GDT: New Jersey Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes: Niconight Run

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NJDevils17

Going Up?
Apr 21, 2013
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Raleigh
People love to dump on Vatanen for the same reason people used to love dumping on Severson up until this season, but don't tell me he has not been money. Guy had 4 pts this weekend. How quality was that pass to Nico?

People who don’t like Vatanen, are simply Henrique fanboys scrutizing him to the max. Name a better dman you could get for Henrique? He’s clearly a top 4 dman and he struggled somewhat, but come on, which dman hasn’t. He’s been lights out for us and can make some really good plays to push play.
 

NJ DevLolz

The Many Saints of Newark
Sep 30, 2017
4,565
5,398
People who don’t like Vatanen, are simply Henrique fanboys scrutizing him to the max. Name a better dman you could get for Henrique? He’s clearly a top 4 dman and he struggled somewhat, but come on, which dman hasn’t. He’s been lights out for us and can make some really good plays to push play.
He's also been carrying the corpse of Andy Greene on his back.
 

OmNomNom

Taco is Love, Taco is Life
Mar 3, 2011
22,972
15,826
In the Church of Salmela
People who don’t like Vatanen, are simply Henrique fanboys scrutizing him to the max. Name a better dman you could get for Henrique? He’s clearly a top 4 dman and he struggled somewhat, but come on, which dman hasn’t. He’s been lights out for us and can make some really good plays to push play.
i will say he does a bit too much at the point some times. like he's definitely a risk taker, which is nice, but the pinches he takes at times and pivots he makes at the point (to try to carry the puck deeper into the zone) make me catch my breath a few times a game.
 

mtnet

LGD!
Oct 31, 2014
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surprised to not see "nurses the puck into the zone" hahaha

Yeah I knew there were tons of Steve-isms I couldn't seem to recall for some reason but since no more were coming at the time I just went with the dozen or so in the jumble.
 
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NJDevils17

Going Up?
Apr 21, 2013
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i will say he does a bit too much at the point some times. like he's definitely a risk taker, which is nice, but the pinches he takes at times and pivots he makes at the point (to try to carry the puck deeper into the zone) make me catch my breath a few times a game.

I think those are fair criticisms. He holds onto the puck a second or two too long. But plays like that is how the Hall goal happened.
 
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mtnet

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Oct 31, 2014
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He's also been carrying the corpse of Andy Greene on his back.

He's been a workhorse, BIG minutes muncher since day one of the trade. Not sure what the average is at this point but I know he did 25:25 vs. TBL and when playing that much not every play is going to look great. I shake my head at times when he tries to do too much on his own but at the same time I can't really bag on him for it and it's that sort of play that helped Hall eventually get the OT gwg vs. Canes.
 

Patrik26

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If we were a Canadian team that got lots of coverage, I could totally see Kinkaid and Glen having a segment together on HNIC's After Hours show. Where they interview Keith and Glen back in the hallway near the locker rooms with Scott Oake and Louie DeBrusk. Where they talk about how a fan tweeted at Kinkaid and how it turned his season around.:nod:

Now. Imagine if Lou was still around. :) B-O-R-I-N-G.
 

Patrik26

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I think there is nothing wrong with ribbing our broadcast crew. They make it easy to make fun of them, but I do think we can sometimes get carried about and get a bit mean spirited, so it is worth remembering they really are fans too. They didn’t have any fun last year just like we didn’t, and they are loving this.

Honestly listening to Chico talk about Nico or Bratt you would think they were his kids. He goes full proud papa.

Who wants perfection from their broadcast crew anyway? Certainly not me. It makes for a lot of great conversation during the game. My favorite from this season is still the road game (which game exactly I don't remember) when Deb was doing a bit during a timeout and the ice crew had to pull her out of the way to close the doors. Classic. :thumbu:
 

Brick City

Ignore me!
May 21, 2012
1,460
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New Jersey
I never get the knock against Dano and Chico for being homers. It's our crew; I'm not looking for them to be down the middle neutral. Don't want them towing the party line either but nothing wrong with them clearly pulling for the home team.

So I was able to catch the team against Carolina last night with friends who relocated from Jersey. Nice arena, good crowd, people were friendly almost to a fault. Of course we had to let the EN goal happen but otherwise an exciting game for being the away fan.
 

Wingman77

Registered User
Mar 16, 2010
20,251
765
Vatanen has been a needed addition to this defense.

A few weeks back some of us were discussing the similarities in his game to Zidlicky, with even more games played since then, only continue to ring true. He's basically a somewhat less offensive version, but with that bit of less offense, comes a more reliably defensive player.
 
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Camille the Eel

Registered User
He's also been carrying the corpse of Andy Greene on his back.
My Vatanen issues are at the other end of the ice. How many times during the two long recent losing streaks (6 games and then 4) did we see him staring at someone around our slot while a goal was scored; or being late to someone who scored, and not tying up a guy's stick? Seemed like a whole lot.

I'm not sure if it was Vatanen or Greene or some combination of the both. Or maybe I'm just off on this.

But we have been winning the last four games because we are scoring and thank Vatanen (and Nico and Hall and others) for that.
 

glenwo2

LINDY RUFF NEEDS VIAGRA!!
Oct 18, 2008
51,933
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New Jersey(No Fanz!)
Agreed. I think the Philly comeback was the tonic the team needed to get out of the prolonged funk. These last two games they look like the team from early in the season - not dominating possession but skating fast and killing the opposition on the rush/transition.

I’m thinking (hoping?) we secure hat first wild card spot. Which likely pits us against Washington or Pittsburgh. Really hoping Pitt doesn’t continue winning because I highly doubt the devils have any chance against them, whereas the capitals are playoff choke artists so I think with them we may have a shot.

I think the reverse is true. The Caps have had our number while the Pens...well they're not as physical and we match up way better with them.
 

severian

Registered User
Aug 19, 2007
4,104
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I think the reverse is true. The Caps have had our number while the Pens...well they're not as physical and we match up way better with them.

Who cares. We were supposed to be a lottery team. Any playoffs will be awesome and once you're there you never know what happens regardless of matchup.
 
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glenwo2

LINDY RUFF NEEDS VIAGRA!!
Oct 18, 2008
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New Jersey(No Fanz!)
Who cares. We were supposed to be a lottery team. Any playoffs will be awesome and once you're there you never know what happens regardless of matchup.

Oh I understand. Just getting to the playoffs would be the ultimate goal this year. That said, though, I feel that we have a better shot at getting to the next round against the Pens.
 

Zippy316

aka Zippo
Aug 17, 2012
19,485
4,473
New Jersey
Who cares. We were supposed to be a lottery team. Any playoffs will be awesome and once you're there you never know what happens regardless of matchup.

I'm not sure I agree. A lot of times match-ups are the key reason teams advance. Bruins getting knocked out by the Capitals in 2011-12 was huge for the Devils because we never played them well.

The only teams I would want to avoid in the playoffs are Bruins, Capitals, and Blue Jackets. We seem to struggle with all three.
 

Devils Dominion

Now we Plummet
Feb 16, 2007
48,509
3,716
NJ
Last night was a character win that was possible due to outstanding goaltending.

Guys were obviously gassed and just getting to OT was an accomplishment under the circumstances.

Tuesday at home vs Cbj is another vital game.

Hopefully our fans realize this and give loud support like they did vs Rawly last week.
 

Lou is God

Registered User
Nov 10, 2003
26,507
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New Jersey
Our announce crew is actually one of the better ones in the league - there are some really superb ones but ours is definitely above average. I don't mind poking fun and the occasional rib, but I think a lot of the bashing is unnecessary. Everyone screws up from time to time and I don't think it's fair to hold Steve to the same standard as Doc. Doc was exceptional and really one of a kind. Steve screws up occasionally but he's still a very good pxp guy.
We have always been fortunate when it comes to our announcers, I mean before Doc we had Gary Thorne who is excellent
 
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severian

Registered User
Aug 19, 2007
4,104
2,257
Westfield
Oh I understand. Just getting to the playoffs would be the ultimate goal this year. That said, though, I feel that we have a better shot at getting to the next round against the Pens.

The Devils are going be huge underdogs no matter what the matchup.
 

Call Me Al

Registered User
Aug 28, 2017
5,521
6,832
you never know. certain players elevate their game above and beyond during the playoffs and we honestly don’t know who that could be. halak stole a series against the capitals on year. it’s entirely possible this team could step up. or they could get swept and it’s a learning experience. you don’t know
 

mtnet

LGD!
Oct 31, 2014
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With where we are and how fast things have reversed course for the better these past two years, I can think of no bigger achievement than for this young team to make the playoffs. Hall is willing the team to the finish line and Hishier and Zacha have both kicked it up a notch lately. Goalies too in this stretch.

I wouldn't even feel let down if they falter once they get there since we still have some glaring flaws to address but just getting in would impart a tremendous mental lift and sense of accomplishment for a team everyone expected to end up in the basement again this year. Just making it in would be a Cinderella story of sorts with 4 rookies on the team.
 
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