GDT: Game 2 - New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers - 7:30pm MSGSN, TBS

[Devilsfan992]

I’m little shell shocked myself. It’s like I want this series over as soon as possible. Yet, I want them to win the next game so bad and just put a little doubt in the Rangers head. It’s just been so easy for them, which is amazing to me. I can’t remember back to back playoff games like these two from any team recently. I don’t want them skating away as laughing stocks. It stings.

If we're going to lose, I'd rather it be a long grinding 7 games series then a 4 game blowout. I'm not giving the Rags any easy path to the Cup.

 

[HersheyBob27]

It’s not like Smith had the only dumbass penalty either, two games in a row of Wood doing it, Bastian with a boarding, Timo with a dumbass penalty too

Worst wood penalty was the 4 minute one they missed in game one. When he stumbled and sliced miller open

 

[glenwo2]

8M x 8 MINIMUM right guys?

Ship Bratt off to the highest bidder.

Do the same for Meier as well.

Neither of those two are earning ANY contract this series thus far.

(well...on second thought...*maybe* Bratt, only because of the season he had, but he deserves the Fiala deal and only that at this point. Either he takes that or he can go play for Detroit)

 

[Devilsfan992]

I'm not a big X's and O's guy, but I wonder what percentage of the "risk vs reward" system has changed since the playoff starts. For example, in the regular season, regularly we saw Bratt and Hughes skating out of the DZone before we fully retrieved possession, in order to generate transition offense.

 

[BostonDevil]

Do the same for Meier as well.

Neither of those two are earning ANY contract this series thus far.

(well...on second thought...*maybe* Bratt, only because of the season he had, but he deserves the Fiala deal and only that at this point. Either he takes that or he can go play for Detroit)

I think Timo is more valuable to this team, as currently constructed.

He’s got a skill set the team lacks otherwise at forward.
I think they both stay though, and I’m cool with that.

I’m in the split camp where I think the coaching and players are responsible for what’s happening. I don’t blame Wood or Smith for taking dumb penalties because that’s what they do. Everyone knows it, the coaches should too. The fact that Lindy doubled down on guys who take penalties against a team that’s eating us alive on the PP is inexcusable. Also think the play that got us here has been abandoned. No doubt the Rangers have something to do with it but it looks like NJ has forgotten how to play. They aren’t really even trying to do what they were good at. Rangers blocked a lot of shots so the sulution seemed to be to stop shooting. Defensive zone is so passive that they are just waiting around to ice a rebound or a bad pass. That wasn’t how they played all year.

Players that were brought in to lead and set an example in the playoffs have been invisible along with the stars who’ve really never been there. That’s on them, but I don’t thing the coaching decisions have put them in the best position to play to their strengths.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm going to hold onto your optimism like a crutch, man.

It's all I have right now.

But make no mistake....

...if the Devils lose game 3, SEE YOU AT THE DRAFT......again.

What draft? They traded the first for Timo and the third for Marino, a mid two is all they have till the fourth round lol

 

[devilsblood]

I’m sort of OK with changing the offensive strategy but icing isn’t really an offensive strategy.

The 2 games are were so damn frustrating.

Well this sort of what im arguing against in terms of laying this all at Ruffs feet. He might be telling guys to get the puck behind the D and then chase the puck down, but he’s not telling them to ice the puck.

Players need to actually execute.

 

[NJDevs26]

Can't stand the giving up, gonna get swept comments, I knew I should have just avoided reading anything. It's a 7 game f***ing series, come out tomorrow and win, put some doubt in their heads, pressure is on them to win at home for game 4 then, win that, boom tied 2-2.

f***ing horrifying when my normal negative ass is one of the few positive ones still remaining. They have nothing left to lose, they are gonna go all out tomorrow and grab the win.

Doing a look at teams that got smacked around at home the first two games to see how they did since 2000...

2018

Washington at Tampa conference finals

Tampa smacked around 4-2 and 6-2 at home in games 1/2 and then won the next 3 but then lost 6/7.

2011

1st round

Montreal at Boston

Boston drops the first 2 games at home 2-0 and 3-1. Win the next two and then win in 7. Also win the cup.

2003

1st round

Washington at Tampa

Tampa lost the first 2 games at home 3-0 and 6-3 then Tampa won the next 4.

2000

2nd round

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia

Philly lost the first 2 games at home 2-0 and 4-1 and then won the next 4

Does it happen a lot? Obviously not but this team has shown heart and bounce back all year. Sure they are in a hole but it ain't over till it's actually over.

Maybe they'll come out with some pride tomorrow night and score some f***ing goals, maybe they won't.

Saying you're not gonna watch a f***ing playoff game after nearly a full f***ing decade of absolutely meaningless games is more embarrassing than losing. f***ing grow up and watch the god damn game.

LETS GO DEVILS!!!

While most of this isn’t wrong in a vacuum can you really blame fans for being sick of this shit? They’ve competed for a grand total of ten minutes in the series and shown they know what they’re doing for zero minutes. Losing is one thing but this is straight trash and inexcusable.

Not to mention this franchise wets the bed time after time at home in the playoffs. We’re 11-14 at the Rock in home playoff games, and it’s much worse if you take out 2012 (7-4), the one year they’ve actually won playoff series since moving to Newark. We’ve had a whole generation of fans know nothing other than lousy seasons and playoff disappointments aside from that one shining moment more than a decade ago.

And all of the examples you named of teams coming back from 0-2 at home (plus the 2018 Caps in the first round), they weren’t humiliated nearly to this extent in both games. The best comp I’ve seen tbh is the ‘96 World Series.

 

[Bleedred]

His explanation for why Smith was in over Siegenthaler still sounds like something one of us would say when guessing what he'd say as to why he did that.

''Probably because Smith is more physical and used to play for the Rags lol''.

 

[njdevils1982]

While most of this isn’t wrong in a vacuum can you really blame fans for being sick of this shit? They’ve competed for a grand total of ten minutes in the series and shown they know what they’re doing for zero minutes. Losing is one thing but this is straight trash and inexcusable.

Not to mention this franchise wets the bed time after time at home in the playoffs. We’re 11-14 at the Rock in home playoff games, and it’s much worse if you take out 2012 (7-4), the one year they’ve actually won playoff series since moving to Newark. We’ve had a whole generation of fans know nothing other than lousy seasons and playoff disappointments aside from that one shining moment in time.

And all of the examples you named of teams coming back from 0-2 at home (plus the 2018 Caps in the first round), they weren’t humiliated nearly to this extent in both games. The best comp I’ve seen tbh is the ‘96 World Series.

as a fan these first two games have really been deflating

 

[glenwo2]

What draft? They traded the first for Timo and the third for Marino, a mid two is all they have till the fourth round lol

Then I'll see you....uhh...Next season.

sigh....

 

[Bleedred]

I have a sickening feeling after coming back from the Rock. Our 5v5 play sucks and their PP is godlike. Ruff needs to do something. Get Hughes in there. Get Wood out of there. Get Blacky in there to shake the team up.

In case you missed the last 77 games, Blacky SUCKS and is now (rightfully so and not sure how it took until game 83) the third string goalie.

Schmid will play if anything.

How could you think a goalie that's literally been one of the worst in the NHL over the last 3 seasons is any kind of an answer?

That's literally worse than suggesting call up Mason Geertsen to play 6 minutes in game 3, which may have already happened if the Rags hadn't traded Ryan Reaves lol.

 

[Guttersniped]

Someone in these threads in the last 12 hours cited John Maclean to minimize how bad this coaching is. But funny enough that is the last time I can remember when literally every single player on the team has looked like shit simultaneously and the team as a whole looked completely f***ing lost on the ice. I remember some people at the time who insisted the onus was on the players, but 99.9% of us recognize in hindsight that the coaching was in fact trash and was a massive contributor to how much that team sucked for ~35 games.

There's tons of blame to go around, but the coaching is easily the most infuriating because at least with the players you can point to them being inexperienced and having the tough task of dealing with the Rangers defense. It's literally the coach's job to implement strategies and make decisions to mitigate these challenges. Old man Lindy is instead doing things that exacerbate and in some cases are even creating the issues at hand.

Why even have a coach at all if you think he doesn't have a significant influence when the stakes are this high and it's best on best?

I agree that there’s a coaching issue, I thought there was one going into the playoffs too.

People fixate on line-up decisions and those are a minor at best to me, though putting Smith in is basically guaranteeing a penalty with not much, if any, upside.

The team was tentative/cautious in the 1st, got run over in the 2nd, and never recovered.

Teams play defense too and they did a great job of it.

We didn’t have a good response for their 5v5 defense and that’s both a player and coach thing.

Our star players instinctually go to individual effort plays to try to get something, but that’s pretty common for offense players. People like that a lot more when it works.

Bratt did hit the bar and if that made it 2-3 the game would have been a lot different.

The team definitely tried to play “physical” more, maybe it’s easier to see live. Dougie had about as big a hit as he had all year early, so people are wrong when they say that wasn’t a thing.

If we had a functional PP these games could go differently. Bratt also had a great shot that hit the bar, if that made it 2-3 in the 2nd the team might have had more life.

They have a Norris trophy winner, who arguably should win his 2nd one, who’s paired with a perfect partner.

The Krieder-Zib-Kane line is a tough opponent and Tarasenko is an assassin.

And we don’t have any f***ing lines. Ruff hand-waived that going in and it’s a problem. Some of it was beyond his control. Meier was injured. The Hughes line scuffled. The “spread the wealth” didn’t work at though.

And Lindy’s line jumble games often blow-up, going in with new lines in the 2nd game in round one just felt bad going in.

And if people have trouble with this take, tough shit. I’m frustrated at the players but there’s not much to say there really other than I wish they had better games.

People are probably more ok with this defense being broken up but that was happening anyway. This line-up was also going to change more than people were probably thinking, but people always think almost everyone is staying.

 

[Satans Hockey]

While most of this isn’t wrong in a vacuum can you really blame fans for being sick of this shit? They’ve competed for a grand total of ten minutes in the series and shown they know what they’re doing for zero minutes. Losing is one thing but this is straight trash and inexcusable.

Not to mention this franchise wets the bed time after time at home in the playoffs. We’re 11-14 at the Rock in home playoff games, and it’s much worse if you take out 2012 (7-4), the one year they’ve actually won playoff series since moving to Newark. We’ve had a whole generation of fans know nothing other than lousy seasons and playoff disappointments aside from that one shining moment in time.

And all of the examples you named of teams coming back from 0-2 at home (plus the 2018 Caps in the first round), they weren’t humiliated nearly to this extent in both games. The best comp I’ve seen tbh is the ‘96 World Series.

We've seen worse, experienced absolutely meaningless seasons with the likes of Bobby Farnham and Jordon Tootoo.

I'll take a season like this over some of the absolute dumpster fire seasons we have had where people have to fool themselves into being more excited about the boring ass draft than actual games.

I get it, shit sucks, we are in a hole. Just saying it ain't over just yet and if you're actively choosing to do something else(unless it's an actual serious commitment like work) over watching a playoff game then you're a f***ing joke.(not you directly but anyone who does this)

It's very clear that a lot of people here can never be coaches or motivational speakers, too many people curling up in a ball in the corner.

I was at both games. I'm not happy, it wasn't fun but teams have come back from 3-0 and 3-1. It's 2-0. Win a game tomorrow and we are right back in it.

 

[Emperoreddy]

While most of this isn’t wrong in a vacuum can you really blame fans for being sick of this shit? They’ve competed for a grand total of ten minutes in the series and shown they know what they’re doing for zero minutes. Losing is one thing but this is straight trash and inexcusable.

Not to mention this franchise wets the bed time after time at home in the playoffs. We’re 11-14 at the Rock in home playoff games, and it’s much worse if you take out 2012 (7-4), the one year they’ve actually won playoff series since moving to Newark. We’ve had a whole generation of fans know nothing other than lousy seasons and playoff disappointments aside from that one shining moment more than a decade ago.

And all of the examples you named of teams coming back from 0-2 at home (plus the 2018 Caps in the first round), they weren’t humiliated nearly to this extent in both games. The best comp I’ve seen tbh is the ‘96 World Series.

This series needs to be tied 2-2 by the end of Monday for me to even consider buying back in.

 

[NJDevs26]

I’d take Buffalo’s season over ours assuming this ends in 4 or 5 tbh, miss by a point and end with hope rather than the feeling of getting duped and conned by all these meaningless stats and regular season records

 

[Emperoreddy]

I’d take Buffalo’s season over ours assuming this ends in 4 or 5 tbh, miss by a point and end with hope rather than the feeling of getting duped and conned by all these meaningless stats and regular season records

Worst is we kind of know a regression is coming next year. Between the turnover, odds of injuries, and just bad luck

This turned into a nightmare real quick

 

[Satans Hockey]

I’d take Buffalo’s season over ours assuming this ends in 4 or 5 tbh, miss by a point and end with hope rather than the feeling of getting duped and conned by all these meaningless stats and regular season records

To each their own but I find that quite a shit point of view. Whatever happens for the rest of this series we now have a lot of guys who never played in the playoffs who will come out with a learning experience one way or the other. Whether it's a tremendous comeback or remembering that they never wanna feel this way ever again.

Plus who the f*** wants to live in Buffalo? Miserable city, miserable people, overrated chicken wings and absolutely no guarantee they won't suck and miss the playoffs yet again.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

I wouldn't put it past him.

As for Fitz, I think this lineup is set. We'll lose most of Haula/Tatar/Graves/Seves/Wood and replace them with kids as their money will go to Timo and Bratt.

I don't expect many changes. This is the team for the next 10 years. The hope is that they mature from here.

It's not our team for the next 10 years when literally no player is locked up that long. It is the core for probably the next 5 to 7 years. 10 is a stretch. Alot can change in just 1 season as we have seen this year. Fitzgerald is going to have his work cut out for him.

 

[njdevils1982]

To each their own but I find that quite a shit point of view. Whatever happens for the rest of this series we now have a lot of guys who never played in the playoffs who will come out with a learning experience one way or the other. Whether it's a tremendous comeback or remembering that they never wanna feel this way ever again.

Plus who the f*** wants to live in Buffalo? Miserable city, miserable people, overrated chicken wings and absolutely no guarantee they won't suck and miss the playoffs yet again.

you're singing my tune

 

[Devs3cups]

I’d take Buffalo’s season over ours assuming this ends in 4 or 5 tbh, miss by a point and end with hope rather than the feeling of getting duped and conned by all these meaningless stats and regular season records

Absolutely no way. Breaking the franchise record in points and Jack beating the scoring record in our first season of turning it around means something. This is season #1 post suckage. This isn’t a finished product nor a team whose window is closing. It’s a learning experience and has no bearing on the future of our team. We’re in tremendous shape moving forward and have arguably the best young core in the league, with more coming.

We’re not the first nor the last young, upcoming team going through this. It’s a process. It’s not all “now now now”. If this was happening 4-5 years down the road with our top players all being in their prime, I could understand it more. But there’s a process to this.

 

[NJDevs26]

Worst is we kind of know a regression is coming next year. Between the turnover, odds of injuries, and just bad luck

This turned into a nightmare real quick

Literally the bare minimum here for me is get to Game 6, win a game at the Garden, don’t get eliminated here, at least show you want to compete and can compete, show you ‘actually’ learned something. If they can’t clear that low bar with the winningest Devils team of all time I don’t want to hear about any process.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I’d take Buffalo’s season over ours assuming this ends in 4 or 5 tbh, miss by a point and end with hope rather than the feeling of getting duped and conned by all these meaningless stats and regular season records

Come on, I get being pissed off but that's a stretch. I'm not saying we're the Lightning or anything but they tied a league wins record and got swept by the 8 seed to come back and win two Cups.

No one's happy with what is happening, but I'm not going to let it take away from the season we had. I want a fight out of them just as much as you do.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Literally the bare minimum here for me is get to Game 6, win a game at the Garden, don’t get eliminated here, at least show you want to compete and can compete, show you ‘actually’ learned something. If they can’t clear that low bar with the winningest team of all time I don’t want to hear about any process.

Yeah right now the regular season looks like a fluke and fool's gold and will remain that way until they show some fight

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Yeah right now the regular season looks like a fluke and fool's gold and will remain that way until they show some fight

It doesn’t look like that at all actually. You don’t fluke into 112 points. Not even sure what that means.