GDT: #3 New Jersey Mephistos (2-0-0) @ Tampa Bay Flashs (2-0-1) - "Winning is awesome" Ed.

[indfin]

If the team wins against Washington, and somehow pulls off a win vs San Jose, would it still be to early to call this team a great team? A team that might actually be dangerous down the stretch?

yes.

 

[Camille the Eel]

Couple of things to talk about -

1. Cory Schneider was SENSATIONAL tonight, the Lightning could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals but he came up huge on multiple occasions to keep NJD in it. Absolutely loved his game, if this is the type of goaltending we're going to get on a consistent basis, its going to be a very successful season.

2. Eric Gelinas is much better defensively so far this year, and tonight was another example. He was steady, used his body on multiple occasions to knock down the puck carrier, and he's finally learning how to play better positionally in his own zone.

3. The PK finally stepped up tonight.

4. This team has depth, all 4 lines were able to jump over the boards and get a few solid shifts in. I thought Camm/Zajac/Jagr finally clicked, Geezers Version 2.0 looked great, the Henrique line was quiet yet effective, and the 4th line didn't do anything stupid. Good games.

5. Salvador had another solid game, I'm beginning to see the turn around from him. He's here to block shots, make life tough on opposition forwards parked in front of the net, and use his strength to add a much needed physical element to this defense.

Perfect start to the season thus far.

Our Czech national team had a great game all in all. Zidlicky, Jagr, Elias and Havlat - especially the first and last guys.

But really so many others: Cammalleri and Zajack too.

Who was matched up on Stamkos over the course of the game? Because after the first five or six minutes of the game I heard Stamkos' name very very little. It was like the Stamkos line more or less vanished and someone on the Devils did a very good job on them

 

[njdevil26]

Salvador was AWFUL. Oh man how I wish they just paid Fayne and used a regular buyout on Salvador.....

 

[Camille the Eel]

I can't really complain about a defense that gives up only one goal against Tampa Bay, Bryce Salvador included. If we're doing something wrong there, give us a case of whatever our defense was drinking last night.

 

[PercivalGraves]

Mike Cammalleri is a beast .

 

[Tundra]

Salvador was AWFUL. Oh man how I wish they just paid Fayne and used a regular buyout on Salvador.....

Lou was bat**** nuts to give him a 3 year deal at the age. I said that as soon as the contract was announced.

 

[glenwo2]

RG basically says that Sal's mistake was not choosing to take the body of the opponent instead of trying to handle the puck(and failing).

Doesn't that just prove that Sal wasn't very good(or solid, as Chessarmy believes) in that game, though?

And yeah I acknowledge(and I even mentioned it during the game) it was like Keystone Cops at one point but still...how many quality chances did the Bolts get because Sal got beat at other points in the game? Plenty. He's slow and couldn't beat a turtle in a race at this point of his career.

Quite frankly, it sounds like excuses are being made for a player that really shouldn't be playing more than other more deserving(and effective) players. I don't get it.


Oh and some are saying how Sal is this year's "whipping boy". Well there's a damn good reason for that because it's deserved due to his mediocre(at best) play on the ice.

 

[njdevil26]

Lou was bat**** nuts to give him a 3 year deal at the age. I said that as soon as the contract was announced.

I wasn't so concerned at the time because I knew it was because of his performance in the playoffs in 2012... and I figured Lou knows how to get rid of a guy if he has to.... but now it's obnoxious. At least this is the last year.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Sal was our worst defensemen for the 3rd game in a row.
He handles the puck like it's a grenade and he's slow of foot.

I did like that he dropped the mitts with Thornton and no one denies that he is a tough customer.

We also can't measure his locker room intangibles but none of that can outweigh the numerous gaffes he committs on the ice each game so far this season.

 

[JimEIV]

Seriously? The Devils just shut down Tampa, who I will bet money will be one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league, and this is the conversation????

 

[glenwo2]

Seriously? The Devils just shut down Tampa, who I will bet money will be one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league, and this is the conversation????

It's the conversation because there's nothing else to complain about.



But also because one poster saw Sal through Rose-Colored glasses and we were all like "lolwut?".

 

[Emperoreddy]

Zajac deserves some more love for the game he had. Overall excellent game for him.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Seriously? The Devils just shut down Tampa, who I will bet money will be one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league, and this is the conversation????

It doesn't surprise me anymore. People just want to be negative for the hell of it.

We are 3 and 0! That is all I care about.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Seriously? The Devils just shut down Tampa, who I will bet money will be one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league, and this is the conversation????

We're going to be a top 5 scoring team? I'll take that bet all day. How much?

 

[Better Call Sal]

We're going to be a top 5 scoring team? I'll take that bet all day. How much?

I think he means Tampa.

 

[njdevil26]

We're going to be a top 5 scoring team? I'll take that bet all day. How much?

He means Tampa will be a top five scoring team.

 

[Missionhockey]

Seriously? The Devils just shut down Tampa, who I will bet money will be one of the top 5 scoring teams in the league, and this is the conversation????

I only caught the 3rd period of this game, good game but Tampa did play the night before. Still, 3-0 and 3-0. Take it and move onto the next.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Ohhh, my bad.

Anyway, negative nancies should go pound sand.

 

[JimEIV]

Never mind.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We all said Tampa was going to be a measuring stick, and we passed the test. Sit back and enjoy it, especially after the **** show start we had last year.

Of course there are imperfections and holes that will need to be smoothed out or addressed as the season goes but still enjoy this. It has been a LONG time since we had a damn winning streak to enjoy.

 

[JimEIV]

I only caught the 3rd period of this game, good game but Tampa did play the night before. Still, 3-0 and 3-0. Take it and move onto the next.

Tampa did play the night before...But this is/was October 14th...Back to back without travel in the first 4 games should have no bearing on performance for Tampa.

If this was late December or January...Maybe. But Tampa playing the night before at home in a laugher shouldn't have made for a tired team.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Ohhh, my bad.

Anyway, negative nancies should go pound sand.

Yes! We should all be positive pauls!

It wasn't a pretty effort, for sure, but to beat one of the better teams in the East and one that is as lethal offensively as you'll find in the whole league is impressive. It's even more impressive that we are 3-0 all on the road.

I wish I could make it to the home opener this year, this will be the first one that I miss in about 6 years.

 

[JimEIV]

Yes! We should all be positive pauls!

It wasn't a pretty effort, for sure, but to beat one of the better teams in the East and one that is as lethal offensively as you'll find in the whole league is impressive. It's even more impressive that we are 3-0 all on the road.

I wish I could make it to the home opener this year, this will be the first one that I miss in about 6 years.

Last year that was an easy loss. At any point of the season

 

[devilsblood]

Zajac deserves some more love for the game he had. Overall excellent game for him.

Ya I thought I saw hesitancy in the first couple games, thought maybe injury was at play, but no signs of caution last night.

 

[devilsblood]

Yes! We should all be positive pauls!

It wasn't a pretty effort, for sure, but to beat one of the better teams in the East and one that is as lethal offensively as you'll find in the whole league is impressive. It's even more impressive that we are 3-0 all on the road.

I wish I could make it to the home opener this year, this will be the first one that I miss in about 6 years.

I think the successful road trip leading to the anticipated home opener will make for a really good atmosphere vs SJ. Should be fun.