45 replies to this topic

[Martyisth3b3st]

Yes, both of these. It's not often you miss on playing the 2 best teams in the Conference, but the Devils managed to do it. I mean, in 2003, the Devils didn't have to play the Flyers, and they got a weak Stanley Cup Finals matchup. A lot of times, it's about the teams you don't play.

You were talking all about how much better the Flyers were going to be than New Jersey, and they just came fresh off an ass-whooping of Pissburgh. Boston played absolutely terribly towards the end of the season (and the Washington series included). I think that the Rangers, with a hot Lundqvist and scoring from their kids, were the best team in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't us.

Saying "favorable matchups" even though we had to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds is pretty absurd.

[ThreeCups]

You were talking all about how much better the Flyers were going to be than New Jersey, and they just came fresh off an ass-whooping of Pissburgh. Boston played absolutely terribly towards the end of the season (and the Washington series included). I think that the Rangers, with a hot Lundqvist and scoring from their kids, were the best team in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't us.

Saying "favorable matchups" even though we had to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds is pretty absurd.

I agree. On the surface, Florida seemed "favorable", but they were a tougher opponent than both the Flyers and Rags. The Panthers were alot tougher than most give them credit for. The Flyers and Rags were no slouches. The Devils just came together at the right time this postseason....

[Zubie#8]

Having a good Fourth line gave this team new life, and hopefully we will see this starting in October.

[Devildude]

It was the right timing... We had a lot of good looks at the net at the right time and overtimes. Our team played amazing. Right coach. We just struggled at the end because the Kings were really rolling, the first two games were won in overtime, and they had some calls from the refs. I think if we split the first two overtime finals games, it would have been a different series.

[Triumph]

You were talking all about how much better the Flyers were going to be than New Jersey, and they just came fresh off an ass-whooping of Pissburgh. Boston played absolutely terribly towards the end of the season (and the Washington series included). I think that the Rangers, with a hot Lundqvist and scoring from their kids, were the best team in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't us.

Saying "favorable matchups" even though we had to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds is pretty absurd.

We didn't have to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds. The Devils were the 6 seed, they had to beat the 3 seed, 5 seed, and 1 seed. Thing is, both the Panthers and the Rangers overachieved a lot to achieve those seeds.

I did think the Flyers would be better than NJ - the Devils stuck it to their defense, and Brodeur was excellent during that series. As for Boston, Tim Thomas was mostly the difference there - no one thought they were going to keep scoring 4 goals a game, but Thomas faltered in the 2nd half. Still, it wasn't like they lost in 5 - they made it to Game 7 OT in the first round. That was one of the top teams in the East and NJ didn't have to face them.

If the Rangers were the best the East had to offer, it was a weak conference. The Rangers were an average team with a goalie playing exceptionally well.

[Devilsfan118]

Also, Bryce freakin Salvador. Beast.

[devilsrule33]

You were talking all about how much better the Flyers were going to be than New Jersey, and they just came fresh off an ass-whooping of Pissburgh. Boston played absolutely terribly towards the end of the season (and the Washington series included). I think that the Rangers, with a hot Lundqvist and scoring from their kids, were the best team in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't us.

Saying "favorable matchups" even though we had to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds is pretty absurd.

Devils ran right over the Flyers, but a lot of their guys were really hurting. No one is making it as an excuse but it certainly did help. Bryzgalov sucked big time as well.

Giroux - surgery on both wrists
Simmonds - surgery repairing broken left index finger
Carle - Surgery repairing torn stomach muscle
Timonen - Surgey removing disc fragment from lower back
van Riemsdyk - Surgery repairing torn labrum in right hip

[NJDevs4978]

Devils ran right over the Flyers, but a lot of their guys were really hurting. No one is making it as an excuse but it certainly did help. Bryzgalov sucked big time as well.

Giroux - surgery on both wrists
Simmonds - surgery repairing broken left index finger
Carle - Surgery repairing torn stomach muscle
Timonen - Surgey removing disc fragment from lower back
van Riemsdyk - Surgery repairing torn labrum in right hip

Kovy, Volch, Elias, etc weren't hurting? And for all we know we finish first in the division and conference instead of fourth if we have Zajac for even half the season.

Did we get fortunate we didn't have to face Pittsburgh and Boston, or Philly in the first round? Sure but that's really demeaning what the Devils did. No playoff run where you have to beat your two biggest rivals should be dismissed as a fluke.

Yes, both of these. It's not often you miss on playing the 2 best teams in the Conference, but the Devils managed to do it. I mean, in 2003, the Devils didn't have to play the Flyers, and they got a weak Stanley Cup Finals matchup. A lot of times, it's about the teams you don't play.

2003 they earned their breaks in the first two rounds by beating the Flyers out for the division and the #2 seed. And they still had to beat the best team in the league that year in the ECF.

[Ollie McKraut]

The New Jersey Devils are the best damn hockey team in the NHL's eastern conference.

[maxpower]

Ottawa in 2003 was a very good team. But otherwise the Devils had good match-ups BECAUSE they were a very good team themselves.

To quote Chris Russo: "You gotta give 'em credit Mikey".

Ottawa in 2003 was a championship level team. BUT, that draw was also very heavy to one side. The "tested" teams all ended up on one side of the bracket, other than the Devils.

[maxpower]

Devils ran right over the Flyers, but a lot of their guys were really hurting. No one is making it as an excuse but it certainly did help. Bryzgalov sucked big time as well.

Giroux - surgery on both wrists
Simmonds - surgery repairing broken left index finger
Carle - Surgery repairing torn stomach muscle
Timonen - Surgey removing disc fragment from lower back
van Riemsdyk - Surgery repairing torn labrum in right hip

I think other than his brain damage moment in Game 5, Bryz played well in that series, it should have been worse. Probably outplayed Brodeur in net. But obviously there were other factors in Brodeur's game that were big in that series.

Also everyone has injury problems. And these things didn't hamper the Flyers in game 1. Really what happened was the Flyers were weak and when they got pushed back at, they didn't want it, no matter what the goalie could do about it. It really was the flip side of the 2010 series.

[roomtemp]

I think other than his brain damage moment in Game 5, Bryz played well in that series, it should have been worse. Probably outplayed Brodeur in net. But obviously there were other factors in Brodeur's game that were big in that series.

Also everyone has injury problems. And these things didn't hamper the Flyers in game 1. Really what happened was the Flyers were weak and when they got pushed back at, they didn't want it, no matter what the goalie could do about it. It really was the flip side of the 2010 series.

Hell the worse game Bryz had was game 1 and they won that game.

[oconnellrules]

MARTY

[capo]

We didn't have to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds. The Devils were the 6 seed, they had to beat the 3 seed, 5 seed, and 1 seed. Thing is, both the Panthers and the Rangers overachieved a lot to achieve those seeds.

I did think the Flyers would be better than NJ - the Devils stuck it to their defense, and Brodeur was excellent during that series. As for Boston, Tim Thomas was mostly the difference there - no one thought they were going to keep scoring 4 goals a game, but Thomas faltered in the 2nd half. Still, it wasn't like they lost in 5 - they made it to Game 7 OT in the first round. That was one of the top teams in the East and NJ didn't have to face them.

If the Rangers were the best the East had to offer, it was a weak conference. The Rangers were an average team with a goalie playing exceptionally well.

I agree about the Boston aspect of this. I think the Bruins have strongest team in the conference and the most depth. The fact that they had a long season last year contributed to what they ended up being this year. If you think back to the asskicking they gave the Devils earlier in the season when they were running on all cylinders you see just how good of team they are.

I disagree with the Florida aspect. I think they are a lot better than people give them credit for. Gudbranson is already very good and is going to be an awesome shutdown defenseman as he matures. Their top line was very good and Kevin Dineen is a great coach. I'm not crazy about their goaltending tandem we saw in the playoffs but I like Markstrom a lot moving forward. I don't think we've seen the last of the Panthers.

Edited by capo, 21 July 2012 - 02:22 PM.

[MDPucks]

Florida was the weakest regular season team in the playoffs but they were a match-up nightmare for the Devils especially with the quickness of their top 2 lines and power play. The difference in the series was Marty in Game 7 and the 3rd and 4th lines.

Philadelphia blew their wad emotionally against Pittsburgh where the Flyers totally mind-fvcked the Penguins with their cheap crap. That's on top of Fleury and the Pen's D out-sieving Bryz and the Flyer's D. The Devils simply didn't go for the Flyers BS and that frustrated the Flyers.

The Rangers were a very solid team with a great goaltender but I would argue that their shot blocking, defensive, low margin for error style of play led to their demise (similar to the late 90's Devils). Devils took advantage of the Rags horrible starts and even in Games 5 & 6 where the Rags dominated play after the 1st they left themselves with no margin for error -> 1 mistake = Carter & Henrique GWG's.

Boston and Pittsburgh would have been the match-up nightmares for the Devils (Boston due to physicallity and Chara, Pittsburgh due to quickness) but the Bruins demise was their lack of scoring with Horton out plus the cup hangover returned. Pittsburgh got mind-fvcked by Philly's goonery, a couple bad calls, and Fleury.

[Colin226]

All I'm gonna say is I don't care why we made the finals.. Very few teams make it ever 9 years let alone 5 in 17 years.. Just loved soaking it in and I know as long as Lou is driving the ship, we will kick ass and take names

[Masked Fan]

The New Jersey Devils are the best damn hockey team in the NHL's eastern conference.

THIS .... IS TEAM!!

Up and down the lines, contributions from everyone. Bryce going into Beast Mode, the 4th line going goal crazy, the REAL Rookie of the Year kicking ass, Marty not burning out.

I love this TEAM!

Play it again boys! With 2 MORE Wins please!!!

[Revan]

You were talking all about how much better the Flyers were going to be than New Jersey, and they just came fresh off an ass-whooping of Pissburgh. Boston played absolutely terribly towards the end of the season (and the Washington series included). I think that the Rangers, with a hot Lundqvist and scoring from their kids, were the best team in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't us.

Saying "favorable matchups" even though we had to beat the 6, 4, and 1 seeds is pretty absurd.

I agree, too. It's always easy speaking theoretically - I bet if we didn't have to play the Flyers in the 2nd round and got to the SCF, people would be saying "it's because you didn't face Philly, they would absolutely destroy you" (just like I thought the Flyers would destroy us before the series). And the Pens were goddamn awful with their defense and goaltending against Philly, I can't believe they are considered a tougher match up for us than what we got in the end. The Bruins - they might've been tough (there are always teams that underachieve and run out of luck in the 1st round). But, again, saying we could've gotten more difficult matchups is nitpicking.

On the other hand, I'd say that... the Panthers were actually the worst matchup for us. Sometimes you are a strong team and there's just this one club that has your number and gives you trouble even though it's considered inferior. I bet a lot of teams have that someone. The Devils faced that team and didn't let it bring them down.

You never know what can happen. We played who we played, beat the other best Eastern Conference playoff team in the ECF and made the Finals deservedly. We had a great playoff run because everything clicked at the right time, after all those years of running out of gas come April.

Bryzgalov sucked big time as well.

He was shaky at times but then there were times when he was like the only Flyer on the ice (remember the 2nd period of Game 2?). All in all, I'd say he had an average series, the team in front of him just played an awful series and he's no Roy to carry everyone on his back. The mistake in Game 5 that obviously cost them the series in the end makes him look worse than he actually did in that round.

[Zubie#8]

Bryzlagov played great, and he almost stole game 2 which could of changed everything.

[Martyisth3b3st]

Bryzlagov played great, and he almost stole game 2 which could of changed everything.

Bryzgalov played great for 2 out of the 5 games. He GAVE us game 5. Literally did everything except shoot the puck into his own net.