84 replies to this topic

[SterioDesign]

like i said somewhere, on the offence its not a personal problem we have a very similar roster than last year.

 

What i see is that the guys are not executing the system with enough intensity, which lead to us not creating turnovers, not pinning the other team in their end and not creating good scoring chances. More often we're just dumping the puck, losing that battle and the other team get an easy breakout, so we're giving away our possession a lot more.

 

So like i said to be successful in that system so have to be intense and aggressive, that's easy to do against top teams and division rivals or in the playoffs, but even though they are professional and all, it must be hard to go out and play that intense dump and chase game and pretty much run around and battle all game long / all season long.

 

You really need to be pumped and it seems like most of the game that they are losing it's cause they are not intense (the only line showing up every night and playing that style perfectly is the Gionta Carter Bernier line and well they are not top players we can't rely on them that much.

 

Would that somehow explain why we're playing great against top teams / division rivals and terrible against other teams? i mean... i dont see any other explanation lol Thoughts?

[CarpathianForest]

doesnt help that we cant win faceoffs. We've lost confidence and reverted back to dump and chase, one and done hockey.

Edited by CarpathianForest, 03 March 2013 - 08:46 PM.

[DH26]

like i said somewhere, on the offence its not a personal problem we have a very similar roster than last year.

 

What i see is that the guys are not executing the system with enough intensity, which lead to us not creating turnovers, not pinning the other team in their end and not creating good scoring chances. More often we're just dumping the puck, losing that battle and the other team get an easy breakout, so we're giving away our possession a lot more.

 

So like i said to be successful in that system so have to be intense and aggressive, that's easy to do against top teams and division rivals or in the playoffs, but even though they are professional and all, it must be hard to go out and play that intense dump and chase game and pretty much run around and battle all game long / all season long.

 

You really need to be pumped and it seems like most of the game that they are losing it's cause they are not intense (the only line showing up every night and playing that style perfectly is the Gionta Carter Bernier line and well they are not top players we can't rely on them that much.

 

Would that somehow explain why we're playing great against top teams / division rivals and terrible against other teams? i mean... i dont see any other explanation lol Thoughts?

 

If that's true, you just made a great argument for why we should keep the system. If it only works in the playoffs or against good teams, we only have to be an 8 seed, more than attainable even with the "letdowns" 

[Triumph]

The Devils played 'their game' yesterday.  They had the Sabres hemmed in their zone at several points and generated considerably more shot attempts than the Sabres.  The Devils have to play better in transition - all 3 of the Sabre goals were off transition - but they didn't play poorly because it wasn't against a division opponent or a bad team.  They played a solid game against a bad team because the Sabres are a bad team.  The goaltending couldn't bail them out.

[CHIP72]

I didn't read the whole thread and I didn't see either of the last two games, but from the game stories I've read and what I've read on here, it sounds like the Devils outplayed the Jets on Thursday and Sabres on Saturday but were done in by subpar Hedberg goaltending.  Considering how poorly the Devils had played in the few games before that, the improved play (if not improved result) the last two games is a good sign and may be an indication the Devils are about to come out of their slump and play more solidly again.  Also, when you're a team that relies on outworking the opposition, you want to make sure you have something left or can reach back for an extra gear come playoff time.  Considering the Devils' good but not great talent, their goal shouldn't be to be the #1 or #2 Eastern Conference playoff seed (though that would be nice); their goal should be to make the playoffs and elevate their play in the playoffs like they did last year when they significantly outplayed the Flyers and Rangers and reached the Cup Finals.

 

There's no need to panic just yet, though if what I've read is true, Hedberg needs to start playing better.

 

P.S. If Brodeur isn't available for Tuesday's game vs. Tampa Bay, IMO the Devils should start the kid they brought up from Albany in that game, regardless how Hedberg does on Monday against Toronto.

Edited by CHIP72, 03 March 2013 - 11:43 PM.

[oconnellrules]

once marty loses a few games in a row ill panic. but for now lets just bide our time til he gets back and give us some stability and poise.

[crashline]

Maybe Lou will trade a 4th and 7th and get Zach back like he did with Poni

[NCDevsFan]

I usually dont panic, but this year feels different in a bad way.

[EdgeControl]

like i said somewhere, on the offence its not a personal problem we have a very similar roster than last year.

 

What i see is that the guys are not executing the system with enough intensity, which lead to us not creating turnovers, not pinning the other team in their end and not creating good scoring chances. More often we're just dumping the puck, losing that battle and the other team get an easy breakout, so we're giving away our possession a lot more.

 

So like i said to be successful in that system so have to be intense and aggressive, that's easy to do against top teams and division rivals or in the playoffs, but even though they are professional and all, it must be hard to go out and play that intense dump and chase game and pretty much run around and battle all game long / all season long.

 

You really need to be pumped and it seems like most of the game that they are losing it's cause they are not intense (the only line showing up every night and playing that style perfectly is the Gionta Carter Bernier line and well they are not top players we can't rely on them that much.

 

Would that somehow explain why we're playing great against top teams / division rivals and terrible against other teams? i mean... i dont see any other explanation lol Thoughts?

we may not get people out in front with our puck support mantra, but we feed the point well (even clarksy), it "should" result in rebounds, miller was all over those though. the system does get forwards and centers WAY deep offensively which puts the back check in peril. Id love to know the milage ours centres put in per game.  I would like to see more carry ins with speed to collapse the D a bit and find trailers.  not agreeing with the same personell, we lost a load of goals in zach and petr

[SterioDesign]

we may not get people out in front with our puck support mantra, but we feed the point well (even clarksy), it "should" result in rebounds, miller was all over those though. the system does get forwards and centers WAY deep offensively which puts the back check in peril. Id love to know the milage ours centres put in per game.  I would like to see more carry ins with speed to collapse the D a bit and find trailers.  not agreeing with the same personell, we lost a load of goals in zach and petr

 

Still it's like 2 years ago, when the whole team is not producing... the problem is not the players. just saw on twitter that Bernier has as many 5 vs 5 goals as elias and kovy combined. 

 

our offensive system and breakouts are the problem, mostly cause the guys are just not executing it well, missing our 2 best forecheckers from last year and we're not creating as much scoring chances off of it.

 

the guys we're playing it perfectly last year CRUSHING teams, i barely saw the same intensity and game out of them this year.

[NewarkDevil5]

Still it's like 2 years ago, when the whole team is not producing... the problem is not the players. just saw on twitter that Bernier has as many 5 vs 5 goals as elias and kovy combined. 

 

our offensive system and breakouts are the problem, mostly cause the guys are just not executing it well, missing our 2 best forecheckers from last year and we're not creating as much scoring chances off of it.

 

the guys we're playing it perfectly last year CRUSHING teams, i barely saw the same intensity and game out of them this year.

 

This. While the team has been playing better the last couple of games, the intensity and compete level isn't there. The breakout passing has been beyond sloppy and more often winds up on the other team's stick than connecting with one of our own players. Passing in general from the area of the top of our defensive circles to the red line has been ridiculously sloppy, almost comical. It's almost as though that's the brainfart zone for our team.

[redruM]

I always panic, but I[m more frustrated, we are creating a ton fo chances and not sscoring right now, Kovy & Zajak need to get it together.

and I[m sorry but Zid sucks, I cannot take him anymore, I'd rather see him benched then anyone else.  his is weak defensively and has been horrible on the PP.  if he cannot make the PP tick then what is his purpose here??

[NewarkDevil5]

I always panic, but I[m more frustrated, we are creating a ton fo chances and not sscoring right now, Kovy & Zajak need to get it together.

and I[m sorry but Zid sucks, I cannot take him anymore, I'd rather see him benched then anyone else.  his is weak defensively and has been horrible on the PP.  if he cannot make the PP tick then what is his purpose here??

 

I'm actually at the point with Zidlicky where I miss Kurtis Foster. That's pretty sad.

[EdgeControl]

Still it's like 2 years ago, when the whole team is not producing... the problem is not the players. just saw on twitter that Bernier has as many 5 vs 5 goals as elias and kovy combined. 

 

our offensive system and breakouts are the problem, mostly cause the guys are just not executing it well, missing our 2 best forecheckers from last year and we're not creating as much scoring chances off of it.

 

the guys we're playing it perfectly last year CRUSHING teams, i barely saw the same intensity and game out of them this year.

bernier is the prototypical "devil system" player. he actually scored most of thos goals from behind the net.  patty looks to be missing zubie and clarkson has cooled way off.  kovy is attracting too much attention now he has 3 men on him in the O zone he needs a real compliment

[NJDevils1214]

 

We're all Doomed....

 

Edited by NJDevils1214, 05 March 2013 - 12:42 AM.

[Devilsrock01]

I always panic, but I[m more frustrated, we are creating a ton fo chances and not sscoring right now, Kovy & Zajak need to get it together.

and I[m sorry but Zid sucks, I cannot take him anymore, I'd rather see him benched then anyone else.  his is weak defensively and has been horrible on the PP.  if he cannot make the PP tick then what is his purpose here??

 

 

he scored 2 goals today at least something zajac,clarkson, kovi or elias have not done

[Marshall]

like i said somewhere, on the offence its not a personal problem we have a very similar roster than last year.

 

It's also a personnel problem in that we have guys playing too high up on the lines. Losing Zach and now being without Zubrus = many guys playing on higher lines and getting a lot more minutes than they should. Just losing one top 6/top 3 guy affects your entire lineup (usually), nevermind losing TWO. The fourth line is the third line, the unproven prospect is the #1 LW (at least on paper to start the game) etc etc. 

[oconnellrules]

hate to beat a dead horse here but I still cant believe we went from cup contention to a fringe playoff team. fvcking Zach parise

[SterioDesign]

hate to beat a dead horse here but I still cant believe we went from cup contention to a fringe playoff team. fvcking Zach parise

 

to this point we may have lost more than we think, Zach and Sykora's production. Zach defensive play and forecheck, Robinson (i think him leaving is underated, the players gave LOTS of credits to the coaching staff last year) Oates? (who knows?)

 

and now Zubs who also brings a lot to our system

 

BUT good news is.. 2 years ago we went from the worst team in the league to the best team in the league in like 2 weeks (ran out of time and gas but we we're still the best team in the league, so it's possible, the guys have it in them to play good, they just don't lately plus the goaltending is killing them, we won a LOT of one goal games and shootouts last season, we don't win those anymore and its a bunch of points going away

Edited by SterioDesign, 05 March 2013 - 08:11 AM.

[jagknife]

Shaw has the worst power play system in the league. If it's not his fault then it's the players, who obviously have either not taken to his shoot first mentality or he's abandoned it.

 

Either way, he should be relieved of his special teams responsibilities because there has been no adjustments made.

 

Our current PP has reverted back to Oates' style then decided to take 12 steps back from that.

 

This hold the puck until pressured, then force a horrible panic pass allows clear after clear.

Edited by jagknife, 05 March 2013 - 08:20 AM.