Pre-Game Talk: Series Preview: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

[Devils Dominion]

8 0 0 yessir

 

[TheUnseenHand]

decorated the outside of my cubicle for the ‘yoffs. call it cocky, but this is pretty standard for me. (HUGE photo alert, friggin hf upload.)

View attachment 113021

I have a banner, logo, pennant and Daneyko bobble head that reside at my cubicle year round. They know they would probably have to fire me to get me to take them down

 

[glenwo2]

So THIS is what is going to open the Devils Broadcast for Game 1 on MSG. Me Like.

 

[StvBroDan]

WE ARE HERE NOW KICK SOME ASS

 

[Marv4Life]

Gonna be tough. Going up against one of the top teams in hockey. Let's get it on.

 

[Zippy316]

The Devils PK is my key to the series.

The Devils have one of the best team PK in the NHL, and scored more shorthanded goals than any NHL team.

Keep that lethal Tampa PP off the board and New Jersey 100% can win this series.

Coleman
Gibbons
&
Grabner
Zajac

Nobody is talking about the above 4 given they're not "stars", but IMO they're going to be key for the Devils.

AGGRESSIVE pressure of the Tampa PP at the blueline, all series long, and I fully expect a few shorthanded goals for the Devils.*

*No I have not been drinking (yet)

I think these are the four keys to the series:

1. Devils PK against Tampa PP

2. Coleman - Zajac - Noesen vs. Miller - Stamkos - Kucherov

For the above 2, I'd take neutralizing them, but if they can shut either one down, that'll vastly increase the Devils chances of winning.

3. Secondary scoring

Zacha and Boyle's line need to be more productive than the Lightning bottom six of Killorn - Cirelli - Gourde and Kunitz - Paquette - Callahan.

4. Goaltending

Goaltending could sink either team. What Kinkaid are we getting and what Vasilevski are we getting?

I'm not too concerned about Hall's line. Hall and Palmieri are too good not to be productive especially on the PP. I'd be concerned if they were going up against a ridiculous 200 foot player like Bergeron or Barkov or Kopitar, but to me, I don't foresee Palat - Point - Johnson being able to shutdown that line. My only concern would be if they could outscore them.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

Deb full cringe to start off.

 

[Nubmer6]

WE ARE HERE NOW KICK SOME ASS

We're here to chew bubblegum and kick some ass... and we're all outta bubblegum.

 

[Tretyak 20]

I think these are the four keys to the series:

1. Devils PK against Tampa PP

2. Coleman - Zajac - Noesen vs. Miller - Stamkos - Kucherov

For the above 2, I'd take neutralizing them, but if they can shut either one down, that'll vastly increase the Devils chances of winning.

3. Secondary scoring

Zacha and Boyle's line need to be more productive than the Lightning bottom six of Killorn - Cirelli - Gourde and Kunitz - Paquette - Callahan.

4. Goaltending

Goaltending could sink either team. What Kinkaid are we getting and what Vasilevski are we getting?

I'm not too concerned about Hall's line. Hall and Palmieri are too good not to be productive especially on the PP. I'd be concerned if they were going up against a ridiculous 200 foot player like Bergeron or Barkov or Kopitar, but to me, I don't foresee Palat - Point - Johnson being able to shutdown that line. My only concern would be if they could outscore them.

I'd say this is spot on.