Devils Got What They Deserved in 3-0 Loss to Rangers
by John Fischer on Mar 30, 2009 9:44 PM EDT
in Devils Games
14 comments
The Devils were a sieve on defense, allowing 20 shots in the first period and 37 total. They were slow all night, Paul Martin had a poor game, and the defense got burned more than a few times.
The Devils were ineffective on offense. While they threw 38 shots on Henrik Lundqvist, you could count on one hand the number of tough saves he had to make. Who had the best chances? Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac, Brian Gionta (who actually was moving all night long), or Dainius Zubrus? None of them! it was a two on one with Brian Rolston and John Madden in the second period - likely the best chance they had all night.
Martin Brodeur held it down for New Jersey in the first period; but he got burned first on a rebound the defense didn't pick up that Brandon Dubinsky put home; second on Dan Girardi dropping into the slot with the defense at least a step behind (a common theme for the Devils tonight); and let up a bad one against Ryan Callahan on an open shot.
The media gets their SEAN AVERY story because he threw some hits, got one assist, and threw nothing when David Clarkson wanted to do something in this game. He honestly wasn't a major factor, but guess who was the focus in Versus' post game coverage. The established narrative remains intact.
Brent Sutter was outcoached by John Tortorella and didn't make the necessary adjustments after that poor first period and during that awful, awful, awful second period.
The Ranger fans, like those at Blueshirt Banter, should be pleased. Their team set the tone and the Devils couldn't counter it. The Devils' effort wasn't enough. The Devils are on a 5 game losing streak and they earned this loss.
This was a deserved loss. And the most maddening thing about this is that the players and Sutter kept insisting that this was a big game. That they haven't been playing well and they have to get up for this one. That the Devils weren't bad against Chicago and Carolina, but lost on mistakes.
I'm tired of hearing about how the Devils need rest or that it only was mistakes. No, the Devils were the second best team out there tonight. And it showed. This slump needed to end, and I, like many other Devils fans, thought a big game would get things going. We were wrong. This team needs a fire lit under them.
New Jersey doesn't need a break tomorrow, they need to get on their exercise bikes and ride. Right now. We deserve better. And we hope to see much better against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
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It doesn’t have to be exercise bikes. It could be suicides, wind sprints, skating with weights, 5 minutes alone with Lou, etc.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
To quote that movie, Hot Fuzz...
“Very good. What he said.”
In other words, I have nothing to add to your rant. Except maybe this:
It seems as if the team is content with just making the playoffs. And it sickens me to no end.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!
Thanks.
The one player I feel real bad for here is Brodeur. In these 5 losses, he’s been hung out to dry by the defense or expected to shut out the other team. He’s been the only consistently good player all month including this streak and it’s a testament to how good he plays. It’s a shame that the rest of the team has seemingly forgotten their ways to consistently score and allow less than 35 shots in a game in the past week and a half.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Mar 30, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
28 minutes of penalties…
how can you expect to win a game when you play more than an entire period shorthanded?
the amount of penalties this team has been taking lately is the biggest problem….forget the playmaking center or the puck moving dman. they spend too much time in the box, plain and simple.
remember when the devils were BY FAR the least penalized team in the league?28 minutes of penalties…
how can you expect to win a game when you play more than an entire period shorthanded?
the amount of penalties this team has been taking lately is the biggest problem….forget the playmaking center or the puck moving dman. they spend too much time in the box, plain and simple.
remember when the devils were BY FAR the least penalized team in the league?
Actually, tonight wasn’t a night where penalties killed them.
For starters, 14 of those 28 minutes came from Clarkson’s throwing around of Sean Avery. Second, 2 of those minors against the Devils came from great acting by Marc Staal and Nikolai Zherdev.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Mar 30, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Moreover, the penalty killing was perfect tonight. It’s the one positive you can take from tonight’s game.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Mar 30, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
true, but even if you take out the 10 minutes for misconduct he got, they still were on the kill for 18 minutes, and while they were able to kill them all, that was still 18 minutes where they weren’t able to bring the offensive pressure…which they needed. especially in the 3rd period.
it may not have been the dagger in the back tonight, but it has been killing them lately. you’re the numbers guy…how lopsided have the penalty minutes been during this skid? how many games have ben lost because of penalties?
What happened to the passing
One thing I’ve noticed in this skid as of late, the Devils just cannot seem to pass the puck effectively. It seems like any time they try to get something going they turn the puck over. Forget the exercise bikes, get out the eggs ala Mighty Ducks and practice control.
by clarkson rules on Mar 30, 2009 10:25 PM EDT reply actions
That’s not a bad idea. I do agree the passing has been questionable at best and that’s even a bigger problem given that about half of the offensive plays tried to feed the puck into the slot to a Devil (covered by at least 1 Ranger).
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Mar 30, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
The forecheck is weak.
The team is not forechecking in the other teams end the way they were when they were winning. They were relentless on the puck that has dissapeared. The penalties are coming because they are spending to much time in the other teams zone. Thus the incredible amount of shots they are giving up. I hope they can fix this before the season ends. They were due for a slump I just hope they can break it before the playoffs begin.
Donald Vasquez
And we hope to see much better against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Nah that’s ok. You can hold off one more.
Most of the readers at Pensburgh were rooting for you guys tonight. We don’t want to see the Rangers in the playoffs. Let it be said that there is no level of fear or intimidation stemming from that, but instead a desire to see them finish out of the top eight.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com
You’re not the only ones disappointed, I’m sure the Panthers and Canadiens fans are unhappy the Rangers are doing a thing.
That said, we’d love to see a win tomorrow.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
by John Fischer on Mar 31, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm a lost for words
I can agree with you all that Marty was the best player. The man had 29 saves at the end of the first. Our D just say around staring at the wounderous lights of the Garden. While our Fowards kinda forget that they needed to be taking shots and passing properly. Looks like a playoff bust for this year. At least Scotty Clemmensen is nominated for the masterson trophy
by WhatWouldLouDo on Mar 31, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions
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