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Loved the hug from Palat to Vanacek as the horn went off. These goalies need everything they can get these days.

Much like our 1926 Newark Cowfrogs inspired Jersey jerseys, these new Ranger jerseys are full of symbolism. Here’s what I was able to pick out: stripes: over 70 stripes, symbolizing each time the Rags fans decided they were gonna win the cup in preseason only to abandon the team in the spring when they are eliminated and the fans turn to baseball. giant logo: symbolizes the inflated ego and sense of entitlement from a franchise with very little success in nearly a century of existence. After-thought solid practice jersey numbers: signifying that much like the Rags UFA and trade decisions, this was a money grab that had very little planning involved

I just got back from the Rock. This was my first time seeing this group in person, and my impressions are as follows: The Devils are the least prepared team in the league. Virtually every game has seen them sleepwalk through the first period while Jack figures out what to do, and tonight was no exception to this rule. Jack is an exceptionally good skater, puck handler, and passer, but he makes mistakes when he tries to force the issue as opposed to picking his spots. Whether his trying to do too much reflects a lack of confidence in his teammates versus waning trust in Lindy isn’t immediately clear. The gap between Jack and Jesper is wider than most people (in the national media, at least) realize. Alex Holtz gives the Devils more than Dawson Mercer or Ondrej Palat does. Nico and Luke are this team’s most dependable defensive players. Nemec will be a very good player once he learns the league. Related to the above point, Jonas Siegenthaler is washed. Schmid played poorly, but I don’t fault him for what happened, as he should never have started back-to-back games. It’s an indictment of Vanecek that Lindy would stick with a tired goaltender. Fans were extremely angry and agitated leaving the building, and a “Fire Lindy” chant broke out among a group walking ahead of me. This team will eventually play well enough to make a run, but it won’t advance past the opening round of the playoffs.

Whatever. They won. I'm done.

Even better that the Hughes brothers scored together on a play, in the city of "Brotherly Love". Suck it Philly.

Oh, and to accentuate the positive…continued happiness for Holtz.

Also, regardless of the jinx, Schmid was outstanding when the rest of the team took a good 30 minutes off. great game by him to keep them in this freaking thing.

I need a Luke Hughes OT winner

This guy did alright with it…

Me scoreboard watching right now…

Gee I wonder why… maybe guys like Bratt, Palat, Timo, etc could occasionally do something.

Calling him Smid (why take out the “ch”?) when you’re willing to spell out Vanecek is a little weird. I obviously know who you’re referring to, just not sure why you’re trying to make that nickname happen. Re: “your source” (I do feel that Markström is more your idea, and by claiming it’s from some source, you’re trying to give it more credibility), it’s not just the retention, it’s the fact that he’s got two more seasons coming to him after this one. I’ve already listed what age-seasons Fitz would be signing up for…this would be a MAJOR departure from how Fitz has chosen to do business since coming here. The funny thing is that even though Markström was bad last year and hasn’t been all that good this year, if he only had a year left on his deal, I could see Fitz possibly considering him as a short-term shakeup, depending on what he had to give up. But not for three years. As for the whole “picks fights” crap, ever notice that most people here don’t really want to engage with you all that much? Why do you think that is?

Here's what's wrong with the bolded above: Hertl is a center, not to mention almost three years older than Timo...he was not what the Devils needed...Meier's game fit an EXACT need for the Devils at the time that he was acquired (physical scoring winger). Also, Hertl was in Year 1 of a mega-extension that he had just signed on 3/16/22...unless something goes HORRIBLY wrong (like the player becoming a major cancer), you rarely see a player like that dealt in the very first year of a brand-new eight-year deal. Meier was also known for having chemistry with Nico in international play...so much so that Devils fans wondered for several seasons what it would be like to have those two playing together. It felt like a long-awaited dream come true. Also, unlike Hertl, Meier was only signed through this season if he hadn't signed an extension, so it made sense for the Sharks to move him while they could get a solid return of some young pieces (which they did), as they had decided to go into more of a rebuild mode. And let's not make Hertl to be more than he is...Hertl's a nice player, but he's not some major points horse or goal-scoring beast. He's managed over 60 points three times, same as Timo (career high is 74...Timo's is 76) and he's managed 30+ goals twice (Timo's done that four times, in less seasons). Hertl averages 25 G and 31 A per 82 GP; Timo's at 28 G and 29 A. And to be fair, how often have you really seen Hertl play? Can you really attest to how much heart Hertl plays with compares to Timo, or is this more a case of the grass looking greener because we're frustrated with Timo ATM? Also, it's not like Meier didn't know that Nico and Jack and Dougie and Bratt were here when he decided to stick around, so I'm not buying the "I need to be the face of the franchise" bit; after he signed his deal he made it very clear how much he wanted to be part of a potential winner. Clearly he hasn't quite settled in yet, but I suspect it's more that it's taking more time for him to find some chemistry with linemates...more time than we'd all like, to be sure. I get why we're frustrated with his overall body of work here overall...we've seen the scoring and we've seen the physicality, but not enough of either, and we've also seen him be a relative nonentity in some games (when he's not taking bad penalties)...that's gotta change, absolutely, and soon...even if chemistry remains an issue, he simply HAS to start giving more, game in and game out. But it's definitely much too early to bail on him or act like he possibly can't or won't get it together. Doesn't make him any less maddening right in this moment, but the guy is locked up here and is going to be here for quite some time. He's a Devil.

Big two points!!

https://www.nhl.com/news/jamie-langenbrunner-to-be-inducted-into-us-hockey-hall-of-fame

Let me tell you guys something, Whiskey and getting beat 6-3 by the worst team in the league is a bad combination

Jack covering up for the moron.

Lindy is carried by his star players. You can't even debate it anymore.

Nemec is looking pretty good so far. Dude is playing like he's on a mission to not go back to Utica

Correct. I mean this year the development has been handled much better. And the patience with him has to be there from the management to the fans. I’ve been astounded at the number of fans wanting to ship him out last year despite him still growing and not getting much opportunity. It’s like, are you serious? This kid oozes talent. Btw, big shout out to the devils fans in Philly. You guys were loud, heard on tv. Way to rep the black and red.

I want Schmid to start both tonight and tomorrow. BUT, if Lindy (and possibly Fitz) is going to insist upon VV getting one of these two games, I'd much rather it be against the Sharks. For one, not only have they yet to win a road game...that team has managed just SIX GOALS IN NINE ROAD MATCHES! The Sharks have been outscored 39-6 in those games. If that's not the game to give VV, I don't know what it is. But I still say to give Schmid both of these and see if they help to get him on a roll.

Let's Go Devils!

And on one last side note...man does Hertl seem like exactly the kind of guy Lou would jump on at this point (age, cap hit, and term be damned).

Not the first time we didn't cover the front of the net.

Well no one did it so I guess I will.

The Yotes have won their last 5 straight. If they can put a run together, so can we

Quinn is 4 years older than Luke, and is playing in his 6th season. Basically this. Jack barely ever has off nights like he did against SJ, so not sure why he needs to “watch Quinn” or whatever. Please just keep doing exactly what you’re doing Jack.

These are coaching issues. If they still aren’t doing these things they know they need to do, why aren’t they doing them? Because maybe they stopped listening to the coach (and yes goaltending is also a huge issue for those who don’t understand mutual exclusivity).

Goaltending is absolutely a major issue, but it's not the tendies fault that they never do anything in the first period

On one hand I'm glad the Devils have the depth to cover another star injury but this is ridiculous with the injuries this season! Nico, Jack now Dougie?

Damn…long, quiet ride home. As disappointing of a loss as there’s been since the start of last season, really. The guy who has to be most disappointed is Fitz, because he clearly believed he had a solid enough goaltending tandem in VV and Schmid…solid enough to decide that Blackwood had become expendable, and enough to tie up his cap space in other areas (like Timo, Bratt, etc). I don’t think he truly thought that he’d have to explore scouring the NHL for someone else…I think he thought his guys were already here, and on cap-friendly deals to boot. Yeah, cap room will open up now that Dougie’s on LTIR…but not like he won’t ever be back on the payroll. Then what? Feel for Fitz…a lot has not gone to plan this year so far. Most of the D has been up and down, the team at times has looked rather disorganized and unprepared…if Jack isn’t fully or near-fully on his game, the guys who should be stepping up more aren’t doing it enough. There’s some positives here and there (Toffoli, Luke, Holtz), but injuries too. Been a very strange start to this season.

Nemec already spoke English fairly well but wow what a difference a year makes. He played well too.

Reminds me of the ‘96 team losing to that awful Ottawa team in the last game of the season to miss the playoffs. That ‘96 Ottawa team was absolutely terrible.

Sad thing is, it wasn’t just the goalie. The defensemen were dreadful. The puck management was awful. The offense was unimaginative, stale and slow. All around PATHETIC performance.

Jack redeemed himself. Luke, you’re up.

As much as I think Lindy is a serious fvcking problem, the players haven’t helped the cause. Jack is having as much of an off-night as I’ve seen him have in a looooooong time.

If Smith has any future as a regular here (strictly for the rest of this season of course), it should only be as a 4th-line forward. But of course he's good for stupid penalties no matter where he plays.

I actually think they handled his development pretty poorly at times tbh. Fitz basically admitted as much last season. Good on Alex though for never getting too down and actually putting in the work (skating coach, two-way play, etc) to get better.

Prediction: VV in net. Goals from Zetterlund, Okhotiuk, and Blackwood. Devils still find a way to win. LGD!

Akira’s save% soared to .904 after this one…nice.

ISNT IT IRONIC, DONT YA THINK LUUUUUUUKE

Yep, it’s clear Torts got them fired up for this frame. get them to the room Where Jack can motivate them for his grandpa

I can barely even enjoy this game now. Luke was having such a nice season, too. Right behind Bedard for rookie points.

sanity prevails. now deliver, Schmid…