GDT: Devils @ Maple Leafs, 7:00 PM

[Guttersniped]

Bratt and Severson were obviously just thinking different things on the zone entry and it went badly. Who is more to blame doesn't really matter. Why we have both Severson and Hamilton out on the same PP still baffles me. Is it just because we don't have a right shot forward that can shoot from the left side?

Yeah that and probably to help prevent short-handed goals (not sarcasm, but not saying it works obviously).

 

[Auto Pilot]

He seems to have gelled well with Jack at least here.

Wonderful he’s killing our power play and is responsible for it giving up 11 goals against

 

[Auto Pilot]

Recchi has to go

 

[guitarguyvic]

That was a really stupid way to lose a hockey game.

One glaring thing that this team can’t seem to learn is how to not make poor decisions with the puck at the blue lines. At 5 on 5 it’s in the D zone. On the power play it’s in the O zone.

Also I’m perplexed by how positively horrible Dougie looks on the PP. When he’s trying to defend these constant odd man rushes we give up short handed, he looks incredibly slow and frequently gets coned. It’s weird because he doesn’t look nearly as slow and inept 5 on 5.

 

[glenwo2]

could well be that Sevs was looking to set up a diamond formation with Hamilton up top and that’s what he’s thinking as he’s heading down the left half wall. While meanwhile Bratt is expecting someone on the point and is expecting the more traditional set up with 2 point men.

It’s a new power play unit and until last weekend Sevs was the man at the top of the diamond dishing the puck. We just moved 2 D onto the power play a couple of games ago.

Query: now that Hamilton is evidently supposed to be the guy up at the top of the dismond, if Sevs is supposed to be on the left half wall, and Nico is the bumper, what’s Bratt ? The low net front presence? How weird and how badly designed. Who would put Bratt as the screen, when his mobility is his greatest asset?

The coaching staff is responsible I suppose for guys knowing what system they are supposed to be playing. And for designing a system that takes advantage of our strengths. The deployment of the guys makes little sense here.

Ultimately, it would be good for both Sevs and Bratt to be more aware of how the play is developing on that zone entry. For Bratt to see or sense what Sevs is doing. And for Sevs to see that he’s the last man back on that side so that, if there’s a turnover there, Hamilton has no angle to catch the forward.

Any way we cut it, it’s a botched zone entry where the 2 guys weren’t on the same page.

Easy for us to say when we're not in the thick of it with everything happening at lightning speed on the ice.

Players don't make dumb decisions on purpose.

They make them because they think their teammates are in the proper position on the ice (and it turns out they're not).

Someone else here made a valid point that it's pointless to blame either at this point, as it was a total team fail because Recchi's Powerless-Play is as ugly as his stupid face...but that said, an offensive player always should expect his D-man to back him up if he turns it over.

Neither Sevs nor Dougie were in position to do so...and as a result, that sh*t happened.

And I'm not the only one who thinks this :

The Devils inept power play continued as Severson missed a drop pass by Bratt, leading to an Engvall shorthanded chance the other way.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

The guys are clueless on the powerplay and it's so painfully obviously a coaching issue. This is a team that can actually score goals now. I used to think it was strictly a talent issue, but I've shifted back to it being 100% a coaching issue. They keep making the same stupid mistakes over and over and over to the point where they almost have to be doing it on purpose because it's the system.

 

[BurntToast]

On a positive note:

1) Devils played well against playoff team.

2) Devils played well for it being a back to back.

3) Devils play well after a rivalry game.

Plus, they were away. I feel like the team, and Dougie lost some juice towards the end of the game. Sloppiness is expect in the second game in two nights.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

While the PP allowed those shorties, Daws gave them a chance to win on a back to back road game. That’s impressive for a young goalie in my view. Again too much offense tied up in a handful of guys. A bottom six goal woukd have been helpful in this game. Dr Evil struggled mightily to my eyes. I expect he will be fighting it the rest of the way and needs more time to rehab. Are we sure Daws goes down when Hammond arrives? Do they send Gillies down instead?

Daws played 4 years for my home town team (OHL Guelph Storm) .... how's he looked so far for a rookie goalie in the NHL? In Guelph he had no quit, I'm rooting for him ....his save % doesn't look great so far ... is it a reflection of him or your defense/defensive system? Give him time and I think you'll find he can learn an adapt, sure did in his time in the OHL.

 

[Clam Jensen]

Nico almost pacing at 70 pts makes my heart happy.

 

[RNCDevil]

Nico almost pacing at 70 pts makes my heart happy.

His tenacity on the puck, if he has possession or if he's trying to get possession is superhuman. He's going to be a great captain for this run.

 

[Omar Little]

Hischier is playing his best when he uses his speed and has the confidence to beat players 1 on 1. Earlier in the year hr seemed tentative or unsure of his own capabilities. He seems to have shrugged that off recently

 

[My3Sons]

Daws played 4 years for my home town team (OHL Guelph Storm) .... how's he looked so far for a rookie goalie in the NHL? In Guelph he had no quit, I'm rooting for him ....his save % doesn't look great so far ... is it a reflection of him or your defense/defensive system? Give him time and I think you'll find he can learn an adapt, sure did in his time in the OHL.

He has been very good for a young rookie behind a mediocre team. He’s a bit up and down as you’d expect but he’s had some games where he looks every bit of an excellent NHL goalie in the making. He’s had a few clunkers that drag down his numbers but I think last night is a fair example of where he is right now. He’d like at least one of those goals back but he gave his team a chance to win and even in a loss managed to stop more than 9/10 shots against him. He’s a work in progress and the team in front of him is young as well and make mistakes that he has to try to clean up but he looks to have a bright future.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Daws played 4 years for my home town team (OHL Guelph Storm) .... how's he looked so far for a rookie goalie in the NHL? In Guelph he had no quit, I'm rooting for him ....his save % doesn't look great so far ... is it a reflection of him or your defense/defensive system? Give him time and I think you'll find he can learn an adapt, sure did in his time in the OHL.

He is clearly raw and not quite ready, but the talent is obviously there. Our coach admitted it was unfair to ask him to play as much as we have, it's just unfortunate circumstances. He's the only healthy goalie with any sort of competence we have, so we're riding him as much as we can.

He has kept us in most games he's played, which is all we can ask.

 

[markog]

I don't know why are people upset about a loss, they're losing since november regulary and it's in the best interest of this team to do the same until the end of the season. The same shit is going on now for almost a decade.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

On a positive note:

1) Devils played well against playoff team.

2) Devils played well for it being a back to back.

3) Devils play well after a rivalry game.

Plus, they were away. I feel like the team, and Dougie lost some juice towards the end of the game. Sloppiness is expect in the second game in two nights.

I agree with the first 3 parts. And the second part, you're right but we shouldn't necessarily be OK with it. I guess its more of a explanation as opposed to an excuse.

Also - give credit to Toronto's PK. They are aggressive - disrupt the flow. I know Marner has 3 SHPs this year.

They shot themselves in the foot at the end - but I was expecting a very different game then what we got. The PP leaves a bad taste in my mouth in what was overall a great effort from NJ.

 

[My3Sons]

I agree with the first 3 parts. And the second part, you're right but we shouldn't necessarily be OK with it. I guess its more of a explanation as opposed to an excuse.

Also - give credit to Toronto's PK. They are aggressive - disrupt the flow. I know Marner has 3 SHPs this year.

They shot themselves in the foot at the end - but I was expecting a very different game then what we got. The PP leaves a bad taste in my mouth in what was overall a great effort from NJ.

I think that the PP can be fixed in the offseason. Whether they do that is another story.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Easy for us to say when we're not in the thick of it with everything happening at lightning speed on the ice.

Players don't make dumb decisions on purpose.

They make them because they think their teammates are in the proper position on the ice (and it turns out they're not).

Someone else here made a valid point that it's pointless to blame either at this point, as it was a total team fail because Recchi's Powerless-Play is as ugly as his stupid face...but that said, an offensive player always should expect his D-man to back him up if he turns it over.

Neither Sevs nor Dougie were in position to do so...and as a result, that sh*t happened.

And I'm not the only one who thinks this :

The Devils inept power play continued as Severson missed a drop pass by Bratt, leading to an Engvall shorthanded chance the other way.

Yes. And other teams see very clearly that if they jump us at the blue line trying to enter their zone they will get chance after chance shorthanded. When we’ve given up 3 shorties and I don’t know how many other chances that way over the last 4 or 5 games and a dozen goals this season, we will see this again and again and again. Our failure to fix it has been epic. The problems actually been getting worse.

 

[MartyOwns]

I don't know why are people upset about a loss, they're losing since november regulary and it's in the best interest of this team to do the same until the end of the season. The same shit is going on now for almost a decade.

agreed 100%. beat the rangers, lose to everyone else, and i’m happy. it’s critical to draft top 5 this year.

 

[My3Sons]

View attachment 521057View attachment 521057

Recchi has to go

It's a shame that has really dragged them down. Given that they managed to fix most of what ailed the PK it's surprising they can't at least be close to middle of the pack on the PP. Imagine what a decent PP and decent goaltending could do for the team. Those two things plus better third line play and better third pair defense play could all be doable in the offseason.

 

[Emperoreddy]

agreed 100%. beat the rangers, lose to everyone else, and i’m happy. it’s critical to draft top 5 this year.

What? No it isn't. It is not critical to draft top 5 at all this year.

 

[glenwo2]

^^^ Not to turn this conversation into the draft but I think this MIGHT be the draft where we trade down, if we end up with the #1 (or #2) pick.

 

[Eggtimer]

Slafkovski Jiricek Nemec. One of those three or trade down for Cutter . A stud power forward or stud RHD would make us scary good . As in Harlem Globetrotters good.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

If they do win the lottery, 100% they should look to move down.

 

[Unknown Caller]

He has been very good for a young rookie behind a mediocre team. He’s a bit up and down as you’d expect but he’s had some games where he looks every bit of an excellent NHL goalie in the making. He’s had a few clunkers that drag down his numbers but I think last night is a fair example of where he is right now. He’d like at least one of those goals back but he gave his team a chance to win and even in a loss managed to stop more than 9/10 shots against him. He’s a work in progress and the team in front of him is young as well and make mistakes that he has to try to clean up but he looks to have a bright future.

I don’t know that I would say he’s playing behind a mediocre team. The Devils are a top 15 team in xGF%, a top 3 team in HDCF% and a top 10 team in GF. They’re second to last in the NHL in SV%, so the reason the results are “mediocre” is because of the goaltending, not the rest of the team that the goalie is playing behind.

Daws has been a serviceable goalie behind a good on-ice team. That’s at least promising for a young goalie.

 

[Blackjack]

Slafkovski Jiricek Nemec. One of those three or trade down for Cutter . A stud power forward or stud RHD would make us scary good . As in Harlem Globetrotters good.

Agree. @StevenToddIves has completely sold me on Gauthier.