Irony

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

I think that because NJ getsd a Negative view because they are the best at the defensive system nad they play a "systematic system" and barely never deveate from it!

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

Kozlov.

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.


Very nice and true post there Jim! :handclap: I agree with you 100%...

Very nice post here, I happened to see this in another forum too.

The league's best defense hasn't been nearly as good since Stevens went down.

Before he got hurt the Devils defense was on a ridiculous level. They had a huge lead.

In November Brodeur had a GAA of 1.30 and 3 SO.
In December Brodeur had a GAA of 1.89 and 4 SO.

He's had just 2 SO's since and his GAA is 2.31.

2.31 is still very good, but would put the Devils approx. 10 in the NHL, and not 1st.

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

Absolutly wonderful points about Gomez/Elias and our defense being #1. Hey and lets not forget that we gave a guy name Martin Brodeur between the pipes. Your absolutly correct and you've put a very positive spin on things
:handclap: :yo: :handclap: :yo:

The league's best defense hasn't been nearly as good since Stevens went down.

Before he got hurt the Devils defense was on a ridiculous level. They had a huge lead.

In November Brodeur had a GAA of 1.30 and 3 SO.
In December Brodeur had a GAA of 1.89 and 4 SO.

He's had just 2 SO's since and his GAA is 2.31.

2.31 is still very good, but would put the Devils approx. 10 in the NHL, and not 1st.

Still, the offense is there now, it wasn't last year. We'll see. I expect we'll be competitive this season, and if Stevens comes back... :yo:

The league's best defense hasn't been nearly as good since Stevens went down.

Before he got hurt the Devils defense was on a ridiculous level. They had a huge lead.

In November Brodeur had a GAA of 1.30 and 3 SO.
In December Brodeur had a GAA of 1.89 and 4 SO.

He's had just 2 SO's since and his GAA is 2.31.

2.31 is still very good, but would put the Devils approx. 10 in the NHL, and not 1st.


Uhmmm, NO ONE is even close to 159 GA.

Uhmmm, NO ONE is even close to 159 GA.

Not arguing that point. 7 goals is the closest anyone comes.

My point is that as of January 1, the Devils had a HUGE lead.

The Devils were far and away the best defensive team in the NHL from Oct - Dec.

Since January, the Devils have merely been a very good defensive team (approx 10th best) and not the dominant defensive team they were early this season.

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

This is key.

The Devils also have the best playoff goalie in the game right now.

This is key.

The Devils also have the best playoff goalie in the game right now.
I am really hoping Kozlov will step up in the playoffs. If he plays to his potential we will have 2 scoring lines scoring at will. When he plays Friesen will score, when Friesen scores we usually win.

Kozlov.

It must be the number. 22. Something special about it again I hope.

I hope that Kozlov plays good too. He has alot of great skills. In the Hockey News MVP mag like 3 years ago they said that KOzlov was the best "stick handler" and if he plays his game the sky is the limit as in potiential

Not arguing that point. 7 goals is the closest anyone comes.

My point is that as of January 1, the Devils had a HUGE lead.

The Devils were far and away the best defensive team in the NHL from Oct - Dec.

Since January, the Devils have merely been a very good defensive team (approx 10th best) and not the dominant defensive team they were early this season.

Merely good by Devils standards. By league standards, they're still up there. The point is, there are very few that can play at that level consistently. We enjoyed the defensive dominance while it lasted and now the Devils have tailed off a bit. Did anybody realistically expect Brodeur to post 20 shutouts? I hope not.

The fact that they've tailed off isn't even the point. The point is, they've maintained solid defense WITHOUT the biggest part of their defense. And the scoring has picked up in his absence.

Not arguing that point. 7 goals is the closest anyone comes.

My point is that as of January 1, the Devils had a HUGE lead.

The Devils were far and away the best defensive team in the NHL from Oct - Dec.

Since January, the Devils have merely been a very good defensive team (approx 10th best) and not the dominant defensive team they were early this season.
I think it would be alot to expect a team to keep playing the defense they were when they lose their top dman, they have been playing better 'D' of late which isn't all that surprising considering they still have great defensive players. I think it takes any team a while to adapt when they lose a top player, for some reason it taking us a bit longer that it probably should.

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

:lol:

:lol:

You are such a Richard

:lol:

So will the Ducks be repeating as Western Conference Champs? :dunno:

I think it would be alot to expect a team to keep playing the defense they were when they lose their top dman, they have been playing better 'D' of late which isn't all that surprising considering they still have great defensive players. I think it takes any team a while to adapt when they lose a top player, for some reason it taking us a bit longer that it probably should.


Agreed. I wouldn't expect the devils to be as good defensively with no Stevens.

Seeing how there is a good chance that Stevens won't be back for round one, or if he is, at less than 100%, it becomes a factor.

The Devils are still good defensively, but without Stevens and Rafalski, they aren't the dominating defense we've come to expect.

:lol:
What a well thought out respondse.

What a well thought out respondse.


No, No, No. It is an inside thing. He wasn't attacking the Devils, he knows a superior team when he sees it.

He was trying (not so successfully) to irritate me. He is actually a semi-knowledgeable fan and every once and a while has something decent to say. But the gaps are starting to get longer and longer.

Those who write off the Devils by virtue of their admittedly key injuries do so at their own peril.

Favorites? Certainly not without Stevens. But they weren't favorites going into the playoffs last season either.

Stevens is clearly one of the best defensemen and leaders of all-time.

But the Devils have proven repeatedly over the years that they are as good a "team" (in the truest sense of the word) that there is in the NHL. That is the brilliance of how they have been assembled - the sum has always been greater than the parts.

It would be one heck of a story were they to make another run.

Those who write off the Devils by virtue of their admittedly key injuries do so at their own peril.

Favorites? Certainly not without Stevens. But they weren't favorites going into the playoffs last season either.

Stevens is clearly one of the best defensemen and leaders of all-time.

But the Devils have proven repeatedly over the years that they are as good a "team" (in the truest sense of the word) that there is in the NHL. That is the brilliance of how they have been assembled - the sum has always been greater than the parts.

It would be one heck of a story were they to make another run.
It would also shut up those anti-Brodeur posters wouldn't it?

It would also shut up those anti-Brodeur posters wouldn't it?

Come on, nothing would shut those people up.

The biggest concern of mine is our inability to win the big game. We've had several opportunities to jump all over Philly and take command of the Atlantic division, but simply haven't shown up for the big games. Stevens is definitely missed and without him I'm convinced we won't win the cup. But we should definitely be able to win a round without him and give him time to get back into game shape in the 2nd. You made a lot of good points in your post and they have me feeling pretty damn good about our chances again.

The biggest concern of mine is our inability to win the big game. We've had several opportunities to jump all over Philly and take command of the Atlantic division, but simply haven't shown up for the big games. Stevens is definitely missed and without him I'm convinced we won't win the cup. But we should definitely be able to win a round without him and give him time to get back into game shape in the 2nd. You made a lot of good points in your post and they have me feeling pretty damn good about our chances again.
Thats a good point. If they don't have the instinct to leap over Philadelphia in the regular season how are they going to respond in the post season? I hear this "blah blah veterin team they'll handle it" but until they show I'm a little skepticle. 3 wins in a row here would make me feel a lot better though.

The league's best defense hasn't been nearly as good since Stevens went down.

Before he got hurt the Devils defense was on a ridiculous level. They had a huge lead.

In November Brodeur had a GAA of 1.30 and 3 SO.
In December Brodeur had a GAA of 1.89 and 4 SO.

He's had just 2 SO's since and his GAA is 2.31.

2.31 is still very good, but would put the Devils approx. 10 in the NHL, and not 1st.

What you forgot to mention is that Brodeur has a 2.06 GAA for the month of March. And to me that is more important than his numbers in the previous 2 months. He has played excellent this month only given up more than 3 goals once and that was to Chicago (Devils win 6-4).

Thats a good point. If they don't have the instinct to leap over Philadelphia in the regular season how are they going to respond in the post season? I hear this "blah blah veterin team they'll handle it" but until they show I'm a little skepticle. 3 wins in a row here would make me feel a lot better though.

Fair enough, but with the constant injuries to key players and the acquisitions of Hrdina and Kozlov, this team hasn't had enough time to gel in terms of chemistry. They've started to put it together as of late, and we rolled 4 lines all game for the last 2 or 3 games. Stevens' return will really help put everybody in their place, and now we've got some consistency on offense to help bail Marty out.

This team is a machine in the playoffs. It's easy to forget that we couldn't buy a goal down the stretch last year and then proceeded to violate the Bruins and smother the Lightning before going toe to toe with a Sens team that should have demolished us. Discount the 'veteran team' edge all you want, but that's exactly what got us past a more talented but inexperienced Sens team and kept us out of panic mode in Game 7 of the SCF.

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

:lol:

Those who write off the Devils by virtue of their admittedly key injuries do so at their own peril.

Favorites? Certainly not without Stevens. But they weren't favorites going into the playoffs last season either.

Stevens is clearly one of the best defensemen and leaders of all-time.

But the Devils have proven repeatedly over the years that they are as good a "team" (in the truest sense of the word) that there is in the NHL. That is the brilliance of how they have been assembled - the sum has always been greater than the parts.

It would be one heck of a story were they to make another run.



Very nice post and a true one to be exact. Never count out the Devils with all the playoff experience that they have they can comeback in this series and 2000 was a perfect example on how the Devils can comeback... ;)

There is so much talk about the Devils being done, especially without Stevens.

No Stevens for half the season, no Langenbrunner for half the season, injuries have been a problem all year and banged up and inexperienced blue-line how can the Devils possibly contend?

Yet, no one seems to talk about the fact the Devils are still #1 in Defense. No player has more points than Scott Gomez in the second half of the Season. No player has more goals than Elias in the second half of the season. And with all the negativity, the destiny of the Division is in the Devils control.

So, Let me get this straight, The Devils have the best Defense and two of most efficient scorers in the league and we can't compete in the playoffs?????

Last year it was, "We don't have enough scoring to compete". This year it is our defense isn't good enough (even though no one is really close to the Devils in Goals Against)

I personally like the chances......It seems when everyone tells the Devils "You can't do it", they do it.

It only takes one player to rise as the catalyst in the playoffs (see Claude Lemieux 1995) and what team has more potential spark-plugs than the Devils? If you had to bet on someone to have a great playoff performance, I really like the pool of candidates from New Jersey. Niedermayer, Madden, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Friesen anyone of these guys have the ability to single handedly sway a series. And the best part, they have done it before.

Once more for the back row :joker:

Once more for the back row :joker:

We get it.

:troll:

Once more for the back row :joker:

And again, how are the Ducks doing this year? I haven't seen Jesus-Sebastian Gigeure and his shoulderpads of doom in this year's playoffs...I thought they weren't like Carolina/Buffalo/etc.

Once more for the back row :joker:

It would be nice if you could contribute more than "I told you so." Don't come here just to agitate.

...Jesus-Sebastian Gigeure and his shoulderpads of doom...
:lol