so really no reason not to run them. The Boqvist line was great tonight too but even if they weren't it would've been the smart move to run them in a game with a 3 goal lead against arguably the worst team in the league

Holtz seemed to have a solid game. No bad penalties or turnovers I remember. And he looked aggressive and dangerous with the puck. In Philly it was the pressuring him with the puck that gave him trouble; he seemed to freeze. Tonight the Hawks did little of that.

 

[Saugus]

I didn't think that main board thread discounting the Devils' success could get any dumber, but the OP just posted another doozy.

Wow, what a horrific take.

 

[Hisch13r]

I didn't think that main board thread discounting the Devils' success could get any dumber, but the OP just posted another doozy.

Wow, what a horrific take.

I don't know if anyone takes anything he says seriously. Guy makes a hobby out of being wrong

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Boqvist was buzzin tonight

He always is. It's just a matter of whether it's in a good or bad way.

 

[Better Call Sal]

A good evening to all.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Had to good husband at a departmental event

I take it we’re all happy with this one

 

[Emperoreddy]

Crazy we are almost half way to 90 points already.

 

[njdevil26]

I am so tired of the opinions of other fans on the main board. Shut uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Also it was good to see Bratt nail that one timer set up by Hughes on the power play. They’ve done that at least once before this season but Bratt has shanked a bunch of those passes recently, I didn’t know if Jack wasn’t quite teeing it up for him where he wanted or not. But if they can get that working like they did tonight, we are going to become a deadly power play team. Because between Jack taking it himself, Bratt on the one timer and Nico in the bumper there will just be too many options to stop.

N.b. Bratt’s shot was also back against the grain there. Went over the goalies rear shoulder as he threw himself across.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Had to good husband at a departmental event

I take it we’re all happy with this one

It's hard to gauge anything against a team like Chicago. Honestly Vanacek made some huge saves in the first where we gave up 5 or 6 odd man rushes. Another pretty mediocre first.

Got an easy three goal lead after that and pretty much just cruised the rest of the way.

 

[njdevils1982]

running free....

from the rest that is.....

 

[MasterofGrond]

If we could play a mediocre to bad first and then win anyway every single game

I’d be ok with that

 

[Better Call Sal]

I'm ready to wake up already and have my good breakfast, Cap!

 

[Saugus]

If we could play a mediocre to bad first and then win anyway every single game

I’d be ok with that

Eventually we're going to run into a team that will jump on us early and punish us for this tendency. But until that happens, I'm totally fine with winning like this.

 

[Eggtimer]

Boqvist was buzzin tonight

I thought him and that line were very good . I was impressed with Boqvist tonight . He played very hard .

 

[Blackjack]

Jesper Bratt can feed his family with those cross ice feeds from 86

Eventually we're going to run into a team that will jump on us early and punish us for this tendency. But until that happens, I'm totally fine with winning like this.

I think it's hard to tell when the team is starting slow vs. the other team is amped up. My take is that other teams are gunning for us and we're generally just hanging on until we find our feet and the other team levels off a bit.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Jesper Bratt can feed his family with those cross ice feeds from 86

I think it's hard to tell when the team is starting slow vs. the other team is amped up. My take is that other teams are gunning for us and we're generally just hanging on until we find our feet and the other team levels off a bit.

That was Bill's theory. Teams are giving us their absolute best in the 1st but can't maintain it past that and we take over.

 

[Devil X]

That was Bill's theory. Teams are giving us their absolute best in the 1st but can't maintain it past that and we take over.

They simply cant skate with us at that point.

Feels like some of these teams think the first is a sprint but the Devils are built for the long hall. So when you can't skate with them anymore they are still flying all over the ice. Really seems like there is rarely if ever a drop in speed on this team. It's just in 6th gear for 60 minutes.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Jesper Bratt can feed his family with those cross ice feeds from 86

I think it's hard to tell when the team is starting slow vs. the other team is amped up. My take is that other teams are gunning for us and we're generally just hanging on until we find our feet and the other team levels off a bit.

Thats a very astute point. We are currently the benchmark team. Havent been very familiar with this role in what seems like forever, but it comes with being top 1. Everyone wants to see how they fare and measure up.

Plenty of games in seasons before did this team amp up their game vs. Contenders.

So our period 1s could be a strong reflection of being in this state.

 

[Blackjack]

That was Bill's theory. Teams are giving us their absolute best in the 1st but can't maintain it past that and we take over.

Thats a very astute point. We are currently the benchmark team. Havent been very familiar with this role in what seems like forever, but it comes with being top 1. Everyone wants to see how they fare and measure up.

Plenty of games in seasons before did this team amp up their game vs. Contenders.

So our period 1s could be a strong reflection of being in this state.

Haha, we hope this is the case, because it bodes very well for the playoffs if it is. It's also possible we're just in a bit of a lull and starting our games slow.

 

[Blender]

That was Bill's theory. Teams are giving us their absolute best in the 1st but can't maintain it past that and we take over.

It's especially evident in the period of the long change where the extra skating distance doesn't bother us at all but creates serious problems for the opponent.

 

[PWiz30]

It's especially evident in the period of the long change where the extra skating distance doesn't bother us at all but creates serious problems for the opponent.

Yeah, nobody wants to get into a track meet with the Devils. There might be a better teams but no team can skate like them.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Also this should be played on the video board when we wear these black jerseys now lol, I guess slight spoiler alert so don't watch if you plan on watching the Chucky TV series...