GDT: Your New Jersey Devils vs. Los Angeles Kings, 7 PM, MSGSN

[Bcap88]

I still think there’s a chance at the wild card. I think third in the division is probably done. Still an outside chance with a regulation win Saturday. And we also gotta watch Pittsburgh, as they have games in hand on us. They’ve been struggling lately too, but are getting their free pass go win over Chicago. I do believe they even lost to Chicago on opening night.

We’re better than Detroit. I wanna see Detroit go down the toilet so all the Yzerman worshippers can be sent down a peg or two.

It’s frustrating because you know there will be more games like this. Especially with Montreal and Washington next week. And the Rangers and Lightning also. We gotta also beat some good teams.

Yea unfortunately it is going to come down to the last week of the season likely

They have to win 3 plus at some point tho

 

[NJDevs26]

I hate being that guy who yells shoot but you're spot on. Nobody wants to shoot.

The first minute of that PP midway in the second was BAD, even by our standards…slow, static passing around the point for a minute straight like we were killing clock

 

[Emperoreddy]

It was, Shero made that trade.


Smith is not playing his offside. He can play on the right side, nominally, but he absolutely should not ever be doing that.

I thought the right side was his natural side? Maybe I'm confused because he has played there more this year?

 

[sabremike]

Lindy is over rated as a head coach for referwnce

Deboer has the same amount of playoff wins in 700 less games

He's probably reached the end but this is bullshit. He got put in two of the absolute worst situations imaginable:

1) Hired in 1997 after the team fired the super popular Ted Nolan, winner of that year's Jack Adams. There were literally angry protests outside the arena over this. He took over and led us to the ECF in 98 and the infamous SCF in 99. Criminal owners refused to pay Peca which led to Hasek demanding out, which all leads to...

2) In the wake of the Adelphia collapse in 2002 (worst financial crime in American history) the Sabres were literally on the verge of folding and the league actually had to step in to pay players and staff until Gollisano saved the day. Ruff managed to keep things together and then after the lockout had a year that saw us lose out on that elusive cup due to the worst luck a pro sports team has ever suffered in the postseason.

I hope he comes back here as an assistant with desperately needed experience (Granato has zero chance of getting fired).

 

[DerekDevils30]

He's probably reached the end but this is bullshit. He got put in two of the absolute worst situations imaginable:

1) Hired in 1997 after the team fired the super popular Ted Nolan, winner of that year's Jack Adams. There were literally angry protests outside the arena over this. He took over and led us to the ECF in 98 and the infamous SCF in 99. Criminal owners refused to pay Peca which led to Hasek demanding out, which all leads to...

2) In the wake of the Adelphia collapse in 2002 (worst financial crime in American history) the Sabres were literally on the verge of folding and the league actually had to step in to pay players and staff until Gollisano saved the day. Ruff managed to keep things together and then after the lockout had a year that saw us lose out on that elusive cup due to the worst luck a pro sports team has ever suffered in the postseason.

I hope he comes back here as an assistant with desperately needed experience (Granato has zero chance of getting fired).

On the 06 topic weren’t you guys down like 4 of your top 6 d-men in that Carolina series?

 

[glenwo2]

Look, I'm one the most anti-Lindy guys you'll find here...but they changed the structure a week ago and every game since they've looked very solid defensively and given up very very few goals with the exception of Vitek's vomitus performance against Calgary. I don't think you can pin this loss on him. 3rd game in 4, 4th in six. These guys aren't robots and no matter what they're not gonna win every game for the rest of the season.

There's a very real chance they can keep playing well like this the rest of the way and still miss. And that's where the real mediocrity of this coaching staff will be exposed. It's unforgiveable that they waited this long to make such obvious adjustments.

Lindy Ruff is like the Minnesota Wild of coaches. Not bad enough to be considered awful, but mediocre enough to never see any real sustained success or reach the mountaintop.

That would be the fault of Ruff in NOT changing the system sooner 'cause if he had, we'd probably be well within a playoff spot right now.

He dragged his feet like a stubborn f*cking mustache-bearded old mule, and only several games ago decided to make a damn change.

Hell...I'm not convinced this change was on his own either.

I bet Fitz told him he better change the system or this is his final season here.

 

[CalamityX23]

I felt Jack kinda threw us off by going solo

While future looks nice to have the Hughes Brothers at the blue line directing a master class, both aren't ready yet for that huge responsibility imho

 

[glenwo2]

you don't wear the A and act like that. give up on the play to argue with the ref? your teammates notice this shit. its not what a leader does

i want Jack to be here for the next 15+ but he has to get this out of his game

yeah.

How many times have we seen Jesper, for example, get hauled down with no call when he's trying to make a move toward goal?

A good amount of times....I don't recall him smashing his stick or throwing a tantrum.

He probably just bites his tongue, goes to the bench, and waits for his next shift.


I want Jack to be doing the same.

Yes, you got jobbed but you can't dwell on it...Just get out there the next time and make things happen as a F.U. to being Jobbed.

He's young and he'll learn as he gets used to seeing the Refs being incompetent pieces of sh-t...

 

[sabremike]

On the 06 topic weren’t you guys down like 4 of your top 6 d-men in that Carolina series?

Yes. If we win that game 7 we kill Edmonton and win the cup.

 

[glenwo2]

njdevils1982 dislikes this post.

Chico Resch eats a chili dog in response.

 

[glenwo2]

Looks like Older Bro Quinn and the Canucks are about to do us a major solid.

Now 4-1 with just over 3 minutes remaining...

 

[DerekDevils30]

Looks like Older Bro Quinn and the Canucks are about to do us a major solid.

Now 4-1 with just over 3 minutes remaining...

Not getting it to OT tonight really stings. Here’s to hoping the boys are ready to play Saturday

 

[glenwo2]

AAAAND it's over.

Thank you, Quinn.

Thank you, Canucks.


You have kept our Playoff hopes alive.

 

[glenwo2]

Not getting it to OT tonight really stings. Here’s to hoping the boys are ready to play Saturday

If they aren't ready to play Saturday, then they'll never be ready to play in any game.

I'm wondering if they were thinking AHEAD to the Outdoor game which was why they were sluggish today?

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I've seen this way too many times this season and I'm tired of it so I'm making a post about it. Why is Bastian where he is? Why is Miller in front of his man and not behind. These 2 things are systemic so it's not just those 2 players specifically. They need to change it, it's terrible.

Countless times they have left a guy wide open right in front of the goalie (technically 2 guys but one is defended...sometimes). Some successful pks does not make this system ok.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Now a global mod on the trade board says the trade is done and will be announced after the game. Guess I’m staying up for a bit lol

so....update?

 

[DerekDevils30]

so....update?

I’m going to laugh when I wake up and see we traded for Vladar

 

[NjDevsRR]

How’d they play tonight?

 

[DerekDevils30]

How’d they play tonight?

Quite lethargic overall. Not much jump at all especially in the 1st and 2nd. Kings 1-3-1 system frustrated them. Effort wasn’t there compared to the previous 4 games. With that being said it was tied in the 3rd and they once again couldn’t find a way to get it to OT.

Daws was PHENOMENAL. Should have been worse than 2-1 honestly.

Hopefully they were just tired. Palat was sick this morning so it’s possible other guys are also feeling the effects.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Quite lethargic overall. Not much jump at all especially in the 1st and 2nd. Kings 1-3-1 system frustrated them. Effort wasn’t there compared to the previous 4 games. With that being said it was tied in the 3rd and they once again couldn’t find a way to get it to OT.

Daws was PHENOMENAL. Should have been worse than 2-1 honestly.

Hopefully they were just tired. Palat was sick this morning so it’s possible other guys are also feeling the effects.

Its been a slog of opponents lately.

Canes Kraken Preds Kings and then Flyers this Saturday all try to play a low event, suffocating style of hockey.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Its been a slog of opponents lately.

Canes Kraken Preds Kings and then Flyers this Saturday all try to play a low event, suffocating style of hockey.

well...that's how theyll have to play in the playoffs so it's good for them

 

[NjDevsRR]

well...that's how theyll have to play in the playoffs so it's good for them

Two five on five goals against in the last 250 mins of hockey. Thats a good start

 

[MadDevil]

I’m going to laugh when I wake up and see we traded for Vladar

Oh, you said Vladar. My bad.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

Sucks they couldn't build off the Nashville game and win 3 straight for the first time in what feels forever. Would have been good momentum into Satirdays game. That Meier line and him in particular didn't do much tonight on offense. He had no shots either , he needs to start scoring some damn goals with regularity.

Lazar went from hero in the Preds game (shot block) to zero with that boneheaded penalty he took to give the Kings the powerplay they scored on. He tried preventing the puck from leaving the Kings zone thinking he would prevent a breakaway when we literally had a defensman clearly back to cover....

 

[njdevil26]

Jack needs to chill out. I like seeing him stick up for himself bit man he can be a baby… more often than not when he loses his temper he disappears on the ice. It would be different if he gets angry and goes into beast mode and takes control of a game but it’s the complete opposite.