GDT: Your New Jersey Devils (7-5-1, 15 Pts, 4th in Metropolitan) vs. Winnipeg Jets (7-5-2, 16 Pts, 3rd in Central), 8 PM, MSGSN

[BurntToast]

The sequence on the 4th goal vs the Jets speaks volumes. Defenseman blows a tire, puck goes to the Jets. Devils get it back at the line with a chance to clear, but didn’t. Everyone ends up on the boards, and there is an open guy in front of the net.

Its the vets that are mostly messing up. Palat is an anchor. The PK sucks. 5v5 sucks. The Devils are bad a 2/3rds of the game.

 

[theoptimist]

McLeod is a core player

 

[Whaddagoal]

this is fitting after the fact the game is over and a loss.......happy birthday?

Very fitting. I tried to catch most of 2nd and 3rd...

At least NJD HFBoards came through for me!!

This team has disappearing D net front coverage. That open net goal... Sheesh

Sieges falling down...I knew they would score.

 

[Call Me Al]

i love how our team has way below average goaltending with this coach, previous devils teams with different goaltenders all had below average goaltending with this coach m, and his previous teams had below average goaltending, and people here are trying to excuse it away by just blaming bad goaltending!

the coach has to have some blame. don’t point to xGA like it is a scientifically perfect stat. yes it implies more dangerous chances but like all shots aren’t the same, there is a variance in what is considered high danger and our team habitually gives up extremely bad dangerous chances against. few goalies would be successful in this system with this personnel.

the fact that they are either unwilling or unable to tighten up without their two best centers and both goalies struggling is the worst indictment of all.

 

[Billdo]

I'm concerned. I don't think Jack and eventually Nico coming back fix this team. The defense is bad. Goaltending is bad. We've got major flaws.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Jack and Nico’s return will inherently help the team because they both play strong, full rink games and will help us with possessing the puck more. It will help push players down into their more designated roles in the lineup, which will be helpful as well.

We still have plenty to work on, but better for these struggles to happen now than later.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Shows how much the team is missing Jack and Nico.

Don't want to hear any shit about them for a long time.... If the other forwards have specific trouble stepping up with them out, it's really indicative of how much they truly shoulder (Jack and Nico) for the team, game to game.

Seems Meier is the closest one currently who at least is producing somewhat game to game with them out, and can oppose the other teams best and still look somewhat dangerous. Mercer is warming but still not looking like he can take the pressure off well. Bratt is there but not driving for some reason. Expected a little more from Bratt during this stretch without the boys.

still a big Bratt supporter but a little disappointed.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Why certain poster(s) crapping on Mike McLeod is beyond me.

He's been put in a position above his level due to the injuries but still doesn't look completely out of place. If he had better decision making about when to shoot and a better shot itself, he would be a legit top 6 player. He's got just about everything else. Speed, some finesse, skating power, defensive and faceoffs.

He's had a good start to the season given the team challenges. Terrible to single him out as a bad player.

 

[JrFischer54]

in other news ice is cold!

Shows how much the team is missing Jack and Nico.

Don't want to hear any shit about them for a long time.... If the other forwards have specific trouble stepping up with them out, it's really indicative of how much they truly shoulder (Jack and Nico) for the team, game to game.

Seems Meier is the closest one currently who at least is producing somewhat game to game with them out, and can oppose the other teams best and still look somewhat dangerous. Mercer is warming but still not looking like he can take the pressure off well. Bratt is there but not driving for some reason. Expected a little more from Bratt during this stretch without the boys.

still a big Bratt supporter but a little disappointed.

sucks our two biggest pieces are also the two biggest injury risks

 

[Triumph]

Shows how much the team is missing Jack and Nico.

Don't want to hear any shit about them for a long time.... If the other forwards have specific trouble stepping up with them out, it's really indicative of how much they truly shoulder (Jack and Nico) for the team, game to game.

Seems Meier is the closest one currently who at least is producing somewhat game to game with them out, and can oppose the other teams best and still look somewhat dangerous. Mercer is warming but still not looking like he can take the pressure off well. Bratt is there but not driving for some reason. Expected a little more from Bratt during this stretch without the boys.

still a big Bratt supporter but a little disappointed.

Including the game that Hughes left injured in the 1st period, Bratt has a 73% xGF. He has not been on the ice for a goal against. His line is shooting 4%.

PDO just warps everyone's perception of how everything is going.

 

[JrFischer54]

Just want to say that Bratt should be a bit better than he is. (1.5 points per is still solid)

However, at the same time, he's not a Defenseman nor is he playing Goaltender for this team.

The latter is the True Culprit here.

If our Goaltenders are unable to make timely saves when things break down, we're not going anywhere as a team this season.

And the attention then should be shifted behind the bench at Lindy.

what has he done since jack has gone down please tell me. i get it he doesn't play d or goaltending but at least he can carry the weight of the offense i mean they did just pay him a shit ton of money. instead when jack goes out we get the playoff bratt to appear. people want to rag on timo and his contract then they should be ragging on bratt without jack.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Including the game that Hughes left injured in the 1st period, Bratt has a 73% xGF. He has not been on the ice for a goal against. His line is shooting 4%.

PDO just warps everyone's perception of how everything is going.

Advanced Statistically, he is fine I guess. But I would really like him to be a guy who looks like he he can take over a game when it is most needed of him. He has the talent.

 

[TF1970]

Not going to panic until I see prolonged losing with Jack and Nico back.

Nico is our best defensive forward and Jack creates a ton of space and is a transition machine. It will help a lot.

let's hope so - i am trying to get myself to this train of thought, but can't quite get all the way there.

 

[JrFischer54]

Including the game that Hughes left injured in the 1st period, Bratt has a 73% xGF. He has not been on the ice for a goal against. His line is shooting 4%.

PDO just warps everyone's perception of how everything is going.

no my eyeballs are telling me he isn't scoring enough. i dont need any fancy heat maps or cool letter stats telling me hes doing good out there.

 

[Whaddagoal]

in other news ice is cold!


sucks our two biggest pieces are also the two biggest injury risks

Also why fitzy had to go on record stating essentially Akira is a number 3 guy. While we have him on the team as backup. Does real wonders for motivation. (Referring to that Ryan novo article a week or so back)

 

[Devils731]

Including the game that Hughes left injured in the 1st period, Bratt has a 73% xGF. He has not been on the ice for a goal against. His line is shooting 4%.

PDO just warps everyone's perception of how everything is going.

Bratt also only has 7 shots on goal in the last 5 games and we’ve seen him pass his way out of good opportunities to shoot.

I’d like to see Bratt take control of the game by trying to score when he has good looks; instead it’s almost like he’s deferring more than usual at a time when the Devils need players to take control.

He’s playing fine but he needs to take more advantage of the opportunities he creates for himself.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Would agree with these two but then all three of us would be wrong.

Even before the injuries the Devils were struggling defensively as a team; masking those flaws with an insanely high percentage on the power play.

Until the positional play improves the results will remain the same - winning against weaker teams but struggling against teams with any kind of structure.

 

[glenwo2]

what has he done since jack has gone down please tell me. i get it he doesn't play d or goaltending but at least he can carry the weight of the offense i mean they did just pay him a shit ton of money. instead when jack goes out we get the playoff bratt to appear. people want to rag on timo and his contract then they should be ragging on bratt without jack.

@Zajacs Bowl Cut already pointed things out for you.

Not in the mood to explain what already has been explained.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

no my eyeballs are telling me he isn't scoring enough. i dont need any fancy heat maps or cool letter stats telling me hes doing good out there.

what is "enough"? Is that statistically quantifiable? or is it just some random number made up in your head with no basis? I mean I know the answer, but curious how you explain "enough"?

when they're allowing 5 goals per game, and Bratt has not been on for any while his line has a bad shooting%, not sure what else there is to say to you.

its also what, a 4 game sample size? Do you think that players never have a "bad" (in your eyes) sample size?

 

[glenwo2]

Bratt is there but not driving for some reason. Expected a little more from Bratt during this stretch without the boys.

still a big Bratt supporter but a little disappointed.

I think his problem is what his problem always has been : NOT SHOOTING THE PUCK ENOUGH.

He's had games where he only had 1 to 2 shots on goal the entire game.

I mean...I get that he wants to be a PG but he should do that when Jack and Nico is on the ice and healthy.

When they're missing (and the team NEEDS ANY TYPE OF OFFENSE), he should be more SELFISH and start firing away at the Goaltender NON-STOP as he has a very underrated shot.

And that is where I blame Lindy for this (for just letting him continue to do this and not tell him to fire away).

 

[NjDevsRR]

I'm concerned. I don't think Jack and eventually Nico coming back fix this team. The defense is bad. Goaltending is bad. We've got major flaws.

I’m curious if throwing Miller and Nemec in helps with the transition. This teams best defense is when the transition and ozone play is strong

 

[Better Call Sal]

I’m curious if throwing Miller and Nemec in helps with the transition. This teams best defense is when the transition and ozone play is strong

Who would you take out for Nemec? Bahl?

 

[NjDevsRR]

Who would you take out for Nemec? Bahl?

Don’t get in my way with logic lol

I have no idea. Just spitballing because we need a better transition game. Obviously that will improve once Jack is back but I want to see a better transition game from the D

 

[JrFischer54]

what is "enough"? Is that statistically quantifiable? or is it just some random number made up in your head with no basis? I mean I know the answer, but curious how you explain "enough"?

when they're allowing 5 goals per game, and Bratt has not been on for any while his line has a bad shooting%, not sure what else there is to say to you.

its also what, a 4 game sample size? Do you think that players never have a "bad" (in your eyes) sample size?

sure players have bad cold spells doesn't mean he shouldn't be called out on it. just like the playoffs he has gone mia when jack went down. you think these advanced stats tell a different story thats great put the puck in the net contribute more then a couple secondary apples in the last 5 games.

 

[forceten]

I went to bed upset about this loss. I woke up equally disappointed. There really was no good reason to lose this game.