GDT: New Jersey Devils @ Tampa Bay Lightning: Early Minimalist Edition

[tr83]

Rico was invisible tonight. Very quiet.

Painful loss, deserved a point at least.

He'll show up... in Movember

 

[Maine Fan]

In order to win a game like this against a talented team like the Lightning we must play a full 60 minutes.

 

[njdevils1982]

Santini sitting is stupid also. Play him or send him to Albany.

i approve…..want to see what he can bring to the team or get some playing time in the A

 

[JimEIV]

The last two games they got progressively worse as the game went on.

Good thing is if we win the next one we can hear Steve say "only 1 game from NHL .500"

 

[John Pedro]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Much better team game. The missed goal by Bennet game to haunt us. Also, thought it was a weak defensive effort by Greene on Tampa's third goal. However, can't complain to much. Where still ahead of Boston, Detroit and the Isles. When we get healthy, Speers back to junior and Wood to Albany. Like to see Santini even if they carry 7 defensemen. Mix and match the 4th, line. Not happy, yet not raged as I was the last game.

 

[TheNumber4]

Oilers fan here. Watched the Devils game because of my interest in Hall. Hall IS notoriously a slow starter, like he's absolutely horrible in the first 5-10 games. BUT he didn't look bad tonight, he had some really nice passes as usual. I would say he's underrated as a play maker. If this is him in game 2, I would say he will be MUCH better soon.

His wrist shot is still pretty ineffective though. He can't really snipe. And he's not going to deke through anyone either. But he WILL drive offense on a line, a combination of power and speed and being in the right place.

I don't think he'll ever be Kovalchuk level, just doesn't have the skill. But he can play to a Parise or higher level for sure.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Hall looked pretty good this game. He had 3 or 4 beautiful passes to set up quality chances, had a couple scoring chances himself, and should've had an assist on the goal that was taken away. He doesn't deserve to be crapped on yet.

Cammy and Lovejoy were the worst players on the ice though. And Henrique/Palmieri looked like trash too. And I honestly didn't notice Zacha once. Not once. He needs to be with skilled players. And Zajac can't be with Hall. Absolutely zero offensive ability save for a lucky goal here or there.

PA and OV2 did some nice things too.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

He was way too soft in some situations tonight, dont mind him sitting down for that and knowing he has to be better.

 

[theoptimist]

I just want to watch more competitive games from this team this season.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

Actually, that's not a bad way to handle him at all.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

Didn't really give his best effort. Maybe Kalinin will be a good fit for Zacha.

 

[MadDevil]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

Because no other teams ever shelter rookies?

 

[theoptimist]

PAP is feisty and I like it

 

[Nocashstyle]

Zacha only played 11min lol

way to handle your top prospect

Yeah, it's always a good idea to gift young players unwarranted ice time.

 

[Whaddagoal]

He was way too soft in some situations tonight, dont mind him sitting down for that and knowing he has to be better.

Agreed, in fairness to Hynes, Zacha this game did not look very effective at all in the time he was out there. You almost didn't really see him stand out at all.

 

[Rhodes 81]

Hall is going to be a nice upgrade, but he's not in Kovalchuk's class, when we got Ilya. Not even close.

Offensively, Kovalchuk was one of the top 5 players of his generation. There are many great players that aren't even close to Kovalchuk offensively, I don't think it's fair to expect anyone outside of maybe 6 guys in this league to match him.

 

[John Pedro]

He was way too soft in some situations tonight, dont mind him sitting down for that and knowing he has to be better.

Maybe Hynes should play him with skilled players instead of scrubs.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I don't mind a loss like that. In fact, it was better than getting a point against Florida while being awful.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Oilers fan here. Watched the Devils game because of my interest in Hall. Hall IS notoriously a slow starter, like he's absolutely horrible in the first 5-10 games. BUT he didn't look bad tonight, he had some really nice passes as usual. I would say he's underrated as a play maker. If this is him in game 2, I would say he will be MUCH better soon.

His wrist shot is still pretty ineffective though. He can't really snipe. And he's not going to deke through anyone either. But he WILL drive offense on a line, a combination of power and speed and being in the right place.

I don't think he'll ever be Kovalchuk level, just doesn't have the skill. But he can play to a Parise or higher level for sure.

Do we expect play to flow through him (as a pivot/passer down low), a guy who thrives on transitions/rushes/oddmans, or is he more a guy who will find time and space and plot goals just by being in the right place/right time?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I don't understand the concern about Hall at all. What were you guys watching? He was setting up guys left and right, and if Palmieri finishes the one late in the game, we'd be raving about how good he was. He was playing Travis Zajac and PA Parenteau...what do you want? lol.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Maybe Hynes should play him with skilled players instead of scrubs.

How long have you been watching hockey for? What was your reaction when Parise started as a 4th liner?

Get real.

 

[JerseyDevil92*]

Hall's gonna be fine but I sure wish we tanked for McDavid

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Hall is a notoriously slow starter. Hell be fine. And so will this team.

I thought the same thing about the high stick. Could Hynes have challenged the goal? Because he should have if he could.

 

[MadDevil]

Hall's been fine. Were people expecting him to be dominant or something?