GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (32-21-6, 70 Pts) @ Colorado Avalanche (33-24-2, 68 Pts), 9:30 PM, MSGSN

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

The first step was two years ago.

I’d be scared playing like they are, yes. I know Carolina isn’t lighting the world on fire either, but they’re good at home and right now we’re pissing away home ice advantage.

And I know you guys are pop-pooing the fact that the playoffs in general are in jeopardy, but the fact is they have little separation at this point. Hardly foregone conclusion they even play Carolina the way it was two months ago. Anything can happen in theory. Less so playing like they are, is the point. It’s not a blip anymore.

they are 8 points up on the playoff bubble. Boston admitted they will likely sell. Ottawa can't win a game. The Rangers? lol. Which of these teams do you see stealing their spot?

The playoffs are not in jeopardy. If they end up missing, it will take a collapse of epic proportions.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

they are 8 points up on the playoff bubble. Boston admitted they will likely sell. Ottawa can't win a game. The Rangers? lol. Which of these teams do you see stealing their spot?

The playoffs are not in jeopardy. If they end up missing, it will take a collapse of epic proportions.

I could see a hot Shesterkin dragging the Rangers to make up the 8 point (with two games in hand) deficit. Columbus is right there.

I’m less interested in those other teams than I am in us. And we’re going into a tough stretch of games and showing no signs of righting the ship.

 

[MadDevil]

Just “making the playoffs” also wasn’t exactly the bill of sale coming into the seseason.

No, but for a team that's missed them 10 of the previous 12 seasons, it's also not a complete disaster if they limp in and lose in the first round. It would be highly disappointing for sure, but I don't think they're in "win or it's a complete disaster" mode yet.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

No, but for a team that's missed them 10 of the previous 12 seasons, it's also not a complete disaster if they limp in and lose in the first round. It would be highly disappointing for sure, but I don't think they're in "win or it's a complete disaster" mode yet.

I agree with you. I’m calling that outcome disappointing, not fire everyone for sure.

I would hardly call backing into the playoffs progress, though. They were better than that two years ago and made “win now” moves.

 

[jkrdevil]

A lot of people were just get back in before the season. But mid-way through the year they were in the Presidents Trophy race. To go from that to maybe falling into the wild card and having to battle down the stretch is frustrating.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I could see a hot Shesterkin dragging the Rangers to make up the 8 point (with two games in hand) deficit. Columbus is right there.

I’m less interested in those other teams than I am in us. And we’re going into a tough stretch of games and showing no signs of righting the ship.

You could see that with Adam Fox going on IR? Huh. You should take a look at Columbus’ remaining schedule too.

Things do look very dire when you hype up every single deficiency, ignore every strength, and do the opposite for every other team.

They come out of the break and play a top team in the league very tight and then blow out a team they’re supposed to beat and that isn’t even a sign of righting the ship. Not even a sign. Because they lost to another top team on the road.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

You could see that with Adam Fox going on IR? Huh. You should take a look at Columbus’ remaining schedule too.

Things do look very dire when you hype up every single deficiency, ignore every strength, and do the opposite for every other team.

They come out of the break and play a top team in the league very tight and then blow out a team they’re supposed to beat and that isn’t even a sign of righting the ship. Not even a sign. Because they lost to another top team on the road.

Not that I’m even acceding to that accusation, but you definitely do the opposite so who really cares. We’ve been hearing it’s “just one game” from you after every sideways game for two months. I don’t need to hype up any deficiencies, the record speaks for itself.

And very authoritatively - no, beating a garbage Nashville team wasn’t (and wasn’t at the time) a “sign” of anything given that they followed that up getting blown out by a WC team. You hype up games they lose when “they play well” and at the same time want to hype games against terrible teams they *don’t* even play that well. You lean whichever reflects most positively and that’s got a shelf life, bud. It expired probably 5/6 weeks ago.

This team needs a string of wins to qualify as a sign.

 

[Call Me Al]

colorado has nearly the same record we do, equal points in equal games and they’re sitting in a wild card spot. they’re not a “top team” they just have elite high end talent. so do we. but they wiped their nuts all over our faces

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I could see a hot Shesterkin dragging the Rangers to make up the 8 point (with two games in hand) deficit. Columbus is right there.

I’m less interested in those other teams than I am in us. And we’re going into a tough stretch of games and showing no signs of righting the ship.

Columbus is in a wild card spot right now. So even if they passed us, it doesn't automatically mean we miss. The wild card exists.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Not that I’m even acceding to that accusation, but you definitely do the opposite so who really cares. We’ve been hearing it’s “just one game” from you after every sideways game for two months. I don’t need to hype up any deficiencies, the record speaks for itself.

And very authoritatively - no, beating a garbage Nashville team wasn’t (and wasn’t at the time) a “sign” of anything given that they followed that up getting blown out by a WC team. You hype up games they lose when “they play well” and at the same time want to hype games against terrible teams they *don’t* even play that well. You lean whichever reflects most positively and that’s got a shelf life, bud. It expired probably 5/6 weeks ago.

This team needs a string of wins to qualify as a sign.

I do not, though. You genuinely wouldn’t know that the team has had basically the best goaltending since Marty with more Devil shutouts than since like 2010 based on the constant crying and panicking. It’s not like goaltending and special teams (where we’re elite across the board) decides the vast majority of playoff series. Doesn’t even get a mention from you. So funny. I’m very concerned about Jack Hughes

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

colorado has nearly the same record we do, equal points in equal games and they’re sitting in a wild card spot. they’re not a “top team” they just have elite high end talent. so do we. but they wiped their nuts all over our faces

They aren’t a top team, they merely have 2 top 5 players, solved their goalie situation, and got Nuke back which makes them significantly better. We are also up there with most of the top teams, so our records being the same doesn’t make the point you think it does.

 

[Call Me Al]

my point is that they shouldn’t have embarrassed us and yet…

 

[Jersey Fresh]

I do not, though. You genuinely wouldn’t know that the team has had basically the best goaltending since Marty with more Devil shutouts than since like 2010 based on the constant crying and panicking. It’s not like goaltending and special teams (where we’re elite across the board) decides the vast majority of playoff series. Doesn’t even get a mention from you. So funny. I’m very concerned about Jack Hughes

Who’s “very concerned about Jack Hughes”? You’re genuinely crashing out here and it’s quite the spectacle.

You definitely do. Yes, and with those stats you’re describing, they have continued to display 2+ months of terrible play. It’s almost like for all your crying about people not sufficiently elevating the things this team has done well, you’re refusing to acknowledge the things they’ve been deficient at resulting in them not winning hockey games. Wow, crazy. There’s some saying about that I recall - something about a pot and a kettle.

 

[NJDevs26]

I do not, though. You genuinely wouldn’t know that the team has had basically the best goaltending since Marty with more Devil shutouts than since like 2010 based on the constant crying and panicking. It’s not like goaltending and special teams (where we’re elite across the board) decides the vast majority of playoff series. Doesn’t even get a mention from you. So funny. I’m very concerned about Jack Hughes

For years people on this board have dissed the Rangers as being a mediocre team who's a product of goaltending and special teams lol...this is the perfect example of how you and a few others reflexively do the same stuff in reverse that you accuse everyone else of doing with overaccentuating the negative.

I swear with a few of you it's like listening to an MSG telecast here at times. Every game it's another excuse or rationalization - they're all ill, they play well and lose, they get a bad call, bad bounce, run into a hot goalie, travel loss, xG bad luck, whatever - it's been two months of this and a lot of us are tired of the excuses especially when it's the same excuses we heard last year too and this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt yet compared to a lot of other teams some of you compare them to.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Who’s “very concerned about Jack Hughes”? You’re genuinely crashing out here and it’s quite the spectacle.

You definitely do. Yes, and with those stats you’re describing, they have continued to display 2+ months of terrible play. It’s almost like for all your crying about people not sufficiently elevating the things this team has done well, you’re refusing to acknowledge the things they’ve been deficient at resulting in them not winning hockey games. Wow, crazy. There’s some saying about that I recall - something about a pot and a kettle.

Wow, it’s so hard to see that the team hasn’t finished well and their 5 on 5 play dipped significantly just about the time when Luke went from posting the best results in the NHL to not very good results. Only the brave truth tellers will mention this.

Did you also know that Timo isn’t scoring enough and their forward depth is lacking?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

For years people on this board have dissed the Rangers as being a mediocre team who's a product of goaltending and special teams lol...this is the perfect example of how you and a few others do the same stuff in reverse that you accuse everyone else of doing with overaccentuating the negative. I swear it's like an MSG telecast here at times.

Every game with some of you it's another excuse or rationalization - they play well and lose, they get a bad call, they run into a hot goalie, travel loss, xG, whatever - it's been two months of this and a lot of us are tired of the excuses especially when it's the same excuses we heard last year too and this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt yet compared to a lot of other teams some of you compare them to.

I mean, we’re right around the top 5 in xGF% and right around 7th in actual GF% tied with the champions, above Vegas, Edmonton, Carolina, Colorado. Nothing at all like a team riding a hot PDO or sucking at 5 on 5.

 

[guitarguyvic]

its the first step, is it not? Once you get in, anything can happen. If they do end up playing Carolina, which looks destined at this point, are you really scared of that team? They have played similar hockey to NJ the last few months and have suspect goaltending.

This is the biggest myth in hockey. The vast vast majority of teams that win a Stanley cup are not Cinderella stories or a huge shock. The 2012 kings and 2019 blues are the two closest examples in the last two decades and even the blues were the best team in the league for the entire second half of that season. There are more examples of cinderellas making the final, only to get shit housed by the favorite. Even those there’s only a handful of examples of teams that no one thought could make such a run.

It’s extremely rare that a team playing mediocre .500 hockey for a half season (which this team is on pace to do) makes a miraculous playoff run.

 

[Killing Joke]

This is the biggest myth in hockey. The vast vast majority of teams that win a Stanley cup are not Cinderella stories or a huge shock. The 2012 kings and 2019 blues are the two closest examples in the last two decades and even the blues were the best team in the league for the entire second half of that season. There are more examples of cinderellas making the final, only to get shit housed by the favorite. Even those there’s only a handful of examples of teams that no one thought could make such a run.

It’s extremely rare that a team playing mediocre .500 hockey for a half season (which this team is on pace to do) makes a miraculous playoff run.

The kings 2012 team controlled play statically and dominated. It wasn’t a Cinderella run once they got Carter they had offense and could score.

The blues in 2019 was the same, once they got rid of a bad coach the team regressed and started getting wins that matched their advanced stats.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Apparently xGF take into consideration the player's history because Jack even with that break away chance only had xGF of .39 last night.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

2018 Caps are probably the best example of a cinderella team over the 2012 Kings/2019 Blues. That was the worst Trotz team play wise he had in Washington but they somehow did something no other Capitals team could do while also being the worst Capitals team in a decade.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

For years people on this board have dissed the Rangers as being a mediocre team who's a product of goaltending and special teams lol...this is the perfect example of how you and a few others reflexively do the same stuff in reverse that you accuse everyone else of doing with overaccentuating the negative.

I swear with a few of you it's like listening to an MSG telecast here at times. Every game it's another excuse or rationalization - they're all ill, they play well and lose, they get a bad call, bad bounce, run into a hot goalie, travel loss, xG bad luck, whatever - it's been two months of this and a lot of us are tired of the excuses especially when it's the same excuses we heard last year too and this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt yet compared to a lot of other teams some of you compare them to.

I think early part of the year, that's exactly what I called them, they were playing like the Rangers teams of the past decade. They were banking on an elite powerplay and great goaltending to win games but December changed my tune on them and I thought they'd be a very legit contender. At their ceiling, they're a very good team but they just don't show up enough to be be thought of as one. The slow starts are objectively on the core, not Lindy which most of us thought was the latter. Maybe they're bored of the regular season, I don't see why they would be because one bad injury from now till April and they're in massive trouble.

 

[Better Call Sal]

To be fair on the slow start thing, I recall this being mentioned as a consistent issue with Keefe in Toronto as well.

Not that I'm absolving anyone of blame there, but it falls on everyone. The coach should have the players ready and the players should be prepared.

 

[Devs3cups]

To be fair on the slow start thing, I recall this being mentioned as a consistent issue with Keefe in Toronto as well.

Not that I'm absolving anyone of blame there, but it falls on everyone. The coach should have the players ready and the players should be prepared.

While I kind of understand this, I always felt that “being ready” fell like 80-85% on the players. These guys are professionals. They should know how to be ready. Sure the coach can give them a little boost, but they’re the ones who play. At some point it’s on the players.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

To be fair on the slow start thing, I recall this being mentioned as a consistent issue with Keefe in Toronto as well.

Not that I'm absolving anyone of blame there, but it falls on everyone. The coach should have the players ready and the players should be prepared.

I mean, I'm not bashing another coach for this core doing the same shit and I don't buy the Keefe slow starts thing because in every video of the postgame, he's telling them to start fast + we saw in for the most of December. It's on the players at this point.

 

[Better Call Sal]

While I kind of understand this, I always felt that “being ready” fell like 80-85% on the players. These guys are professionals. They should know how to be ready. Sure the coach can give them a little boost, but they’re the ones who play. At some point it’s on the players.

I more or less agree, and that's why it's silly to play the blame game on it in my eyes anyway. We've had games where we've come out hot out of the gate and still can't convert. To me, it's more important to capitalize on the chances you get because you'll still typically get your fair share of chances.