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

[Bleedred]

The team can still squeak in, but they ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BEAT PHILLY and they have to beat Columbus.

And at least getting a point against Winnipeg would be nice. Beating Winnipeg would be a consolation to losing yet another point in the final seconds of regulation.

But then they’ll go out and lay an egg against Philly.

 

[Devilsfan118]

One of the only other positives is no one behind us gained ground. Columbus, Detroit and Boston all lose in regulation also.

Sigh.

I have really grown to hate Amanda's commentary, not gonna lie.

 

[Better Call Sal]

This team cares? Could've fooled me.

Half of this team coasts around all game.

I don't agree. I do think they care. I just think the ones you're likely referring to are not talented enough.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Gotta feel bad for the top line who played lights out and dragged them to a tie game late. I’ll give Kovy a bit of a break as he’s logged some tough minutes for us all season and done it quite well at times. Not giving Haula a pass though. If you can’t produce offensively the least you can do is give us a big faceoff or battle at the end.

All 3 of our goals were with the man advantage. Two power plays and a delayed penalty.

Still no 5 on 5 goal in the last 6 periods of play. We had at least 10 looks good looks too. Bastian, Dillon, Mercer (maybe 2 or 3 times . . .)

 

[My3Sons]

I think the guys can build off of this. Bratt, Nico and Timo had very good games. Let's see what happens.

I just don’t want Fitz going overboard with a trade. Don’t send out a first or Silayev or Gritsyuk. They aren’t getting a Jack Hughes replacement as a rental and panicking won’t change that

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[Bleedred]

Haula as it currently stands is not an NHL caliber player. Prime buy out candidate come the offseason

Buy out CANDIDATE?

He better be a buyout LOCK! Unless you think someone will take him as a cap dump. We’re probably better off eating the buyout than losing a potential asset or definitely asset to get rid of him.

The third year was a MISTAKE to begin with. Nobody else was giving him three year deals (I don’t think?) after Minnesota. Unless he just kept getting passed around on the same deal.

 

[jkrdevil]

One of the only other positives is no one behind us gained ground. Columbus, Detroit and Boston all lose in regulation also.

Sigh.

Here comes the propaganda. I don’t want to hear about how much they care about each other. Show it by doing the little things right.

 

[longislanddevil]

Do you trust Fitz to address the holes?

Not sure I do anymore. How many failed seasons does he get?

I used to but I don’t anymore. I think a lot of us feel the same way. He had built up all kinds of good will but with the last 1 and 3/4 seasons, he’s used it all up. I’ll know after Friday if I’ve completely lost faith. Sadly, I’m anticipating that will be the case.

 

[Whaddagoal]

I am/WAS a Haula supporter, but if you are not going to score points, you have to win faceoffs and play good defensive hockey, none of that is happening right now.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

This team cares? Could've fooled me.

Half of this team coasts around all game.

The top guys absolutely care, the depth pieces are f***ing atrocious pieces of garbage

 

[jkrdevil]

Yeah, I actually do. But it has to happen this off-season.

Things look bleak, but they haven’t blown the playoff spot yet. There is no reason not to get a few rentals down the middle and plug what you can of the holes.

 

[Bleedred]

I used to but I don’t anymore. I think a lot of us feel the same way. He had built up all kinds of good will but with the last 1 and 3/4 seasons, he’s used it all up. I’ll know after Friday if I’ve completely lost faith. Sadly, I’m anticipating that will be the case.

He deserves the rest of the year and he’ll get it. But we’re in cross the streams time. If we make the playoffs than he deserves to stay. But I’d still be slightly skeptical of him going forward.

 

[Davegarri]

I don't agree. I do think they care. I just think the ones you're likely referring to are not talented enough.

There's a difference between effort and talent and I don't think either have been good enough except for a select few since Christmas.

Lack of effort or discipline in sports is what pisses me off the most. The majority of this team lacks both.

 

[JrFischer54]

Honestly the fact they came back and not folded should give Fitz the ammo he needs to make some moves. Give the guys credit they didn’t quit. Now follow it up and show it on the ice

 

[Edmonton East]

I have no logical basis for this, but the more media reports I see of guys allegedly crying in the lockerroom and saying how much they care...the more convinced I get 2 day work year Fitz is gonna overpay heavily for someone this week.

 

[NJDevs26]

They really need to score first Friday, the vibes in the building can get really ugly really quickly especially if Putz doesn't do anything.

I keep forgetting this was the last game before the trade deadline lol...god at this point the team needs something about as badly as the Mets needed Cespedes in 2015

Unlike the Mets that year I'm not sure this team really deserves help though, or that it'll actually make a difference.

 

[Patrik26]

I have really grown to hate Amanda's commentary, not gonna lie.

She's very important to the organization. She'll even tell you how.

 

[Devs3cups]

Things look bleak, but they haven’t blown the playoff spot yet. There is no reason not to get a few rentals down the middle and plug what you can of the holes.

I meant it more in the sense that he has to fix the bottom-6 before the start of next season. I'm all for making moves now.

 

[guitarguyvic]

This team cares? Could've fooled me.

Half of this team coasts around all game.

Honestly the last two periods they were skating and hitting like I haven’t all season. I thought for sure something had clicked and we were seeing them in real time rallying together in the face of these injuries. And maybe they still will, maybe it carries over despite the gut wrenching loss. But the full blown idiocy of the players on the ice for that last shift may have just as easily broken it for the team.

The truth is that they have shown us time and time again this season that they really aren’t that good of a team. If they can’t carry over the rallying inspirational play they showed in this game (sans the last minute) then the postseason is toast.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Yeah, I actually do. But it has to happen this off-season.

Why wait? This team has been dreadful for two months and he's done nothing to try and address it.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Here comes the propaganda. I don’t want to hear about how much they care about each other. Show it by doing the little things right.

She works for the team and isn't a real reporter. Shouldn't ever expect any serious commentary or posts from her in terms of being critical of the team.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

A quote like that is probably a personal quote from Timo/Dillon, they aren't going to sandbag their teammates after a loss like that. Let's be real, guys lol

 

[NJDevs26]

I have no logical basis for this, but the more media reports I see of guys allegedly crying in the lockerroom and saying how much they care...the more convinced I get 2 day work year Fitz is gonna overpay heavily for someone this week.

Not gonna lie I'm a bit paranoid an overpay is coming too, especially when you're even floating trying to get Rantanen lol

 

[Patrik26]

I keep forgetting this was the last game before the trade deadline lol...god at this point the team needs something about as badly as the Mets needed Cespedes in 2015

If that happens here and works as well as it did for the Mets, I'll take it. Except maybe win the whole damn thing.