Post-Game Talk: New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals: Really Late edition

[The Wumpus]

So the big question to ponder for the next week and a half is: what did we see this preseason? Was it real? Smoke and mirrors?

File me under: cautiously optimistic.

 

[torero]

Caps crew said it best. It is only preseason, but the Devils have been consistently playing and looking like this in all our preseason games. It is promising.

I agree and disagree.
It is true that they looked alike. Yet the team in front wasn't alike.
They have ramped up their game. Significantly.
Hischier has nothing to do between today's game and the first game !
Honestly, in the 1st game, apart of the super goal (and all that goes with ... puck steal, driving to the net and scoring) he had a poor game and i was wondering if he was powerful enough to play this year in NHL. Today, my question would be on what line. 1st, 2nd or 3rd ??

 

[Jersey Fresh]

New board is hideous.

And the Devils played a great game of hockey tonight. That Nico is a player.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Is it just me, or did Wood have some ridiculous passes in this game?

 

[Blender]

Is it just me, or did Wood have some ridiculous passes in this game?

Not just you.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Is it just me, or did Wood have some ridiculous passes in this game?

I was surprised by some of his really slick looking feeds.

 

[FooteBahl]

Is it just me, or did Wood have some ridiculous passes in this game?

He resembled a hockey player at points during this game...not just someone who skates fast and hits things

 

[Blender]

He resembled a hockey player at points during this game...not just someone who skates fast and hits things

He hadn't had a great preseason, so he was really playing for a shot at a spot tonight. He may have earned it, maybe not.

 

[JimEIV]

I had the feeling Wood was working on changing speeds. He looked like he was trying to slow down and burst only opportunistically. I thought he played a good game.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Also:

 

[Classic Devil]

I still think Wood needs some time in the A.

 

[Cheddabombs]

And again, Zacha has been a revelation. Be excited for his season this year and be excited for his future.

 

[NJDevs26]

Mature beyond his years



Just realized posting Tweets are MUCH easier now lol, apparently you only have to post the complete link now.

 

[Cheddabombs]

beaten to the punch, I won't like your comment out of spite

 

[JimEIV]

And again, Zacha has been a revelation. Be excited for his season this year and be excited for his future.

I think he's been great this preseason but I didn't think he was as good tonight. Nothing bad, just not quite as crisp tonight.

 

[Cheddabombs]

I think he's been great this preseason but I didn't think he was as good tonight. Nothing bad, just not quite as crisp tonight.

It was definitely not his best night but I thought he did a lot of little things well. Especially when the Caps started to apply pressure, he had some good plays in the defensive end. He just carries himself with so much more confidence and poise now.

Also, there were at minimum two plays that come to mind where Zacha was wide open streaking in the slot but the pass to him was off the mark.

 

[Oneiro]

From Devils reddit (VasiliiZaytsev):

Avs for-against shot totals last preseason:

30-28, 20-31, 22-34, 19-30, 20-28, 25-27. Total of 136/314 shots, or 43.3% (very crude possession metric).​

Devils for-against shot totals this preseason:

36-30 (W), 29-29 (OTL), 32-29 (W), 33-18 (W), 25-45 (L), 33-23 (W). Total of 188/362 shots, or 51.9%. If you throw out that 25-45 game against the Islanders which had mostly AHLers, it's 163/292 shots, or 55.8%.​

 

[TheUnseenHand]

What was cool to see about this game was that the Devils carried play early, but the game evened up later. Where last season they would have ended the first period tied 0-0 after dominating, they were up 4-0 after dominating. As bad as the team was last season, they usually came out really strong early in games. The problem was they were not able to score during the times they carried play; and that screwed them the rest of the game. So far this team seems to have the ability to finish and capitalize fully on the stretches where they carry play.

 

[Blender]

From Devils reddit (VasiliiZaytsev):

Avs for-against shot totals last preseason:

30-28, 20-31, 22-34, 19-30, 20-28, 25-27. Total of 136/314 shots, or 43.3% (very crude possession metric).​

Devils for-against shot totals this preseason:

36-30 (W), 29-29 (OTL), 32-29 (W), 33-18 (W), 25-45 (L), 33-23 (W). Total of 188/362 shots, or 51.9%. If you throw out that 25-45 game against the Islanders which had mostly AHLers, it's 163/292 shots, or 55.8%.​

Glad someone has gotten in front of that comparison, because I'm sure it will be made.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Is it just me, or did Wood have some ridiculous passes in this game?

 

[Emperoreddy]

They kept attacking as well. They still were getting good lucks late into the game, and kept things at least even despite the Caps pushing back.

This was against a near full strength Caps squad too

 

[VoidCreature]

2nd period was the roughest with the Caps pushing hard. We bent but didn't break, and were the better team in the 3rd.

A lot to like. Complete effort.

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Our new overlord Mirco Mueller with the 67% CF tonight too

 

[Emperoreddy]

2nd period was the roughest with the Caps pushing hard. We bent but didn't break, and were the better team in the 3rd.

A lot to like. Complete effort.

Which is understandable. It is hard to keep up that pace of play against a team as talented as the Caps for 3 periods.

They still didn't let them get too much sustained time

 

[Blender]

Our new overlord Mirco Mueller with the 67% CF tonight too

He's easily made this team.