Total Embarrassment by New Jersey Devils Ends 2009-10 Season; Lose to Philadelphia Flyers 3-0
by John Fischer on Apr 23, 2010 12:16 AM EDT
in Devils Game Recaps
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PrintWell, that just plain sucked.
...
I suppose I could have just left it at that. But I should give more of an effort in this recap than Jamie Langenbrunner's entire 2010 playoff performance. The New Jersey Devils lost Game 5, and by extension, the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Here's a link to the NHL.com recap; and if you're somehow interested in how the fellows at Broad Street Hockey feel about the win, well, here's this gloating recap from them.
I have plenty written after the jump. If you need a synopsis, here it is: the Devils players failed, the Devils coaches failed, and like many of the Devils supporters at the Rock, I'm not even angry, just disappointed by how awful this game was to witness.
After witnessing 2008, a similar playoffs failure where the Devils lost to a rival team in 5 games (the Rangers in 2008) where the Devils never had the steely resolve or never-say-die attitude to properly fight back against the Rangers, I'm not even angry at this point, I'm just bewildered and despondent at the deja vu of it all. I can't help but think of the following lyrics from the NoMeansNo song, "The Day Everything Became Nothing:"
The day everything became nothing, you couldn't put your finger on
what had gone wrong. The alleys were still dirty; the garbage still
smelled; there was no panic in the streets; just a lot of grief--in
people's faces, in their eyes--a mixture of horror and total surprise.
This was no apocalypse. No one heard a voice from the sky, there were
no miracles at the 7-Eleven, no one screamed, no one even asked why.
It was just like everything had somehow, quietly died. So let it die!
The song title alone nearly applies to the results of the Devils' horrendous performance tonight.
As much as we, as Devils fans, hate the Flyers and have brand new reasons to hate them (e.g. Captain Honorless Mike Richards, The Actor Dan Carcillo), we must give them credit. They played this series well. Tons of penalties - 37 in total, 32 times shorthanded - aside, the Flyers adjusted to the flow of each game. Their defense was excellent, their penalty killing was generally aggressive without crossing the line which worked magnificently well for them, and due to their defense playing so well, the offense was able to push forward and get the goals they needed, like the laser from Claude Giroux for the Flyers' first insurance goal. Their power play was quite timely - Briere's goal and Giroux's second off a loose puck - exploiting the Devils' holes in their coverage. It's questionable as to whether Brian Boucher was truly tested but it's not up to the goaltender how good the shots are - just that he stops them and he did just that.
If there was such an award for playoff series MVPs, it deserves to go to Chris Pronger. He was a force that the Devils ultimately couldn't figure out. When he stepped on the ice, he rarely made a mistake, he was physical, and most of all, he was totally composed when it came to cleaning up pucks or clearing the zone. The defense as a whole by Philadelphia was great in limiting many of the Devils' 28 shots on net from being quality scoring chances, both at even strength and on the penalty kill. Pronger led the effort with another 28:49 tonight, capping up a brilliant series for him.
This above paragraph does not just apply to Game 5, but the series as a whole. The Flyers earned and deserved this victory, both tonight and in the series, much to my chagrin in typing that.
Going back to the team we support and love, well, they totally earned and deserved this terrible loss. I don't know about you, but I was pumped up for this game. I loved that Ilya Kovalchuk was so bold about tonight's game, among the other quotes. After reading about the jam incident, I figured that if that didn't work - nothing else will.
Well, it didn't happen. Not even close. Maybe Lou needed a harder material, like bricks?
The fault for this game and the series lies entirely with the Devils players and coaches. Even with all of the opportunites the Flyers' seemingly handed the Devils tonight, once again, they couldn't put it together. Once again, the team showed a lack of resolve, guts, and intensity on the ice overall. At times it was worse than that, the Devils showed a lack of brains at times.
In retrospect, I don't know what was the bigger turning point. The moment Danny Briere scored on that backhanded one-timer (or re-directed off his skates, whatever) when he was wide open the slot on Martin Brodeur's flank? A power play goal that put the Flyers up early in the game only to never look back? Or Jamie Langenbrunner tripping a Flyer during the Devils' first power play, one that was gifted to them within the first minute of the game by The Actor, Dan Carcillo? Either way, when both happened, my internal monologue just groaned, "Oh, no, this is going to be ugly."
And it was ugly. I'm sure the big complaint about Jacques Lemaire will be that he changed the lines so much. I feel that was the least of their concerns, especially tonight. Frankly, he and the Devils coaching staff were more than just outcoached. They had no answers for the Flyers' tactics and their own adjustments.
The Flyers forechecked hard early as they had done all series - nothing changed outside of a player dropping back as a "safety valve." Only when the Flyers went up by 3 did they relent. Was the honestly the plan, hope that the Flyers would let up - in the playoffs?
The Flyers' kept the Devils offense largely on the perimeter tonight, as they had done in 3 out of the 4 previous games. Where were the adjustments to get space in the slot and in the circles?
When the Flyers' penalty killers are rushing up on the Devils puck carrier for the umpteenth time, at what point where you planning on thinking telling the power play to set up differently? In fact, if the team isn't able to set up good shots at close range, then why wasn't a change should have been suggested for one of the eight power plays the Devils had tonight?
Given how this was a must-win and how absolutely flat and incredibly stupid the Devils played in the first period - a real big feat given how the crowd was roaring early - where was the motivation to be provided in subsequent periods? I'm not just talking about Mr. Lemaire, here. These are all questions applicable to Mario Tremblay, Scott Stevens, and Tommy Albelin. All of this happened in Game 5, but they were also issues in Games 3 and 4.
So that takes care of the coaches. Let's look at the players. We cannot honestly look at this game without finding fault with the players.
Once again, in Game 5, the refs were calling a tight game right from the very first minute, the Devils players combined for 9 penalties and giving 6 power plays for the Flyers. That's on the players, not the coach.
Once again, the Devils attempted 55 shots and only 28 actually hit Brian Boucher. Some of these were very good shots; but a lot of them weren't. 15 were blocked and 12 missed the net. Most of those blocks and misses were just dumb, where a Flyer would drop down to the ice or move towards the puckcarrier, and the puck carrier decides to shoot anyway. As if he could get lucky. I almost want to say that's not even shooting, it's just throwing crap at a wall and hoping it sticks. Regardless, shooting efficiency is on the players, not the coach.
Once again, the Devils couldn't muster enough to challenge Boucher much at even strength with 16 shots on net. 12 power play shots isn't bad on it's own. But again, were they largely challenging? No. That's largely on the players, not the coach.
Once again, the Devils' inconsistent offense led to the Devils' defense getting caught in some situations where Brodeur either had to make a stop or a defenseman had to make an important intervention. They were more exposed on the PK and I'm almost willing to say that the defense wasn't all that bad tonight. But given the final result and the finality of the result, I really can't credit the Devils with a positive.
Once again, I can count the number of Devils forwards who gave a semblance of a care tonight on one hand: Dainius Zubrus, Ilya Kovalchuk (say what you want, but he got 7 shots on net - that's not nothing), and Rod Pelley (who threw hits tonight). As much as we can discuss how a coach is supposed to fire up the team and how the captain is supposed to fire up the team, motivation ultimately comes from within. Did the Devils look like a team leaving it all out on the ice? Absolutely not. That's on the players. Partially on the coach, but mostly on the players.
Once again, the Rock was, well, rocking, with all kinds of chants and support and an awesome sign about how Carcillo dives like Christano Ronaldo. Most of the players felt that energy and did nothing with it in the first period. They weren't just out of sync, they were just making stupid decisions at times with passes, dumps, defensive positioning, shooting, and so forth. Forget just a lack of heart and soul, but brains! The Flyers sometimes took advantage of that, but if you can't get energized in a must-win game in your own building, that's totally on the players themselves.
As an aside, yes, the Devils fans got a lot quieter during the second period. Yes, many left during the third period. Yes, the hundreds of Flyers fans became more audible. All totally understandable given the garbage effort the home team put out tonight. Sure, some were angry after the loss but I'd say the majority was a mixture of frustration and disappointment for those who stayed until the bitter end at the Rock as well as those on the train coming home. Not surprise. Not shocked. Just dejection. Such was how bad the Devils did in Game 5 and in the series as a whole.
Once again, Martin Brodeur gets to shoulder criticism from the media and ignoramuses alike for allowing three goals tonight when not only he got zero goal support but you could count the Devils who just stood around as Briere scored his goal and Giroux potted in his easy second goal. Picking up an open player isn't a coaching issue, that's on the player at hand. When the Flyers did score, there was no sense of the Devils wanting to rise to the challenge. No indication that they want to respond by scoring themselves. That's just sad. Letting down the goaltender in this sense - a goaltender who's done his part in this series, this season, and quite frankly, his whole career - that's on the players.
I must stress, yes, the coaches do deserve blame for tonight and this playoff loss. But so do the players - do not forget how they faltered as well.
I have to call out the captain for tonight's game. Jamie Langenbrunner was more than just invisible. I think his game devolved in front of the horrified and/or frustrated eyes of the Devils faithful in this game alone. His first period featured a penalty that killed his own team's power play upon which the Flyers scored later on; more missed passes; being a step behind his linemates; and generally doing little when on the ice. He managed 3 shots on net in total but they were so nondescript that they might as well have been footnotes. In addition to stripping him of the "C," his future as a top 6 forward should be in serious doubt.
Zach Parise, Travis Zajac, and Patrik Elias didn't have the big games they needed to; so ultimately the efforts of Zubrus and Kovalchuk were wasted. When a Devil finally had a big open shot on Boucher, Boucher came up with the save - except for Briere's stick robbing Zajac of what would have been a big goal. The bottom two lines saw some hits and some flashes of good work (David Clarkson contributed one great shot in the slot on the power play but that's all), but mostly had yet a nondescript night. Just as they have had all series.
I don't want to use this recap to talk about what the Devils should do now or what needs to be changed. Thanks to the collectively rubbish performance by New Jersey tonight, there's a lot of time to discuss it. Besides, making arguments about crucial decisions going forward isn't best done after a horrible game. While I'm disappointed by the loss, I'm only really surprised that it ended this poorly. Talk without action really is meaningless, and the Devils succeeded in proving that tonight.
We saw that like the Devils from 1997 through 1999 and from 2008 through 2010, they know what it takes to succeed in the regular season despite a lot of factors working against them. Yet, in the playoffs against a team they struggled against during the regular season, they never got their heads where they needed to be and the bad hockey decisions just flowed on down. And such 2009-10 ended not even with a whimper but with a quiet death. The Devils let it die.
That's the reality. That's embarrassing. That's failure.
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Thanks for reading, thanks to the commenters in the GameThread, thanks to the people who've seen this site recently and since the beginning, and big thanks to Space Weed for moderating tonight's GameThread. I've included the highlight video from NHL.com in case you want to be reminded of this game somehow below.
Please leave your thoughts about tonight's game and the first round as a whole in the comments. Again, the game. Not "The Devils need to fire/hire/sign/trade/etc." whatever. Game. Everyone will get a chance to discuss the future in the, er, future. The sun will, indeed, rise again. In terms of what to expect in the near future, you'll see an April in Review and we'll go from there in terms of content.
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Yup
We saw that like the Devils from 1997 through 1999 and from 2008 through 2010, they know what it takes to succeed in the regular season despite a lot of factors working against them.
Build your team around some locker room guys and maybe those intangibles needed to win will come back.
Nothing for me to say about the game, so I will defer to the next post. . . .
I have respect for most sports fans with 2 exceptions: NY Ranger fans who grew up in New Jersey, and Dallas Cowboy fans who can't name the capital of Texas.
Yup, Last night's game said it all and i won't throw more gas on the fire
I’m devastated. That is all.
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
next years headlines
i know this is a little early but the two things im most looking for is one: if the devils even attempt to re sign kovi. alot of people dont think we should even bother but i think that if hes with the team for a whole year things would be a bit different. and two: if our past two first round draft picks make the team. mattias tedenby and jacob josefson im hoping they can be two dynamic players. along with corrente and eckford coming up on defense
As much as I’m frustrated by the end of this season, after watching the nfl draft, I’m also thinking about next year. On the plus side, I’m looking forward to Tedenby coming over. On the negative side, I don’t see Kovi returning, as much as I would love to see that. I see him pulling a Hossa and giving a slight discount to a team that proves it can make it to the finals. And that is the worst part of today, a team that has plenty of talent and had a winning record against 6 out of the other 7 playoff teams, has shown that it can’t (currently) reach the finals like it was able to do numerous times between 2000 and 2003. As for the rest of this year, I’m rooting for the Kings the rest of the way and hoping that Buffalo somehow makes it out of the East.
Embarrassing
The New Jersey Devils were the FIRST team to leave the 2010 playoffs. Another disappointing season.
The game was just a replay of many other games in the series
And I’m just so disappointed in Zajac, Langenbrunner and Parise. Yes, Parise. Zach did this last year against the Canes too. He scored a bit, but was kept silent for large stretches of the series. Perhaps he, in many ways, is emblematic of the issues with the Devils. He has done almost nothing in the playoffs in his career. What happens in the playoffs is that teams ratchet up their defense. So that means you have to work even harder to get to those scoring areas and you have to be willing to be punished to score. I mean the Flyers looked, in many ways, like the Devil Cup winning teams with how well they played defense. It was suffocating. Sure, Boucher made the saves he had to make, but he rarely had too many point blank opportunities and rebounds.
Was it Claude Lemieux out there or Claude Giroux? Was that Ian Lapierriere or John Madden? Was that Chris Pronger or Scott Stevens? Was that Kimmo Timonen or Scott Niedermayer? Seriously. To me those comparisons are very appropriate because it looked like the Flyers should’ve been wearing Devils jerseys with the manner in which they completely stifled the team. It will be interesting to me in the next round to see if this remains true or if the Flyers just truly had the Devils number this year.
The problem is, too many teams have had the Devils number in the playoffs since 2003.
I’ll get into the other changes that I think need to be made later, but I’ll leave it with this. I was against Lemaire coming back before the season and I wanted Laviolette to wind up behind the Devils bench. Now hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but I’m just not sure that Lemaire should remain. You simply can’t when you lose the team the way he did and remain behind the bench. I’ll always love him for what he did in 95 and ultimately shaping the face of the Devils other championships, but his time has passed.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 23, 2010 1:08 AM EDT reply actions
BTW
Don’t misunderstand me in saying that Zach doesn’t work hard. I would NEVER accuse him of not working, but when other teams key on stopping him, playoff style, he has to figure out a way to still come through.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 23, 2010 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions
i find it tough to fault parise. the guy was marked by chris pronger for the entire series and he’s capable of stopping almost anbody. his next task, however, will be shutting down ovechkin. let’s see how well he does.
Pronger.
It is correct that Pronger played against Parise most of the time, but you take Pronger out of the game. When he played in Anaheim teams had succes with annoying him and goading him into taking dumb penalties. In series that was called as thight as this one, why did we not see a guy like Pronger in the box more often. He is known to play dirty and take dumb penalties if provoked.
Especially when the Devils where playing at home. You have the last shift, so why throw Lablond or Clarkson out there just to hit Pronger and piss him off into making mistakes. Instead it was just keep throwing Parise out there to get killed by Pronger, why?
by Nasty Suicide on Apr 23, 2010 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Posted this on another board. Let me know what you think
After this, the 3rd straight exit in the first round, it is time to do some major re-thinking in the Devils.
Lets start in goal. I have no problem with Brodeur as a starter again next year, but I will have a problem if he starts between 70 and 80 games again. He has been flat 3 years in a row in the playoff’s time to give him some more rest. He is turning 39 next season, so playing him all the time does not make sense.
The defense needs a major overhaul. The current guys are more or less the same core that have failed 3 years in a row in the playoffs. You to ask yourself if guys like Mottau and Fraser have a future and do really need to have both Salvador and White they are very similar. Also have Skoula really brought anything to the table this year. Waiting in the wings are guys Corrente, Salmela and Eckford all whom deserve to have a go at it in the NHL.
When it comes to forwards it is also time to look at who you really need. Kovalchuk is gone with 99% certanty. After that you have to ask how much do the following bring to the tabel McAmmond, Niedermeyer and Pandolpho, plus is Pelley worth hanging onto and can Leblond not be replaced with someone with a little more skill. Waiting in the wings for a chance are Zharkov, Davis, Halischuck and Palmieri all of whom have played one or more games for the Devils this season without looking out of place. Also there is a guy like Vasyunov that is not far from being ready for NHL. Plus there are 2 talented guys in Sweden in Tedenby and Josefson.
I really hope that the brass in New Jersey takes this a wake up call and see that something needs to change. Let me know what you think needs to change in New Jersey.
Last but not least I want to whish the Flyers good luck in the next round.
Egh… I don’t know about most of this…
by undersuspicion426 on Apr 23, 2010 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions
It is ok that you don’t agree with what I write, but let me know what you think needs to change, because somethings needs to change after 3 early exits in the playoffs in a row.
The Devils are turning into the Senators of 10 years ago. Unbeatable in the regular season, but one and done in the post-season.
by Nasty Suicide on Apr 23, 2010 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m sure there will be a post or ten soon about what the team needs / should do during the off-season, and we all know there’s plenty of extra time to talk about it now, but John specifically requested we don’t turn this post-game thread into that discussion, so let’s respect his wishes.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)
Well, first of all, I don’t blame Marty for losing the playoffs. He let in maybe two bad goals the entire series. So I don’t care if he plays 70 games and can still be good in the playoffs. I don’t think Mottau will be back, and I don’t know about Fraser. White has a contract so he’ll still be around. Skoula will most likely be gone as well. Also, I disagree with lumping in McAmmond with Niedermayer and Pandolfo. I thought McAmmond hustled when he was on the ice and he always drove deep into the zone to get the puck, which didn’t happen enough. Too much dumping and letting the other team get control. That said, I don’t think he or Niedermayer will be back, and Pandolfo’s still got a contract but will probably play a lot less. Pelley and Leblond are both worth keeping, in my opinion.
I liked the way McAmmond played too. For a third/fourth liner he did his roll. Produced very little offensively and tried to spark something. He worked his but off skated hard into the zone and shot whenever he could. I like PL3 too. Didn’t think he was that bad plus props to him for having the best fight of the year against Cam.
Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2011
Over the past few days one of the only things Ive thought about is that article written by Arthur Staple back in November. We all pretty much trashed it and had a good laugh while doing so. Problem is it looks like Arthur was right, at least concerning the post-lockout Devils: they’re a great REGULAR season team but they have no second gear or extra intensity in the playoffs. That description pretty much sums up this series.
Staple
Same page. I was actually thinking as i walked to my car, “what ticks me off the most is that prick Arthur Staple was 100% correct”.
by Devilssection21fan on Apr 23, 2010 7:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Bad Luck
People may criticize, but I believe this was all about luck. The Devils couldn’t beat the Flyers and that’s what we’re mad about. THAT part wasn’t about luck; it was about how flat the Devils came out and how well the Flyers played.
But, the Devils went 20 – 6 vs. all of the other Eastern Conference playoff teams that weren’t the Flyers and I think they could have beaten any of them.
Good matchups in the 1st Round matter. We can’t talk about it, because stats can’t control that. Maybe not losing those 2-0 leads in the back-to-back against Philly would’ve prevented the Flyers from missing the playoffs? And THAT we can critique.
The Devils team did a very good job this year, they just drew the only opponent they really didn’t match up well against. And that’s just plain old bad luck.
Now should they have thrown that last game? Of course not, that’s silly. But it is why I was cheering for the Rangers in that shootout and for the Devils to lose against Buffalo. But the players and coach can never think that way.
I have respect for most sports fans with 2 exceptions: NY Ranger fans who grew up in New Jersey, and Dallas Cowboy fans who can't name the capital of Texas.
Agree
They had losing regular season records against Carolina last year and the Rags 2 years ago. Flyers had our number this year; it’s all about match-ups. Could the Devils have beaten the Flyers? Yes, if they raised their game to a level we have yet to see in the 2010 calender year. This season all in all was shaped like a mountain.
by Matthew Ventolo on Apr 23, 2010 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry you lost - from a Thrashers fan
I am firmly in the minority here as the Devils’ loss improved our draft position with the pick sent our way for Kovy, but I was sorry that the Devils lost. I hate the Flyers. And I have no ill will towards Kovy. I don’t post here much, but I told you guys he would show up for the playoffs and he did. He was one of the few Thrashers who played hard during our playoff sweep by the Rangers a few years ago.
I’m not sure if I was a fan of the Devils that I would worry a lot about the Kovy trade. Let’s look at what you gave up.
Bergfors – He got hot in Atlanta after the trade and seemed to really benefit from going to a new team, but he should be a solid 20-30 goal guy and no more. He won’t be an All Star, but he should be a dependable guy.
Oduya – He played a bit over his head in Atlanta, but honestly, wasn’t he your 4th best defenseman? Do you guys REALLY think you’re going to miss him? You’ve probably got guys in the AHL who can do his job.
Cormier – Rick Dudley (new GM) and Don Waddell (previous GM and current team president) have done him no favors by completely overselling him to the local fans. Dudley has multiple times called him a “top 6” player and hinted that he could be a big part of the team’s offense next season. Let’s get real here. Cormier at best is another Downie, but it took Downie 2 full seasons of bouncing between the AHL and NHL before he stuck. On the other side, Cormier could end up being another Riley Cote. My guess is that if he even makes the Thrashers, and I wouldn’t bet on it, he’ll score 5 or 6 goals. I don’t see any way that Cormier is ever going to live up to the expectations created for him. Good grief, Evander Kane, who was taken 4th overall in last year’s draft and has real talent by the boatloads, wasn’t saddled with the kind of expectations that the lesser talented Cormier already has.
1st round pick – The Thrashers may get someone useful out of it now that Dudley will make it and not Waddell, but I don’t see the team getting anyone who will be NHL ready.
I wouldn’t lose any sleep over that stuff if I was you guys.
As far as Kovy goes, I have no idea what he will do. I think most likely he’ll go to the KHL. But I think you do have a chance to sign him. Maybe only 10-20%, but it’s there. I can assure you that he won’t return to Atlanta. The offer he turned down is gone – permanently. There won’t be another offer from Atlanta. I do think even if Kovy wants to stay in NJ that he won’t re-sign prior to free agency. The one thing I can assure you is that he does have a plan and he’s had one for some time. Whether it makes sense to us as North Americans is another question, but it makes perfect sense to him whatever it is. Whatever he does, it is going to seriously piss off the Atlanta fans and they are never going to understand it. He’ll either go to the KHL for a ton of money or he’ll sign for significantly less than he was offered by the Thrashers and stay in the NHL. If he leaves for the KHL, please remember one thing – the KHL is a glorified minor league. I have actually seen it on TV several times during a trip to Ukraine and anyone who tells you that it’s better than the AHL is on crack. Honestly, the AHL and KHL are pretty evenly matched. Take your pick. But the KHL is by no means just a little below the NHL like the Russians want you to think. It’s just like the AHL – most of the guys in the league really aren’t NHL quality, but every team has a few who are. Kovy’s ties to Mother Russia are much stronger than most of you realize and while it may not make any sense to you or us if he goes there just for more money, I wouldn’t bet against it happening.
Isn't the KHL in financial trouble?
I know I saw an article the other day mentioning that lengendary Dynamo Moscow is on the verge of folding, or merging with some relatively unknown team. And supposedly they’ve released all their NHL players and told their Russians to wait around for word….
Seems to me that if this is the case, there’s no way the league can justify spending $20 million/year on a single player, even if it is someone the caliber of Semin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, etc.
I totally agree with your analysis of the return on that trade.
Of course, there’s all kinds of second-guessing on the deal now. I’ll address it in a future post. It’s easy to blame Kovalchuk given his scoring history, that the Devils never had a player like him, etc.
But given the scoring struggles, and given that the assests given up were not crtitical, the deal was the right one to make – and still impressive given that Tedenby and Josefson are still in NJ system.
Kovalchuk was nowhere near the root of this team’s problems, and sadly couldn’t be the answer. Will he stay? Will he go? I don’t know, but short of Bergrfors becoming a star (and I don’t think he will), I don’t think devils fans nor Lou should lament the trade.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog
by John Fischer on Apr 23, 2010 10:01 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Disgusted
I think the article above all these comments pegged it perfectly. That was definitely a team that looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but playing in the playoffs, and it showed on the ice. The fans clearly were hoping for something, anything to root for, and they never got it…. I’m ashamed to say I paid good money to watch that travesty. The Flyers simply wanted it more, exerted their will, and the Devils fell over and curled into the fetal position when push came to shove.
The only objection I have to the whole recap article are the statements on Parise. I thought Parise was one of the few Devils who did come to play tonight…. at least from my vantage point, he was flying around out there, trying to create offense, throwing hits, and otherwise trying to get the other Devils to do some of the same. He just can’t do it all alone.
A long, long off-season to think about how to change this team around. Alas, one of the few guys who showed effort (Kovalchuk) and deserves to be back is probably planning his escape and will get his wish.
Kovalchuk
Offer him 7.5 for three years, and if he doesn’t take it go for Alexander Frolov (LA Left Winger). He makes 4 million a year right now and will probably want a little raise but is a pretty good player and a great second or even first line winger and hopefully sign a natural center, so they can learn the system together.
Oh first and for most, a new coach would be nice.
That is my wish list.
Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2011
Call me melodramatic
but indulge me, if you would.
I met her when we were both kids shortly after she moved to NJ. We hit it off pretty well right from the start and I visited her as often as I could at her house in East Rutherford, but we were both young and neither one of us really knew what we were doing yet.
As often happens with young love, we drifted apart as time, distance and other interests came between us, but I never forgot her. I would check in on her from time to time to see how she was doing, and sometimes wished I could be closer to watch her grow up, but circumstances didn’t allow for it and she’d moved on, so I continued to pine from afar.
Eventually life took me far away from New Jersey, and as our lives progressed in different directions we maintained a necessary emotional distance to match the physical distance, though we still kept in touch. It was from across the country that I witnessed her greatest accomplishments via tape delay and other people’s recounted stories, and I came to realize just how much I really did care for her. It was then that I knew that she was the one and always had been, and that I needed to let her and the rest of the world know how I felt.
So life brought me back to New Jersey and I professed my eternal devotion to the now fully-grown cute little kid I’d met all those years ago, and she graciously accepted me. I finally felt somehow more whole as a person and I imagined that that was what true devotion and mutual caring brought and was why so many sought it’s warm comfort.
My love for her has grown every day, and even the rough patches all relationships go through couldn’t diminish or dampen my spirits or sway my devotion to her. After every failing and set-back, I’d watch her pick herself back up and come back even stronger the next time, and it only made me love her more. Every year she’d seem on the verge of breaking through to achieve her personal goals, and I was right there beside her, her biggest cheerleader, hoping to somehow verbally and mentally push her through the obstacles that stood in her way and offering whatever support I could.
But, my love blinded me, as it does to so many poor, hopeless souls out there. She was not the cute little thing I’d met all those years ago as an innocent children in the early ‘80s. She was not the driven, motivated goal-achiever I watched in replays on TV at midnight from 2500 miles away. She was not who I thought she was. There was a darker side to her that I’d never known, or been too blind to see, and over the last week it’s come to full light.
I feel deceived, angry and heart-broken. I’ve given my heart to her, and she’s ripped it out of my chest and stomped on it. She’s callously thrown away all of my efforts to cultivate and support our relationship with a nonchalant laugh and a shoulder shrug on her way to the golf course.
I am a man betrayed by the one I love, and there is no greater pain than that in the world.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)
Elesias, you ecchoed our emotions
This series, and to a greater extent the latter half of the season from January on, was by far the worst performance, or lack thereof, by any professional sports team i have EVER watched. It was like they didn’t want to be there. As much as we all live and die with the Devils, we are all hurting. I perceive this as a person living in a dark cave that found a match and a candle. Strike the match and light the candle only to have the flame burn out immediately. No effort to sustain itself or fight for survival. Just a ‘fssst’ and total darkness.
No, I am not a ‘fair-weather’ fan as many have labeled cliffjumpers. But to see a team that had nearly set records for itself during the first half, looking immortal in doing so, to finally find its kryptonite and hurl itself at it..HURTS!
Definitely True!!!
I noticed this dynamic as well. I recall being extremely upset because i thiught that the Devil’s Schedule play a role in thier performance (I.e. to many back to back games) But the fact of the matter is that their performance dropped off dramatically. The Game atfer which their performance had seemed to drop was after the third to last game agianst the Rangers. Marty won that game for the Devils in a shootout. That’s when it went downhill. When Kovy came it still didn’t seem to have improved much. Nevertheless, the Flfyers had our number. I sturggled with this during the first 3 games of the plaoff but the 5 game really showed the raw side of the truth.
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
As much as "the flyers have had the devils number"
I believe it’s a mental thing, it just shows no team effort to fight. Teams can have other teams’ numbers but, we know that effort can be the best tonic for bad luck (or having a team’s number). It just seemed to me, that they gave up on Lemaire’s system in mid January. Maybe it was Olympic preparation that led to it, maybe it is something that the team has kept silent, who knows.
All I know is that it baffles the mind and hearts of those that lived and died with each goal against and half@$$ed effort the last 4+ months.
One of many bewildered fans,
Z
And to be sooooooooooo predictable doing it
Give the puck to Kovy, give the puck to Kovy, give the puck to Kovy, mix lines, give the puck to Rolston, give the puck to Kovy, mix lines, mix lines, mix lines, etc…
It gets old, and all to easy for Philly to read and adjust.
We all do friend
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 6:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No implication you are a fair weather fan but
the worst performance of any team you have EVER watched? I’ll be a bit of a wise ass here, but do you watch sports much?
Bro, I am a Redskins fan in my other life, and I can tell you after 20 years of mediocrity there, this as far from the worst performance.
Yes, this stinks. Really stinks. But they still made it as the 2nd seed. You can call them mediocre, but they were still a roughly .500 team 2nd half of year. It may be disappointingly mediocre, but I cannot see how you put it down as “the worst”
by Devilssection21fan on Apr 23, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I am a Redskins fan in my other life
My brother in pain. At least we have football season to look forward to, eh?
/sigh
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)
lol. Giants fan but the Redskins have been bad.
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 6:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Devils have only one level of play
I am sorry but this years playoff debacle should be on the man himself Lou. When the Devils were winning cups we had Great defensman, Since Niedermyer has left Lou refuses to go get a top notch defenseman and every year we pay the price. The devils play at a high level, but when the playoffs come they can’t turn up the intensity and play at the same level they played at during the season. The Journyman defenseman we use never contribute in the playoffs and we never get out of the first round.
I said this last year it’s time to blow up this team, they are not good enough, Lou blew up a team that went to back to back cups but yet he lets this one stay together for 5 years I am not understanding this.
I am praying Lou get’s his knee pads out and goes on a full court press for the real Niedermyer we desperatly need him back.
by Late for Dinner on Apr 23, 2010 10:00 AM EDT reply actions
Elite Defensemen Do Not Grow on Trees
It is the easy way out to pin these losses on “The Devils defense isn’t as great as it was years ago”. You can look back through history, and see just how amazing the defensive corps of the Second Cup (2000) was and how those careers turned out. One HOFer who was the best D-man of his era (Stevens), one future HOFer who was one of the Top 3 D-man of his era (Niedermeyer), and Olympian and multiple All-Star (Rafalski), two very solid stay-at-home types (Daneyko and White), and two guys swapped for one another who became or were All-Stars (Malakhov and Souray). To expect Lou Lamorello or any other GM on this planet to replicate that is ridiculous, because it is impossible to accumulate and maintain that kind of talent in a salary cap, parity-driven, overexpanded league.
Nor is Scott Niedermeyer the answer anymore. He’s old, he doesn’t particularly have the drive, and he has been talking retirement for three years.
The problem is that these elite defenders do not grow on trees, and they’re very hard to come by in any event. Teams don’t offer them up for trade very often, the draft is hit-or-miss, and don’t even get me started on Lou’s free agency follies. (For that matter, the list of UFAs is very uninspiring this off-season) I don’t know that the Devils have the resources to trade for one, either.
As for blowing up the team, my co-worker (whose seats we used last night) and I discussed this on the car ride out of Newark. There isn’t a whole lot you can do to blow up the team. After you take away the pending free agents, the core players you’re going to build around, and the guys with no-trade clauses, the remainder looks like what you find in a store at 11:55 PM on Christmas Eve. Short of trading our problems for other teams’ problems or taking on bad contracts (Brian Campbell, anyone?), I don’t see how much can be done. About the best you can hope for is to let the free agents walk, bury Pandolfo in the Minors, maybe trade off one or two of the older players, and hope the kids from Lowell can step in and do the job.
Langenbrunner
I really hope in the next few days it comes out that Jamie has been playing with a nagging injury for the past few weeks, because whoever that’s been out there for the final month of the season wearing no. 15 was not Langenbrunner.
I’m glad someone brought this up. If Langs had an injury, why would he have been so upset about being given a day off towards the end of the season? I know he is a competitor, but as a captain, he should see the bigger picture if injury was the case.
Don't mess with the Devils, buddy. We're number one, we beat anybody! We're the Devils! The Devils!! Aaaaaa!!
by Devil_Hard_Core on Apr 23, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
This game looked like a regular season game
No urgency from us, or at least not enough. The flyers had to do very little to beat us tonight. Seemed effortless to them (except for Leperier taking a puck to the face—brave soul).
It was painful to be there last night. It was even more painful to have your heart ripped out so early in the game going down 2-0 so early.
Thinking back about last night, the way we played really felt like it was a regular season effort and certainly not a playoff calibre/back against the wall showing.
Don't mess with the Devils, buddy. We're number one, we beat anybody! We're the Devils! The Devils!! Aaaaaa!!
by Devil_Hard_Core on Apr 23, 2010 10:26 AM EDT reply actions
NJ Devils MVPs for our (short) Stanley Cup bid ——(last post I promise)
First Star: Martin Brodeur
2nd Star: Ilya Kovalchuk
3rd Star: Dainus Zubrus
Honorable Mention: US the fans who held on to any glimmer of hope and didn’t give up no matter how bleak it seemed. Thanks to Cherno for going into enemy territory. (major props to that) I would put us as first stars, but I don’t want to take away anything from the three players I listed above, and how can you not give Marty the first star.
(He is NOT affected by playing so many games so I don’t want to hear that anymore.)
Don't mess with the Devils, buddy. We're number one, we beat anybody! We're the Devils! The Devils!! Aaaaaa!!
by Devil_Hard_Core on Apr 23, 2010 10:33 AM EDT reply actions
Like your 3 stars but I’d put Andy Greene in a tie for the 3rd Star for sure.
by NJDEVIL4LIFE on Apr 23, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah Id throw Greene in as well, he really established himself this season and in the forgettable playoff round. I know we need to try to keep Martin, since the crop of free agent defensemen is fairly weak, but I see Greene as the default #1 now.
I also think Zubrus finally earned the NJ crest on his jersey. His play was amazing and outside of Kovy, Zach, and Greene, was the only skater to show consistent passion. He was directly or indirectly responsible for most of our goals in the series. While what he brings to the ice doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet I think he won over a lot of his critics with his performance.
Zubrus
I think Zubrus has been more consistent than most players on the team for much of the season, his stats were fairly non-existant but he played with heart.
He gets a bum rap a lot, but Ive always like the intangibles he brings. He is also the only thing we have that resembles a power forward.
I gottta give Zuby his props
He WAS one of the few Devils who played like a beast this series. I know the Phillys were having fits while trying to deal with this guy and even if the Devils couldn’t deafet the Flyers, to give them hell was all I wanted. It was A cccooooollllddddd day in the DEVILS DEN last night. Time to light the fires again.
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Totally spot on
Guys in front of me at game were ragging on Kovy, but if we had a couple other guys with the assists he had, things would have been alot differen
by Devilssection21fan on Apr 23, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Lamaire
Reflecting on this year team, either we all over estimated the TALENT or the coaching was bad. Lou will never admit that he made a mistake in bring back Lamaire so we will have him back as our coach next year with a few changes since most key players have a no trade clause. To all, have a nice summer.
Several things
And I hate to come across as an apologist because, frankly, I’m as upset as anyone, but this over-reacting and hyperbole has to stop. It’s okay to be mad, but don’t make stuff up.
I’m not singling you out, Old Puck 1, it just so happens that yours is the latest post and it’s at the bottom.
The talent on the team is unquestionable. They showed their potential, they just didn’t live up to it when it mattered.
Lemaire may or may not have been a mistake, but one year isn’t long enough to know for sure, and what everyone seems to forget is that the team had the same fizzle the last two years under a different coaching regime. The constant is the players, so that’s where the problem must lie.
Six players have NTC or NMC. Not “most key players.”
- Martin Brodeur – NTC
- Patrik Elias – NMC
- Jamie Langenbrunner – NTC
- Brian Rolston – NTC
- Colin White – NTC
- Jay Pandolfo – NTC
Marty and Elias are no-brainers. Even White’s isn’t bad because he’s not going anywhere. Some might want Jamie gone, but his isn’t exactly hand-cuffing either. That leaves Pandolfo and Rolston… the only two bad ones, but even of them it’s only Rolston’s since Pando can, if needed, be buried in the minors or talked into retiring.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)
Several things by elesias
Yes at the of the day the players must take most of the blame for this year debacle. However Lemaire had no use for the young players who where called up from Lowell after the return of the regulars who by Jan 2010 started to look old. Devil fans have been spoiled by the talent and efforts of our teams during the last 15 years. This year team may have talent but no grit and and are soft on defense. The continue use Elias as center is a waste of money and the talent of a natural left wing. Question do you think Parise will now sign an extension to play with our team past the next season ?
Parise
Thanks drhgzang for the posting. However after next season Parise can become URA and leave the Devils to any another team just like our other star players have done during the last few years.
Sorry for the third reply but…
Parise is listed as an RFA:
http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=NJD&season=0910
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Nhl&id=1655
Also he’ll only have 5 years of NHL experience at the end of 2010-2011 and you need 7 to be a UFA.
I will check in from time to time to see what is going on from a Devil's fan perspective.
Get my knowledge of the NHL personnal so i can give more worthy reviews but for now i will turn my attention to the Giants. Yous guys are a fun group. Talk to you soon.
Creed: (Play well-Win=Praise) (Play Well-Lose=Praise) (Play Lousy-Win=Criticism) (Play lousy-Lose/Bandwagon Jumpers=Off with thier heads!)
Any violation of this creed is BLASPHEMY!
by LoNJDTechnology on Apr 23, 2010 10:52 AM EDT reply actions
I had the unfortunate honor of attending this debacle. I could not even express to you my dissapointment in watching, first hand, how my favorite team in all major sports decided to not show up to the most important game of the year. At no point in this game did I actually think the Devils would win, which is sad considering the money spent on the tickets. I specifically made sure not to drink a sip of alcohol, for fear that my rage would take over after falling into a 3-0 deficit at home, with as little motivation as I have ever seen collectively from a Devils team. Would you like to know the worst part about all of this? The crowd was full of Flyers fans, dispersed here and there. And they were louder than Devils fans for the most part of the game. I will hand it to them: despite the fact that they are some of the most obnoxious, repugnant, angry, violent fans I have witnessed in a home arena, they made their presence felt in a series that the home team essentially wanted no part in playing against. One of the worst feelings I have felt as a Devils fan is sitting inside the parking lot after the game, trying to leave but not a single car is moving, and seemingly hundreds of Flyers fans honking their horns, chanting and drumming on other people’s cars.
Looking at the bigger picture here and thinking about the second portion of this season onward, I must say…I really shouldn’t be this surprised by the results. The Devils were the best team in the league from October – December. Simply put, They were the best team throughout the 1st half of the season. They beat some of the best teams in the league as well. Even with a lineup totally plagued by injuries, we had a team that refused to quit. However, from the second half of the season onward, the Devils spiraled out of control. We played .500 hockey, couldn’t win more than three games in a row, and lost some extremely demoralizing games against teams that we should have had no problem beating. The worst part was that, as the team became more and more healthy, the results were worse and worse. I have never seen something like this before. We seemed to have more passion and energy from a bunch of rookies (Bergfors, Palmieri, Davis, Corrente, Fraser for the most part) than some of our returning stars.
But what definitely hurt us the most was a complete lack of consistency throughout the entire lineup. There was no sustained efficiency nor effectiveness; we became a “Jekyll and Hide” team that showed up when they felt like it. I have no idea who to pinpoint regarding this lack of consistency, but I will venture a guess that Lou will blame Lemaire for this. I also personally felt that switching the lineups every single game (and I mean literally EVERY game) did more harm than benefit. Picture it this way: would you like going into work every single day knowing that your coworkers are going to be different every day? Especially if you are part of a team at work, and you lean on one another in order to get projects completed? I could see how this could become a problem.
I would say that last year’s loss to Carolina was by far more shocking and dissapointing as a fan, but this year’s loss to the Flyers had much more of a negative impact and overall regression of the club. At least they contended last year; at least the heart was there. This year, there was no heart. That’s what upset most fans at the arena the most. We never had a chance in this series. We might have had a chance to escape the first round against Montreal, but even if we did….fate would prevail. The Devils weren’t good enough this year to make it to the finals. At one time it seemed that they were, but it was merely an illusion. Now, we get to suffer five months of recalling how much of a failure this club ultimately was. Changes need to be made around the core: Elias, Brodeur, Parise, and Zajac. Everyone else is expendable to a degree. But make no mistake about it: serious changes need to be made in order to bring this team back to the annual deep playoff threat contenders they once were.
"We aim above the mark to hit the mark." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Im on the same page. Last offseason I questioned the growing rumblings to hand this team over to “the kids.” Simply put, I really doubted we had enough NHL ready prospects. October-December proved me wrong and of course the assumption was once we get the regulars back the dominance would continue. The opposite happened.
Now look at the teams who have been successful in the playoffs since the lockout, save for Detroit most of them handed their team over to “the kids” at some point. Id add Greene and Zubrus to the four players you mentioned above, the future of the rest of the players on this team should be seriously considered. At the least Id like to see Tedenby get a serious shot at making this team out of camp next year.
Draft day trade likely?
Unless something revealing comes along about Langenbrunner’s relationship with Lemaire or an injury, I could see the Devils dealing Langs and/ or some others at the trade deadline to move up in the draft and grab a goalie or Dman if Lou likes a prospect out there.
I have respect for most sports fans with 2 exceptions: NY Ranger fans who grew up in New Jersey, and Dallas Cowboy fans who can't name the capital of Texas.
I know he has a no trade clause
. . but maybe he’d waive it? You’d have to ship some others to a team that wants to win in 10-11.
I have respect for most sports fans with 2 exceptions: NY Ranger fans who grew up in New Jersey, and Dallas Cowboy fans who can't name the capital of Texas.
I could see Langenbrunner acquiescing to a deal after the team strips him of the captaincy this summer. Heck, I could even see him requesting one, especially if Lou brings Lemaire back for another year. (Personally, I think Lou will “ask” Lemaire to retire and move into a consulting position, and push him if he doesn’t.)
UGH!
Well the Devs effort in game 5 was disappointing to say the least.
Other than game 2 not once did i feel the Devils were going to win.
Totally ouplayed, outcoached, outhustled, out everythinged!
There was no spark, no determination by any of the Devs (other than Kovi who i really hope Lou tries to keep). Where was that relentlesness from Parise, the leadership form Langenbrunner, the gritty play of Clarkson. These guys along with just about the rest of the team looked like they were sleepwalking for most of this series.
I hate to say it but as great as coach as Lemaire is i believe his best coaching days are behind him. He showed no fire, no emotion from the bench, made some questionable lineup moves and did not play Pando! Why?!
I don’t know which is worse not making the playoffs or getting bounced in the first round again!
Well i still love my Devils so wait til next year; right?!
I said this last year
And I’ll say it again:
EPIC FAILURE.
My thought on what needs to be done in the off season. Disagree, agree this is the way I feel. More skill on defense, minus Greene and Martin I feel the defense is a little slow and low on talent. Bring in more talent on D, either via trade or from Lowell. Guys that can skate and join the rush and “put you through the boards”. I have no idea what the contract situations are for the defense on this team but to me it was obvious that the forwards were all responsible for the offense and that they couldn’t do it all.
Kenny Daneyko mentioned in his parting words that the talent level of the third and fourth line has to get better. We need guys that can chip in the odd goal and, as Kenny put it, put guys through the boards. Someone mentioned last night that Neidermayer was getting thrown around like a rag doll last night. Lines one and two on this team are very good and I think if the things I mentioned above improve we can get out of the first round next year. Although I feel Zajac is probably not a true #1 center. He would probably be better off as a #2. So add a stud center to that list. I know what I mentioned will probably cost money but seriously, what else are you going to do? Even if we improve 2 out of the 3 we will be better.
I know everyone will have there own ideas on what has to improve, this is just my own two cents.
You're Next!
Pathetic!
I’m not even sure how to describe how much they sucked. I dont want to go on for 3 paragraphs about it, but this team is garbage. We have officallly become a embarresment. All I have to say is Lou I love ya but things need to change. For 3 years this team has manged to lose in the first round. Not just to anyone either. We have loss to the Rangers,Hurricanes and now flyers. We have looked great most of the season and then suddenly fell apart. Not sure who the blame is on but I will say this. Let this be the wake up call!!!Get some guys with heart on this team. Get me guys who will throw more than jelly jars when things go bad. Get me a guy who will punish fowards in our zone, get me a forward who will comand the front and score like he is playing with a desire to win!
Heartless...
gutless whatever you want to call it, that’s how NJ played their last 2 games of the season. There is no shame in losing to a superior opponent, that being said the Flyers were not a superior opponent. They just came out flying (no pun intended) and the Devils came out flat. Now watch Philly will be exposed in the next round by whoever they play and Boucher will get ripped apart.
Also personally I don’t want Lemaire back next year, where ever he goes offense dies. Parise and Kovalchuk can be 50 goal scorers and though there years weren’t bad we needed them to do better and they couldn’t. Elias, Langenbrunner, and Zajac also can all be very productive players on O yet our offense though better on paper this year took a step back. Long and short of it is strong defensive teams don’t win in the New NHL.
Sodomize Intolerance
by sonicdeathmonkey on Apr 23, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
It doesn’t dispel your argument, but Zajac actually had a better offensive year this year than last.
The exception doesn’t make the rule, but I generally disagree that Lemaire is to blame for the team’s offensive woes. They had the same exact issues the two previous years, namely: starting a game strong, not being able to finish and ultimately paying the price for it.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Mark Twain (?)
The Powerplay
Also the powerplay was terrible. We could have grabbed hold of this series in game 3 when we got 4 powerplays in the first 10 minutes! Imagine if we’d have just scored one more goal and been up 2-0 ten minutes in. Would’ve taken the Philly crowd right out of the game and then who knows how the series plays out.
The more Ive thought about it the powerplay is truly our biggest problem and constant achilles heal. Save for the few years we had the A-Line and the first post-lockout year when we went on the end of the year surge our powerplay has been terrible since the first cup win, in other words for about 15 years. We would often win in spite of not because of our powerplay.
Anyone here from South Jersey
I’m sure this has been mentioned before, but I’m fairly new to posting on this site. I’m from the Deptford area, is anyone else nearby?
No where near there but I know where it is. All the way down 295 or 130.
You're Next!
by thatguy011071 on Apr 23, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
That sucked
No other way to put it. The only positives are that I recorded MSG Vault when the Soviets devastated the Rangers.
That made me feel better for a little bit.
Never assume skill at bouncing a ball makes you smarter than the guy who built the court.
When there's a WILL there's a WAY
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