GDT: New Jersey Devils @ Carolina Hurricanes: Last Second Edition

[AfroThunder396]

Philly & Det have easy home games Monday night.

We're virtually eliminated now, even if we win out we max at 92 points. Philly only needs 8 points in 8 games to block us out.

 

[Emperoreddy]

We're virtually eliminated now, even if we win out we max at 92 points. Philly only needs 8 points in 8 games to block us out.

Ya we needed the 94. 93 had a small chance, but 92 is all but done. Would take large collapses by both Philly and Detroit to bring the cutoff down to 92.

 

[NJDevs26]

Not to mention now we'd have to jump Carolina too

 

[Bleedred]

I see most analytics, in any industry, as a way to make decisions without ever leaving your office. It doesn't work.

I understand there's some reasons to like Sislo, analytics aren't really one of them though. He's like a better Tim Sestito to me. Analytics seem to be the reason that a lot of people are proponents of him. But because of his age and almost 40 games of lack of offensive production at the NHL level, there is no untapped potential to be seen here. Jacob Josefson is amazing in many analytics categories, we all know he isn't very good at offense though. Mike Sislo's shot is not very threatening either.

I understand there's reasons to like him, he's not a liability like Tootoo and Ruutu some nights, or Gionta on other nights. But his offense is worse than every one of them, other than current Ruutu. And I don't care if the other guys are lucky or he's unlucky. You ain't convincing me otherwise.

His corsi and fenwick this year are actually TERRIBLE, but almost every player on the team is terrible in those categories. Jacob Josefson was one of the best the last I looked, as was Eric Gelinas. I think it speaks more to the fact that this team is bad at offense than it does at being bad at defense and offense.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Not to mention now we'd have to jump Carolina too

Yep, if the Devils wanted to make the playoffs, they had to win tonight, but they didn't want to make the playoffs enough to show up until they were in a three goal hole. We had a good run for the most part this season but how it ended was anti-climatic and embarrassing. Hopefully next season is better than this one, just like this year was better than last. Onward and upward.

 

[Bleedred]

Yep, if the Devils wanted to make the playoffs, they had to win tonight, but they didn't want to make the playoffs enough to show up until they were in a three goal hole. We had a good run for the most part this season but how it ended was anti-climatic and embarrassing. Hopefully next season is better than this one, just like this year was better than last. Onward and upward.

I think they already knew the playoffs were not possible going into tonight.

But they were possible back in February when we no-showed in Columbus, which was the most embarrassing loss of the season as far as I'm concerned. Losing to the Leafs twice in the shootout were some of the more embarrassing losses before that mid February slide.

The last game of the season would be a disaster if we lost to them at home. And the Leafs will be icing the worst possible lineup to ensure they lose the game that day. They are already tanking it like Buffalo last year.

 

[NJDevs26]

The Leafs are 6-3 in their last 9 for what that's worth, they've won more since clearing out the roster and bringing up the kids. We usually win meaningless home finales though, we're getting good at it (last year's excepted but it also wasn't meaningless to the Rangers)

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

I think they already knew the playoffs were not possible going into tonight.

But they were possible back in February when we no-showed in Columbus, which was the most embarrassing loss of the season as far as I'm concerned. Losing to the Leafs twice in the shootout were some of the more embarrassing losses before that mid February slide.

The last game of the season would be a disaster if we lost to them at home. And the Leafs will be icing the worst possible lineup to ensure they lose the game that day. They are already tanking it like Buffalo last year.

The games against Columbus were horrific, and the Leafs have humiliated us this year as well. Hopefully the last game of the season doesn't go like that. The Devils fans in attendance deserve to see something better than that to close out the season. End with some pride even if playoffs are now utterly impossible.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Not to mention now we'd have to jump Carolina too

That doesn't matter as winning out would have them pass the Canes easy (unless the Canes win out, which they wouldn't). The problem is not having enough points left to catch Philly and Detroit/Boston.

 

[glenwo2]

So all that said, who do we root for in the Eastern Conference this coming playoffs?

 

[Bleedred]

So all that said, who do we root for in the Eastern Conference this coming playoffs?

UGH

Honestly? The Panthers are the only team I particularly would root for in the East. I don't really have a problem with Boston, I'm skeptical they'll do anything and they're struggling now.

I don't mind Tampa either, aside from Blimpzilla. They'll be really hyping him with another long playoff run.

I don't mind Detroit either, but I think they're going nowhere if they get in.

 

[NJDevs26]

UGH

Honestly? The Panthers are the only team I particularly would root for in the East. I don't really have a problem with Boston, I'm skeptical they'll do anything and they're struggling now.

I don't mind Tampa either, aside from Blimpzilla. They'll be really hyping him with another long playoff run.

I don't mind Detroit either, but I think they're going nowhere if they get in.

In other words the Metro can die in a tire fire and we'll only be rooting for Atlantic teams

It's not too far from the truth either although I'll definitely be invested in getting the Rangers/Flyers out over the other three. And I don't have any particular disdain for the Caps other than letting us down against rival teams multiple times in the playoffs.

 

[Emperoreddy]

UGH

Honestly? The Panthers are the only team I particularly would root for in the East. I don't really have a problem with Boston, I'm skeptical they'll do anything and they're struggling now.

I don't mind Tampa either, aside from Blimpzilla. They'll be really hyping him with another long playoff run.

I don't mind Detroit either, but I think they're going nowhere if they get in.

I'd root for Florida and Jagr.

 

[glenwo2]

I'll root for the Panthers and Jagr, too.

I have nothing but good things to say about Jaromir. And the Panthers never really annoyed me like other teams in the East.

 

[Bleedred]

Yeah I'd only root for the Metro team that plays the Rangers or Flyers.

I'm not gonna be particularly annoyed if the Caps went all the way, I'll be really angry if they choke to the Rangers again.

 

[Devils Dominion]

In the East, I root for TB since they did us a solid last season.

Or Boston because of Stemp.

Anyone who plays the Rags or Philly of course.

 

[DenisSamson3]

UGH

Honestly? The Panthers are the only team I particularly would root for in the East. I don't really have a problem with Boston, I'm skeptical they'll do anything and they're struggling now.

I don't mind Tampa either, aside from Blimpzilla. They'll be really hyping him with another long playoff run.

I don't mind Detroit either, but I think they're going nowhere if they get in.

I thought Thornton and Bolland were unlikable players. Although I don't think Bolland played much this season.

 

[DenisSamson3]

Ya we needed the 94. 93 had a small chance, but 92 is all but done. Would take large collapses by both Philly and Detroit to bring the cutoff down to 92.

Today was a must win. After today I guess we can finally put playoffs to rest.

 

[tr83]

I like the Panthers because of Jagr. I could live rooting for the Caps or Tampa.

Detroit can go away for a while, Pitt, Philly, Boston, NYa, and NYb can **** right off

I'll root for the Stars out west, but their D and goaltending is going to be a liability. I don't see them getting out of the second round. I can live with Nashville.

SJ and St Louis can go to hell.

I think it will be Caps Hawks in the final.

 

[DenisSamson3]

I like the Panthers because of Jagr. I could live rooting for the Caps or Tampa.

Detroit can go away for a while, Pitt, Philly, Boston, NYa, and NYb can **** right off

I'll root for the Stars out west, but their D and goaltending is going to be a liability. I don't see them getting out of the second round. I can live with Nashville.

SJ and St Louis can go to hell.

I think it will be Caps Hawks in the final.

Who is the toughest match up for the Caps in the eastern conference this season?

 

[MadDevil]

Who is the toughest match up for the Caps in the eastern conference this season?

Tampa maybe? Of course there's also the mental block they seem to have against the Rangers, but I don't think the Rangers are as good this year. Boston is very Jekyll and Hyde. Florida is kind of the wild card to me. I'm not overly impressed by their roster, but they so rarely make the playoffs that they might surprise somebody. The other Metro teams I don't think are very good.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Who is the toughest match up for the Caps in the eastern conference this season?

Tough to say. There is just a large drop in quality from the Caps in the east. Also no real difference makers in net outside of Henry (and the defense in front of him is weakest in a while and he seems mentally fragile this year).

Would take a massive choke job, or crazy injury bad luck for the Caps to not make the finals.

That said the west looks poised to win another cup.

 

[Zippy316]

Tampa is easily the Capitals toughest opposition. That being said, I don't think Tampa is that much better than Florida, Boston, or Detroit so there's a chance they could get knocked out early.

With the Stralman injury, Tampa also suffers a major blow. Stralman is like their Andy Greene; very quiet but incredibly reliable and consistent.

 

[Bleedred]

I think Pittsburgh has a decent chance this year to make it past the first round if they can get their goaltending and offense both working at the same time.

And I forgot Malkin is out for at least the start of the playoffs. So on second thought, maybe not. With Malkin in the lineup and the Fleury of last year's playoffs, I think they can beat the Rangers. They just might have a better head coach than Dan and that nameless guy that just got fired.

Fake looking hair guy.

 

[Bleedred]

And I've made up my mind

I don't want anybody that played in our bottom 6 back next year, outside of Josefson and Kalinin. And I only want them back as 4th liners, or at least Josefson. I understand giving Kalinin more rope, but I just don't think his offense is good enough to be a regular 3rd line player.

Kennedy is alright, but I don't think he's for the 3rd line anymore either. I think if they bring him back, it probably won't be as a 4th liner. And Farnham can come back, but preferably as a spare forward on a two way deal. They've already shown that they won't particularly use him every night.