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

[RememberTheName]

I don't think I have ever seen a player take such a big leap as Alex Holtz has in one offseason. Not only is he playing the best hockey of his career, but he has COMPLETELY changed his playstyle from the way he played the year before. His weaknesses have become strengths, he is becoming more involved all over the ice, just everything about his play has been unbelievable. The play where he hustled to pin a player on the boards which immediately led to Jack drawing the 5 on 3 penalty was perfection. And with all of these improvements, I would argue he isn't even fully utilizing his biggest strength, his shot, yet. He's getting a ton of chances but being stonewalled a lot. Once he gets into a groove, good things are going to happen. He has so much swag right now.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Luke Hughes is already the best defenseman on the team. I think that’s pretty neat.

Part of me wishes this wasn't the case because it means our entire defensive core would be playing up to last year's level but it's also a very good sign for him. After his playoff games against Carolina, I knew he'd fit into this team/system like a glove

 

[Guadana]

Which is weird. Because everybody knows Sorokin is better than Vanecek.

Everybody knows Sorokin is better than most of the goalies in the league.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t lose a decent amount of games this year to inferior goalies, for the fact that his team isn’t very good.

That doesn’t mean he hasn’t lost to a lot of inferior goalies since he came into the league, simply for the fact that his team isn’t very good.

He lost to Raanta in the playoffs last year (I can’t remember if Andersen was in by the series clinching game) and everybody knows he’s better than Raanta.

Hey, Shesterkin lost to Schmid and went 1-4 in the games he had to play him last year. We know Schmid isn’t better than Shesterkin, but better goalies lose games to lesser goalies all the time and even playoff series’ to them as well.

We have next to no chance with Vitek doing that anymore.

We had to play as close to perfect as we could against Buffalo just for him to allow 2 goals and he still wound up stopping a lesser rate of shots than one of the Buffalo goalies did in that game.

Lankinen and may be Vejmelka are my candidates.

 

[Triumph]

I don't think anyone is going to point to tonight as a well-played game by the Devils. I'm not seeing anyone say that but I don't read back through the thread. They played kinda shitty and got out with a win. But those are the kind of breaks they haven't been getting lately.

 

[Bleedred]

Going by money puck.

Of goalies with 10 games played, Vitek has the worst high danger save percentage in the league.

And moneypuck actually flatters his GSAx as evolving hockey had him I think at a -2 more goals in GSAx than moneypuck did. And I think he’s even worse on natural stat trick than moneypuck as well. That was a couple days ago though.

 

[NJDevs26]

I don't think anyone is going to point to tonight as a well-played game by the Devils. I'm not seeing anyone say that but I don't read back through the thread. They played kinda shitty and got out with a win. But those are the kind of breaks they haven't been getting lately.

It seems like the effort was there at least? Honestly with the way they've played most of the season THAT alone would be a good starting point. I didn't think they'd exactly dominate the Isles the way they did a crappy Sabres team who just lost its big gun unlike most people here who thought the Isles were just another **** team we could roll.

 

[Devils731]

I don't think anyone is going to point to tonight as a well-played game by the Devils. I'm not seeing anyone say that but I don't read back through the thread. They played kinda shitty and got out with a win. But those are the kind of breaks they haven't been getting lately.

Unfortunately some of the discussion now about tonight stems from talk about how the Devils were dominating the game through 1-2 periods.

 

[Guadana]

I don't think I have ever seen a player take such a big leap as Alex Holtz has in one offseason. Not only is he playing the best hockey of his career, but he has COMPLETELY changed his playstyle from the way he played the year before. His weaknesses have become strengths, he is becoming more involved all over the ice, just everything about his play has been unbelievable. The play where he hustled to pin a player on the boards which immediately led to Jack drawing the 5 on 3 penalty was perfection. And with all of these improvements, I would argue he isn't even fully utilizing his biggest strength, his shot, yet. He's getting a ton of chances but being stonewalled a lot. Once he gets into a groove, good things are going to happen. He has so much swag right now.

Now He looks like potentially(in near future) faster and better shooting\passing version of what we have in Palat now.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I’m also over Tierney. He had to be the worst player on the ice tonight

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Is it really so hard to hold two ideas in one head?

1) You're likely not gonna win the cup playing this quality of defense.

2) You definitely will not win the cup with this quality of goaltending.

The defense is going to look worse when the every high quality chance goes in, it's not just feasible to play like that. You need saves from your goalie, this isn't mens league where you chalk it up to playing absurd defense. They played like the 2000 Devils against Buffalo and he still went 10-12, like come on lol. Schmid's last couple of starts have been better than Vanecek's in front of the same D

I’m also over Tierney. He had to be the worst player on the ice tonight

The fact he's somewhat a regular right now is a testament to our injuries, he'll be out of the lineup when Nosek + Haula + Timo are all back.

 

[Bleedred]

You still need a backup.

And if you're saying, roll Schmid as the #1, with Vitek as backup, until further notice. I'm fine with that.

Putting Vitek on waivers is just board lunacy.

I don’t think it’s lunacy, unless you believe it’s too risky because someone may take him.

I don’t think anyone is claiming him because of the extra year and high-er salary.

If he was on an expiring deal I definitely think he’s a threat to be claimed.

But maybe it does nothing to wake him up?

I just wish they would stop playing him at a pace that’s greater than the amount of games he even played last year. He certainly hasn’t done anything to warrant that.

And now we’re at a point where we can’t really afford to experiment with giving Schmid more starts. We’re at the point where we probably need to just outright give him the starts.

I don’t know that he’s definitely better, but he’s an unknown. Vitek is a known at this point and his last 42 games make Blackwood and Campbell feel better about their games. Although both of those goalies have been bad in a stretch that’s almost over twice that many games.

 

[Saugus]

Smith obliterating Lee 3 times ^^

Edit: LOL age restriction

For those who can’t watch, this is a summary of the video:

 

[Devs3cups]

I don't think anyone is going to point to tonight as a well-played game by the Devils. I'm not seeing anyone say that but I don't read back through the thread. They played kinda shitty and got out with a win. But those are the kind of breaks they haven't been getting lately.

I didn't think they played poorly at all. The were playing very well imo up until the Barzal breakaway goal. That completely deflated them. They picked it up in the 3rd. Didn't feel like they gave up a whole lot.

 

[NJDevs26]

The defense is going to look worse when the every high quality chance goes in, it's not just feasible to play like that. You need saves from your goalie, this isn't mens league where you chalk it up to playing absurd defense. They played like the 2000 Devils against Buffalo and he still went 10-12, like come on lol. Schmid's last couple of starts have been better than Vanecek's in front of the same D

Schmid's done more than enough lately to get some run but let's not gloss over the fact his first few starts the numbers were as crappy as Vitek's. When multiple goalies' play hits a valley compared to last year maybe it's not all on the goalies either.

 

[Guadana]

Sometimes it looks like fans waiting Devils will win every team 6-2 and will outshot them 45-20. Its a cap league. Dont forget to ask opponents.

 

[Emperoreddy]

And moneypuck actually flatters his GSAx as evolving hockey had him I think at a -2 more goals in GSAx than moneypuck did. And I think he’s even worse on natural stat trick than moneypuck as well. That was a couple days ago though.

Natural stat trick says Blackwood on the Sharks has faced 121 HD shots against with 20 of them going in as goals.

Vitek has 81 HD shots with 23 goals against (tied for most in the league).

Vitek has actually been better on medium and low danger shots then Schmid, but he is bad far the worst goalie in the league on high danger chances.

He can't make difficult saves this year and it's completely sunk him despite not facing a ton of HD shots.

 

[Devs3cups]

These pictures are f***ing sick.

 

[Saugus]

I’m also over Tierney. He had to be the worst player on the ice tonight

He’s the definition of filler. If/when everyone is ever healthy, he’s clearly behind Lazar, Nosek, Bastian, and (dare I say) power forward Smith for a fourth line winger slot.

 

[Camille the Eel]

They need to make a trade for an NHL goalie. Vitek is done.

These injuries suck(who are the trainers/health crew?) but best to get them outta the way now vs after the ASG.

Vitek is a solid #2 guy in my eyes, given plenty of rest and playing maybe 25 well chosen games a year. The problems come when he plays beyond that role. Even within a game he plays best, in fact plays well, when he’s behind a good structured defense that’s limiting the chances against. He will wear down even within a game when he faces too many shots. I definitely don’t like to see him starting repeatedly.

 

[Guadana]

I’m also over Tierney. He had to be the worst player on the ice tonight

When Nosek and Timo will be healthy, you will not see him. I believe even one of them.

 

[Bleedred]

Lankinen and may be Vejmelka are my candidates.

I’m down for almost anybody at this point, provided their contract isn’t bad or too long.

And not because I think anybody is necessarily better than him, but because I think everybody is gonna be better than him here.

He’s broke and can’t be fixed until he gets a new owner.

 

[Billdo]

Lazar?

God damn it I knew I was forgetting someone. Take Nosek out.

 

[Triumph]

I didn't think they played poorly at all. The were playing very well imo up until the Barzal breakaway goal. That completely deflated them. They picked it up in the 3rd. Didn't feel like they gave up a whole lot.

There were certainly good stretches, but these breakdowns just can't happen. There were also sustained stretches of pressure by the Islanders.

Also they were total garbage coming out in the 3rd.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Tonight was the kind of win that can turn a season around. Maybe we can get on a run now.

 

[Devs3cups]

I don’t discount Hischier tapping that rebound home on the tying goal. I know it’s a layup but that is also a puck that is a bit on edge and also in on his hands a bit. Could have easily muffed it and given a chance for an NYI defender to swipe it out of danger.

I agree. Looking at the replay, that puck was bouncing. Could've been a tough play tbh.