GDT: Your New Jersey Devils vs. San Jose Sharks, 7 PM, MSGSN

[Call Me Al]

the way we play, we cough up the kind of chances where any individual talent can put up goals against us.

it doesn’t matter that the sharks hadn’t scored more than 1 goal in any road game - they’re going to get odd man rushes and breakaways because we are prone to especially bad turnovers and huge lapses in coverage, and even the sharks have nhl talent that can finish golden opportunities.

yes every team has breakdowns and our goaltending has been terrible, but i think that our play is particularly spirit crushing for goalies - it almost feels like a chicken or the egg debate with no right answer. does every goalie who plays here forget how to play? do we just have the shittiest goalie coach in the league? or does our system and poor execution breed a lack of confidence in our goalies?

sometimes our talent can shine through and beat the islanders or flyers, but let’s be real both of those games were in doubt and the end result masks how shitty we looked for a lot of them. and we’re exactly one week out from losing to the worst team in the eastern conference. they think they’re better than they are in it shows.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

The biggest problem the Devils have is goaltending. If Fitz doesn’t improve it we won’t make the playoffs. That’s how bad those two bums are.

 

[Better Call Sal]

Look, clearly no one is happy about this, nor should anyone be. But we nearly tripled them in shots and had over 100 overall chances. It’s frustrating to see that many players tonight seemed to revert back to the playing the game arrogantly mentality, but it’s not going to make me lose sight of winning 3 out of 4 this week, regardless of the opponent.

It’s a long season, and games like this happen to every team. You don’t dwell on anything from this other than cleaning up the individual mistakes and hoping that this clunker from Schmid stemmed from it being the second game in 2 nights.

Not for nothing either, this was the team's 5th game in 8 nights. Overall, I feel as though they've outplayed the opponents in all of those games. Our defensive lineup has changed each of the last 3 as a result of injuries or suspensions. We've got 3 young guys trying to find their way with an advanced role/new system in Bahl, Luke and now Nemec last night. I don't excuse taking any opponent lightly the way we've played this year so far, but if there was any opponent that wouldn't have shocked me to see them come in with a less than 100% effort, it was this one. And even then (some guys still were giving it their all), we outplayed them considerably if we don't commit egregious mistakes and get at least one extra save.

 

[Cheddabombs]

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

They have no excuses on this inr

^this.

I think with the youngsters, this is a learning year.

Clearly, Mercer, Luke, Holtz, Nemec, Bahl, Schmid all in learning mode.

Nico, Meier, Jack, Bratt, Marino, Siegs, Palat, Bastian trying to find their games or recovering from injury.

Only Tofoli, Lazar, and McLeod (and everyone named Hughes) have exceeded or met expectations.

There's been only a handful of well played games this year, and most of our wins have been by fantastic individual efforts by a small group of individuals.

There's no one we available that is an upgrade over what we have, but maybe the only thing is to get a goalie who's already used to being on a crap defensive team and doesn't get shaken.

Reimer (bc Lyon is playing well), Raanta ( when Andersen comes back) or Gibson.

i agree that this could be step back year but if it is only make a trade that makes sense ...no desperation trades that put the future at stake...

 

[Whaddagoal]

The turnovers by Jack, Luke and the misplays by defense (almost all of them) and the goalie who just became a fat melon in net... Sliding out of the way of the deke or just doing stupid stuff, not being confident to force a stop or force a cover.

Jack got a goal back in on the breakaway, but he played tonight like Jack of 2.5 as seasons ago. Way too much forced challenge whole team 1v3 and lose the puck kind of game. Or mishandle puck. I wouldn't say individual completely but he was forcing or mishandling passes. That play where he just skates into a Shark in the neutral zone for turnover near our blue line (I assume he was trying a move), lead to an immediate goal. Horror goaltending.

That's the kind of comedy shit that ruined it for me. Getting the momentum back and then trashing it the next shift. Devils from 3 years ago.

The only positive was that Nemec looks confident as hell and has the skills to back it up. He didn't have a perfect game but he is a gamer. Cocky and confident. And maybe that Palat is finally warming up (production wise). A couple goals/points in recent games.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

I loved Nemec tonight. Kid is going to be a stud. He shouldn't see the AHL ever again

Hamilton's injury he is here to stay know way he's going back ....He put an exclamation point on it with his performance and confidence last night impressive

 

[Better Call Sal]

Regarding Timo, I'm willing to chalk that up to rust. He didn't even get a practice with the team in that I can recall. Thankfully, he'll have some days here to practice and get back to game speed.

This is always a tough road trip, so having several days between when they end up leaving for Vancouver will hopefully be beneficial.

 

[Camille the Eel]

The turnovers by Jack, Luke and the misplays by defense (almost all of them) and the goalie who just became a fat melon in net... Sliding out of the way of the deke or just doing stupid stuff, not being confident to force a stop or force a cover.

Jack got a goal back in on the breakaway, but he played tonight like Jack of 2.5 as seasons ago. Way too much forced challenge whole team 1v3 and lose the puck kind of game. Or mishandle puck. I wouldn't say individual completely but he was forcing or mishandling passes. That play where he just skates into a Shark in the neutral zone for turnover near our blue line (I assume he was trying a move), lead to an immediate goal. Horror goaltending.

That's the kind of comedy shit that ruined it for me. Getting the momentum back and then trashing it the next shift. Devils from 3 years ago.

The only positive was that Nemec looks confident as hell and has the skills to back it up. He didn't have a perfect game but he is a gamer. Cocky and confident. And maybe that Palat is finally warming up (production wise). A couple goals/points in recent games.

This was actually a big game for us in the standings. A game where with one win we could have passed every team in front of us and jumped into the 3d metro playoff spot.

Even this early. We could have sustained momentum. That we came out with so little focus in this game didn’t feel good or reassuring to one’s confidence.

With a bunch of days off and the opposition playing, and SO many teams ahead of us, it could very well be a long time before we see that configuration again. A single game where you win it and leap in front of everyone.

Too early to be having these thoughts? Oh yeah, “It wouldn’t have lasted, because others would have passed us again while we were idle this week.”

Yes but the biggest trouble with falling behind a bunch of teams even this early is that there’s so many of them to pass. Everyone’s playing each other. It gets to be a problem to be chasing not one but like four other clubs.

It’s too early to be outright panicking but not too early to be down about the pattern of huge unforced errors, poor goaltending and lack of consistency that are characterizing this season.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

How about the coach take some accountability for his shitty coaching? Hynes vibes here.

 

[Whaddagoal]

How about the coach take some accountability for his shitty coaching? Hynes vibes here.

He didn't volunteer that without a prompt from media asking about goaltending though.

The stuff he was volunteering was the bad puck management, disrespect for the puck management and basically the team has talked about not underestimating the sharks who were like 5-4-1 or something in last 10. But he did say he knew and they talked before game knowing they would get their chances and zone time (which he did)..

Somehow defense was not talked about in the lockeroom.

Maybe the lack of defensive respect comes from the assertion they will get their chances no matter what.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

The longer this goes on, of course the more concerning it gets.

But we were breaking Nemec into the lineup after our #1 d-man went down. We also had the return of Timo after however many games. And we did dominate in possession.

So yeah, the breakdowns continue, and losing to the worst team in the league is never a good look, but I'm not jumping off the cliff.

I'm deffenilty not jumping off a cliff but, my once higher expectations are currently being modified to just watch Jack and 5-4 wins and hope to make the playoffs and go out in 5 games. Then Fitz goes back to work. It's just mind boggling we are now last years Vancouver Canucks. The good news these problems are fixable. Last season we did a fantastic job of sheltering average goaltending and gave them a chance to succeed. I think must of us had some level of concern about the inexperience on the blueline but, it's also the veterans contributing to the dumpster fire.

 

[Lou is God]

Reflecting more on last night, I really do believe if Akira had covered that puck on the Sharks 5th goal, we would have tied it up and gotten at least a point. That was a back breaker.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Well this game likely gets Schmid back in the doghouse like (I can’t even remember what game it was? First Capitals game? Combined with the Islanders game that we won in spite of him?) and it will be right back to Vitek.

Schmid is 23 and finding his way if we know it so does management.....Team game they gotta play better in front of these guys as well

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

One of Nemec or Luke were on the ice for 5 of the 6 goals against. I get that they're very fun but this is going to take some time.

None were their fault....

1st goal: Nemec ties up his man perfectly. Timo is off in who the f*** knows where.
2nd goal: Arguable but it wasn't off a play directly after the Luke turnover. Also Timo has the reaction speed to avoid the shot but not block it? I do agree though, that kind of play never ever should happen.
3rd goal: 100% jacks fault
5th goal: 100% Schmid's fault. I don't think both Luke and Nemec were expecting Schmid to pass it right to the shark player.

Nice try though. Typical stat citing with 0 context.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

I'm deffenilty not jumping off a cliff but, my once higher expectations are currently being modified to just watch Jack and 5-4 wins and hope to make the playoffs and go out in 5 games. Then Fitz goes back to work. It's just mind boggling we are now last years Vancouver Canucks. The good news these problems are fixable. Last season we did a fantastic job of sheltering average goaltending and gave them a chance to succeed. I think must of us had some level of concern about the inexperience on the blueline but, it's also the veterans contributing to the dumpster fire.

Last year’s Canucks got 49% of shot attempts, 48% xGs, and .882 goaltending. We’re getting 56% of shot attempts, 53% xGs, and .873 goaltending.

So many of these games we just need literally one more save to get a game to OT or stay in it. Amazing the degree we’re flushing points down the toilet.

 

[NjdevilfanJim]

Ya I think the GM will sit on his ass and then blames injures and goaltending when he has his media on locker clean out on April 17th.

Or maybe he knows hopefully to not make a desperate trade just to make a trade that ultimately won't help

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

This season has sucked but I'm kind of at peace with the fact they might not make the playoffs.

The window isn't even a year old. I believe in the core and the young guys but some things need to be rounded up, like the goaltending and most likely the coaching. This isn't the team's final, contending form. They have time to learn and having hardships like this is part of the process for a young team.

And as South Park Matthews McConaughey once said:

The reason I'm not is because this team has the talent, just aren't executing. That's on coaching.

 

[BurntToast]

Wow. This game was a perfect storm.

Fans finally get Schmid back in net but it was probably the worse situation possible. Back to Back. Rivalry game and Big work load the night before. The guy goes from not playing to playing back to back.

Fans finally get Nemec but you lost Dougie, you lost Smith’s toughness.

Timo was back and the lines get messed up. The pp play is messed up.

3 games in 4. Nico looked off the last few. Perfect storm.



I still think the Devils need a defenseman.

The problem is the “vets”. The Devils lost around 300 shots blocked between Gravy and Sevs. They lost two goal scoring threats. Bahl, Siegs and Marino are the worst defenseman and contribute nothing else.

 

[glenwo2]

the way we play, we cough up the kind of chances where any individual talent can put up goals against us.

it doesn’t matter that the sharks hadn’t scored more than 1 goal in any road game - they’re going to get odd man rushes and breakaways because we are prone to especially bad turnovers and huge lapses in coverage, and even the sharks have nhl talent that can finish golden opportunities.

yes every team has breakdowns and our goaltending has been terrible, but i think that our play is particularly spirit crushing for goalies - it almost feels like a chicken or the egg debate with no right answer. does every goalie who plays here forget how to play? do we just have the shittiest goalie coach in the league? or does our system and poor execution breed a lack of confidence in our goalies?

sometimes our talent can shine through and beat the islanders or flyers, but let’s be real both of those games were in doubt and the end result masks how shitty we looked for a lot of them. and we’re exactly one week out from losing to the worst team in the eastern conference. they think they’re better than they are in it shows.

does every goalie who plays here forget how to play?

No. But every goalie we've had between the pipes has varied from average to below-average to horrific ever since Marty hung up the skates (and Cory fell off a cliff).



do we just have the shittiest goalie coach in the league?

YES. FIRE HIS ASS NOW! GET BACK THE PREVIOUS GOALTENDER COACH.



does our system and poor execution breed a lack of confidence in our goalies?

Lack of confidence?

I think poor goaltending breeds lack of confidence in our players that look to him to bail them out which is what a Goaltender's job is supposed to be.

But yeah. The system is sh*t, imo, too and Lindy being a stubborn old mule refuses to change things about it to compensate for all the odd-man rushes given up.

Still, though, at the end of the day, you're a goaltender : MAKE A GODDAMN SAVE.



EDIT : 5 GOALS given up on 17 shots (not counting the 18th as the 6th goal was an EN). I'm sorry but holding the opponent to just 17 shots in this game? There is less blame to go to the players this time and more to the Goaltender, his Goaltender coach, and Lindy. Brutal...just brutal.

 

[Devils731]

I know SJ is bad but this game made me feel less bad than a lot of other losses this season.

Too often this season the Devils struggles to create even strength offense while still having moments of massive defensive breakdowns. Tonight the Devils 5 on 5 offense was overwhelming at times, just didn’t get the finish, while still having moments of massive defensive breakdowns.

If the Devils offense can be more like this against decent teams then the wins should come, even with the defense and goaltending.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I'm still waiting...

The Devils are clearly in the quadrant labeled "Low Shots Volume, High Shot Quality".

What am I getting wrong?

maybe youre right? I dont know. The way its worded is confusing.

My question to you is why do you believe this chart, which is seemingly based on....nothing? But you don't believe in the HD chances which are at least based on something?

I wonder why........

I also think way too many people are caught up in the "HOW COULD THEY LOSE TO THE SHARKS!" nonsense.

Yeah, and? The Sharks have more regulation wins than Toronto does. I know they are terrible, but good teams lose to bad teams all the time. Getting caught up in that stuff is pointless.

 

[Guadana]

What about KHL goalies not under NHL property who are 25-28, 6’ tall or more, and .915+?

Every goalie should play in AHL. You never know how new goalie will show himself in the new environment. And even good ahl performance show mostly nothing. We can’t wait even 1B and I think 2A situation from goalies outside NHL. But we can find ahl starter easily with potential to try him in Nhl.

I will start with my two traditional candidates.

Isaev is one of my most interesting goalies. But he isnt available for two seasons. He is 23 yo, he is 93% last two seasons, 91,3% season before, had decent career before.

Nikolaev was very decent before, but this season is a pure mess with only two games, awful limited performance, injuries and more experienced starters ahead of him. He signed for next season two, but maaaay be he will want to end the deal. It’s just speculation, I don’t have any real reason to think this way.
___


Konovalov signed for this season only. The problem is he is only 182 sm(6’0) and he tried himself in oilers ahl team, 17 games, 89,3%. Five seasons as KHL starter, 92+% average.

Berdin played for jets system, some seasons in ahl were good, some were not so good, 188 sm, signed for one more season. He is playing in Sochi, has 91,5% in his two last seasons, Sochi isn’t good defensive team.
___

Lozebnikov is 25yo 190sm goalie with only one season as KHL ~starter with 92.2% in 17 games, with decent career in VHL before. Don’t think that he is a first option, but still. Signed for one more season.

Krasotkin is 26 yo, had long and stable KHL career, 7 seasons with 92+% average. 184 sm, signed for two more seasons.
___


Shutov is 25 yo 189 sm from Kazakhstan. He is playing for Barys, this team isn’t good in defending too, he has 91.3% and it’s his the first full KHL season. He had decent career in KZ league before. Was best in the KZ league in 5years or so. He signed for this season only.

Dorozhko is 25 yo 190sm goalie with two solid seasons in Vityaz, had good(not great) VHL career before. Sign for this season only.

Shchetilin is a good option for AHL - very decent career in VHL, 23 yo, 190 sm, 93-94% in his last 3 years, signed for this season only.
___

Draft

Its too early but Belorussian Moyseevich is great in his limited time in KHL, great in VHL too. He is 19 yo and signed to 26/27, so it’s an option for draft. God, I hope we will draft him. 93.1% in VHL in 19 yo, 196 sm, mobile and reactive. I will be mad if we will not take him.


20yo Gamzin had decent career to be drafted. 188 sm, 95.5% in 5 games in KHL, 92.2% in 14 games in VHL this year,/ 92.2% in 22 games in mhl, 91,2% in 5 games in VHL year before.

20yo Ilya Nabokov(good goalie last name) signed for next season too. 184 sm, he is KHL starter this season, 92% in 21 games, decent career before.

20yo Berezhnoy is a decent option, 194 sm, decent career, 92.9% this season in VHL. Signed for this and next season.

20yo Aryevyev is a decent option too, 194 sm, decent career, 92.2% in VHL this season. Signed for this season only.


__________
__________

Dorozhko looks like a real option to sign him for AHL, he had experience and still okay age for goalie. And not only him. Devils are playing with young Schmid as a backup and now young Daws and young Poulter looks like the only working option for Utica. Fitz should be more active on the market, he should be more active on the draft. But I still have a felling he isnt looking in this direction and I want to blame goalie coach and goalie scouts.

 

[guitarguyvic]

maybe youre right? I dont know. The way its worded is confusing.

My question to you is why do you believe this chart, which is seemingly based on....nothing? But you don't believe in the HD chances which are at least based on something?

I wonder why........

I also think way too many people are caught up in the "HOW COULD THEY LOSE TO THE SHARKS!" nonsense.

Yeah, and? The Sharks have more regulation wins than Toronto does. I know they are terrible, but good teams lose to bad teams all the time. Getting caught up in that stuff is pointless.

I don’t “believe in the chart”. I have been very vocal about what I’ve observed from this team and this chart just happens to match that. I asked for a source for it so I could look into it more but the original poster didn’t provide it yet. It may have been @Hisch13r not sure.

Either way I know from watching the games that the devils routinely give up more odd man rushes, breakaways, and wide open uncontested cross ice passes than they get for themselves. No need to be a statistician who watches every game by every team, it’s pretty obvious shit that can’t be missed unless you’re just being willfully blind to it.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

ahh the ol "I trust my eyes". Got it. Carry on!