GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (33-23-6, 72 Pts) @ Dallas Stars (39-19-2, 80 Pts), 8 PM, ESPN+/Hulu

[HoliksGhost]

Morning skate is at 11:30am cst so hopefully we get an update from the team on Jack very soon.

UPDATE: Jacks arm is still in Vegas for evaluation, however Jack is with the team doctors in NJ.

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Desmith starts for Dallas

 

[britdevil]

The office of Tom Fitzgerald right now

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[Cheddabombs]

Would've preferred Allen started and Markstrom lined up as our 2nd line center

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[Zacha37]

Good lord

 

[Cheddabombs]

We effectively have one NHL forward line. It's so Joever

 

[HoliksGhost]

Oooof that 2nd line and down

 

[Clam Jensen]

Can the first line just go balls out for 40 and then have lines 2-4 stand in front of the goalie for the 3rd? Is that a viable strategy for an NHL team?

 

[Billdo]

Which forward group wins? This or the toilet paper one?

 

[JimEIV]

I don't understand this lineup at all.

You can easily keep three viable lines by not stacking one. Nico and Meier are a fine line ... Mercer should have Bratt.

Meier - Nico - Noesen
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Cotter - Haula - Tatar
Dowling - Lazar - Bastian

If Keefe runs with those lines above he's a dumb ass

 

[Bleedred]

Are we even in a position to sit Haula or Mercer for “trade negotiations” ?

Haula? Yes. He’s possibly the worst player on the team anymore.

Mercer? No. But he probably won’t do anything anyway lol.

Why would we even trade Haula? No one is gonna want a player like that signed for one more year at that cap hit and at that age.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Meier should be back on the top Powerplay unit now with Jack out.

They should run some form of an umbrella with Noesen & Nico down low in a bumper/net front role. Hamilton and Meier need to be options for a one timer as they are a righty/lefty combo. Bratt needs to quarterback this thing and be the main option for the zone entry. That's a 5 man unit that could work in Jack's absence. Luke is going to be needed for the 2nd unit to pretty much do everything else by himself though lol.

 

[JimEIV]

Why would we even trade Haula? No one is gonna want a player like that signed for one more year at that cap hit and at that age.

Maybe someone might want Haula to sure up a 4C spot for the playoffs ala Vern Fiddler...I was shocked when we got a return for him?

 

[njdevils1982]

Meier should be back on the top Powerplay unit now with Jack out.

They should run some form of an umbrella with Noesen & Nico down low in a bumper/net front role. Hamilton and Meier need to be options for a one timer as they are a righty/lefty combo. Bratt needs to quarterback this thing and be the main option for the zone entry. That's a 5 man unit that could work in Jack's absence. Luke is going to be needed for the 2nd unit to pretty much do everything else by himself though lol.

if luke has to do everything himself on PP2 i cant wait to see how he pulls off the drop pass exit/entry play to himself

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I don't understand this lineup at all.

You can easily keep three viable lines by not stacking one. Nico and Meier are a fine line ... Mercer should have Bratt.

Meier - Nico - Noesen
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Cotter - Haula - Tatar
Dowling - Lazar - Bastian

If Keefe runs with those lines above he's a dumb ass

He'll break them in game once he realizes he only has one effective line lol

 

[Maine Fan]

If they no show, I think I'm going to take a break from this place until Friday, which might be it's own shitshow.

There isn't any Devils games after tonight until Friday against Jets, an outstanding team, so taking a break is what most of us do when there aren't any games. So could you help me understand your vacation from this board as you suggested? Thanks in advance

 

[Devils731]

So the gameplan is hope the bottom 3 lines can hold the opponent to only 1 goal against and that the top line can go +2.

It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em

 

[Maine Fan]

Bleedred, please let me know why you "don't care?" Are you giving up on the Devils? Just this season? Forever? What is going on? I am frustrated with the Devils; lack of consistency: effort for 60 min per game, scoring, and defense for 60 mins per game. Injuries are untimely. So Bleedred, what is going on with you?

 

[Better Call Sal]

I give those bottom 3 lines a period before they get jumbled again. I don't mind them trying to maximize the top line and seeing how they perform.

Dallas is a tough test regardless. We'll see where this goes.

 

[MB3]

Palat-Mercer-Tatar makes me cringe as a 4th line.

It's our 2nd line.

Jesus Christ.

 

[longislanddevil]

I don't understand this lineup at all.

You can easily keep three viable lines by not stacking one. Nico and Meier are a fine line ... Mercer should have Bratt.

Meier - Nico - Noesen
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Cotter - Haula - Tatar
Dowling - Lazar - Bastian

If Keefe runs with those lines above he's a dumb ass

The lineup is disgusting without Jack. Really, really bad. I do agree with you. Why load up on one line and have three utterly useless lines?! Meier can be a play driver and doesn’t need to be with Nico and Bratt. I don’t get it.

Palat-Mercer-Tatar makes me cringe as a 4th line.

It's our 2nd line.

Jesus Christ.

Completely gross. Embarrassingly bad lineup.

 

[Derps]

I don't understand this lineup at all.

You can easily keep three viable lines by not stacking one. Nico and Meier are a fine line ... Mercer should have Bratt.

Meier - Nico - Noesen
Palat - Mercer - Bratt
Cotter - Haula - Tatar
Dowling - Lazar - Bastian

If Keefe runs with those lines above he's a dumb ass

Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic