Sounds like I’m going to enjoy this one when I watch it later.

Where to begin on this one. I guess one of the best places to start would be the lack of energy or hustle that the Devils seemed to have a problem with throughout the entire game. During the post-game interview, Jacques Lemaire quickly quoted, "The team looked tired to me." Playing seven times in eleven days can do that to a team. Nobody seemed to bring that energy or intensity that could have potentially sparked a comeback. Energy continued to be a huge problem throughout all three periods.

I think Lemaire made a mistake playing Brodeur in this one. Not that it was entirely his fault – the Devils were collectively outshot 46-20 and 18-7 by the end of the first period. But I thought that, based upon previous games played at Nassau Coliseum, it would have been far wiser to play someone who has experience goaltending in this arena somewhat effectively: Danis. I think the entire team would have played differently in front of Danis as well, knowing that they couldn’t rely on Brodeur to help them out of a jam like they usually do. He may have very well provided a spark of energy that could have been a difference maker. In retrospect, though, I guess this is a moot point.

There was not a single player on the offensive end that stepped up today. Parise hit the post in the 2nd period, and that was about the best chance the Devils had throughout the entire game. Players were passing without looking, shots were wide of the net by multiple feet, breakdowns were consistently occurring throughout the neutral zone. Defensemen were taken to task and responded with a collectively poor effort, allowing far too many shots to get through to Brodeur.

With all of the success that this team has had up to this point in the season, injuries to key players takes a backseat to active player performances. When the Devils’ lose three in a row, I can begin to see how having important players like Elias, Martin, Clarkson, and even Zubrus back would have helped a team that is over-exhausted. The depth of the Devils has taken a hit with these injuries. Its hard to even remember this team playing together without there being at least one injured star. Clearly in games like this, against hot teams and in an arena that the Dev’s had had little success in over the past year, the problem of having a host of injured stars seems that more obvious to me.

Fans should find solitude in the fact that we’re at least returning home for the next two games against Florida and Montreal. If you recall, the Panthers upset the Devils last time they played at the Rock. Its important to right this ship as soon as possible, and a game against Florida may be the key to this first step.
  

1. Devils already think they are in playoffs
2. It all started in PHX, where all should have been OK, if only it wasn’t for selfish Brodeur, who was terribly worn-out by the Tuesday game vs rangers and yet demands to play again and again in a selfish pursuit to beat all possible and impossible goalie records. I can totally understand players – why should they try hard if Marty allows so many soft goals?
3. Jaques is too old to recognize mood swings in players and somehow under the spell of “Brodeur greatness”!!

Time to find a head coach who will not be affraid to play a backup goalie at least once a week!!

I (fortunately?) wasn’t able to watch this game and so had to listen in on the radio, and even then was only able to tune in about midway through the 2nd, and just from the play-by-play of Matt and Sherry I could tell that the offensive issues that have been plaguing this team still do…

The play calling would go something like: Langenbrunner dumps it in to the right boards. Zajac in to start the cycle. To Parise. Back to Zajac. To Oduya on the point. Shot! Blocked and cleared by Islander player B. Rinse. Repeat.

Parise is at his most effective when he’s crashing the net. There is no net presence. When they get the cycle going, they end up sending it back to the point for an easily blocked shot rather than to someone in the crease or the slot.

They’ve got to get back to crashing the net… and White as a screen ain’t the answer.

Also, I read or heard a clip of Jacques talking recently about how he doesn’t want defensemen pinching… which seems ludicrous as that’s part of what carried the team thus far. Is he backing off to a more conservative offensive plan? If so, it’s not working.

When’s the Olympic break? I think it’ll do this team some good to get some rest and hopefully a few players back.

With the way we looked and how the islanders smacked us around.You think Islander fans had one a 5th stanley cup. My phone and facebook could attest to this with all the smack i recieved. If we go into the playoffs like this, I will be disgusted. Not knocking the Islanders. They played a solid game. We just never showed up.

kudos to Steve for the bedtime story reference.

Well, GameCenter gives me a 48 hour delay before I can view it, being a local broadcast. I’ll see if I can record a replay.

But the highlights. Yikes. Defense was all kinds of lost. I read that the game could have easily been 5-0 or more after the first and I fully understand from that.

I think I know what I have to say a little later.

I guess a 3 game losing streak is when the trolls come out.

“Why is it that the losers always say they played bad, didn’t show up, etc. when the other team outworked them and outhustled them the whole game!!!!!!!!

How can you say that?? I have had plenty of Islander fans say those very words in my presence, more than anything else. At constant Devil Islander games none the less(Games Devs have won). I mean did you just become an islander fan today?

Your right. He is not worth it. Its just fans like him disgust me. Ok, you beat us..no question. You dont have to be abnoxious, annoying and ignorant. A Hebetudinous Hat Trick if i ever saw one