Shots Against.....

http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/stats?service=direct&context=Stats/changeSortColumnAction&fetchKey=20062ALLGAG&sort=shotsAgainst&viewName=goalsAgainstAverage

3rd most shots allowed, it's ridiculous, the d has got to step up, 30+ shots per game is UNACCEPTABLE

http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/stats?service=direct&context=Stats/changeSortColumnAction&fetchKey=20062ALLGAG&sort=shotsAgainst&viewName=goalsAgainstAverage (http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/stats?service=direct&context=Stats/changeSortColumnAction&fetchKey=20062ALLGAG&sort=shotsAgainst&viewName=goalsAgainstAverage)

3rd most shots allowed, it's ridiculous, the d has got to step up, 30+ shots per game is UNACCEPTABLEAgreed. I went off about this in the Brodeur/White thread, but we need selfless play (ala Ken Daneyko) in our defensive end -- guys who will go down and block shots and "escort" other teams' forwards out of Marty's face. Perhaps a stick to the groin would help. I wouldn't be afraid to trade some penalty box time for a ball-busting blow between the legs. A message would definitely be sent.

At least Marty will have a high save percentage this year and according to some people that's all that matters.

One way to keep the penalty minutes down is too bench Jamie Langenbrunner...how many penalties does this guy need to take before he realizes no hooking or interference. Sheesh. Rangers had like 15 shots on the PP last night.

At least Marty will have a high save percentage this year and according to some people that's all that matters.

One way to keep the penalty minutes down is too bench Jamie Langenbrunner...how many penalties does this guy need to take before he realizes no hooking or interference. Sheesh. Rangers had like 15 shots on the PP last night.
Langenbrunner can be traded because Murphy can make him expendable. He is next in line for home grown shutdown specialist after Madden and Pandolfo. Murphy was PK'ing for the rats yesterday and the rats killed all 15 PP in the game. Having Ahonen helps but Murphy is excellent and should be in the NHL. Won't find many hockey players smarter.

Langenbrunner can be traded because Murphy can make him expendable. He is next in line for home grown shutdown specialist after Madden and Pandolfo. Murphy was PK'ing for the rats yesterday and the rats killed all 15 PP in the game. Having Ahonen helps but Murphy is excellent and should be in the NHL. Won't find many hockey players smarter.


so we could be having another john madden amongst the rats?

Part of the reason for bringing Pascal Rheaume back was to help the Devils kill penalties when players like Madden, Pandolfo, or Langenbrunner are sent to the box. He fits in well in this role when needed.

Madden-Pandolfo Rheaume-Murphy

Rheaume and Murphy do have great chemistry from last year in Albany. Maybe this could be the case is some of our 4th liners get traded or waived.

Jamie Langenbrunner will be badly needed if this team is going to so much as sniff the post season.

Yes, he sucks right now. Stick with him and he'll pay dividends. I guarantee it.

Look at the PowerPlays for and against.......Not so much a D problem as it is a discipline problem.

When you play an entire period down a man, you are going to get outshot pretty badly.

Three games is hardly a good sample to determine if the Devils will face a lot of SOG or whether they will only have "a sniff" at the playoffs.

As it stands right now, the Devils are 2-1-0 in their three contests. That's a pretty good record. But again, that's not a large enough sample yet.

Jamie Langenbrunner will be badly needed if this team is going to so much as sniff the post season.

Yes, he sucks right now. Stick with him and he'll pay dividends. I guarantee it.

I agree. If Elias were to return this week, Langs might be odd man out based on performance so far this season. I won't go as far to say he is Claude-like, but he was key in the first two rounds, so Friesen and Rupp could do what they did in the last two rounds in '03. What concerns me is he hasn't been the same post- Nieuwendyk, post-injury, post- Scotts, now post-Friesen. It is now time for him to mature and become self-reliant and not be looking for that veteran mentor to pick him up and to become the veteran mentor. Is Larry the wrong coach for him, does he need to play for a Burns/Hitchcock type to realize his potential and confidence level? His lock-out conflict with linemate Madden and his recent penalty frequency don't help his case much either, despite his heart being in the right place. I think he gets it together before Thanksgiving(USA). When he is on, he is underpaid.

Matvichuk, Langdon, and Oliwa were all signed before the new CBA was determined and the new rules changes were implemented. I am hearing mixed opinions on Matvichuk's play so far.Time will tell if he still fits in the new NHL. His 4-year contract, may be difficult for Lou to deal, but some team will improve by taking him. Hard to fault Lou for dealing a newly acquired UFA with this faster game. The game changed, so did the Devils' needs.

All moot if Lou already has a deal set, despite who improves or regresses between now and Elias' return, but I think he's the kind of guy who likes to leave his options open.

Is Larry the wrong coach for him, does he need to play for a Burns/Hitchcock type to realize his potential and confidence level? His lock-out conflict with linemate Madden and his recent penalty frequency don't help his case much either, despite his heart being in the right place. I think he gets it together before Thanksgiving(USA). When he is on, he is underpaid.

I don't think Pat Burns would have complained to the media about the penalties and running of Martin Brodeur the way Larry Robinson did which in turn kind of sends the message to the players that its ok to do the same. Not sure Burns would have allowed his team to come out as flat as they did on two different nights so early on in the season as well. Going further, I also don't think Jamie Langenbrunner would have hurt his team to the degree he did lack-of-discipline wise against the Flyers had Scott Stevens been on the bench (one quick look of disapproval likely would have stopped him dead in his tracks before he complained further about the lack of Devils power plays), but its something we all have to move on with as the team pushes on with no designated captain. That was one of those situations where not having an appointed captain demanding hard work, respect, and steady discipline from his teammates became more of an issue then it would on other nights imo.

I think it is astonishing the Devils are 2-1. The shots having nothing to do with the personal, the devils Defense or their Forwards. This is a Discipline problem

I will say this again, this is a coaching problem. Any discipline issues go right to the coach.




Game 1
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 1:35, D. McGillis
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 4:00, V. Malakhov
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 4:42, R. Matvichuk
New Jersey too many men on the ice - 2 min 6:34, Bench served by J. Pandolfo
New Jersey interference - 2 min 2:11, B. Gionta
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 6:57, Z. Parise
New Jersey interference with goaltender - 2 min 13:46, Z. Parise
New Jersey holding - 2 min 0:15, A. Mogilny
New Jersey tripping - 2 min 0:53, J. Langenbrunner
New Jersey interference - 2 min 4:01, J. Langenbrunner
New Jersey high sticking - 2 min 8:53, R. Matvichuk


Game 2
New Jersey interference - 2 min 9:19, E. Rasmussen
New Jersey high sticking - 2 min 12:44, S. Gomez
New Jersey unsportsmanship - diving - 2 min 13:31, P. Martin
New Jersey delay of game - 2 min 16:30, S. Gomez
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 4:09, S. Gomez
New Jersey roughing - 2 min 12:05, S. Gomez


Game 3
New Jersey cross check - 2 min 8:01, B. Gionta
New Jersey puck over glass - 2 min 11:55, B. Rafalski
New Jersey slashing - 2 min 1:25, A. Mogilny
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 4:50, J. Langenbrunner
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 7:12, J. Madden
New Jersey unsportsmanlike conduct - 2 min 11:41, J. Langenbrunner
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 13:53, J. Madden
New Jersey cross check - 2 min 5:24, D. McGillis
New Jersey hooking - 2 min 16:17, J. Langenbrunner

I think it is astonishing the Devils are 2-1. The shots having nothing to do with the personal, the devils Defense or their Forwards. This is a Discipline problem

I will say this again, this is a coaching problem. Any discipline issues go right to the coach.


Every time I say something like this, I get buried.

Larry Robinson has been down this road before.