The Richard Matvichuk appreciation thread

I honestly don't know if we would have won this series without him, what an effort by him considering he hasn't played at all this season.

:clap:

An absolute rock back there. He did a great job on Vinny and thank god we have him.

Matty has character a true Devil!!!:handclap:

Shot-blocking machine!

Except for Oduya (give him some time), I think our defense is set. I don't think we need to pick up a defenseman from FA unless we lose Rafalski or someone else.

He's been outstanding this series.

Definitly "appreciation thread" worthy :sarcasm:

best defensive defenseman of the series. You could see how frustrated he had Lecavilier.

Glad that he's signed for another year.

He is an awesome, shot-blocking monster.

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1863/20050217204413vm3.jpg

If White comes in for Oduya, we will be set for Ottawa..Holy crap Matvichuk really is in the shape of his life, like Lou said a while ago.

He was a machine and I am very glad to have him on the team.

He was unbelievable this series. An absolute rock on the blueline. Played 22:34 tonight.

This guy is a beast! Marty doesn't like his guys blocking too many shots, but Matvichuk blocked some key shots that easily would have been goals. His positional play is phenominal, and is a great physical presence.

DevilFisch, brother I know you admitted you were wrong once, but I think you need to admit it again brother.

Gotta love his effort. A true leader.

He was unbelievable this series. An absolute rock on the blueline. Played 22:34 tonight.

He is the only player that wouldn't get knocked around by Vinny.

I admit I was wrong about him. For the second half of the season I laughed it off whenever someone said, 'When's Matvichuk coming back?' Who needs an aging blueliner with a bad back I said.

Well **** on me I was wrong. It's nice to be proven wrong in situations like this, rock on Matty and I'm sorry I doubted you!

:yo:

He is the only player that wouldn't get knocked around by Vinny.

This is the same guy that made Forsberg look like a ponce in 1999. Matvichuk is a poor mans Scotty Stevens.

This is the same guy that made Forsberg look like a ponce in 1999. Matvichuk is a poor mans Scotty Stevens.

And Lou is a genius for signing him. He and not Hatcher was the real rock for Dallas.

Just wanted to give Paul Martin his due as well. He logged 30:03 of ice time today. GO DEVILS.

And Matvichuk, what a savior!!!!

And Lou is a genius for signing him. He and not Hatcher was the real rock for Dallas.

Yep, looks like the Devils took the champ while the Flyers picked the chump. Once again Devils > Flyers

Yep, looks like the Devils took the champ while the Flyers picked the chump. Once again Devils > Flyers

hehe SCORE!

Matty was awesome. It's hard to believe he only played the last game of the season and sat out the first two of the playoffs. :handclap:

Yep, looks like the Devils took the champ while the Flyers picked the chump. Once again Devils > Flyers
:biglaugh:

I never thought about it that way. Nice.

Awesome work by Matvichuk! His diving block in game 5 might have been the difference. MVP of the series was not question Richard Matvichuk.

:biglaugh:

I never thought about it that way. Nice.

I'm just glad someone appreciated one of my shots against another team. Usually can't get away with that. GO DEVILS!

Devilsfanatic is to Devils hockey what Michael Jordan was to Chicago White Sox baseball.

Devilsfanatic is to Devils hockey what Michael Jordan was to Chicago White Sox baseball.
:biglaugh: Perfect analogy.

Devilsfanatic is to Devils hockey what Michael Jordan was to Chicago White Sox baseball.

Of no use? Oh Fobitha, I'm extremely saddened by your name calling my son. I'm going to cry.

Glad Vinny's hack job was inconsequential.

Expect no less abuse from Ottawa.

Great patience, dedication, and veteran leadership exhibited by Matvichuk this series. :handclap:

Richard Matvichuk is a shot-blocking beast and an excellent gritty player on D.

So glad he came back in the time that he did. He greatly helps this team.

Of no use? Oh Fobitha, I'm extremely saddened by your name calling my son. I'm going to cry.

I'm just messin' around bud.

Everyone knows you're as important as the freshness seal on the Tylenol bottle.

Richard Matvichuk is why we shut down Lecavalier and that midget. Now sit Oduya and his beard, which is out of control and looks like it has a mind of its own, and play White when hes ready.

We can add another player to the bench for all the shots he blocked, we might as well list Richard as our backup as well.


In Fact 80's Sitcom Idea:

My Two Goalies: Marty and Matty

Matvichuk + Lukowich = The Best Bargain Defensemen in the NHL

Matvichuk + Lukowich = The Best Bargain Defensemen in the NHL

yep:yo:

and it feels good to be one of their biggest supporters when everyone was trying to sell them for peanuts early in the season

Matty was definately key to us this series. He's been playing great. Scared me a bit when he went down before the end of the 1st on that hit in front of our net, but he was back on the bench to start the 2nd and kept it up. :yo:

i dont remember who said it 2 days ago, but "if he keeps this up hes getting his own appreciation thread" and he earned this

I was a big critic of his last year (not on these boards but in general) and thought he was a waste of a roster space especially in the playoffs.

However his play in this series has definitely proved me wrong. He has provided the best physical play and shot blocking in the first round by far.

Here's to Matty and hoping he continues this all playoffs long.

I was proven completely wrong, he has been in great shape and played incredibly well on defense with something like 21 blocked shots in the last 3 games.

He's playing very well and I hope his play continues to be well; we'll need it against Ottawa.

Ahem. Must say I called this...

Before Game One of the Series:

(Matvichuk’s) shot blocking skills are second only to Colin White on this team and even rusty as hell his positional hockey against the Isles was superb. Frankly, at this stage of their careers, Chukker is simply a better hockey player than Oduya or Greene at the fundamentals. And he hits. Hard. I'd want him in the line-up if he is physically ready to answer the bell.

And Multiple-GDT Posts Prior to Matvichuk's First Playoff Appearance:

Yes, we have to hit them in the mouth at every opportunity and make them think twice before handling any puck. And Matvichuk should be in the line-up…

now seems like an ideal time for the switch on D and for Richard Matvichuk to step up and block a bunch of shots and hit some folks in the mouth. That seems like the right move for tonight.

Matvichuk may well be our best shot blocker…and can BRING THE PAIN.

So far, as expected, with multiple clutch, potentially game saving blocked shots while absolutely setting the tone physically. Chukker has been a WARRIOR!

This will be a completely different defense with White, Lukowich, Matvichuk in the lineup all at the same time.

--Something we haven't had in any playoff series to date (last year as well).

matvichuk has been playing great, I was pissed at Pencil Neck for his cheap shot cross check yesterday!!!

I might have to break out the Matvichuk jersey soon!!!

Without White the last few games, Matvichuk saved our bacon!

my only problem... who to sit when White comes back? I think Matvichuk just ensured he won't be the one (unless stamina becomes an issue... tough to play this much after so much time away).

::tips hat:: :handclap:

I would sit Oduya. His plays look very risky and shaky in the playoffs.

Yeah, as much as I love having a Swede on the Devils and I like Johnny a lot, but I still think he should be the odd man out when White returns.

Oduya was great at the start of the year and played some tremendeus hockey for us, but after that injury vs the Isles he just lost that extra jump. I have no clue why he hasn't been able to regain that form, but he just hasn't. It's unfortunate, but I still think that he's a pretty good D-man.

But still if you think about it, having a Johnny Oduya as your 7:th D man is a pretty good luxury to have, a luxury that most teams don't have.

GO DEVILS!!