GDT: Avs @ Devils Part 2

[BahlDeep]

I seriously think Severson has been our best defenseman this season.

I'm going to get hated for that, but I don't think Vatanen is capable on facing top lines on a consistent basis.

 

[Oneiro]

I agree. Vatanen is the one who needs to be insulated with a steady partner. Not suggesting Vats is bad at all, but he's aggressive in every sense of the word. While I think Greene's play has obviously diminished, he did a lot more for Vats than he got credit for.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

 

[Its a Trap]

4-1. Ain’t even mad.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Just finished watching the highlights since I only got to listen to the rest of the 3rd on the drive home.

It’s disappointing for sure because we were in it, but even aside from not playing our best game early on, things were clearly not going our way. Say what you will about killing most of the penalties but being on the PK for practically 1/3rd of the game won’t do you any favors. Couple that with how they scored their first goal and losing Zajac in the second, it was going to be a tall task to pull this one out.

I know it wasn’t our best game but I still think it speaks volumes about our team in how we stayed in it as long as we did. As Hynes said the other night, we’re never dead. Come out with a determined, better effort in Philly tomorrow and do another powerpray for Trav.

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm going to send a fecal sample to the team offices if Santini (or god forbid Gryba) is playing over either Severson or Butcher next game.

I don't think he will be, but I think he might be in for Lovejoy. It's been a while since Lovejoy was a healthy scratch, but I think it was in March sometime.

There's literally no way Butcher gets healthy scratched and Sevs isn't going to get healthy scratched now while he's playing decent-good defensively. If anyone bites the dust it's Mueller (who could easily be this year's Santini and go from first pairing to out of the lineup) or Lovejoy.

Who once said you don't change a winning lineup?

Let's get real, Stafford playing ten meh minutes instead of Quenneville was not the difference in the game. The far more impactful 'change' was losing Zajac for half of it.

 

[oxman44]

I totally agree that Zacha HAS to find a way to get few points here. But, this is why it really sucks he didnt get 3 or 4 in the first 2 games, because he certainly deserved them. Now 5 games in, people only start seeing "0 points" on the stat line. But its not really the whole story, some games your just not afforded alot of opportunities. Take last night for example:
6 (!) Minutes on the PK
9 min TOI 5v5 (maybe the puck got to him twice? the entire game )
Took basically every defensive shift after Trav got hurt
Mojo (poor) and Stafford (abysmal) lost basically every puck battle (his wings have been awful since the sharks game)
0 shifts while trailing
0 shifts on the PP (still has yet to get any PP time despite having 2 fairly dominant games to start the season)
60% in the dot again but resulted in 0 zone time

Thats like stay at home defensman type usage.
Not sure what your gonna do in these conditions, in a game when your whole team is getting outskated and your down your other best defensive centerman.
But all anyone will remember is that he passed to Boyle instead of shooting on his only 2 0n 1.

 

[Devils Dominion]

I think it's okay to change a winning lineup, but it's almost not okay to play Drew Stafford.

I'm pretty sure there will be a defense change on Saturday and I'll cry like a baby if Severson comes out for Santini or some bull **** like that. I doubt that's gonna be it, but who the hell knows?

I can't watch Saturday's game live. I have a wedding to attend.

LJ should come out.
He's a slow turnover machine

 

[New Jersey]

in the party of “we were shit and *still could* have won that game so we’re fine”

 

[njdevil26]

No problem with being 4-1.

However.

If Zajac is out for a long time, that's a big issue.

Also, Noesen is not playing well. JQ is a healthy scratch because he's not playing well. Stafford is not the solution at RW. Zacha is still not taking that next step. We have a depth issue and scoring is going to be completely dependent on the top line.

 

[Fear the Wushu]

1st line got pummeled tonight. One of those rare poor games from them. Thought Wood/Dea/Coleman had good games. Zacha was pretty invisible. Nothing good or bad I suppose.

Noesen hasn't been great, but I'm still very confident he'll turn it around. Feel like he deserves a longer leash than many of the forwards we currently have playing. People forget how vital he was to the team at times last year. Bratt should come in for JQ/Stafford when he's healthy. Unless they plan on scratching Boyle and moving Coleman to C (which they won't), then JQ/Stafford is a no brainer to come out.

Are you talking about at even strength? The boys on the top line came away with some points tonight.

 

[Better Call Sal]

No problem with being 4-1.

However.

If Zajac is out for a long time, that's a big issue.

Also, Noesen is not playing well. JQ is a healthy scratch because he's not playing well. Stafford is not the solution at RW. Zacha is still not taking that next step. We have a depth issue and scoring is going to be completely dependent on the top line.

I wouldn't go that far. Obviously we'll be leaning on the top line heavily, but I do think the depth for scoring is there. Yes, Mojo and Zacha haven't produced but guys like Wood, Zajac, Coleman, Dea and Boyle and even the defense have been chipping in. I think it'll be a matter of time for Mojo, Zacha and Noesen, hopefully sooner than later for the first two.

I definitely agree with you that if Zajac is out long term, it's a significant loss. While we can likely manage that center depth with Nico-Zacha-Coleman-Boyle, Zajac's stability as a center and on the PK will be sorely missed.

Powerpray today for good news.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Hynes nailed it, they were not mentally engaged from the drop of the puck.

Still had a chance to earn points if Mueller didn't try to play goalie and if Greene didn't trip up Noesen.

Major concern is Trav's health

 

[Devils Dominion]

No problem with being 4-1.

However.

If Zajac is out for a long time, that's a big issue.

Also, Noesen is not playing well. JQ is a healthy scratch because he's not playing well. Stafford is not the solution at RW. Zacha is still not taking that next step. We have a depth issue and scoring is going to be completely dependent on the top line.

Plus MoJo has been awful for his standards

 

[None Shall Pass]

When you sober up let us know what impressed you about it

Slightly sweet nose to it, smooth taste that wasn't too rye forward but had a nice heat that a rye is known for on the way down - just shy of what I'd call a medium burn. Just a really good balanced rye with some fruity notes to it. It'd be a good rye to sip straight or on rocks.

 

[BenedictGomez]

The entire defense, all 6 players, have collectively played well through 5 games.

People are just doing that HFBoards emo thing after a loss where something......anything..... must be blamed.

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Anyone else think Blake Coleman has some hidden offensive upside. I notice that guy making increasingly nifty plays.

I think, in the right situation, he could be a 30 point ES player. That would require him to have better linemates though.

 

[Better Call Sal]

The entire defense, all 6 players, have collectively played well through 5 games.

People are just doing that HFBoards emo thing after a loss where something......anything..... must be blamed.

Drew Stafford's presence was clearly the reason.

 

[zharkenby]

Really hate to be that guy but last night is atleast 50% on just Andy Greene. Essentially responsible for landeskogs hatty. He can’t wear the C and have games like that, and we know there’s a few more on the way (at least...)

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Anyone else think Blake Coleman has some hidden offensive upside. I notice that guy making increasingly nifty plays.

I think, in the right situation, he could be a 30 point ES player. That would require him to have better linemates though.

Love his shoot-first mentality.

A great story on this team. I'll admit, with his age and pro experience, he's shown a lot more upside than I thought he had.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Unlucky that Palms rocket with the empty net didn't go. It was going far post and Grubauer overcommitted on his slide but was able to squeeze it on his left pad.

 

[Zippy316]

Was Gryba waived yesterday? I missed that.

I never even knew that. Kind of an odd move, since we didn't really need the spot, but I certainly support it. Maybe because he wasn't getting in a game anyway? Probably the reason.

I think it’s to open up an eventual spot for Bratt.

 

[guitarguyvic]

Not really worried about things based on this particular game. I think the big picture concern should be with that second line, especially Zacha. This kid needs to get his shit together. If he can't produce this season, it's a wrap on him. And it will hold this team back severely.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Really hate to be that guy but last night is atleast 50% on just Andy Greene. Essentially responsible for landeskogs hatty. He can’t wear the C and have games like that, and we know there’s a few more on the way (at least...)

There were only 2 major gaffs by defensemen last night (one by Greene, one by Severson). The Greene gaff wound up in the back of the net, it happens. All-in-all, however, he didnt have a terrible game. None of the Dmen were bad last night.

 

[zharkenby]

There were only 2 major gaffs by defensemen last night (one by Greene, one by Severson). The Greene gaff wound up in the back of the net, it happens. All-in-all, however, he didnt have a terrible game. None of the Dmen were bad last night.

? He got absolutely torched by landeskog, and fell down behind the net and took noesen with him. 2 guys down behind the net led directly to a goal. Personally I think those are both on him, but in the end it doesn’t really matter I guess