my impressions of the last 3 games...

ok...I haven't posted on this board alot lately but I have been reading alot of it and I thought I'd share my impressions over the last 3 games that I've seen...

I watched the Carolina-Jersey game on Thursday on tv, the Satruday massacre in person (first game ever for me in Jersey...loved it by the way except the hockey game itself) and then watched last night on tv again against the Leafs...

a few things...

wow...this team is really worrying me alot...they are definitely not playing like the Jersey team we all know and love and definitely not the way they were earlier in the year...yes we've had injuries and SOME of it can be attributed to that...but look at the Sabres...they've had more injuries than most teams and they are still going strong...

I think over the past 3 games I've lost my voice finally yelling at Gomez to SHOOT the puck. Yes...he is not a goal-scorer and his linemates are horrible right now. Wouldn't logic suggest that instead of passing to these guys he's going to have to shoot a bit more to pick up the slack?? I don't know how many times I've seen where Gomez has had the puck...broken the trap...got into the other teams zone and then simply pass it off to Rupp, Rasmussen, Clarkson, etc only to see the other team get the puck. At least Clarkson has shot the puck and he is looking good to me. I say we keep him for the playoffs...he's one of the only few working his ass off on a regular basis. Rasmussen and Rupp are about as useful as a bowler's jock strap...I say we get rid of both of them. Honestly what do they do?? Not much of anything...

It's clear that way too much pressure has been put on Gomez, Zajac, Parise and Langenbrunner to score all the goals for us. They are all trying to do way too much right now and the only solution I can see right now is for us to hope that Elias and Gionta come back real soon...even getting Madden back would help out with scoring or generating chances....I say we call up Bergfors and see if he can help with the scoring cause Rupp and Rasmussen certainly don't.

The problem (at least last night against the Leafs) isn't that we're not getting enough shots....we shot alot last night...only problem was the Leafs blocked or deflected about 20-25 shots I counted. We need to get back to doing things simple. We 're dumping it in and then letting the other team get out way too easily. We need to dump it in, get strong on the forecheck and start generating some quality chances with guys going to the net and getting our shots ON THE NET!!! A shooting practice perhaps Claude??

On to the defence........and this might be the most worrisome to me of all of this ranting. This is not looking like a Devils defence. In both Saturday's game and last nights game both the Hurricanes and Leafs (hardly two powerhouse teams by any means) had the Devils running around in their own zone like chickens with their heads cut off. I honestly can't remember seeing a Devils team scramble around in their own zone and have so much trouble getting the puck out of our zone as we are having right now. Passes from defencemen to forwards aren't crisp or accurate at all. Almost all the defencemen are being way too cute with the puck and the result has been alot more quality scoring chances for the opposition than there really needs to be.

I live in the Ontario area (Hamilton...about an hour away from Toronto) so I have the privilege (I like to think of it as punishment) of watching alot of the Leafs games. Over the years the Leafs problem has been defence and last night I have to say that the Leafs defence was way better than ours...it wasn't even close. Yes, we hit a couple posts and they got lucky with their first goal from Wellwood since Colaiacovo should have been called for a trip and Pando awarded a penalty shot but still...overall the Leafs looked alot better than the Devils defence and quite frankly we looked like a Leafs defence of old....running around frantically in our own zone, having trouble getting the puck out, not making the simple plays, giving the other team numerous scoring chances undeserved.

If not for Marty we would be one of the worst teams in the league right now. In fact...out of the playoff teams we are looking like one of the worst. We keep playing like this, we'll be out in the first round. I'm sorry for being pessimistic here but this team is showing me nothing right now. All the talk around here is that the Leafs are a "desperate" hockey team trying for the last playoff spot. The Devils should be a "desperate" team too. Unfortunately, we're looking like we're in cruise control right now and I don't like it one bit. Julien says that 1st doesn't matter too much and I'm not liking that attitude at all. I see the Penguins and Senators passing us and us winding up in 5th and no home-ice for the playoffs at all pretty much.

Again...I'm sorry for being so pessimistic and I really hope the Devils prove me wrong here but we keep playing like this and there is no doubt that we'll be golfing early...about 4-5 games after the 1st round. Injuries shouldn't be an excuse...the best teams should be able to overcome them and we're failing miserably.

"A Strong Forecheck" doesn't seem to be in coach Julien's vocabulary. As for us being the worse team going into the playoffs, I reserve judgement until we start the playoffs with a full squad.

"A Strong Forecheck" doesn't seem to be in coach Julien's vocabulary. As for us being the worse team going into the playoffs, I reserve judgement until we start the playoffs with a full squad.

But there is no guarantee we will have a full squad.

But there is no guarantee we will have a full squad.


Well, than we'll be the worse team going into the playoffs.

Well, than we'll be the worse team going into the playoffs.

easily.

The Devils problem of late is a problem they have had all season - scoring goals. With a lack of goal scoring depth, now that Gionta and Elias are out, the problem is magnified. Other than the top 2 lines, the 3rd and 4th contribute next to nothing on the score sheet. While the Madden line was busy shutting down the other teams top line it manufactured almost nothing offensively. Look at Buffalo and Pittsburg. All 3 lines score. The 4th is for checking purposes only. That's why they continue to win despite injuries, their scoring comes from more than 6 forwards. Until Elias and Gionta return what we've been seeing is what we will get.

We should all probably collectively accept that it's going to be a short, and ugly playoffs for us pending some type of miraculous turn around.

I think dudes prediction of us falling to 6th isn't that far out of the question.

This month has been tough to be a Devils fan but I'm not ready to throw this team under the bus. If the season ended tomorrow I would be VERY worried, but there are still 9 games left to get things right.

The team has a feel now that reminds me of the stretch last year after the Olympics where Elias was out and the team was getting used to the new guys acquired during the trade deadline. The team looked horrible for a good stretch but worked through it.

Before any of you jump off a bridge, take a few minutes and flip through the schedules of the other top teams during the past few months. Without exception, ALL of them have had an extended run of bad play. Yes some of them have already started wining again, and yes I would have preferred the Devil's slump last month, yet there is still time.

Maybe the last 5 or 6 games will be enough to launch them into the playoffs going strong. At this point success will depend more on who is healthy than what seed they start.

I want this team to finish 2nd (or better 1st) in the East. But I also want them to win the cup, and that just requires a playoff spot.

The team may be going through troubles, but the fact remains that this is the same group of players that were making all of us go ape **** a few months ago with their stellar play. Nothing has changed. They may be going through a downslide now, but it all still means nothing since we have our ticket into the playoffs. I, like many of you enjoyed the rush of finishing out the season last year on that amazing streak. But im pretty sure we would have all traded it for .500 hockey down the stretch and a 7 game series win against the 'canes. In other words, let's just get healthy and worry about each game on it's own. You know that's how the team is handling it.

And to those detractors who will (and already have countless times) come in with their stats about the team's fortunes over the last month and all the struggles by Elias and Gomez ect.. I don't care, and neither does fate/luck, which is all that really matters in the playoffs anyways.

Don't believe me? Ask the Oilers who lost their goalie, ask the 'Canes who scored that Staal goal with 5 seconds left or ask the Sabres about the infamous Hull goal.

Anyone can win, anytime.

I want this team to finish 2nd (or better 1st) in the East. But I also want them to win the cup, and that just requires a playoff spot.

The team may be going through troubles, but the fact remains that this is the same group of players that were making all of us go ape **** a few months ago with their stellar play. Nothing has changed. They may be going through a downslide now, but it all still means nothing since we have our ticket into the playoffs. I, like many of you enjoyed the rush of finishing out the season last year on that amazing streak. But im pretty sure we would have all traded it for .500 hockey down the stretch and a 7 game series win against the 'canes. In other words, let's just get healthy and worry about each game on it's own. You know that's how the team is handling it.

And to those detractors who will (and already have countless times) come in with their stats about the team's fortunes over the last month and all the struggles by Elias and Gomez ect.. I don't care, and neither does fate/luck, which is all that really matters in the playoffs anyways.

Don't believe me? Ask the Oilers who lost their goalie, ask the 'Canes who scored that Staal goal with 5 seconds left or ask the Sabres about the infamous Hull goal.

Anyone can win, anytime.

Very good post.

It's really hilarious how quickly the people on this board have turned.

The team may be going through troubles, but the fact remains that this is the same group of players that were making all of us go ape **** a few months ago with their stellar play. Nothing has changed.

What??? :amazed:

Nothing has changed?

Have you been watching the Devils the last month and do you realize who we have injured, despite them having off seasons or not?

You didn't even mention the injury part in your post by the way :sarcasm:

That's what we're worried about.

What??? :amazed:

Nothing has changed?

Have you been watching the Devils the last month and do you realize who we have injured, despite them having off seasons or not?

You didn't even mention the injury part in your post by the way :sarcasm:

That's what we're worried about.

It's gone past simply being worried. Some posts are ridiculous, contending that NJ will be easily ousted come playoff time, that they overachieved for the entire season and are showing their true, more mediocre colors now, etc. It's frustrating that people cannot seem to realize that the success of a team ebs and flows. This was to be expected after the tremendous run that the Devils went on around Christmas.

I want this team to finish 2nd (or better 1st) in the East. But I also want them to win the cup, and that just requires a playoff spot.

The team may be going through troubles, but the fact remains that this is the same group of players that were making all of us go ape **** a few months ago with their stellar play. Nothing has changed. They may be going through a downslide now, but it all still means nothing since we have our ticket into the playoffs. I, like many of you enjoyed the rush of finishing out the season last year on that amazing streak. But im pretty sure we would have all traded it for .500 hockey down the stretch and a 7 game series win against the 'canes. In other words, let's just get healthy and worry about each game on it's own. You know that's how the team is handling it.

And to those detractors who will (and already have countless times) come in with their stats about the team's fortunes over the last month and all the struggles by Elias and Gomez ect.. I don't care, and neither does fate/luck, which is all that really matters in the playoffs anyways.

Don't believe me? Ask the Oilers who lost their goalie, ask the 'Canes who scored that Staal goal with 5 seconds left or ask the Sabres about the infamous Hull goal.

Anyone can win, anytime.


:clap:

Our ticket is already punch in for the big dance. Once it get's underway, all 16 teams are starting another season.

I want this team to finish 2nd (or better 1st) in the East. But I also want them to win the cup, and that just requires a playoff spot.

The team may be going through troubles, but the fact remains that this is the same group of players that were making all of us go ape **** a few months ago with their stellar play. Nothing has changed. They may be going through a downslide now, but it all still means nothing since we have our ticket into the playoffs. I, like many of you enjoyed the rush of finishing out the season last year on that amazing streak. But im pretty sure we would have all traded it for .500 hockey down the stretch and a 7 game series win against the 'canes. In other words, let's just get healthy and worry about each game on it's own. You know that's how the team is handling it.

And to those detractors who will (and already have countless times) come in with their stats about the team's fortunes over the last month and all the struggles by Elias and Gomez ect.. I don't care, and neither does fate/luck, which is all that really matters in the playoffs anyways.

Don't believe me? Ask the Oilers who lost their goalie, ask the 'Canes who scored that Staal goal with 5 seconds left or ask the Sabres about the infamous Hull goal.

Anyone can win, anytime.

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for seeing the forest for the trees.

This is a team that did incredibly well in January and February; those two months weren't luck. Losing only two games in regulation on the road since December 25, 2006 is not a fluke. This is still a strong team obviously weakened by injuries.

The playoffs are still 9 games away and a lot can happen in those games. Let's not worry about mid-April when it's still March. There's a game tomorrow that's more deserving of attention.

It's gone past simply being worried. Some posts are ridiculous, contending that NJ will be easily ousted come playoff time, that they overachieved for the entire season and are showing their true, more mediocre colors now, etc. It's frustrating that people cannot seem to realize that the success of a team ebs and flows. This was to be expected after the tremendous run that the Devils went on around Christmas.

I just can't comprehend that people don't understand the depth of our growing injury list and try to imply that there's nothing wrong with the picture.

As much as a like their hustle and what I've seen so far, we will most likely be entering the playoffs and trying to win a Cup with an AHL team of David Clarkson, Rod Pelley & Andy Greene.

I don't know if I like that :sarcasm:

I think dudes prediction of us falling to 6th isn't that far out of the question.

Geez, watch what you say, even the NYR are gaining on us now.:sarcasm:

I just can't comprehend that people don't understand the depth of our growing injury list and try to imply that there's nothing wrong with the picture.

As much as a like their hustle and what I've seen so far, we will most likely be entering the playoffs and trying to win a Cup with an AHL team of David Clarkson, Rod Pelley & Andy Greene.

I don't know if I like that :sarcasm:

Well the injuries are a problem. But Elias, Gionta, and Madden should be ready to go by the time the playoffs start. NJ got very lucky with injuries last year, so I see this as simply averaging out.

For some reason I feel like the Devils are lying when they say that Gionta, Madden and Elias all have groin injuries. It just seems crazy that the only three injuries right now are all groins, what other team has ever had three players out, and only three players out with the same exact injury? Kind of wierd
Does anyone feel the same way?

A commentator on XM204 Home Ice this evening said that he saw the Devils-Leafs game and it's apparent that, without Gionta and Elias (two of their best forwards) and Madden (their best defensive forward), this Devils team was a different team. But then they added that when they all come back, watch out: the Devils will be back and ready to roll.

I agree.

For some reason I feel like the Devils are lying when they say that Gionta, Madden and Elias all have groin injuries. It just seems crazy that the only three injuries right now are all groins, what other team has ever had three players out, and only three players out with the same exact injury? Kind of wierd
Does anyone feel the same way?
The Capitals currently have three players out with thumb injuries (even weirder than the groin injuries, I'd say).

The groin muscles are very important for skating, and also seem to be easily injured, so I would imagine they probably do all have groin injuries. If the Devils didn't want to say what the problem actually was, they could always resort to the old standby of lower (or upper) body injury.

This is all lou's doing. It's all psychological. He want's us going into the playoffs as underdogs. As the team least feared. As the team expected to lose in the first round. He's just resting madden/elias. He knows we play better that way:D

WE WILL WIN!!!

What??? :amazed:

Nothing has changed?

Have you been watching the Devils the last month and do you realize who we have injured, despite them having off seasons or not?

You didn't even mention the injury part in your post by the way :sarcasm:

That's what we're worried about.

Really? I thought you were also worried about Elias, Gomez, Langenbrunner, Julien and the system... But if it is all about the injuries, exactly who/what can do anything about it?

Let them heal, see what happens. I'm not going to get all bent out of shape about it when you and I don't know when any of them are coming back.

The playoffs are still 9 games away and a lot can happen in those games. Let's not worry about mid-April when it's still March. There's a game tomorrow that's more deserving of attention.

Exactly. I'm more concerned about beating Tampa tonight that losing to some unknown opponent in a few weeks. Thankfully, there's alot of people in this thread who aren't going into panic mode over what has been another successfull season for the Devils and yet another post season appearance. As a fan, that's all I can ask for: a chance to win. :devdance:

For some reason I feel like the Devils are lying when they say that Gionta, Madden and Elias all have groin injuries. It just seems crazy that the only three injuries right now are all groins, what other team has ever had three players out, and only three players out with the same exact injury? Kind of wierd
Does anyone feel the same way?

I was at the Pitts game where Elias and Madden were injured, where I was sitting I was looking right down the Devils hallway (center ice). I saw Elias leave the ice, make the hall and then stop and double over in pain while pointing at his inner thigh. My friend next to me called out a groin injury that very moment.

So unless Elias was doing an incredible acting job when he thought no-one was looking, his injury is both serious and very much for real.

Really? I thought you were also worried about Elias, Gomez, Langenbrunner, Julien and the system... But if it is all about the injuries, exactly who/what can do anything about it?

Yes, I was worried about Elias before the injury and of course I don't want them rushed back. Elias's 1 assist per game and 1 goal every 8 games would actually help us believe it or not.

We'll take everything we can get at this point :sarcasm: