192 replies to this topic

[njd3b1ink]

Yeah, except for that silly little RW issue

Is there really a RW issue? We aren't stacked at RW like we are with LW but it isn't like we have 0 RW's that can contribute.
With kovalchuk, zajac, and josefson back the lines could look like this :

zubrus-elias-sykora
Parise-zajac-clarkson
kovalchuk-josefson-palmeri
Boulton/pelley/zharkov-henrique-tedenby.

Regardless of what the combinations are the top three lines are all solid lines that could score on any night. I don't think the RW "issue" is going to stop these lines from being productive.

[DevilinLA]

I doubt that. Maybe on paper, but not in results.

Results you aren't watching ... but inferring from what blogs, forums?

I don't get the gloom and doom when we just gave the B's their first significant run for there money in what 5 teams?

We stood toe to toe with these guys when former NJ teams would have given up after the 2-1 lead.

Did we get blown out by their usual 6-1 , 5-1 deficit?

Am I missing something????

Edited by DevilinLA, 16 November 2011 - 12:11 AM.

[SterioDesign]

I doubt that. Maybe on paper, but not in results.

Well probably cause they still havent played a game full team, with everyone healthy !

Seems like a no brainer to me

[CarpathianForest]

Results you aren't watching ... but inferring from what blogs, forums?

I don't get the gloom and doom when we just gave the B's their first significant run for there money in what 5 teams?

We stood toe to toe with these guys when former NJ teams would have given up after the 2-1 lead.

Did we get blown out by their usual 6-1 , 5-1 deficit?

Am I missing something????

Yeah, we're playing like a bunch of tossers and we can't afford to play like that. NYR, PITT and Philly are all playing well. These early points matter a whole heck of a lot. Plus teams like FLA, TOR have started to show some life. It's going to be hella tough getting a playoff spot this season.
Yeah, we did stand toe to toe with the Bruins tonight, but we let in some terrible goals due to stupid mistakes. I've watched a few games this season. Players get out of position much more than previously.
We haven't had too many 5-1, 6-1 losses this season, but we've had plenty of OT games which means we can't dominate a game and struggle just to keep pace.

[nessus]

Tedenby really messed around with some of those guys. He was fun to watch and he seems to be getting better with each game.

Also, I'd be quite surprised to see Henrique barely cracking a fourth line spot once the team is healthy. If they convert him to a RW, he seems to have potential for a spot at least on the third line if not the first. Overall, I was not terribly disappointed with this game. A couple big mistakes, and moments of being very much outplayed, but they did not look lost imo. Frustrating, but it won't make me jump out the window. Every day, though, I begin to miss Zajac more and more.

[mmajeski06]

Yeah, that was a rough one. Clarkson's goal was nice though.

[DevilinLA]

Yeah, we're playing like a bunch of tossers and we can't afford to play like that. NYR, PITT and Philly are all playing well. These early points matter a whole heck of a lot. Plus teams like FLA, TOR have started to show some life. It's going to be hella tough getting a playoff spot this season.
Yeah, we did stand toe to toe with the Bruins tonight, but we let in some terrible goals due to stupid mistakes. I've watched a few games this season. Players get out of position much more than previously.
We haven't had too many 5-1, 6-1 losses this season, but we've had plenty of OT games which means we can't dominate a game and struggle just to keep pace.

Sure the points matter - no doubt.
But I'm having a tough time buying these sweeping generalizations from "watched a few games this season".

A. You have a new coach.
B. Brand New Devils (some logging major minutes and major responsibility): Larsson, Henrique, Mills, Carter
C. Still green Sophmores: Fayne, Teddy, Palmeiri
D. A star LW and top 4 D man returning from season-long injuries
E. A 19-year old rookie logging top minutes, 21 year old center logging top line/PK minutes
F. Top line center out long term, and another C out in JJ

This is a practically brand new team developing chemistry and identity less than 1/4 through the season?


What did you really expect? The Washington Capitals? Mistake-free hockey from rookies being given the keys?

This is part of rebuilding - letting new guys learn. Better to do this in Nov. than being forced into via injury in Feb. or March.

I'm not a Pollyanna like some here - but was anyone on this board really expecting us to burn through the East with this lineup straight out of the dock?

I think its a great sign that this team can fight back and force overtime (previous NJ teams have NEVER been able to generate enough fight and offence to do this). I'd prefer not to win that way EVERY night - but its a GOOD sign at this point.

Edited by DevilinLA, 16 November 2011 - 12:37 AM.

[CarpathianForest]

You make valid points, Devil.

I don't expect the Washington Capitals, but I do expect a better record than 8-7-1 which translates to 17 points which puts us in a bad spot. The chances of us having a win streak like last season is very slim.
I do expect a little but of chemistry, but we've only got the Elias line doing that. Once Kovy, Josefson and Zajac come back that's bound to offset whatever little chemistry the team has developed which puts us back in square one.

[Triumph]

You make valid points, Devil.

I don't expect the Washington Capitals, but I do expect a better record than 8-7-1 which translates to 17 points which puts us in a bad spot. The chances of us having a win streak like last season is very slim.
I do expect a little but of chemistry, but we've only got the Elias line doing that. Once Kovy, Josefson and Zajac come back that's bound to offset whatever little chemistry the team has developed which puts us back in square one.

You do realize how silly this all sounds, right? I'm 90% sure you do, but in case you don't: If NJ had won tonight - something that was entirely possible, in spite of how poorly they played in the 3rd period - they would have been 9-6-1. Which is 19 points in 16 games or a 97 point pace.

The Devils won't need a win streak like last year's to get them in the playoffs as long as they get decent goaltending.

Edited by Triumph, 16 November 2011 - 12:56 AM.

[sundstrom]

Sure the points matter - no doubt.
But I'm having a tough time buying these sweeping generalizations from "watched a few games this season".

A. You have a new coach.
B. Brand New Devils (some logging major minutes and major responsibility): Larsson, Henrique, Mills, Carter
C. Still green Sophmores: Fayne, Teddy, Palmeiri
D. A star LW and top 4 D man returning from season-long injuries
E. A 19-year old rookie logging top minutes, 21 year old center logging top line/PK minutes
F. Top line center out long term, and another C out in JJ

This is a practically brand new team developing chemistry and identity less than 1/4 through the season?


What did you really expect? The Washington Capitals? Mistake-free hockey from rookies being given the keys?

This is part of rebuilding - letting new guys learn. Better to do this in Nov. than being forced into via injury in Feb. or March.

I'm not a Pollyanna like some here - but was anyone on this board really expecting us to burn through the East with this lineup straight out of the dock?

I think its a great sign that this team can fight back and force overtime (previous NJ teams have NEVER been able to generate enough fight and offence to do this). I'd prefer not to win that way EVERY night - but its a GOOD sign at this point.

oh welcome, sweet voice of reason

[SterioDesign]

I mean... Look at all the teams ahead of us in our situation...

Take out their top 2 centers.... And take their top dman and bring him back at 18 years old... Also if they have a pure sniper superstar take him out of the lineup for 5 games

Now tell me how they'd look

Edited by SterioDesign, 16 November 2011 - 01:15 AM.

[Masked Fan]

Painful to lose the 2 pts or even 1 from that game. But it was a WELL played game with a LOT of effort and a LOT of great work from a LOT of guys on the ice.

It's a L, but there were SO many positive things happening during that game, that IF they CAN build off 'em, we MIGHT look back to tonight and say that was where they started to really turn on the effort and make a serious Gut check.

GO DEVILS!! Destroy Buffalo tonight!!!!!

[Onddeck]

nice feed tonight, Mocrowavepizza... hopin for one tomorrow as well!!

[Elias26]

nice feed tonight, Mocrowavepizza... hopin for one tomorrow as well!!

Same

[DaneykoIsGod]

Yeah, except for that silly little RW issue

FWIW, all of our goals came from RWs last night.


Positives I take from this game:
- Tedenby had one of his best efforts of the season. He was constantly in the middle of things, creating plays.
- Palmieri's smile after his goal said it all. The kid really needed that, and to get a second goal on top of it makes it even better. Hopefully we get to see a similar grin, albeit with fewer teeth, from Teddy soon.
- Hedberg was ridiculous. Highlight reel save after highlight reel save.
- Part of that was necessitated by how wide open the game was, and it was good to see the Devils match the Bruins in a game like that right up until the end. It's one thing to stay in a game with an elite team when you're forcing them to play your game, but when you're forced to play theirs and are still able to stay in it, that says a lot. Especially when you're missing two top-six forwards.
- Janssen leveling Chara was friggin awesome. Hot damn, I missed that crazy bastard.

All in all, great effort despite the loss. Looking forward to tonight's game.

LGD!

[Aznjsn]

FWIW, all of our goals came from RWs last night.


Positives I take from this game:
- Tedenby had one of his best efforts of the season. He was constantly in the middle of things, creating plays.
- Palmieri's smile after his goal said it all. The kid really needed that, and to get a second goal on top of it makes it even better. Hopefully we get to see a similar grin, albeit with fewer teeth, from Teddy soon.
- Hedberg was ridiculous. Highlight reel save after highlight reel save.
- Part of that was necessitated by how wide open the game was, and it was good to see the Devils match the Bruins in a game like that right up until the end. It's one thing to stay in a game with an elite team when you're forcing them to play your game, but when you're forced to play theirs and are still able to stay in it, that says a lot. Especially when you're missing two top-six forwards.
- Janssen leveling Chara was friggin awesome. Hot damn, I missed that crazy bastard.

All in all, great effort despite the loss. Looking forward to tonight's game.

LGD!

I missed the first period, so I'm assuming that happened then? I did not see him in the game at all... I wish DeBoer would play him more to make more of an impact on the ice because we got outplayed in physicality all night and you could tell the Devils would rather avoid a check and try to get rid of the puck, rather than play the puck and make smart decisions and take the hit. Just sayin'.

[NJCroMag]

I found this exchange between Cangialosi and Chico a bit perplexing...

CHICO: "Ya know, Steve, Darren Pang auditioned for the role of Frodo in those Lord Of The Rings movies."
CANGIALOSI: "Wow...I can't say I knew that, Chico."
CHICO: "He didn't get the part, though. They said he was still too short for the role."

[Pepperkorn]

You guys are so irritating. You all want to just fight and pontificate and be right. And as the trashy neighbor from my youth used to say: none of yus are right.

Whenever anyone is interested in ACTUAL hockey it's pretty much pedantic esoteric fenwick sh!t and you summarily discounting the relevance of any other train of thought.

Knock yerselves out I guess.

[njdevil26]

I have to say... last night was the LEAST annoyed I've been after a loss in a long time. They played pretty well without Kovy, Zajac, and Josefson. The Bruins are maybe the best team in the league, won five in a row, and scored 30 goals in that 5 game span. The Devils really gave them all they could handle... a few glaring mistakes shows that if the team is on top of it's game, they can play with the best teams in the league. We're also missing one of the best players in the world (Kovy), and our top center (Zajac). We'll be alright...

[EdgeControl]

I missed the first period, so I'm assuming that happened then? I did not see him in the game at all... I wish DeBoer would play him more to make more of an impact on the ice because we got outplayed in physicality all night and you could tell the Devils would rather avoid a check and try to get rid of the puck, rather than play the puck and make smart decisions and take the hit. Just sayin'.

the bruins were all over our second breakout pass. how many times did we turn it over at our blueline??? No one wanted to skate it out against them or draw the double pinch, too many weak panic clear attempts. they did the film room work on deboer. and they were the big bad bruins hitting anything that moved