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

[glenwo2]

Brendan Smith may have found his calling.

Remember how many here were lamenting that the team lacked the Physicality or whatever to compete with other teams that do the same?

Well perhaps Smith may incidentally be that physical presence by accident.

Would love Bahl to turn into a Mean Wrecking machine, though.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Brendan Smith may have found his calling.

Remember how many here were lamenting that the team lacked the Physicality or whatever to compete with other teams that do the same?

Well perhaps Smith may incidentally by that physical presence by accident.

Would love Bahl to turn into a Mean Wrecking machine, though.

A few folks commented how coach-like his comments were so it's no surprise he sees the game from that vantage point of a veteran and tries to step up and fill the need of the moment and has no problem being a role player. I am just glad his normal rate of penalties has decreased from when he played D. Credit where credit is due. He found his niche.

 

[mdj12784]

Believe he is still on pace for it

I think if he stays reasonably healthy, he’s got it.

 

[NJ07102]

We are at the turning point of the season. A loss against the Isles would've been terrible after that great Buffalo-game. But the boys did it, great effort und comeback. Way to go!

 

[Better Call Sal]

In gif form.

I dig this kid's style and vibe.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Just watched the highlights, and my god what a player McLeod has become. Holtz looked dangerous too, and Lazar has been a great low-risk pick up.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Some more fun with gifs, no idea why they're coming out so grainy though. Have to try again later maybe. Making it look like VCR footage.

 

[MadDevil]

Some more fun with gifs, no idea why they're coming out so grainy though. Have to try again later maybe. Making it look like VCR footage.

Honestly, I thought you had some kind of filter on these making them look more vintage lol

Watching McLeod fly around the offensive zone to help setup the game winner was something else. I don't think he's ever going to be much of a scorer, but I've been pleasantly surprised by him since the playoffs.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Man, apologies if it got shared already, but Lazar is such a f***ing beauty. I love that guy. Him and Smith are our Jims from Shoresy.

 

[Devils731]

All in all, not an inspiring game but winning beats losing.

Some of the Devils passing and finishing woes probably come from pressing and gripping their sticks tightly. Winning should help them relax, which will help them play better. So hopefully we will see some improved play going forward.

 

[Whaddagoal]

All in all, not an inspiring game but winning beats losing.

Some of the Devils passing and finishing woes probably come from pressing and gripping their sticks tightly. Winning should help them relax, which will help them play better. So hopefully we will see some improved play going forward.

A comeback win is pretty inspiring, I think...

I know what you're saying it wasn't a perfect game, and they didn't play great in the 2nd. But to gut it out and claw back 2 goals and for the 3rd line to pretty much steal a full 2 points on what was the last shift of regular time.

That's quite inspiring for me.

 

[Triumph]

All in all, not an inspiring game but winning beats losing.

Some of the Devils passing and finishing woes probably come from pressing and gripping their sticks tightly. Winning should help them relax, which will help them play better. So hopefully we will see some improved play going forward.

Definitely felt like their disconnectedness in the third was from trying too hard and trying to make individual plays when they had the puck.

 

[Dylan9z9]

Great

How about the other 43 goals he’s allowed this year?

This game is more in line with a normal game from him this year than some outlier.

Like I've said when Vitek is in goal you have to score 4 goals to be in the game

 

[Jersey Fresh]

----
Also, methinks Brendan Smith is hitting Gibbons-level icon status around here

He gets a bad rap because he can’t stop taking bad penalties, but as a #6 rotational player he fills his role. The bigger problem is Ruff - Smith isn’t an everyday player and shouldn’t be treated like one.

Also he just seems like a good dude in the room.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I’ve been a Smith detractor but got to give him credit for the last two games. At least he keeps trying to bring something to help out the team unlike some of our former whipping boys who didn’t have any redeeming intangibles on top of struggling. Plus his overuse his not his fault.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Man, apologies if it got shared already, but Lazar is such a f***ing beauty. I love that guy. Him and Smith are our Jims from Shoresy.

Smith and Lazar are A+++ interviews.

 

[theoptimist]

Jack doesn't even acknowledge Bahl

 

[MasterofGrond]

i love smith as the 23rd guy on the roster, especially if he's rotating on the 4th line and not as a 6D

problem is, he's a mule and you can't pair a mule with secretariat

 

[Nocashstyle]

Man, apologies if it got shared already, but Lazar is such a f***ing beauty. I love that guy. Him and Smith are our Jims from Shoresy.

Lazar seems like such a likable guy. I would not be shocked at all if he ends up doing some type of media when his career is over. He’s always really articulate and natural in front of the camera.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

So I guess Sorokin sucks. He gave up a goal on a 2 on 1 to Mcleod and had a big rebound for Nico's pp goal (which some of you blamed Vitek for against the Rangers).

Even a goalie like Sorokin gives up goals like that.

 

[AfroThunder396]

I don't know if I've ever identified more with a fellow Devils fan than I have with this girl in the front row after the Isles made it 4-2. I made the exact same face.

 

[Oneiro]

So I guess Sorokin sucks. He gave up a goal on a 2 on 1 to Mcleod and had a big rebound for Nico's pp goal (which some of you blamed Vitek for against the Rangers).

Even a goalie like Sorokin gives up goals like that.

Sorokin was not very good last night but this is willful misunderstanding of why Vanacek gets criticized, which is that the latter never makes the save on a high danger chance, as opposed to sometimes with Sorokin.

Most aren't excusing the defensive woes or denying that the majority of goalies in the league aren't especially good and it's a bit of a crap shoot. All they're saying is that a goalie who can give them a chance at a league average makes it much easier to stay in games.

 

[DevilsHughes86]

Great comeback win, hopefully it's the turning point of the season!!

 

[devilsblood]

Just watched the highlights, and my god what a player McLeod has become. Holtz looked dangerous too, and Lazar has been a great low-risk pick up.

I think without Wood, McLeod is no longer deferring in terms of being the primary puck carrier up ice.

And having the puck on your stick a lot, and having the natural ability to beat guys up the ice, that's a confidence boost to then do more.

The biggest weakness entering this season was his shot, not only the velocity of the shot, but the ability to get the shot off, 20 games in we are seeing a drastic improvement in shot rate.

5.79 sog's/60 last year.

7.58 this year.

10.5 cf/60 last year

14.4 this year.

 

[devilsblood]

Sorokin was not very good last night but this is willful misunderstanding of why Vanacek gets criticized, which is that the latter never makes the save on a high danger chance, as opposed to sometimes with Sorokin.

Most aren't excusing the defensive woes or denying that the majority of goalies in the league aren't especially good and it's a bit of a crap shoot. All they're saying is that a goalie who can give them a chance at a league average makes it much easier to stay in games.

This is true, but Sorokin is also considered one of the best goalies in the league.

Even the best goalies are going to struggle when facing a heavy dose of 2 on 1's and cross ice one timers. (Which aren't properly represented in the publicly available advanced stats).

When that happens to a guy like Vitek, he's going to get crushed.