GDT: (Not Quite Yet) Timo Time: Your New Jersey Devils (39-15-5) @ Colorado Avalanche (34-19-5), 9 PM, MSGSN

[DevilsHughes86]

And I'm fine with that if he can provide some depth scoring, add some energy/grit, and not do anything stupid.

But unfortunately, Wood is not really capable of the "not do anything stupid" thing. I'm worried it will cost us at a bad time in the playoffs. Those dumb icings last night are a good example.

Let's cross our fingers he doesn't. But like we said, can't trust rango right now either so it will be a though decision unless Fitzy has another move or 2 for the bottom 6

 

[Zippy316]

Let's cross our fingers he doesn't. But like we said, can't trust rango right now either so it will be a though decision unless Fitzy has another move or 2 for the bottom 6

Sharangovich hasn’t been great but he also doesn’t hurt you and he’s been very strong on the PK.

If theres an upgrade to be made, sure, but I wouldn’t lump him in with Wood.

 

[Clam Jensen]

40-15-5 is wild lol

40 wins at the same time as 20 true losses is absolutely bonkers.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Sharangovich should sit once Meier comes in

 

[RSeen]

Sharangovich should sit once Meier comes in

I can see him play over Boqvist as Yegor plays the PK and is a better finisher, but I don't know how productive he will be on the 3rd line.

 

[ndkjr70]

Sharangovich should sit once Meier comes in

he absolutely 1,000% should but they’ll scratch Boqvist instead because he can’t have nice things.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Another great game by the haters' favorite defense pair, Severson - Bahl.

I've been in the "hater" group for the past three years when it comes to Damon.

So I'll be the first to admit when he's playing well.

Both he and Bahl provided a nice blend of physical, conservative defensive play while quickly transitioning the puck out of their own end.

Might have been one of his best games as a Devil.

 

[Saugus]

I can see him play over Boqvist as Yegor plays the PK and is a better finisher, but I don't know how productive he will be on the 3rd line.

If Shara's linemates are Palat and Haula, I can see it actually working out ok. At the very least, all three of those players are good forecheckers, so that line will have the puck pretty often.

I believe Boqvist is able to play the PK, but I'm not sure he's one of the top options for PK center over guys like Hischier, McLeod, etc.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Having a third line with Sharangovich palat and haula will be a pretty strong 3rd line. Palat will absolutely beast on weaker D pairings.

Boqvist was a stud last night and he's the guy getting slotted out for Timo?

Think the obvious move is Timo in for Sharangovich.

Though Lindy Ruff hinted at a rotation of sorts with so many games coming up in the near future.

Maybe Jack Hughes or Jesper Bratt get a maintenance game just to avoid fatigue.

As well as some of the veterans like Tatar, Palat or Haula.

 

[Camille the Eel]

I agree about Jack. I’m not concerned with his scoring. It’s more that he doesn’t look like himself. Hopefully, it’s not an injury. Avs maybe just keyed on him and played him tight. We’ll see.

Wondering the same thing. It could also be that he’s got less room to move. His streak came when he was with Haula and Tatar, both working the boards and the
corners down low and leaving him center ice totally. Maybe we see less of him roaming in center ice because he’s playing in a tighter structure and having to stay more in his lane since being with Bratt ?

Funny that the hot line this year has almost always been the line with Tatar on it. Nico and Mercer heated up and Jack cooled when Tatar was swapped to the one line from the other.

Could be an injury because he’s certainly been less visible since his return. His ice time was also down last night.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Wondering the same thing. It could also be that he’s got less room to move. His streak came when he was with Haula and Tatar, both working the boards and the
corners down low and leaving him center ice totally. Maybe we see less of him roaming in center ice because he’s playing in a tighter structure and having to stay more in his lane since being with Bratt ?

Funny that the hot line this year has almost always been the line with Tatar on it. Nico and Mercer heated up and Jack cooled when Tatar was swapped to the one line from the other.

Could be an injury because he’s certainly been less visible since his return. His ice time was also down last night.

Hopefully, Meier can do the same for Jack.

 

[swiiscompos]

Wondering the same thing. It could also be that he’s got less room to move. His streak came when he was with Haula and Tatar, both working the boards and the
corners down low and leaving him center ice totally. Maybe we see less of him roaming in center ice because he’s playing in a tighter structure and having to stay more in his lane since being with Bratt ?

Funny that the hot line this year has almost always been the line with Tatar on it. Nico and Mercer heated up and Jack cooled when Tatar was swapped to the one line from the other.

Could be an injury because he’s certainly been less visible since his return. His ice time was also down last night.

Regardless of production, Tatar has been great this year. Good skills combined with great effort, he also seems to almost always make the right choice.

 

[HughesCorporation]

watching last night I kept saying " boy this isnt lou's team anymore" in a good way thanks ray shero for starting the speed generation

good call by lindy it worked
schmid got it done stone cold
team defense was outstanding those last 4 nail-biting mins.. avs were coming in waves

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Wondering the same thing. It could also be that he’s got less room to move. His streak came when he was with Haula and Tatar, both working the boards and the
corners down low and leaving him center ice totally. Maybe we see less of him roaming in center ice because he’s playing in a tighter structure and having to stay more in his lane since being with Bratt ?

Funny that the hot line this year has almost always been the line with Tatar on it. Nico and Mercer heated up and Jack cooled when Tatar was swapped to the one line from the other.

Could be an injury because he’s certainly been less visible since his return. His ice time was also down last night.

Tatar hasn't gotten much credit - either here or in the media - but he leads the team at +39.

Plus/minus isn't a big stat for the analytics crowd (and at times deservedly so) but when numbers are that significant there is some merit.

 

[AfroThunder396]

On-ice goal differential is a useful stat, but NHL +/- is pretty horrendously skewed because of the way they record it.

Regardless, Tatar is shining in both. He is having a great season and it boggles my mind how people still pigeonhole him as a weak useless depth guy simply because he's small and European.

 

[Bleedred]

I’m still shocked Vitek was pulled when we weren’t even losing.

It needed to happen though.

 

[Nubmer6]

I agree about Jack. I’m not concerned with his scoring. It’s more that he doesn’t look like himself.

I agree about Jack too. In fact, I feel like he's been off since he came back. Yes, he scored in most of those games, bit he just didn't seem as dynamic. Just wasn't pulling off moves like he was previously. I'm guessing it's some kind of lingering injury.

Wood scored? Something about blind squirrels and nuts.....

Not only did he score, he acored on the power play!

 

[glenwo2]

I’m still shocked Vitek was pulled when we weren’t even losing.

It needed to happen though.

Too many times we've seen our past coaches and others in the league wait until it's TOO LATE when they pull their goaltender.

I'm glad Lindy did it when he did, as it gave Schmid and the Devils the opportunity to still salvage the game that was fast starting to run away from them.

 

[TF1970]

I’m still shocked Vitek was pulled when we weren’t even losing.

It needed to happen though.

same here - gotta credit lindy for pulling that trigger.

 

[Bleedred]

Too many times we've seen our past coaches and others in the league wait until it's TOO LATE when they pull their goaltender.

I'm glad Lindy did it when he did, as it gave Schmid and the Devils the opportunity to still salvage the game that was fast starting to run away from them.

same here - gotta credit lindy for pulling that trigger.

The funniest part was him getting pulled, then us deciding to use the coaches challenge for offsides. That goal might not have even counted and they pulled him anyway lol.

 

[Saugus]

The funniest part was him getting pulled, then us deciding to use the coaches challenge for offsides. That goal might not have even counted and they pulled him anyway lol.

Even if that one hadn't counted, he still needed to be pulled. I'm sure you agree that more than one of his goals against were unacceptably soft, even if that particular one wasn't.

Adding in the 2-3 posts the Avs hit, Vanecek was beat clean way more than he should have been.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Team regained its confidence once they realized Schmid was settled in too.

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

This game was wild as per the course of what this Devils season has been. If you told me the Devils would beat the Avs 7 to 5 and almost blow a 4 goal lead than I would believe you. If you told me the Devils would score 7 goals and Jack would have no points at all and have a not really good game than I wouldn't believe you.

 

[DerekDevils30]

Team regained its confidence once they realized Schmid was settled in too.

1000%. He made a couple of key saves coming in cold and then the Devils absolutely locked down the Avs the rest of the 3rd.

 

[The Wumpus]

I agree about Jack too. In fact, I feel like he's been off since he came back. Yes, he scored in most of those games, bit he just didn't seem as dynamic. Just wasn't pulling off moves like he was previously. I'm guessing it's some kind of lingering injury.


Not only did he score, he acored on the power play!

He's noticeably not ripping shots like he usually does