our offense never gets any credit

is it just me or does everyone and i mean everyone underrate our offense. Vinny and St louis had what 8 goals comibned in the series. DId i miss something but parise and gionta had 11. NOt to mention raflaski with 2 and 5 assiasts, gomez with a couple and 5 or 6 assiasts and elais with a goal and 5 or 6 assiasts. The only reason they didnt score more or dont in the regular season is
1. Our checking line is out for most of the game, guarding the opponents top players.
2. We dont need them to score when we are winnnigm and we dont take as much chances

Also wheneva devils need a goal late we always score. It amazes me howmany times devils have scored under a minute left to win games. ITs mind boggling. So if anyone thinks the devils cant otuscore a team which they have and will, then you dont watch hockey. And i love how everyone gives the devils no chance vs ottwa. Devils should be the favorites for pete's sake. I dont know if im the only one who thinks this team gets killed for having no offensive talent. And we proved our offense was great than tampas. WE will do the same vs ottwa.

The team has the players to have a great offense, but Julien's defense-only system was holding them back, especially the EGG line which relies on creatively to create chances. Lou has let them loose just enough to get going - call it defense-first, rather than defense-only.

Outside observers don't realize this though, and still look at stats showing how terrible the Devils offense was in the regular season.

Don't you realize that with our our offense is produced, overlooking them is the best possible scenario? Everyone will be to focused on our defensive play to take into consideration how much our offense has potential.

I don't suspect Ottawa will overlook it at all, and you can expect Parise to get hammered every time he's near the play, because thats their style. But being overlooked isn't so bad when it all comes down to it because that gives us an edge.

The Egg line plus Rafalski outscored Tampa's big three and Boyle. Gomez was the leading point getter in the series and Parise lead all players with 6 goals. Some believe it's seven, but that's another story. In addition, our powerplayed cashed in for 7 goals. I found that stat shocking.

Our only problem was that we needed to finish better on the several breakaways and odd-man rushes, but I doubt we'll get many of those same chances against the Sens.

If only Elias can get hot, I'll feel a lot better about our chances to advance.

I was thinking the same thing. Honestly, I really do feel our top six is as good as any in the league. Elias, regardless of his off season, is still one of the top three all-around LW's in hockey. Gomez is one of the top 3 playmakers in the league. Gionta is just one year removed from a 48 goal season. Then, the second line: Parise who has lived up to every billing as the "Devils' best prospect since Niedermayer." Zajac has been solid although not great offensively. Then, Langenbrunner is on the RW, who led the league in goals during the 03 cup run. Everybody is underrating our offense and I don't care. We'll surprise everyone again.

If you look at our offensive line's highest amount of goals in one NHL season, Gionta had 48, Gomez 33, Elias 40, Langenbrunner 23, Jim Dowd 13, Brylin 23, Madden 23, Pandolfo 13, and Parise at 31. Our offense is actually pretty good. I think if we juggle the lines we may find better optimal scoring combinations.

is it just me or does everyone and i mean everyone underrate our offense. Vinny and St louis had what 8 goals comibned in the series. DId i miss something but parise and gionta had 11. NOt to mention raflaski with 2 and 5 assiasts, gomez with a couple and 5 or 6 assiasts and elais with a goal and 5 or 6 assiasts. The only reason they didnt score more or dont in the regular season is
1. Our checking line is out for most of the game, guarding the opponents top players.
2. We dont need them to score when we are winnnigm and we dont take as much chances

Also wheneva devils need a goal late we always score. It amazes me howmany times devils have scored under a minute left to win games. ITs mind boggling. So if anyone thinks the devils cant otuscore a team which they have and will, then you dont watch hockey. And i love how everyone gives the devils no chance vs ottwa. Devils should be the favorites for pete's sake. I dont know if im the only one who thinks this team gets killed for having no offensive talent. And we proved our offense was great than tampas. WE will do the same vs ottwa.
AMEN.
(debunked Devils Myth #2198349: Devils' can't score!)

The devils' system will limit their offense more than anything. Look at game 5. The devils got that lead and shelled up. TB got some shots on goal but the quality was LOW. AND the devils didn't even try to create a lot of chances.

This team has a really potent offense and they play the system so WELL.

Some fans of other teams (and their commentators) may not see the threat, but the teams they play against do.

We can score goals when we need them as well as anyone. This team is as clutch as they come.

AMEN.
(debunked Devils Myth #2198349: Devils' can't score!)

The devils' system will limit their offense more than anything. Look at game 5. The devils got that lead and shelled up. TB got some shots on goal but the quality was LOW. AND the devils didn't even try to create a lot of chances.

This team has a really potent offense and they play the system so WELL.

It's always appreciated when someone from another fan base "gets us". When it comes from a Rangers fan it's downright shocking! :amazed:

Rangers vs Devils ECF!

I think with Lou behind the bench, who is encouraing offense much more than Julien did, the Devils will be able to show Ottawa and everyone else that they do have a very good offense. Plus, the EGG line started connecting at the end of the series and with the Parise line, I think the Devils could outscore most teams if they had to.

As a Sens fan, I can honestly say that I am not under-rating Jersey's offense. They always seem to score exactly the number of goals they need. They rarely seem to run up the score (which artificially inflates the goal count).

What I am most nervous about is their ability to score the 'CLUTCH' goals. They sometimes seem to be outplayed and the puck is in their end of quite a while (often though with few shots at Brodeur) and then they end up with a break the other way and score.

Jersey's offense must be one of (if not) the most defating offenses in the league. They are able to burst a team's momentum 'bubble' at the most inopportune times.

I believe that deep down, most fans in the East think the same way.

Agreed with all points. We have a very good offense this year. Our system definately limits production esp. with Julien.

It's always appreciated when someone from another fan base "gets us". When it comes from a Rangers fan it's downright shocking! :amazed:

Rangers vs Devils ECF!
i hope not! That series will have me in the hospital. I guess, my pessimism says...we won the last one, so you get this one.

Truly, if the Rangers can beat Buffalo (in a 7 game series), i think they can beat NJ. Buffalo's depth is hard to contain and that would make me feel that the Rangers are for real.

I feel similarly about NJ. I think NJ should have beaten TB. TB is the perfect matchup for them - one-line and only a decent defense with a goalie who can get rattled (i actually think Holmqvist played well with the exception of game 1 - once again, NJ offense underrated - there are 4 guys who can finish any quality opportunity and a couple of others that seem to step it up when the pressure is higher - Dowd and Pandolfo...aren't scorers but if they get chances and the goal is KEY, it seems they finish most of the time.)

Anyway...TB didn't prove anything to me about the devils. I still think they have bigger holes than they are used to in their zone. Matvichuk may be able to plug that considering White comes back...I think Ottawa has the ability and depth to expose the holes. So if NJ wins that series, they become scarier in my eyes as much as the Rangers earn more of my respect if they beat Buffalo...and then i will be stressed out!

I just hope Elias regains his confidence. We're going to need his magic from last year.

i hope not! That series will have me in the hospital. I guess, my pessimism says...we won the last one, so you get this one.

Truly, if the Rangers can beat Buffalo (in a 7 game series), i think they can beat NJ. Buffalo's depth is hard to contain and that would make me feel that the Rangers are for real.

I feel similarly about NJ. I think NJ should have beaten TB. TB is the perfect matchup for them - one-line and only a decent defense with a goalie who can get rattled (i actually think Holmqvist played well with the exception of game 1 - once again, NJ offense underrated - there are 4 guys who can finish any quality opportunity and a couple of others that seem to step it up when the pressure is higher - Dowd and Pandolfo...aren't scorers but if they get chances and the goal is KEY, it seems they finish most of the time.)

Anyway...TB didn't prove anything to me about the devils. I still think they have bigger holes than they are used to in their zone. Matvichuk may be able to plug that considering White comes back...I think Ottawa has the ability and depth to expose the holes. So if NJ wins that series, they become scarier in my eyes as much as the Rangers earn more of my respect if they beat Buffalo...and then i will be stressed out!

That line I bolded has me confused.

Apart from that, I think the team is better now for having gone through that bout of adversity against the Lightning. They appear to have woken up, and I can only hope it stays that way for the rest of the playoffs.

I like the Rangers chances against Buffalo, although like you said, if the Rangers do meet the Devils in the ECF, I don't think we can expect a repeat of last year's performance. I think we can safely say that neither of us want to lose to each other

For me the Devils offensive is quick strike sneaky. Things just seem to chug along, then there is a break down and one of the G's slips down a wing and buries it.

That line I bolded has me confused.

Apart from that, I think the team is better now for having gone through that bout of adversity against the Lightning. They appear to have woken up, and I can only hope it stays that way for the rest of the playoffs.

I like the Rangers chances against Buffalo, although like you said, if the Rangers do meet the Devils in the ECF, I don't think we can expect a repeat of last year's performance. I think we can safely say that neither of us want to lose to each other
i was just thinking of '94. Have they met in the ECF other than that?

oh, i agree that the series did the devils good - helped them. But i fully expected them to win it...even though i had hopes that the holes would be big enough for TB to strike more easily. Brodeur's play also gave me a lot of hope that TB could pull it off...however, you can't bank on another team's goalie giving up softies for you...(i bank on my goalie doing it...but not the other teams') Well, if his name is Cloutier, Cechmanek, Turek...Jeff Reese.

i was just thinking of '94. Have they met in the ECF other than that?

Nope. I thought you meant playoff series in general.

Hey guys, posted this in the playoff thread and this seemed like the perfect place to share.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v122/13foot/Devs.jpg

4 New Jersey Devils in the top 2 spots in Goals and Assists.

'Experts' didn't see that one coming did they?

Some fans of other teams (and their commentators) may not see the threat, but the teams they play against do.

We can score goals when we need them as well as anyone. This team is as clutch as they come.

It's so true. The media out here in Calgary is so Anti-Devils, with the typical "they trap, they are boring, they are ruining the NHL" and so forth, and it drives me up the wall. I haven't yet called in a voiced my displeasure, but the time is nearing. haha.

On a more serious note, that is such an accurate statement, and I think part of it is based on that reputation that we are such a defensive minded team. The teams we play do know this, but that's about it. Sure our leading goal scorer only had 31 goals, but look at the balance from our top 3 lines, and the production offensively was pretty solid.

As a Sens fan, I can honestly say that I am not under-rating Jersey's offense. They always seem to score exactly the number of goals they need. They rarely seem to run up the score (which artificially inflates the goal count).

What I am most nervous about is their ability to score the 'CLUTCH' goals. They sometimes seem to be outplayed and the puck is in their end of quite a while (often though with few shots at Brodeur) and then they end up with a break the other way and score.

Jersey's offense must be one of (if not) the most defating offenses in the league. They are able to burst a team's momentum 'bubble' at the most inopportune times.

I believe that deep down, most fans in the East think the same way.

You seem to know the devils pretty well! That is exactly what they do. That 'deflating' goal is especially great on the road, when it silences the crowd.

Parise = God

As a Sens fan, I can honestly say that I am not under-rating Jersey's offense. They always seem to score exactly the number of goals they need. They rarely seem to run up the score (which artificially inflates the goal count).

What I am most nervous about is their ability to score the 'CLUTCH' goals. They sometimes seem to be outplayed and the puck is in their end of quite a while (often though with few shots at Brodeur) and then they end up with a break the other way and score.

Jersey's offense must be one of (if not) the most defating offenses in the league. They are able to burst a team's momentum 'bubble' at the most inopportune times.

I believe that deep down, most fans in the East think the same way.
yeah this is well said. The devils have been that way for years...frustratingly able to get the goal that is needed without having to work as hard as their opponents...

I think it is the way they generate offense from their defensive end. Seems like they always move the puck through quickly and generate a shot...i don't know how many times i've seen Gomez skate through, basically unhindered, center it or drop it back for a decent shot...

anyway...NJs offense is certainly not to be taken lightly.

If John Madden had the hands of Ovechkin, he would score 80 goals a year.

I think you can pour a lot of credit into the Stanley Cup. It tastes reeeeeaaaallllyy good, too.