GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (21-7-2) vs. Florida Panthers (14-13-4), 7:30 PM, MSG

[Clam Jensen]

Boy, do I absolutely detest when the devils lose.

 

[devilsblood]

I do see some similarities between this season and the 17-18 season.

Remember we came flying out of the gate, led by the young guys like Nico, and Wood, but especially Bratt. The speed with which we were playing was just really impressive.

But playing at that temp is very difficult over a long season. And we did see those young guys slow down. And I think that is very much what we have seen this season as well.

Now in 17-18 we had Hall turn on the jets(looking back, I think he saw that hot start as his first big chance so he really went balls out) a little further into the season, and then Zajac came back from injury, and Coleman started to find his groove, and he brought that intensity that some of the other guys had lost.

Who is the Hall on this current roster? We do have options there. Who is the Zajac? Palat being obvious. I don't know if we have a Coleman type, but guys like Shara could get hot and really help contribute at some point.
In general I think we are clearly more talented then that team, and our young guys across the board are more physically mature then they were then, so I'm confident we pull it together, even if it's not in an overly similar fashion to that season, still the early tempo ebb and flow (or better put flow and ebb)of this season does remind me of that season.

 

[glenwo2]

Who is the Hall on this current roster? We do have options there. Who is the Zajac? Palat being obvious. I don't know if we have a Coleman type, but guys like Shara could get hot and really help contribute at some point.
In general I think we are clearly more talented then that team, and our young guys across the board are more physically mature then they were then, so I'm confident we pull it together, even if it's not in an overly similar fashion to that season, still the early tempo ebb and flow (or better put flow and ebb)of this season does remind me of that season.

That's the million dollar question.

And if there IS a "Hall" here, will he show up in time to get the Devils rolling again or will it be too late?

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Confirmed, Smith is Shoresy.

Or he was watching the movie Moneyball recently.

 

[Bleedred]

It does suck the Rangers are gonna be 3 points behind us tonight after we had like a 14 point lead over them less than 3 weeks ago.

We will have 2 games in hand after they play tonight though.

And I'm penciling them in for 2 points because the Hawks have 1 win in their last 15 games, which actually that 1 win did come at MSG.

They played Halak last night. I thought if they played him again the Hawks might have a chance at beating them, as he's been in net for a couple of really stupid losses due to his poor play. Like Anaheim's only regulation win in the first 2 months of the season and the Chicago loss at home.

The Hawks are due a win, but against Shesterkin and the Rangers? Halak, maybe. But he played last night, which means he ain't playing tonight.

 

[JrFischer54]

eh.

That's just a warm take at this point.

Fitz needs to make one final offer and if he doesn't want it, THEN we use the money to get someone.

Wouldn’t even offer it. Team needs a legitimate sniper for that type of cash that will be tied up in him

 

[theoptimist]

There is something to Hamilton's game, much like Tatar's, where you can see why teams move on from him.

We got Gaudreau'd

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

These posts proclaiming that the team stinks and will fall out of a playoff spot are downright childish.

The penguins lost seven games in a row earlier this season and everyone thought that meant they were finally aging out…oops guess not. They are now sitting in third place. The maple Leafs lost four in a row in late October. Their fans and media were predictably pulling out the pitchforks. Tied for second right now in the conference. The rangers went through a stretch where they won just two out of seven games and then a separate stretch of six games with just one win, which put them a couple of spots out of a wild card. Their board was convinced that the rangers would no longer be able to compete with the devils or other teams in playoff spots. They are now just one point back of the penguins for third in the division.

It sucks that the team has lost five in a row. It’s clear they’ve lost some of their offensive mojo for some reason lately, but nonetheless these have all been one goal losses (minus the empty betters) and the team hasn’t been doing anything particularly poorly. The PP has looked incredibly mediocre but to be honest it’s looked like that all season. I don’t think these players are good on the PP for some reason, I don’t think it has anything to do with coaching at all. But they’ve shown enough ability 5v5 to remain competitive even without the PP being very good.

I do worry about how much the opponents physicality might neutralize their game or wear them down over time, and how much they can adjust to overcome that by getting to rebounds and greasy areas. But these don’t seem to be the kinds of things that would prevent them from winning enough games to stay in the playoff picture.

Would agree with your premise except for the fact that teams like Pittsburgh and Toronto have a track record of consistently making the playoffs.

The Devils came out of nowhere; frequently facing team's second goalie.

Now they are being taken seriously to this point they haven't been up to the task.

Plenty of time to rectify that but the concern is warranted.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Sorry, I had the Florida broadcast and missed that.

I thought I was the only one who prefers the opposing team's announcers - except of course Homer Sam and the Rangers.

 

[Bleedred]

I thought I was the only one who prefers the opposing team's announcers - except of course Homer Sam and the Rangers.

Florida's PBP is a raging blowhard homer.

f*** that guy

And he's not just an annoying listen, but he's a HORRIBLE listen, much like Tyson Nash on color commentary and has some of the stupidest, corniest goal calls you'll ever hear. He's like the worst of both worlds.

There's some announcers like that Blues guy or the Colorado guy that sound like pompous assholes when they call a goal. And then there's shitty color commentators like Tyson Nash who are just assholes. Steve Goldstein is the worst of both worlds. I don't think he's an asshole to the level of Jack Edwards, but I still can't stand him.

And he has really cringy calls for certain guys when they score. It was ''HHHHOOOOOOOBBBIIIEEEEE DOOBIE DOOOOOOOO!!!!'' for Huberdeau, which has now been replaced with ''Tkachuk! Ca-Ching!''. Guy sounds like he's laughing in a child's face and taunting them on some of these calls.

I'd rather listen to Sam any day. Always and forever.

 

[Bleedred]

And go and look at Goldstein's instagram.

Guy thinks he's the most handsome dude in the world.

Always has somebody taking a picture of him in his suit, walking to to the bus with a coffee in his hand or standing in an arena. Or up in the TV booth.

The guy is so f***in in love with himself that I bet he lays in bed at night listening to his ''Tkachuk! Ca-Ching!'' calls, just so he can hear his sexy voice all night long.

 

[New Jersey]

Pack it in, boys. Most miserable and upsetting losing streak I have ever seen in two decades of being a fan.

 

[glenwo2]

Wouldn’t even offer it. Team needs a legitimate sniper for that type of cash that will be tied up in him

Eh.

Easy to knee-jerk at this point.

But there will be a point where things turn around and Bratt may be (keyword : MAY) a part of that turnaround.

Yes, we need a legit sniper but we can get one even if we re-sign Bratt.

Especially now that Bratt is basically playing himself out of a big contract right now.

Tarasenko? Meier?

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Eh.

Easy to knee-jerk at this point.

But there will be a point where things turn around and Bratt may be (keyword : MAY) a part of that turnaround.

Yes, we need a legit sniper but we can get one even if we re-sign Bratt.

Especially now that Bratt is basically playing himself out of a big contract right now.

Tarasenko? Meier?

Bratt is a career 12% shooter, 13.3% this year. Meier is a career 10.1% shooter, 10.1% this year.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I’d say 6 out of the next 12 would be a good goal.

We have 10 possible points left in December. Like to see 5 or 6 out of those 10

 

[Oneiro]

Being at 50 by the new year would be fantastic.

 

[My3Sons]

Eh.

Easy to knee-jerk at this point.

But there will be a point where things turn around and Bratt may be (keyword : MAY) a part of that turnaround.

Yes, we need a legit sniper but we can get one even if we re-sign Bratt.

Especially now that Bratt is basically playing himself out of a big contract right now.

Tarasenko? Meier?

Bratt isn’t going to concede a slump as impacting a contract when he’s still above a point per game for the season. Whatever he wanted two weeks ago is likely still what he wants.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Boy, do I absolutely detest when the devils lose.

They won a bunch and losing does suck but it's expected...What bothered me most was their lack of fight just taking a physical beating from Florida like that was worse imo then the loss....

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

If the team can get back to playing like they were on their streak and how they responded after the dream was over winning like 5 straight than ee should be OK. It's not like this team just instnslty became bad. Losing Bastian seemed to mess things up and we still have barley played with Palat but aside from thar we have avoided key injuries so far. I'm pretty sure other teams no we are still a dangerous team , they are just learning how to play us better it seems.

 

[glenwo2]

Bratt is a career 12% shooter, 13.3% this year. Meier is a career 10.1% shooter, 10.1% this year.

What about Tarasenko?

Bratt isn’t going to concede a slump as impacting a contract when he’s still above a point per game for the season. Whatever he wanted two weeks ago is likely still what he wants.

Well if he wants what he wanted last season (and it isn't something absurd), I see no reason for Fitz not to give it to him since we will have some contracts come off the books and the Cap going up would help.

I think what happens after the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31/Jan.1st will tell the tale of what we should expect.

 

[My3Sons]

What about Tarasenko?


Well if he wants what he wanted last season (and it isn't something absurd), I see no reason for Fitz not to give it to him since we will have some contracts come off the books and the Cap going up would help.

I think what happens after the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31/Jan.1st will tell the tale of what we should expect.

There are enough comparables at this point it shouldn’t be complicated .

 

[glenwo2]

This is going to be a reaction to every Devils loss going forward :

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Bratt isn’t going to concede a slump as impacting a contract when he’s still above a point per game for the season. Whatever he wanted two weeks ago is likely still what he wants.

Hopefully the Blackhawks or Ducks are willing to pay him that.