GDT: Game # 12: Blues @ Devils, 7:30PM, NBCSN

[glenwo2]

If you wanna follow a team that ignores process and focuses on results, follow the Avalanche. They're having a great follow-up season to last year's playoff berth right?

Truth hurts and the truth is the Devils need to gain points no matter what if they want to get to the playoffs this year. They didn't gain any tonight despite playing well. Yes, it was the blues and they're a very good team but it's a results-oriented league. You either get one or both points....or you don't. And tonight, the Devils didn't get any.

It is what it is.

Sad fact is that the Devils just don't have the horses on offense(Forward-wise) to really compete. They've depended a lot of the offense on the 'D'.

That has to change somehow.....

(getting Cammy and Havlat back from injury would help but who knows when they'll be back)

 

[Devils Dominion]

Huh guess I'm the minority report here, did not think they played particularly well. The third period was one of the worst efforts I have ever witnessed in person. Sloppy passing (charitable to call it that), countless giveaways and complete inability to enter the zone. The final minute my friends and I were hoping for icing calls knowing there was no other way they were getting in there and setting up.

St. Louis should have probably had a lead after the first but Cory bailed the Devils out of a few defensive breakdowns. The second period was the most competitive imo and was feeling ok about the game after 40 minutes. But the third was an absolute train wreck and that remains the sour taste in my mouth.

Weird because I've seen this board meltdown over an effort I thought was alright and tonight the consensus seems fine with what I thought was the team not showing up for the third. Credit for holding the Blues to no goals after two but the third period again was absolutely atrocious.

I also thought it was a mail-in tonight.

The Rags made the Blues look slow for most of last night.
Meanwhile, we could not generate any legitimate scoring chances tonight after Ryders near goal a few minutes in.

Looked like we were the team on the back to back.

Our forwards all had hands of stone.
Jagr can't play a worse game than tonight.

Fans were cheated tonight.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Had a feeling Jagr was going to have a big drop off this year. His performance last year just wasn't sustainable. We get rid of Jagr and Ryder this year and Elias next year, so the only giant anchors are Zajac and Clowe.

Those are two pretty huge anchors...

Wouldn't mind re-signing Elias if he's cheap. Maybe he'll want to sign for less to stay - we'll see.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

My biggest concern is with Clowe. It's hard to bag on the guy because when he was healthy last year, I thought he gave the Devils some good games, despite his lack of speed. But he looks to be finished right now and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he's not playing his normal style. You can clearly see that his play is much more timid. So you have a declining player playing it safe. He's basically dead weight at this point.

Yeah, it's pretty brutal. He's a guy whose game revolves around getting involved physically. But he knows if he gets another concussion, his career is likely over, so he's not getting all that involved.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I think they need to get Zajac away from Jagr. Drop Zajac down and let him play a simple game. Maybe he can recapture something... But right now he's a liability on the top six.

Who would take his place? I don't want to break up Elias and Henrique.

What I wouldn't do for a legit #1 center....

 

[R8Devs]

Henrique-Elias-Jagr?

 

[MadDevil]

Who would take his place? I don't want to break up Elias and Henrique.

What I wouldn't do for a legit #1 center....

That's the problem. There really aren't any other options to center Jagr. Unless you try him with Elias and Henrique. But then the second line becomes a mess.

 

[njdevils1982]

That's the problem. There really aren't any other options to center Jagr. Unless you try him with Elias and Henrique. But then the second line becomes a mess.

havlat and cammilari......

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Jagr passing to Zajac all year long.

Outstanding

 

[MadDevil]

havlat and cammilari......

I'm talking about right now. With those two injured it messes up the top six. We're basically left with one potential scoring line with Henrique/Elias/Ryder, and a line that will have good possession, but ultimately is just eating time off the clock with Zubrus/Zajac/Jagr. People want Zubrus off the top line (which I agree with completely), but we don't really have any better options currently. Clowe is even more useless than Zubrus. Ruutu might be slightly better, but he's still a grinder. Josefson, while he has played better, isn't exactly known for his scoring touch, and should probably stay at center. Unless Zajac starts finishing, or Jagr scores himself, that line is pretty much a black hole in terms of goal scoring.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I didn't think they played that bad of a game until the 3rd. The 3rd period was atrocious. The missed passes were enough to make you tear your hair out.

You wonder how different this game may have been if Ryder just buried that chance in the 1st. Still can't believe it.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Jagr passing to Zajac all year long.

Fantastic.

 

[Semak]

Jagr passing to Zajac all year long.

I can't stop watching this

 

[captainscott]

Huh guess I'm the minority report here, did not think they played particularly well. The third period was one of the worst efforts I have ever witnessed in person. Sloppy passing (charitable to call it that), countless giveaways and complete inability to enter the zone. The final minute my friends and I were hoping for icing calls knowing there was no other way they were getting in there and setting up.

St. Louis should have probably had a lead after the first but Cory bailed the Devils out of a few defensive breakdowns. The second period was the most competitive imo and was feeling ok about the game after 40 minutes. But the third was an absolute train wreck and that remains the sour taste in my mouth.

Weird because I've seen this board meltdown over an effort I thought was alright and tonight the consensus seems fine with what I thought was the team not showing up for the third. Credit for holding the Blues to no goals after two but the third period again was absolutely atrocious.

sometimes you have to realize that the other team gets paid to play hockey as well. I thought the blue played a great defensive game last night didn't let anything in from middle ice, my hats off to them. the devils gave it their all, my problem is their all with this group of forwards will not beat good teams on many nights, so send help lou is my only point

 

[captainscott]

I'm talking about right now. With those two injured it messes up the top six. We're basically left with one potential scoring line with Henrique/Elias/Ryder, and a line that will have good possession, but ultimately is just eating time off the clock with Zubrus/Zajac/Jagr. People want Zubrus off the top line (which I agree with completely), but we don't really have any better options currently. Clowe is even more useless than Zubrus. Ruutu might be slightly better, but he's still a grinder. Josefson, while he has played better, isn't exactly known for his scoring touch, and should probably stay at center. Unless Zajac starts finishing, or Jagr scores himself, that line is pretty much a black hole in terms of goal scoring.

start with clowe in the press box, and zubrus on the fourth line and than work around that. clowe is stuck in sand and even though he is pretty smart with the puck along the wall he's become useless and makes everyone around him worse I award him no points and may god have mercy on his soul

 

[Better Call Sal]

Anyone get a mystery puck? I wish they would do more than 500, I was talking to a couple people who said they got there an hour before the doors even opened and they didn't get one.

 

[captainscott]

I also thought it was a mail-in tonight.

The Rags made the Blues look slow for most of last night.
Meanwhile, we could not generate any legitimate scoring chances tonight after Ryders near goal a few minutes in.

Looked like we were the team on the back to back.

Our forwards all had hands of stone.
Jagr can't play a worse game than tonight.

Fans were cheated tonight.[/QUOTE


well the rangers are one of the fastest teams in the nhl the devils are the slowest team and the blues have adequate nhl speed... again, please do not confuse the team "mailing it in" with severe lack of speed. our forwards for most part do have stone hands

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Jagr passing to Zajac all year long.

Best post of the season so far. It's funny cause it's unfortunately true. Those two handle the puck like it's lava and will melt their sticks.

About the game: Losing 1-0 is the worst kind of a loss imo. You get embarrassed by not scoring at all and the opposing team wins by a thread. Just a statement how ridiculous your offense is. GG at STL day after tomorrow.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

The better and younger team did win. The Blues played us smart. They stood up at blue line and caused us to turn the puck over time and time again because we hardly skate through the natural zone with any speed And time we did get puck in the offense zone was by chipping the puck in, which the Blues were able to get out quickly and cause many 3 on 2, because are forwards are unable to back-check with any speed. One of our fastes players can't hold on to the puck and constantly turns the puck over and over and that's Mr. Brunner. Jagr is starting to show is age, Clowe looks lost and Zub, while still good along the wall is the only thing he provides. Zajac has looked terrible but look who he's play with. JJ provided nothing offensively on the 3rd line. Henrique was eh. I thought our two best forwards were Ryder and Elias who finally had a decent game. Zid can make you lose your hair watching him when he has one of those games and Andy Greene seems to be MIA. Our passing was awful and I thought Larrson and Gelly we're our best defenseman. On the bright-side Cory has looked great in the last couple of games.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I also thought it was a mail-in tonight.

The Rags made the Blues look slow for most of last night.
Meanwhile, we could not generate any legitimate scoring chances tonight after Ryders near goal a few minutes in.

Looked like we were the team on the back to back.

Our forwards all had hands of stone.
Jagr can't play a worse game than tonight.

Fans were cheated tonight.

I thought the same thing that the Blues looked slow the other night at MSG. Against us they seemed like speed demons. Unbelievable!

 

[Chessarmy]

Jagr passing to Zajac all year long.

This is so true. Zajac has the finishing ability of a pencil. He needs to step up.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Did Zajac find a stash of Zarkhov's sticks in the equipment room or what?

 

[downtown56]

Anyone get a mystery puck? I wish they would do more than 500, I was talking to a couple people who said they got there an hour before the doors even opened and they didn't get one.

I got there after 6:30 and got one.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I got there after 6:30 and got one.

I'd love to know how because I got in after 6:30 and they were gone.

 

[Devils Unseen Hand]

Best post of the season so far. It's funny cause it's unfortunately true. Those two handle the puck like it's lava and will melt their sticks.

About the game: Losing 1-0 is the worst kind of a loss imo. You get embarrassed by not scoring at all and the opposing team wins by a thread. Just a statement how ridiculous your offense is. GG at STL day after tomorrow.

I have to agree, I haven't laughed this hard in awhile.