GDT: Devils @ Islanders, 7:30 PM, Fish Sticks

[ninetyeight]

The league leader in xGF this season is Matthew Tkachuk who is on for 4.29 xGF/60 - no one is even close, not even on his team. Meier's xGF/60 last night was 4.55 xGF/60.

Could you please post your sources on this, cause that just doesn't line with the eye test at all. Meier had only 3 sog (he was originally credited with only 2) so your now telling me he had the best game of the entire season? I assume you mean Tkatchuk is 4.29/60 on average, so where does Meiers 4.55/60 rank on individual games through the league (or just Devils players). Also what was Haula's xGF/60?

Well I guess I'm wrong then, but I stand by my opinnion regardless I don't think he was our best player and I don't think anyone was really great no matter what the advanced stats say. I'm glad you guys are happy with 9,5m xGchamp Meier though..

Here's a reminder how Meier is suppose to look:

 

[TF1970]

I'm pretty confident we will go back to 6 D and Bahl will sit.

i will literally give up on the season if that happens.

 

[Triumph]

i will literally give up on the season if that happens.

The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup while playing Jack Johnson in most of their playoff games.

 

[R8Devs]

Could you please post your sources on this, cause that just doesn't line with the eye test at all. Meier had only 3 sog (he was originally credited with only 2) so your now telling me he had the best game of the entire season? I assume you mean Tkatchuk is 4.29/60 on average, so where does Meiers 4.55/60 rank on individual games through the league (or just Devils players). Also what was Haula's xGF/60?

Well I guess I'm wrong then, but I stand by my opinnion regardless I don't think he was our best player and I don't think anyone was really great no matter what the advanced stats say. I'm glad you guys are happy with 9,5m xGchamp Meier though..

Here's a reminder how Meier is suppose to look:

Watch the beginning of the season, Meier had a crazy drought for the amount of shots he was getting. It’s more important for him to play like this instead (and showing the ability to dominate possession with any of the devils centers) in a new system than going on a shooting percentage binge to make ppl feel calm about his production

 

[Triumph]

Could you please post your sources on this, cause that just doesn't line with the eye test at all. Meier had only 3 sog (he was originally credited with only 2) so your now telling me he had the best game of the entire season? I assume you mean Tkatchuk is 4.29/60 on average, so where does Meiers 4.55/60 rank on individual games through the league (or just Devils players). Also what was Haula's xGF/60?

Well I guess I'm wrong then, but I stand by my opinnion regardless I don't think he was our best player and I don't think anyone was really great no matter what the advanced stats say. I'm glad you guys are happy with 9,5m xGchamp Meier though..

Here's a reminder how Meier is suppose to look:

I'm saying that if Meier and his teammates did what they did last night, Meier would be the top xG/60 player in the league. I am not saying he had the best individual game of the season - in terms of on ice xG, this is Timo's 15th best game, and best game for NJ. He played a solid game against a good opponent.

 

[Guttersniped]

Do you understand these numbers you are posting? So a great defensive effort? In a 5-1 loss, from a guy who was brought here to be a 40 goal scorer. Also please do explain what did Meier do directly to get the xGA% so low? How many blocks and takeaways he had? Meier not being known for his defensive talents I think it's just more likely that the bouncing him through 3 lines and NYI sucking, just caused them not to get good scoring chances when he was on ice, regardless of his efforts.

And doesn't change the fact that Haula still had a better combined numbers and Hughes had the best two scoring chances. Which was the whole point.

But whatever keep convincing yourselves that Meier is playing great and worth his upcoming 9m deal (or 10m QO) if that's what helps you sleep at night. I think he's been a huge disappointment and frackly bad at times (defensive blunders, bad penalties) with not enough scoring to compensate those. But if you think he's great now, then your gonna lose your mind when the actual Timo "5goals a game" Meier of San Jose finally shows up.

First 13 games.

Fitz said he didn’t even care about Meier’s production right now and just cared about him getting acclimated. He was also coming back from an injury and not playing for a couple of weeks.

I guess freaking out over these first 13 games is another approach.

News flash, we can’t finish right now.

 

[ninetyeight]

It’s more important for him to play like this instead (and showing the ability to dominate possession with any of the devils centers) in a new system than going on a shooting percentage binge to make ppl feel calm about his production

You are correct. Like I said earlier he's been much better as of late. My overall opinion of him is based (distorted?) on his first few games, people like Jack and Nico struggling when they get paired with him and the frustration of him not scoring and Devils as a whole losing more than winning (2 wins in their last 8). Sucks that we can win, Meier can't score and some people keep insisting how great we and he is doing.

 

[Guttersniped]

You are correct. Like I said earlier he's been much better as of late. My overall opinion of him is based (distorted?) on his first few games and the frustration of him not scoring and Devils as a whole losing more than winning (2 wins in their last 8). Sucks that we can win, Meier can't score and some people keep insisting how great we and he is doing.

Not sure “doing great” is how anyone would describe things right now.

We aren’t finishing and the quality of scoring chances has gone down. They can work to improve the latter and hope that helps that gets the former going.

Meier hasn’t been bad though, he really hasn’t, and the trade wasn’t about the first 13 games so I don’t care that much about his results so far. I like goals too, more would have been nice, but it’s not about the very short term.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Meier is playing pretty well, and is obviously getting some hard luck with only 2 assists in NJ. He’s also not a true sniper and people expecting him to cash in on a high percentage of his chances must not have looked at his SH% for his career. He’s a 10.3% shooter, 8% with us so far.

 

[ninetyeight]

I guess freaking out over these first 13 games is another approach.

To further expand my last post, I'm not freaking out, I only said:

1. Meier wasn't our best last night (I thought it was Haula or Hughes)
2. Meier should play in the 3rd line since he hasn't had much chemistry with Jack, Bratt or Nico
3. I wish a 40 goal scorer would score goals and win us games. Advance stat victories don't do much, when our divisional rivals embarrass us.

You've all proven me wrong with your stats, so maybe I'm focusing on wrong things, but what I've seen is:
1. Whoever Meier has been paired with in the top6 has gone cold with him. Even when Jack had the 3 point night, Meier wasn't part of any of those plays.
2. He gives away the puck a lot.
3. He hasn't scored enough for a 9m something guy.

I love Timo Meier so maybe I expect more of him, but if everyone else is cool with what he has done, then I'll just shut up stop annoying you all.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

To further expand my last post, I'm not freaking out, I only said:

1. Meier wasn't our best last night (I thought it was Haula or Hughes)
2. Meier should play in the 3rd line since he hasn't had much chemistry with Jack, Bratt or Nico
3. I wish a 40 goal scorer would score goals and win us games. Advance stat victories don't do much, when our divisional rivals embarrass us.

You've all proven me wrong with your stats, so maybe I'm focusing on wrong things, but what I've seen is:
1. Whoever Meier has been paired with in the top6 has gone cold with him. Even when Jack had the 3 point night, Meier wasn't part of any of those plays.
2. He gives away the puck a lot.
3. He hasn't scored enough for a 9m something guy.

I love Timo Meier so maybe I expect more of him, but if everyone else is cool with what he has done, then I'll just shut up stop annoying you all.

Well he isn’t a 40 goal scorer. His career high is 35. He’s missing like 1 goal with us relative to his normal SH% which would put him on a 30 something goal pace. I don’t expect him to be a 40+ goal guy consistently here honestly. Maybe he hits 40 a couple times. Should be money in the bank for 30 with the amount of shots and chances he gets though.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I feel like much of this board is really putting an excess amount of negative stock into this recent stretch by the team. The month of March was a blood bath for this team, and many of them were facing a massive test that they had not faced before. To this point, we’ve gone 7-5-3 with two of those losses being in the shootout.

I said earlier in the month that I don’t care what happens after regulation at this juncture because it’s irrelevant to what will take place come playoff time. What I’ve wanted to see this team do is meet the challenge in a lot of these games head on and I feel that has been the case aside from a few hiccups which I’m more than willing to chalk up to being bogged down by this stretch at the final lap of the season.

Now last night I think purely falls on the coaching staff. I think going 11 and 7 again was a bizarre decision. I think that the line juggling as of late has been more excessive than it should be. And I think Ruff needs to start deploying a consistent lineup starting Thursday to best prepare the group for what lies ahead.

 

[Call Me Al]

what concerns me is that there are plenty of teams who have figured out how to beat us. we've lost 2x to the islanders, bruins, panthers, lightning and leafs - mostly teams we'd have to make it through to advance in the playoffs.

i feel good about how we match up with the rangers, thankfully, but beyond that i'm hoping that they figure it out, and that means getting combinations that balance all 4 lines, getting players like hughes and meier rolling and figuring out the power play.

it's hard to look at the overall picture of the season as being a success (which it unquestionably is) when the issue staring us in the face right now isn't whether or not we should be happy with the season, but whether or not the third best team in the league is as prepared as it should be for its very legitimate chance to compete for the stanley cup right now

 

[Unknown Caller]

what concerns me is that there are plenty of teams who have figured out how to beat us. we've lost 2x to the islanders, bruins, panthers, lightning and leafs - mostly teams we'd have to make it through to advance in the playoffs.

i feel good about how we match up with the rangers, thankfully, but beyond that i'm hoping that they figure it out, and that means getting combinations that balance all 4 lines, getting players like hughes and meier rolling and figuring out the power play.

it's hard to look at the overall picture of the season as being a success (which it unquestionably is) when the issue staring us in the face right now isn't whether or not we should be happy with the season, but whether or not the third best team in the league is as prepared as it should be for its very legitimate chance to compete for the stanley cup right now

I don't know how true that is. It's not like most of these teams have been able to shut down scoring chances and dictate play. The Devils control play against most of these teams, but lose the goaltending battle. They had the better share of expected goals against the Islanders, but Sorokin was the difference. They had the better share of chances in the Lightning series, but Vasilevski was the difference.

My concern with the Rangers is that the Devils will control play, but Shesterkin has the ability to do exactly what Sorokin and Vasilevski did.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Unfortunately, it’s the nature of facing teams with the best goalies. They can steal games and series all on their own.

Sorokin is going to drag that Islander team way further than they probably deserve. He’s a hell of a talent.

 

[tailfins]

Unfortunately, it’s the nature of facing teams with the best goalies. They can steal games and series all on their own.

Sorokin is going to drag that Islander team way further than they probably deserve. He’s a hell of a talent.

Sorokin is UFA after next year.

I think Lou locks him up this summer, but it'd be interesting to see what could happen if he goes into the year unsigned.

 

[ninetyeight]

Well he isn’t a 40 goal scorer. His career high is 35. He’s missing like 1 goal with us relative to his normal SH% which would put him on a 30 something goal pace. I don’t expect him to be a 40+ goal guy consistently here honestly.

35 goals missing 5 games, so very close to it. This season in SJ he was pacing well over 40 goals. It's still possible, but his production took big dip after joining us.

I feel like much of this board is really putting an excess amount of negative stock into this recent stretch by the team. The month of March was a blood bath for this team, and many of them were facing a massive test that they had not faced before. To this point, we’ve gone 7-5-3 with two of those losses being in the shootout.

They've only won 2 of their last 8, so no wonder people are worried. I also think posting records from further back disguises the true level they've been recently. I mean their season record is incredible, but I don't think they've been playing like a 100pts team recently.

 

[Saugus]

I don't know how true that is. It's not like most of these teams have been able to shut down scoring chances and dictate play. The Devils control play against most of these teams, but lose the goaltending battle. They had the better share of expected goals against the Islanders, but Sorokin was the difference. They had the better share of chances in the Lightning series, but Vasilevski was the difference.

My concern with the Rangers is that the Devils will control play, but Shesterkin has the ability to do exactly what Sorokin and Vasilevski did.

Shesterkin is good, but solvable. The Devils have beaten him this year, and we can do it in the playoffs too.

My concern is more about what could go wrong on our end of the goaltending battle: that Vanecek turns into a pumpkin and then Ruff turns to the backup, which is Badwood instead of Schmid.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

To further expand my last post, I'm not freaking out, I only said:

1. Meier wasn't our best last night (I thought it was Haula or Hughes)
2. Meier should play in the 3rd line since he hasn't had much chemistry with Jack, Bratt or Nico
3. I wish a 40 goal scorer would score goals and win us games. Advance stat victories don't do much, when our divisional rivals embarrass us.

You've all proven me wrong with your stats, so maybe I'm focusing on wrong things, but what I've seen is:
1. Whoever Meier has been paired with in the top6 has gone cold with him. Even when Jack had the 3 point night, Meier wasn't part of any of those plays.
2. He gives away the puck a lot.
3. He hasn't scored enough for a 9m something guy.

I love Timo Meier so maybe I expect more of him, but if everyone else is cool with what he has done, then I'll just shut up stop annoying you all.

The worst part of this board is the post policing.

Number one, you’re not wrong and Meier has been underwhelming. And the way people pounce to tone police how people say things is annoying to all hell. Saying something or someone hasn’t played great doesn’t mean you’re hysterical and doomsaying.

That’s the end of my rant, but suffice to say I want more from Meier too and I hope when the chips are down we see more of the physicality and board play game he can clearly play.

 

[Triumph]

I don't know how true that is. It's not like most of these teams have been able to shut down scoring chances and dictate play. The Devils control play against most of these teams, but lose the goaltending battle. They had the better share of expected goals against the Islanders, but Sorokin was the difference. They had the better share of chances in the Lightning series, but Vasilevski was the difference.

My concern with the Rangers is that the Devils will control play, but Shesterkin has the ability to do exactly what Sorokin and Vasilevski did.

How the Lightning played against NJ does not concern me in the slightest. The Devils lost those games, but did not play poorly in any of them. If they get goalied, they get goalied.

The worst part of this board is the post policing.

Number one, you’re not wrong and Meier has been underwhelming. And the way people pounce to tone police how people say things is annoying to all hell. Saying something or someone hasn’t played great doesn’t mean you’re hysterical and doomsaying.

That’s the end of my rant, but suffice to say I want more from Meier too and I hope when the chips are down we see more of the physicality and board play game he can clearly play.

Meier has been underwhelming because nobody with 6 points in 13 games is ever thought to be playing excellent. The Devils are outHD chancing teams 50-29 with Meier on the ice and they are -4 on those chances. Meier to me is playing exactly as expected, after a slow start - his work on the power play is the most underwhelming to me, but that I expect will be fixed with time (and indeed, may not be fixed this year)

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

This board scares me sometimes.

We lost to a RIVAL (always can be a tossup - no matter records), who is a solid team with a top 5 goalie.... and is fighting to make the playoffs. These things will happen.

 

[glenwo2]

I know Bratt has scored a lot recently, but honestly I wish he would rip it even more. He always pulls up and looks for the pass, when he has one of the best shots on the team and being selfish is the correct play.

Marcus Johanssen turned out to be a "bad" influence on him as he took him under his wing when he was a Devil.

It was from MarJo that Jesper developed the "unselfish" game that infuriates us.

I, too, wish he'd just fire away as his shot is underrated.

 

[NJDevs26]

Bratt has ripped it enough to get thirty goals, and had an alarming lack of assists during his malaise

 

[Jersey Fresh]

How the Lightning played against NJ does not concern me in the slightest. The Devils lost those games, but did not play poorly in any of them. If they get goalied, they get goalied.



Meier has been underwhelming because nobody with 6 points in 13 games is ever thought to be playing excellent. The Devils are outHD chancing teams 50-29 with Meier on the ice and they are -4 on those chances. Meier to me is playing exactly as expected, after a slow start - his work on the power play is the most underwhelming to me, but that I expect will be fixed with time (and indeed, may not be fixed this year)

Part of it isn’t his fault. Inherently with a new player there’s a whole lot of mixing matching with lines and I also don’t think that’s had an insignificant impact on the team as a whole. But individually I expected more - if isn’t scoring I was looking for more of a crease and corner presence than we’ve seen.

Too much of the PP tried to filter through Hughes. If all they did was feed Hamilton for point bombs I almost be happier.

 

[Better Call Sal]

35 goals missing 5 games, so very close to it. This season in SJ he was pacing well over 40 goals. It's still possible, but his production took big dip after joining us.



They've only won 2 of their last 8, so no wonder people are worried. I also think posting records from further back disguises the true level they've been recently. I mean their season record is incredible, but I don't think they've been playing like a 100pts team recently.

What level do you think the team has been at in their last 8 games?

In that stretch, they had a dud vs. Tampa in game 1. They outplayed Tampa in game 2 and lost in a shootout. They didn’t play well in Florida then had their best game against Tampa in a win. They thoroughly outplayed Minnesota, got goalie’d and lost in the final seconds of 3 on 3. Buffalo was a stinker defensively and in goal. They won vs. Ottawa, and they were in this one against the Islanders but couldn’t solve the current best goaltender in the league.

I feel that this shows inconsistencies that meet the roughly .500 record they have been at in March where they’ve also come out on the unfortunate end with some of the goaltending they’ve run into recently (Vasilevskiy, Gustavsson and Sorokin). There are always things to be worked on, but I don’t think this stretch is as ugly as people seem to think it is purely just looking at the results. I’m fairly confident that we’ll benefit from more rest coming up and having a consistent lineup going forward.