GDT: Capitals @ Devils, 7:00 PM, Jaws

[Devils731]

Hughes will be run into the ground with Kovalchukian ice time. I'm not going to complain if it works, but this seems unsustainable for everybody involved.

And it's wild that we're doing this at all when we have at least 3 NHL quality forwards sitting out as healthy scratches.

Hughes ice time has actually gone down since going 11/7. Likely a number of reasons for that.

First 2 games.

22:54
23:27

Last 3 games.

20:25
19:29
21:03

 

[Bleedred]

McLeod trying not to go for a new career high in games without a goal.

He needs to score tonight or it's 39 games.

 

[MauDevils]

Hughes ice time has actually gone down since going 11/7. Likely a number of reasons for that.

First 2 games.

22:54
23:27

Last 3 games.

20:25
19:29
21:03

More people are rotating now, not just Hughes. I saw Palat getting some shifts with the 4th line.

 

[JK3]

11/7 again, so f***ing stupid.

 

[Whaddagoal]

McLeod trying not to go for a new career high in games without a goal.

He needs to score tonight or it's 39 games.

He needs a gomez-esque didiscore website to count it, however he is not nearly as outstanding to get someone motivated enough to set one up.

 

[Devils731]

More people are rotating now, not just Hughes. I saw Palat getting some shifts with the 4th line.

Ya. Shara took some shifts as well.

It will be interesting to see Hughes ice time if they were in a game where the Devils trailed early with an 11/7 lineup.

It looks like Hughes would get huge ice time in those games regardless of 12/6 or 11/7. That will probably continue as long as Ruff is feeling the hot seat.

 

[njdevils1982]

McLeod trying not to go for a new career high in games without a goal.

He needs to score tonight or it's 39 games.

gotta be getting close to zharkov territory

 

[FooteBahl]

11/7 again, so f***ing stupid.

I agree, but it’s working…so let’s ride it until it’s not.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Same here, but if they’re going to immediately switch it up after the first loss, I’d rather just sit Smith, play Bahl, and play Fabian now. What do I know.

Agree. Of course you and I were not told we would lose our job if the Devils did not start winning Also, if you look at key game type of situations, Holtz and Z would not be getting much time. If the Devils are down late and need goals the team would lean on Nico; line and Hughes/mercer/Shara. If they are trying to protect a lead Z and Holtz are also not likely playing a lot. This is how it goes when the team is transitioning from devloping young players into one who has to win games/

 

[The Wumpus]

For every victory in a row Lindy should subtract an F from the lineup and add another D

 

[Devils731]

For every victory in a row Lindy should subtract an F from the lineup and add another D

Lindy is just ahead of the curve where you’ll just dress 18 skaters and what they’re called really doesn’t matter.

 

[Bleedred]

gotta be getting close to zharkov territory

He's now went 38 games two different times. The first time were the first 38 games he played in the league.

I forgot what the stats were exactly, as it's been since last year that I recited them, but I think he has 3 goalless streaks of at least 25 games and 4 of 16 of more games.

 

[Saugus]

Lindy is just ahead of the curve where you’ll just dress 18 skaters and what they’re called really doesn’t matter.

Is he auditioning to get hired by the Leafs after we fire him?

Maybe they really will play Marner on defense if Lindy is in charge.

 

[DevilDog]

Please don’t go 11/7 again and please scratch Smith

I think everyone wants to see this so Zetts or Holtz get back in the lineup, but I don’t thing Ruff will change the lineup until they lose.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

A win would be sick as hell but considering the bad start and how early we are into the season and how Ruff refuses to sit bad players as long as the team wins, i just want to see some consistently competitive games.

 

[markog]

Washington is not very good defensively we need to score some goals tonight.

Or fast for that matter. I understand why teams play goalies against their former teams but Washington knows this guy better than any team and will try to use that. On other side they already lost against Samsonov this season.

Edit: It looks like it won't be Vanecek

 

[glenwo2]

I don't care who plays tonight, but we're way too early in the season to be playing goalies two nights in a row, so Vanecek needs to get in tomorrow night.

But then again, he'll be going up against Detroit, I forgot that's who the opponent is. The team that f***ed his shit up in his one game.

Well then isn't that better? It's an opponent he already faced so he'd be more ready for them this time.

Plus, the Devils have played a bit better Defensively since then so that could only help him.

One thing at a time, though.


Let's see if the Devils can keep it rolling tonight against the Caps first.

Please don’t go 11/7 again and please scratch Smith

Penalties in this game, especially against THIS team who have Ovechkin, would be dangerous.

Smith is almost assuredly going to commit a bunch of them 'cause he's a knucklehead.

 

[glenwo2]

Sure, but it would be shellfish not to share it!

 

[markog]

Washington will have back-up Lindgren in net. Strome will be 1. line center and Kuznetsov on the second line.

 

[Zippy316]

I’m not a huge fan of 11/7 but I do have to say it looks to be working pretty smoothly so far.

Ideally Zetterlund will get in soon over Smith. Slide Wood or Tatar down to McLeod’s line and give Zetterlund a proper chance on the third line.

That makes the most sense as Bahl has been pretty solid. He had one miscue last game holding onto the puck too long resulting in a turnover. I’d much rather see him do that early on that start throwing the puck away.

 

[Guttersniped]

Let’s be the sharks this time I guess?

Please don’t go 11/7 again and please scratch Smith

 

[The Wumpus]

 

[Guttersniped]

Same here, but if they’re going to immediately switch it up after the first loss, I’d rather just sit Smith, play Bahl, and play Fabian now. What do I know.

 

[glenwo2]

This was a fun game.

 

[Guttersniped]

Ya. Shara took some shifts as well.

It will be interesting to see Hughes ice time if they were in a game where the Devils trailed early with an 11/7 lineup.

It looks like Hughes would get huge ice time in those games regardless of 12/6 or 11/7. That will probably continue as long as Ruff is feeling the hot seat.

“And Special Guest Star” 4th line is dumb and no one can convince me otherwise.



I actually understood Ruff’s comments about Bahl, he was a little too all over the place. It was understandable after sitting but the dude was banging the ice at one point for the puck. Calm down there Al MacInnis.