Post-Game Talk: Devils beat BuffaLOL 6-2 : What a bunch of BRATTs!

[My3Sons]

The chemistry is a work in progress but at least they are not letting it detract too much from pushing the play.

Zacha is focused on the defensive responsibility of being a 1C. He will have to push himself harder to add offense at that spot. I’m confident he will

Both guys are still rough around the edges, but yeah they aren't nearly as bad as some claimed.

There was some weird negative talk for a good chunk of the game. The Hall stuff got proven wrong in a hurry, and the Zacha stuff is really overstated too.

Lovejoy was the only real negative, and even that wasn't so bad considering he was just filling in as the 7th because of injuries. We didn't give up much of anything in this game.

I completely agree with you. If guys like PZ Santini Mueller and Moore were all terrible yesterday it’s doubtful that NJ wins the way they did. Lovejoy struggled but that is one player who had limited minutes.

 

[My3Sons]

Very happy with this start.

Biggest complaint is that Zacha hasn't done much in the 2 games after an excellent preseason.

Hopefully he'll start to show up on the score sheet soon

He’s focused on his defensive and positioning responsibilities it seems. Given the success his line has had so far I’m guessing he has done well in that department but it’s definitely a learning curve and he will have to figure out how to balance responsibility with offense. Way too early to push the panic button or even really see it as a trend.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Mueller, Santini, and Butcher have all been fine so far.

What you have to understand is they're all NHL rookies playing defense, NOT making mistakes is not an option, it's going to happen....... quite a bit.

They've given Butcher some veteran help, which seems to suggest to the Devils brass that Butcher is the one they're most worried about, which makes perfect sense given Buther has the fewest NHL games under his belt (2).

That leaves the rookie Mueller-Santini pairing as exposed as baby seals on a melting ice block surrounded by killer whales.

The Devils have played bad teams to this point, but expect to see this on full display for the first time Friday night against the Washington Capitals. Barry Trotz is no fool; every time he sees that Santini-Mueller pairing on the ice he's going to try to get Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Vrana out against them. Every NHL coach is going to do this. It's okay. They'll make mistakes, get worked, learn, get better, and move on.

 

[My3Sons]

Fun facts. We haven't started 2-0 since Pete. Last year it took us until November to win our first road game. We started 0-5 on the road.

Hard not to get excited about the great start and see a qualitative difference from last year which began in the preseason and has continued these first couple of games. So much for the Avs undefeated preseason being relevant to the NJ experience.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree, the play starts because of him but our other 2 players looked almost afraid of Kane on that play. Mueller is definitely one of the keyed on players by our resident HFboards complainers though.

Look we have to start preparing now for the inevitable day when Lovejoy isn’t around to be the object of the fans’ ire. Eventually someone else will have to the target. I guess folks are just trying out some Mueller bashing to see if it gives them the same catharsis as criticizing Lovejoy.

 

[NjDevsRR]

I mean the Avs did beat the Rangers and blanked the Bruins 4-0. Maybe they are a little better than what is perceived.

 

[Blackjack]

I mean the Avs did beat the Rangers and blanked the Bruins 4-0. Maybe they are a little better than what is perceived.

Why is no one else pointing this out? We’re the only team to even beat the Avs this year.

 

[EliasFTW]

Why is no one else pointing this out? We’re the only team to even beat the Avs this year.

But we didn't score even strength against them!

 

[kiwidevil]

Great post. Has been the biggest difference for me as well.

Last 2 years the games have be terrible with general lack of passing skill. So many chances lost with basics. The games were unwatchable as while we skated fast, we played the game very slow as we could't move the puck.

Now we whip it around and hit players in stride very well. Which is perfect for players like Bratt, Nico whom seem to use time so effectively.

Another thing I've noticed that is very positive for us this year is how good the passing has been. It's been a huge key to our success so far. For years this team just couldn't seem to pass well. Now we're seeing multiple quick passes tape-to-tape with authority. That's going to be huge if we can keep it up. It speaks to the amount of skill we've added over the last couple of years.

 

[NJDevs26]

I mean the Avs did beat the Rangers and blanked the Bruins 4-0. Maybe they are a little better than what is perceived.

It's possible...though I think even last year the Avs started 5-5 before melting down after October.

Actually looking it up they got to 9-9 in mid-November then 13-47-4 the rest of the way

 

[BenedictGomez]

Why is no one else pointing this out? We’re the only team to even beat the Avs this year.

Because the Avs are still a bad team, despite a 2-1 start.

 

[MadDevil]

Didn't we also start out like 9-3-3 last year?

 

[Cult of Hynes]

I think this team is a bit better than people will give them credit for. I hope they beat Toronto because f*** Lou, and because of how arrogant Toronto fans are right now.

Zacha has definitely been better than he was last year and has looked more confident even though he is mostly focused on being defensively responsible. He has shot more in these first two games than I can remember him shooting in 4-5 games earlier last season.

He has had opportunities to score, but just hasn't converted his shots to goals.

I'm hoping for Hischier to get a goal next game and an assist. I feel like 40-50 points is what he will get this year, and I would not be shocked if he was he gets 60- 80 points with another year under his belt and with more work on his cardio and bulking up just a bit more.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Didn't we also start out like 9-3-3 last year?

Started 9-3-3 while also struggling offensively. And I don't just mean putting up goals . The team never had sustained pressure like they have been capable of since the preseason into the past 2 games.

The games they won during that 9-3-3 stretch were mostly won by 1-2 goals. They only ever cracked 4 goals or more once. It also took almost a month to get the first road win.

 

[EliasFTW]

Why do we not get a Pregame talk thread?

Anyway so excited for this game tomorrow. Our first test. Hope Cory is ready to stop 60+ shots

 

[Cheddabombs]

Started 9-3-3 while also struggling offensively. And I don't just mean putting up goals . The team never had sustained pressure like they have been capable of since the preseason into the past 2 games.

The games they won during that 9-3-3 stretch were mostly won by 1-2 goals. They only ever cracked 4 goals or more once. It also took almost a month to get the first road win.

Yea they started out hot but they looked like a hot mess despite the results lol

Sure, it's been against the Avs and Sabres but this team has actually looked good.

 

[thethinglonger]

Because the Avs are still a bad team, despite a 2-1 start.

And also the Avs haven't lost in Boston since March 30th, 1998

 

[TheUnseenHand]

After seeing what Toronto did to Chicago, tomorrow will be the first real test.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Honestly I don't think it means we are trash if it goes poorly. Leafs are flying right now. Pretty much any team would have trouble with them right now. They potted 8 on the Rags and Henry, and handled the Hawks

 

[Its a Trap]

We gunna get stomped

 

[Blender]

Honestly I don't think it means we are trash if it goes poorly. Leafs are flying right now. Pretty much any team would have trouble with them right now. They potted 8 on the Rags and Henry, and handled the Hawks

For me, it will be how we lose not if we lose. If we play the "fast, attacking, supportive" style we have been playing and just get out matched, I respect that. If we come out slow and get blown away, I won't be happy.

 

[glenwo2]

I don't see Elias in Bratt at all, in fact I think Bratt has alot off Parise in him.

You say tomato, I say tom-ah-toe.

Regardless of what we see, I think you and I agree that we see one HELL of a NHL Player on our hands.

 

[BenedictGomez]

After seeing what Toronto did to Chicago, tomorrow will be the first real test.

It's a decent step up from CO and Buffalo for sure, but to me, the Washington Capitals are the first time guys like Santini, Mueller, and Butcher could REALLY be exposed as rookies on defense. Jock strap laying on the ice kind of stuff.

 

[glenwo2]

It's a decent step up from CO and Buffalo for sure, but to me, the Washington Capitals are the first time guys like Santini, Mueller, and Butcher could REALLY be exposed as rookies on defense. Jock strap laying on the ice kind of stuff.

Yep. I have more belief that they can find a way to out-gun(barely) the Leafs on Wednesday(and beat the hapless Rags on another date) then I do against the Caps.

The Caps are going to turn our young D-men into a bunch of Kurtis Fosters.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Man I just don't agree. Leafs have looked like world beaters in their first three.

Ovi has been on fire but the Caps as a whole aren't anywhere near as electric as Toronto is looking right now. Leafs are just creating HQ scoring chances at will right now.