GDT: Your New Jersey Devils vs. New York Islanders, 7 PM, MSGSN/MSGSN2

[Dylan9z9]

I don’t even think he’s a better goalie than Vitek, but I’m beyond confident that Vitek is so fried and done here that he’d instantly be better behind Montreal (a far worse team) and Allen would be much better than Vitek has been here this year.

Vitek is no longer redeemable here. The playoffs last year broke him here. Probably not permanently, but permanently here they sure did.

I’m not convinced Jon Gillies would play much worse behind this team right now than Vitek.

Jon Gillies I forgot about that guy. He was pretty awful right up there with Vitek

 

[NJDevs26]

So running Shmid with no back up for 2 weeks? Great plan.

Who said play no backup, bring up Kinkaid or whoever else is in Utica, bring in Halak if you need someone to sit down, not like they can’t make roster room

 

[NjDevsRR]

According to naturalstattrick at all situations

Sorokin 1.96 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.65 per period

Vanacek 1.56 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.78 per period.

——————

Sorokin, by the numbers that some people really believe in, was not that much better than Vanacek tonight but you’d be wildly surprised to see that if you were reading this thread tonight.

Vanacek wasn’t good but Sorokin wasn’t all that good either.

Vitek could have had a higher number if he played the entire gm (also lower but unlikely given his current state of play)

 

[Cheddabombs]

Yes, anger management hotline?
View attachment 774861

Yes, I have a complaint

 

[Homedresser]

th

Statistically if you're out of it around Thanksgiving it's more likely you're not making it.

maybe now they have a shot at the playoffs

 

[devilsblood]

Even so he scores a goal in G6 and gets benched in G7 lol

A game we dominated

.

 

[Triumph]

According to naturalstattrick at all situations

Sorokin 1.96 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.65 per period

Vanacek 1.56 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.78 per period.

——————

Sorokin, by the numbers that some people really believe in, was not that much better than Vanacek tonight but you’d be wildly surprised to see that if you were reading this thread tonight.

Vanacek wasn’t good but Sorokin wasn’t all that good either.

Sorokin was not very good, no. Laid up that rebound for Nico on the power play. Got beat by McLeod, the first goalie to be beaten by a McLeod shot since 2021-22.

 

[ninetyeight]

Amazing comeback win! This offence is fire, I love that they are never truly out of it and can outscore their troubles. But at the same time these games are so stressful. This team could be incredible if we could just get above .910% (or so) goaltending (and sure I guess the defense could also be tighter to help that happen). Just watch Ruff go back to Vitek if Schmid loses a game, no matter how he plays..

 

[Billdo]

I'd honestly play Smith at wing when/if Nosek is healthy too.

Toffoli-Hughes-Mercer
Meier-Hischier-Bratt
Palat-Haula-Holtz
Smith/Nosek-McLeod-Lazar

Get Tierney the f*** off this team and have Bastian be the 13th forward.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Yes, I have a complaint

View attachment 774869

OH HO, OH MY partner. This is Genucel’s 1-800-OHMY calling in with a special OH MY deal. 70% of facial scrub and cream!

 

[NJDevs26]

A game we dominated

.

You can make the wrong lineup decision and still win, exhibit A tonight’s starting goalie

 

[devilsblood]

Who said play no backup, bring up Kinkaid or whoever else is in Utica, bring in Halak if you need someone to sit down, not like they can’t make roster room

I asked who is the backup, and he didn't give an answer.

Kinkaid, in 7 AHL games, is sporting an .870 save %.

 

[Devils731]

Sorokin was not very good, no. Laid up that rebound for Nico on the power play. Got beat by McLeod, the first goalie to be beaten by a McLeod shot since 2021-22.

I willed that McLeod goal into existence.

Every shot for the last 5 games I’ve said “he never scores on a shot” to whomever I’m watching with.

Tonight it was just myself due to work so I didn’t say anything and he scores.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

According to naturalstattrick at all situations

Sorokin 1.96 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.65 per period

Vanacek 1.56 more goals allowed than expected, or 0.78 per period.

——————

Sorokin, by the numbers that some people really believe in, was not that much better than Vanacek tonight but you’d be wildly surprised to see that if you were reading this thread tonight.

Vanacek wasn’t good but Sorokin wasn’t all that good either.

This was Sorokin’s D+ game and we got the usual Vitek performance.

 

[MadDevil]

And Blackwood makes people pine for his return.

I think Vitek misses Blackwood more than anyone. His toppling over here seems to coincide with the point when Blackwood was no longer a threat to get more games than him.

Which seemed to be around January (new years day to be specific) when they gave Blackwood the Carolina game that happened I think 3 games after Blackwood had an identical game to tonight’s game against Boston right before Christmas.

Vitek had an amazing January and hasn’t been the same since all star break, but has really taken a turn for the absolute worst since game 1 of the playoffs.

And it’s funny that when Vitek stunk it up in the playoffs, Blackwood was no longer a threat to take games from him, as Schmid had jumped over him in the regular season finale.

I think the playoffs broke him. It sucks because he's such a likeable guy, which is why I don't rip him as much as others. I don't know if he's completely beyond redemption but he definitely needs more time off than we're giving him.

It almost feels a little like the Marty/Cory days when for whatever reason the guy who is actually better wins less than the guy who isn't as good. That was at least understandable given Marty was a legend and I don't think the goal support in this situation is as out of whack as that was, but they definitely should give Akira a legit chance at a starter's workload for a bit. Maybe not both the next two given it's a back-to-back but give him the road trip after as the starter and see what happens.

 

[Bleedred]

Jon Gillies I forgot about that guy. He was pretty awful right up there with Vitek

He was worse, but Vitek is really cruising into that territory and his last 42 games have been a horror show.

Gillies had an .885% on an expected .905% on moneypuck for that year. Louis Domingue had a similar disparity in actual play and expected play the season he played here.

I think Schmid is an expected .895% or so coming into this game, so he hasn’t been quite Gillies or Domingue level.

But it’s getting there and Ruff has shown he’s curious to see if it can get here. Maybe tonight changes his mind.

Until the next time Akira has a bad game.

 

[devilsblood]

You can make the wrong lineup decision and still win, exhibit A tonight’s starting goalie

So that is what we are doing right now? Arguing about Ruff's lineup decision from a playoff game we won 7 months ago?

 

[Saugus]

Lazar bazaar in full flow tonight. Well deserved two point game for him.

Holtz played very well too, he deserved a point for all the chances he had. I noticed only one questionable giveaway on the negative side of the ledger for him.

Naturally, this means both will be benched next game.

 

[devilsblood]

I think the playoffs broke him. It sucks because he's such a likeable guy, which is why I don't rip him as much as others. I don't know if he's completely beyond redemption but he definitely needs more time off than we're giving him.

It almost feels a little like the Marty/Cory days when for whatever reason the guy who is actually better wins less than the guy who isn't as good. That was at least understandable given Marty was a legend and I don't think the goal support in this situation is as out of whack as that was, but they definitely should give Akira a legit chance at a starter's workload for a bit. Maybe not both the next two given it's a back-to-back but give him the road trip after as the starter and see what happens.

And the play in front of him this year is keeping him from coming back to life.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I think Holtz played a strong game. He had a bad play with a weak backwards pass in his own end that started a chance for NYI.

You can tell he is playing with some swag which he didnt have earlier in the year.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Fitz rushing to call up Nemec

 

[NjDevsRR]

Lindy praising Holtz again

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

And the play in front of him this year is keeping him from coming back to life.

why do you keep doing this? Truly. I am being genuine.

 

[NJDevs26]

I think the playoffs broke him. It sucks because he's such a likeable guy, which is why I don't rip him as much as others. I don't know if he's completely beyond redemption but he definitely needs more time off than we're giving him.

Which is another thing he has in common with Cory. I take no pleasure of bagging either one cause they're the first ones to take account for the fact they suck and never blamed anyone else for their issues, but it's just...over. Maybe the goals against Vitek tonight weren't as bad as some other games but when you're starting way in the hole you get graded on a harsher curve.

 

[Guadana]

I'd honestly play Smith at wing when/if Nosek is healthy too.

Toffoli-Hughes-Mercer
Meier-Hischier-Bratt
Palat-Haula-Holtz
Smith-McLeod-Nosek

Get Tierney the f*** off this team and have Bastian be the 13th forward.

Lazar?