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

[ajdevjet]

truth is that the Devils need to get points in order to make the playoffs.

truth is they didn't get any last night.

truth is that they're going to have a tough time of it up in St. Louis and then Detroit.

truth is without Cammy/Havlat, the Devils are exactly like they were last season but with the addition of our Young Defensemen.

all Im saying is that unlike our jets the season is far from over, the over reaction after every game here is mind blowing.

 

[AfroThunder396]

What bugs me most about Zajac this season is not necessarily the lack of finishing ability, but the turnovers and seemingly boneheaded plays. He's forcing a lot.

Zajac will never be a world beater offensively and I'm fine with 45+ points, so long as he continues being a possession monster. But not with the giveaways he's had this year.

I agree. He's making really stupid decisions. After the way he finished strong last season I really thought he was going to challenge for +50 points this year. It's mind-boggling to see such a smart player make such idiotic choices. Blind passes, weak dumps, terrible drops, not keeping his stick on the ice. It's like he's playing distracted or something.

We need Cammy back on that line ASAP.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Havlat
Clowe-Josefson-Ryder (blech)
Ruutu-and-scrubs

 

[billingtons ghost]

I agree. He's making really stupid decisions. After the way he finished strong last season I really thought he was going to challenge for +50 points this year. It's mind-boggling to see such a smart player make such idiotic choices. Blind passes, weak dumps, terrible drops, not keeping his stick on the ice. It's like he's playing distracted or something.

We need Cammy back on that line ASAP.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Havlat
Clowe-Josefson-Ryder (blech)
Ruutu-and-scrubs

I think it is because he's a Dad now. Lack of sleep can kill you and his daughter is coming up on 1 year old and his son is 2.5.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I agree. He's making really stupid decisions. After the way he finished strong last season I really thought he was going to challenge for +50 points this year. It's mind-boggling to see such a smart player make such idiotic choices. Blind passes, weak dumps, terrible drops, not keeping his stick on the ice. It's like he's playing distracted or something.

We need Cammy back on that line ASAP.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Havlat
Clowe-Josefson-Ryder (blech)
Ruutu-and-scrubs

His contract might be in his head a bit. Feeling the pressure to produce.

Zajac succeeds when he has wingers that can finish. He has a decent shot, but finishing is just not his game. He can be a good play maker though.

Problem is Jagr isn't shooting nearly enough (neither is Zajac), and Zubs seems only able to possess the puck and nothing else.

Camm is the best guy we have to help Zajac get on track.

 

[Emperoreddy]

While I don't exactly endorse the position of the poster you just quoted, I really believe they should have at least come away with a point last night. Good team or not, any time you are playing a team that played the night before at home you need to come away with something.

However, it's a marathon, not a sprint, so I'm not too worried about it.

Why I am disappointed in the PP. Three chances including one in the third after the first goal. HAVE to cash in on one of those chances since the Blues were not giving a lot at evens.

PP cost the team a point.

 

[Camille the Eel]

power play plus just some breaks - Gelinas had the set up but slapped the puck right into the goalie's chest - if that shot is on one of the corners it's in from that distance - but what do you want, he got it on goal -

against the blues this team has to finish some of the few chances it gets - Ryder's shot in the first period, Zajack's in the second, Gelinas in the third, plus some other chances to tip a shot in front . . .

some nights that happens - law of averages

I will say this - that the Blues should have had at least two more on Schneider as well - Tarasenko had so much room above and below Corey's blocker on his first shot last night that anything goes in, Corey had no angle at all on the play, but Tarasenko shot the puck wide. Later on the power play he rings one dead off the post. Again Corey has no angle on the shot and no view of it either. So really it could have been 2 or 3 zip for the Blues or finish 3 - 2 or 2 - 1 - either way they win.

The Blues are just a little better than the Devils right now what do you want? On paper. On the ice. But remember how strong they started last year. This year too. But let's see how they look in April when they have wilted every year over the past three or four.

 

[Bleedred]

Why I am disappointed in the PP. Three chances including one in the third after the first goal. HAVE to cash in on one of those chances since the Blues were not giving a lot at evens.

PP cost the team a point.

The PP has bailed this team out so many times when the PK **** the bed. Our PK has been a problem all season long. We have given up a PP goal in 10 of 12 games. We've scored a PP goal in most of our games.

The PK needs to better. Our PP has bailed out our awful PK so much this year, that I can't be mad about the PP going a night without scoring.

 

[Bleedred]

The Blues are just a little better than the Devils right now what do you want? On paper. On the ice. But remember how strong they started last year. This year too. But let's see how they look in April when they have wilted every year over the past three or four.

They'll choke out just like they do every year.

But not before a bunch of morons compare them to those old championship Devils teams. That's a HUGE
Pet peeve of mine. One of the worst comparisons I've ever seen. The Blues don't ever deserve to be spoken of in the same sentence as a team that won 3 cups in 9 years, and 4 SCF appearances in 9 years.

Nor should they ever even be compared to Hitchcock's Dallas teams either, who won a cup and had back to back SCF appearances. They should be compared to Hitchcock's Philadelphia teams.

They're gonna win a few cups in the next few years? Then go for it. Until then, they're just a bunch of playoff chokers.

 

[Emperoreddy]

The PP has bailed this team out so many times when the PK **** the bed. Our PK has been a problem all season long. We have given up a PP goal in 10 of 12 games. We've scored a PP goal in most of our games.

The PK needs to better. Our PP has bailed out our awful PK so much this year, that I can't be mad about the PP going a night without scoring.

1-0 game and we had three PPs. Overall yes the PP has been good for us, and has done a lot for us. It failed last night and overall looked terrible doing it.

Not just the PP either. Ryder REALLY needed to finish on that goal (it was a good save though) and Zajac had to finish his big chance.

 

[Bleedred]

I'm just tired of the PK being dreadful every game.

It's gotten to the point that if we kill 2 for 3 penalties in a game, it's a pretty good night.

 

[MadDevil]

I didn't think the PK was really that bad. The Tarasenko goal was just a really well placed shot.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Salvador was out to lunch on the goal last night

but still, they didn't score a goal, so I'm not going to freak out that much.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I didn't think the PK was really that bad. The Tarasenko goal was just a really well placed shot.

It wasn't. Yes it gave up a goal, but overall looked world's better and against a good PP too.

If they played like they did a week ago they would of gave up three.

Still need to cut down on dumb penalties though. Took a couple of boneheaded ones last night.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Salvador was out to lunch on the goal last night

but still, they didn't score a goal, so I'm not going to freak out that much.

More upset with Zids for taking that penality. Playing with fire giving thrm chances like that. If not Sal someone would of messed up.

 

[MadDevil]

Salvador was out to lunch on the goal last night

but still, they didn't score a goal, so I'm not going to freak out that much.

I don't know. I think Sal was doing exactly what the PK has done all year, which is playing passive. The D are playing further out, but really not pressuring at all. Which gives teams plenty of time to work the puck just like Tarasenko did. I just don't understand why we've changed a strategy that worked fine last year.

 

[Bleedred]

I think Salvador tipped the puck on that goal too. LOL @ Pierre saying all these nice things about how great Salvador is. That's definitely the first Devils game he's watched this year. He probably hasn't watched any of our games since the SCF in 2012, other than maybe the 3 he's called for us since then.

 

[MadDevil]

Pierre doesn't have all the baggage with Sal that we do though. He also has a weakness for lunch pail players. He and Pete would get along well.

 

[thigpen]

They'll choke out just like they do every year.

But not before a bunch of morons compare them to those old championship Devils teams. That's a HUGE
Pet peeve of mine. One of the worst comparisons I've ever seen. The Blues don't ever deserve to be spoken of in the same sentence as a team that won 3 cups in 9 years, and 4 SCF appearances in 9 years.

Nor should they ever even be compared to Hitchcock's Dallas teams either, who won a cup and had back to back SCF appearances. They should be compared to Hitchcock's Philadelphia teams.

They're gonna win a few cups in the next few years? Then go for it. Until then, they're just a bunch of playoff chokers.

Can't say I've heard anyone compare the Blues to the Devils champ teams or Hitch's Dallas champ teams, and you're the only one comparing them to Hitch's Philly teams so that carries lots of weight. Blues are, on average, a good defensive team and that's where any Devils comparisons end.

As for the uninformed opinion that the Blues are perennial chokers, consider the following. They were not considered possible contenders until they finally made it back to the playoffs 3 years ago and spanked the Sharks in the first round, with a mostly inexperienced group and a couple retreads. The Sharks, for comparison, are considered chokers because they were considered serious contenders (with some elite players) for several seasons running.

The Blues have not only lacked elite veteran players in recent years, they've lost in the playoffs to elite teams with elite players (CHI and LAK), as have many other NHL teams that are not considered to be "chokers". Nor have the Blues been anywhere near a cap team until local ownership took over ~2 seasons ago.

Fact is, the Blues haven't been serious contenders (negating those who've given them upset potential) until maybe this season, with the culmination of Center acquisitions and maturing of draft picks. The Blues recent success has been largely due to sound system buy-in and character/work ethic. If, now that the team has some maturing talent, the Blues go the next 5 playoffs without a cup... Well, then you can call them chokers, with an informed opinion.

 

[Devils Dominion]

They'll choke out just like they do every year.

But not before a bunch of morons compare them to those old championship Devils teams. That's a HUGE
Pet peeve of mine. One of the worst comparisons I've ever seen. The Blues don't ever deserve to be spoken of in the same sentence as a team that won 3 cups in 9 years, and 4 SCF appearances in 9 years.

Nor should they ever even be compared to Hitchcock's Dallas teams either, who won a cup and had back to back SCF appearances. They should be compared to Hitchcock's Philadelphia teams.

They're gonna win a few cups in the next few years? Then go for it. Until then, they're just a bunch of playoff chokers.

The Blues, like SJ, are a fine team, in the reg season.

 

[thigpen]

The Blues, like SJ, are a fine team, in the reg season.

Snarky.

As have been 94.5 percent of NHL teams since the most recent league expansion, if that remark refers to teams who haven't won the cup.

 

[glenwo2]

all Im saying is that unlike our jets the season is far from over, the over reaction after every game here is mind blowing.

Must you bring up bad mojo here?



But I agree. It's a long season.

I just want the Devils to get as many points as they can early because it will become extremely difficult late if they have to play catch-up.l

 

[devilsblood]

Salvador was out to lunch on the goal last night

but still, they didn't score a goal, so I'm not going to freak out that much.

I don't know. I think Sal was doing exactly what the PK has done all year, which is playing passive. The D are playing further out, but really not pressuring at all. Which gives teams plenty of time to work the puck just like Tarasenko did. I just don't understand why we've changed a strategy that worked fine last year.

One thing seems clear, opposing teams PP will attack from whatever side Sal is on. And teams will continue to do so given the results we have seen thus far.

 

[MadDevil]

One thing seems clear, opposing teams PP will attack from whatever side Sal is on. And teams will continue to do so given the results we have seen thus far.

It also doesn't help that Greene is terrible on the PK playing the right side. I can remember at least 4 goals they've given up this year with Greene looking clueless on that side. Usually Sal gets blamed for it though.

 

[Ben Matlock]

With Camm and Havlat not going on the trip, I would try the following lines:

Ruutu-Zajac-Jagr
Elias-Henrique-Ryder
Clowe/Zubrus-Josefson-Brunner
Zubrus/Clowe-Gionta-Bernier

For the 100th time, Zubrus should not be on the first line. Try Ruutu for the next couple of games until Cammalleri is back.

Zubrus and Ruutu both have 2+0=2, but Ruutu has played half the minutes and together with 4th liners.

 

[Lateralous]

The Blues, like SJ, are a fine team, in the reg season.

Their only real choke job came in the regular season when they pissed away the last 6 games of last season and drew Chicago in the first round instead of Minnesota. Other than that they have simply lost to one of the two best teams in the league for 3 straight years.

In general, I'm not sure what all the doom and gloom is about coming off the game against St. Louis. They are a really good team and we were just unlucky that the Elias line didn't bury one. I came away feeling pretty good that once the Devils get Cammi or Havlat back to stick on the Zajac-Jagr line, we'll have two really good offensive lines. If Josefson can continue his breakout and hold down the 3rd line C position, it opens up all sorts of line combination possibilities when everyone is healthy to ice a pretty good 3rd line as well.