I feel like the dominance of the Buffalo game was really the turning point.Great comeback win, hopefully it's the turning point of the season!!
Last night was more a continuance of that.
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In the meantime, feel free to join our Discord ServerI feel like the dominance of the Buffalo game was really the turning point.Great comeback win, hopefully it's the turning point of the season!!
Well see, I really like the fight shown by the group last night after being down 4-2. Regardless, let's keep this shit rolling !!!!!!!I feel like the dominance of the Buffalo game was really the turning point.
Last night was more a continuance of that.
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.
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Just got home, what a fun f***ing night this turned out to be. Lazar Bazaar in full effect. How Lazar, How Lazar.
Fitz is one of the best GM's in the league and criticizing him constantly on the goaltending based off of this off-season is simply not understanding the goaltending market and what was available this summer.
I agree to a point but why are other teams able to survive mistakes without their nets being filled?
sorokin, after getting smoked last night, has a .913 sv%, the lowest of his career (and better than vanecek has ever had)devils scored 5 on Sorokin. He clearly sucks.
Someone take 'How Lazar' as a username before I am tempted to
HughesHughes
That's how I view it as well. The goals were all tough spots for any goalie. You'd hope for a big save somewhere in there but realistically there were some ugly mistakes by NJ. The goal where the Isles just kept going hard around against the boards before getting the shot was disappointing. The Devils, to my eyes, are way too passive and routinely allow opponents too much time and space on those hard around plays. I still think, like others hav mentioned, that the defense requires so many reads that it slows the players down. Basically, teams try two main things on offense, getting to the middle by carrying the puck or passing, or moving it around the perimeter to allow screens and cutting players to be in front. It shouldn't be that hard to cover the primary areas where plays go but it seems difficult for them. It's frustrating to watch and is too predictable.so I'm not a Vitek fanboy. I agree looking at this season, he is the sum of all his parts. And I do think we need better goaltending.
But how many of the 4 can we fault him on? Just in last night's game.
1) A powerplay goal,
2) a breakaway goal,
3) a fluke backhand by a diving Clutterbuck in front
4) a bang-bang pass where the puck was already deflected back by the time he was moving
I guess the Barzal breakaway?
so I'm not a Vitek fanboy. I agree looking at this season, he is the sum of all his parts. And I do think we need better goaltending.
But how many of the 4 can we fault him on? Just in last night's game.
1) A powerplay goal,
2) a breakaway goal,
3) a fluke backhand by a diving Clutterbuck in front
4) a bang-bang pass where the puck was already deflected back by the time he was moving
I guess the Barzal breakaway?
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.
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.
People can blame defense, but our defense isnt worser than SJ defense
I mean, I’m criticizing him because he’s playing under par right now. He’s been an average goalie all his career, but he’s not an average goaltender right now. I’ve said Schmid should get more rope and I expect him to.Ok so why are you constantly bashing Vitek? We all know he sucks, it's getting old. Maybe start blaming Ruff for constantly playing him(although I'm not confident he's the solution, but we'll never know unless he's actually given a chance).
Too many confused plays in our own end with us flubbing pucks and not clearing the zone, with turnovers and passes not being cleanly made and sometimes guys nearly running into each other.
Hughes brought up in his on-ice interview that the team let Vitek down. That was unprompted so it makes me think that Vitek hasn't lost the room, i.e. he's not a lost cause mentally in NJ. People being done with him on here doesn't matter as long as he avoids the internet.
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.
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Making excuses for the goalies like always.sorokin, after getting smoked last night, has a .913 sv%, the lowest of his career (and better than vanecek has ever had)
vanecek is at .879
so what exactly are you doing here
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.
I think he looked shaky all night before he was pulled.So I was at the game, and caught some highlights after. Vitek did make some good saves too. I think its easy to forget when the goals go in.
I do agree - at some point.... the summary of his season is that he's giving up goals. I just don't know that I blame him for last night.
I'm not fully in faith with Akira. But I agree he hasn't been given as long of a leash, and should be given some more starts.
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.
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.