GDT - Devils @ Blackhawks 7:00pm NHL Network

[MadDog2020]

There we go!!

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

McLeod!

Very hard-fought win.  Well done boys!

[NJDfan1711]

Fitting for McLeod to get the goal after he had two pretty set-ups to teammates to try and pot the empty netter.  

Solid game all around, great effort by everyone to step up and play a complete game. Vanecek was outstanding.

[Max20Characters]

McLeod has become such a gem 

[devlman]

Solid win. Marino looks to be cooking with gas now. Defense-first, grind out some goals will be a good formula and foundation to have for when the big boys come back.

Edited November 6, 2023 by devlman

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

2 minutes ago, devlman said:

Solid win. Marino looks to be cooking with gas now. Defense-first, grind out some goals will be a good formula and foundation to have for when the big boys come back.

It’s actually a good chance for the team to be able to find various ways to win.

Marino is plenty good, knew he would find his game.  

[NJDevils1214]

N@StarDew

Now I enjoyed it!

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

VV up to a .900 save%.  Getting closer to his norm.  

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Only two points out of first with the Rangers battling injury issues of their own.  Things could be worse.

Hope Timo’s chances start going in for him.  

[NJDevils1214]

Dano and Bill just by me in the Uber line. Kind of surprised those guys get stuck with us normies trying to get a ride.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

2 minutes ago, NJDevils1214 said:

Dano and Bill just by me in the Uber line. Kind of surprised those guys get stuck with us normies trying to get a ride.

Back in the CAA, Chico used to use the same rest room as the rest of us.  And was friendly as could be to everyone.

[NJDevils1214]

10 minutes ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Back in the CAA, Chico used to use the same rest room as the rest of us.  And was friendly as could be to everyone.

I've run into him at the Pru center in the club seats myself.

[Satans Hockey]

 Well it wasn't an easy win but it's 2 points so I'll take it. Good job by the guys for stepping up without Jack and Nico. 

Vitek was awesome and Willman's goal was sweet. 

[RizzMB30]

2 hours ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

Back in the CAA, Chico used to use the same rest room as the rest of us.  And was friendly as could be to everyone.

That man is a national treasure and needs to be protected at all costs. 

Re: Timo: He had a bunch of chances tonight. Worry about Timo when he struggles to get the puck on the net. Tonight he had no issues getting pucks to the net, the post had other ideas after that Lazar goal. He needs to be shooting almost to the point of being greedy. I expect 4-5 shots on goal a night from him. That's how he scores 40 a season. 5 SOG tonight.

Marino is back. Loved his game. Sharp in all three zones tonight. 

Vanny had a super strong game. That robbery at the end of the first on Johnson was wild to see. @NJDevils1214 How was seeing that live? Felt that the Hasek reference the CHI play by play guy did was pretty fitting. 

McLeod has also been stellar. I need to watch what I say around here. Start saying that you could see McLeod playing his way into the 3rd line with how good he's played and all of a sudden he's your first line center playing alongside Bratt and Toffs. Wtf. Gotta watch what you post around here with those hockey gods always watching. 5 SOG from him.

Mercer looked great tonight too. Lot of chances and opportunities created. 4 SOG and 50% on faceoffs.

Edited November 6, 2023 by RizzMB30

[NJDevils1214]

24 minutes ago, RizzMB30 said:

That man is a national treasure and needs to be protected at all costs. 

Re: Timo: He had a bunch of chances tonight. Worry about Timo when he struggles to get the puck on the net. Tonight he had no issues getting pucks to the net, the post had other ideas after that Lazar goal. He needs to be shooting almost to the point of being greedy. I expect 4-5 shots on goal a night from him. That's how he scores 40 a season. 

Marino is back. Loved his game. Sharp in all three zones tonight. 

Vanny had a super strong game. That robbery at the end of the first on Johnson was wild to see. @NJDevils1214 How was seeing that live? Felt that the Hasek reference the CHI play by play guy did was pretty fitting. 

McLeod has also been stellar. I need to watch what I say around here. Start saying that you could see McLeod playing his way into the 3rd line with how good he's played and all of a sudden he's your first line center playing alongside Bratt and Toffs. Wtf. Gotta watch what you post around here with those hockey gods always watching. 

Mercer looked great tonight too. Lot of chances and opportunities created. 

It was a great save. I can't remember the last time I saw robbery like that live. The fans around me were a mix of shocked and disappointed.

[RizzMB30]

Hey, a special note from today's game in regards to Mercer. Very interesting from the NHL.com recap notes at the bottom of the recap.

 

Quote

Mercer needs one more point to reach 100 in his NHL career and become the third-fastest active player to reach the milestone with the Devils (among those who debuted with the club), behind Nico Hischier (153 games) and Jack Hughes (160).

Vanecek became the eighth Czechia-born goaltender to record 80 NHL wins. Dominik Hasek leads the group with 389.

Vitek Vanecek stopped 32 of 34 shots – highlighted by a diving desperation save on Tyler Johnson in the opening frame – to vault the Devils (7-3-1, 15 points) to victory and register his 80th career win.

* Vanecek (80-35-14 in 139 GP) became the sixth active goaltender to reach 80 career wins in 139 contests or fewer. The others: Igor Shesterkin (129 GP), Matt Murray (130 GP), Ilya Samsonov (132 GP), Frederik Andersen (133 GP) and Tristan Jarry (133 GP).

* Vanecek holds a 39-13-4 career record in 60 career games with New Jersey and will likely become the fastest goaltender in franchise history to reach the 40-win mark, surpassing Hockey Hall of Fame member and Devils legend Martin Brodeur, who required 76 appearances.

Also Lazar in the postgame: 

"But it's pretty funny know he's my son's favorite player so to see us connecting out there he's going to be a happy camper, but again we're just doing what we can to help the team."
"What's your son's reasoning in rationale for that?"
"We actually had to drive John to the game once and he got the full dose of the family experience with my wife and two kids I think it spooked him a little bit, but my son won't stop talking about John."

Lmao at Marino being Lazar's son's favorite player on the team. I grabbed that from the transcript so please forgive my editing. 

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by RizzMB30

[RizzMB30]

2 hours ago, Max20Characters said:

McLeod has become such a gem 

To be honest, he's looking like the John Madden of this team's era. I usually hesitate before making a comparison like this, but last playoffs was a huge step forward and it doesn't look like he's going to take the foot off the gas. John Madden was a PK specialist and grinder. Won faceoffs at a crazy rate. Anchored the 3rd line most of his time here, but would play up in a pinch. Would pair up with Pandolfo on the PK and usually were near top 5 in the league on the PK in the 00-04 Cup years. 

Can only think his Team Canada situation is the only reason he wasn't offered more years. I kept telling everyone that this is a good player. We don't have to defend any off-ice sh!t, but on the ice he knows his role and plays it well. The fact he isn't a complete black hole offensively is beating the odds in a lot of ways, but is probably more a testament to having Jesper Bratt on your line.  10+ goals this year for McLeod I'd wager. 

Edited November 6, 2023 by RizzMB30

[Nicomo]

10 minutes ago, RizzMB30 said:

To be honest, he's looking like the John Madden of this team's era. I usually hesitate before making a comparison like this, but last playoffs was a huge step forward and it doesn't look like he's going to take the foot off the gas. John Madden was a PK specialist and grinder. Won faceoffs at a crazy rate. Anchored the 3rd line most of his time here, but would play up in a pinch. Would pair up with Pandolfo on the PK and usually were near top 5 in the league on the PK in the 00-04 Cup years. 

Can only think his Team Canada situation is the only reason he wasn't offered more years. I kept telling everyone that this is a good player. We don't have to defend any off-ice sh!t, but on the ice he knows his role and plays it well. The fact he isn't a complete black hole offensively is beating the odds in a lot of ways, but is probably more a testament to having Jesper Bratt on your line. 

That’s a pretty lofty comparison…

Madden scored 23 goals the season he won the Selke. McLeod has carved out a nice role for himself, but I don’t ever see that kind of offensive production from him. 

Edited November 6, 2023 by Nicomo

[RizzMB30]

34 minutes ago, Nicomo said:

That’s a pretty lofty comparison…

Madden scored 23 goals the season he won the Selke. McLeod has carved out a nice role for himself, but I don’t ever see that kid of offensive production from him. 

I don't know if I'd say McLeod for Selke at all, but I would agree they aren't the same offensively either. Even with McLeod's recent growth/emergence. A John Madden type player would never win the Selke today with players like Bergeron, Hischier, Marner, and a bunch of others so we do have to admit that the Selke used to be awarded to what we would today consider a fourth liner. Rod Brind'Amor and Kris Draper, and maybe Carbonneau stick out among winners who are true defensive specialists who rarely scored more than 25 goals a year. 

EDIT: Nvm. Brind'Amor was quite a beast in his prime as far as his goal scoring, but his post-age 30 years were closer to Kris Draper or John Madden's numbers. 

Could we agree on 10+ goals? Maybe 15+ if he can keep up this pace? 

https://stathead.com/tiny/WHv1p for anyone's interest. 

EDIT: Even if we only take Madden's NJD years into account only, he was very much a defensive specialist who could pot 15-20 goals a year for nearly 10 years. His best years were age 26-34....so it may just be that McLeod is shaping himself up for a longer career because he made the league at a younger age. 

EDIT2: Sorry for all of my edits. Am drunk. Rod Brind'Amor should be in the HOF god-dammit just on the basis of Guy Carbonneau in the HOF. What the fvck kind of a rabbit hole to go down at 1AM (I mean, Brind'amor clearly had a few better years than Carbonneau and it makes my head hurt).  

Edited November 6, 2023 by RizzMB30

[Bonginator11]

1 hour ago, RizzMB30 said:

To be honest, he's looking like the John Madden of this team's era. I usually hesitate before making a comparison like this, but last playoffs was a huge step forward and it doesn't look like he's going to take the foot off the gas. John Madden was a PK specialist and grinder. Won faceoffs at a crazy rate. Anchored the 3rd line most of his time here, but would play up in a pinch. Would pair up with Pandolfo on the PK and usually were near top 5 in the league on the PK in the 00-04 Cup years. 

I think the closest to Madden that I’ve seen in recent years on this team was Pickles

[Aitchmack]

10 hours ago, Max20Characters said:

McLeod has become such a gem 

I never used to rate him, but he's grown on me. He definitely stepped up in the playoffs last season and he's been really solid this year.

[Rob_Ottawa]

Lol about not pumping our guys for fear of hockey gods. Totally agree, let's say nothing and hope they pass us by.  I remember McLeod taking a lot of sh!t from that crazy lady who we fired and now he is blossoming and that lady is likely unemployed 

[Devilsfan118]

Hell of an effort last night - a much-needed dominant game from VV.

Also loved Mercer's game - love seeing him drive it to the net like he did.

Overall I don't know how we'll beat good teams without both Nico and Jack.  But you've gotta bank these points against bad teams one way or another.  Great W.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

1 hour ago, Rob_Ottawa said:

Lol about not pumping our guys for fear of hockey gods. Totally agree, let's say nothing and hope they pass us by.  I remember McLeod taking a lot of sh!t from that crazy lady who we fired and now he is blossoming and that lady is likely unemployed 

The bolded made me laugh.  I forget her name but I remember who you're talking about.

[NJDevils1214]

1 hour ago, Colorado Rockies 1976 said:

The bolded made me laugh.  I forget her name but I remember who you're talking about.

Rachel Doerrie - she has problems everywhere she goes but it's always someone else's fault.