and harrold was far better then volchenkov. that guy is dust and we dont have another lefty because urbom got claimed for nothing
- BDizzlez

The fact both of them have a spot is embarrassing. Good thing we gave Urbom away.

This I agree with. I'm seeing shadows of NJ from three years ago, when Tallinder was wasting scoring chances with the "wish shot" (wrist shot from the point, not even into traffic), and the rest of the team pad stuffing (pucks shot into the pads of a goaltender with no chance of going in). You can pad your shots all you want, but these types of shots destroy your offensive momentum and your entire game ends up in a lull.

I really don't care about the defensive mistakes last night, because even then, the game would have gone to a shootout. It was an absolutely terrible offensive game, and an embarrassment to get shutout by Fleury and the Penguins.

And this "need to wait for chemistry" argument works both ways. Team defense is more vulnerable at the starts of the year than team offense, and that means that the Penguins defensive play is also suspect right now.

No, the sky is not falling, but this offense has a LOT of work to do.
- archromat

YUP!. I love that "wish shot" it describes our offensive zone strategy perfectly. I still think most of the goal scoring problems starts with having a below average transition game and no threats from the point. Not being to ever enter a zone or breakout clean kills all momentum and results in a bunch of broken sloppy plays up the ice. And not being able to create anything when the puck is cycled and sent to the point makes defending us so easy.

Not gonna get any easier tonight, either. Tavares seems to play very well against the Devils.

man im hoping deboer doesn't go back to his lines he had in the first last night but i bet he does

based on deboer's stubborness im guessing the best case scenario that we can hope for in our lines is

zubrus-elias-ryder
henrique-zajac-jagr
clowe-loktionov-brunner
carter-josefson-bernier

im hoping josefson gets put in there hes much more dynamic then gionta. the only thing gionta brings to the table that josefson doesn't is hits.

im also hoping he moves elias back to wing and henrique back to center but i doubt itll happen

Todd Cordell: Devils Get Shutout By Penguins, 3-0, In Season Opener
- Todd.Cordell

I think these possession numbers are really misleading. The Devils win that each night because they get across the blue line, cycle for a bit, then pass it D to D to D to D to D to D, then get their shot blocked. This whole "let's throw it at the net and hope something good happens" stategy isn't going to work when you have the likes of Volchenkov, Salvador, Harrold and Zidlicky back there. I'm not even sure it works over an entire season with elite shooters.

Zidlicky was absolutely awful, again. On a day when we gave up a young, promising prospect it hurts even more when you see Zid and Volchenkov play.

based on deboer's stubborness im guessing the best case scenario that we can hope for in our lines is

zubrus-elias-ryder
henrique-zajac-jagr
clowe-loktionov-brunner
carter-josefson-bernier

im hoping josefson gets put in there hes much more dynamic then gionta. the only thing gionta brings to the table that josefson doesn't is hits.

im also hoping he moves elias back to wing and henrique back to center but i doubt itll happen
- BDizzlez

I hope he swaps Elias and Henrique at some point too. On Josefson i think he deserves a shot as well. I dont want to single out one guy on offense cause no one really played good but i thought carter looked awful out there last night. He was slow, didn't create anything, and didn't hit. Wouldn't mind seeing him in the pressbox tonight and move Gio to the wing. But i doubt it since the isles are a physical team.

I'm not going to over-react and say it's going to be a long season or anything. It's one game against a cup contender in their home opener with no chemistry developed yet.

That said, I think this team needs a trade. They HAVE to make room for Gelinas or Merrill. The D we went with last night cannot effectively generate offense. Fayne should be in for Harrold and one of the two I just mentioned should get a shot.

The Devils got smoked at the faceoff dot also. Get Henrique off the wing please.


clowe-henrique-ryder
elias-zajac-jagr
zubrus-loktionov-brunner
carter-josefson-bernier

I know PDB likes the Brunner-Elias pairing so switching Brunner and Jagr would work too.

Just my $.02. I know the team needs time to develop chemistry but last night's performance reminded me of the 11 game losing streak last year. Dominate possession, get no quality chances, opponent takes advantage of every defensive breakdown and lose the game you spent 75% of in the offensive zone.

Let's go Devils. Get it back on track right away on home ice!

I'm not going to over-react and say it's going to be a long season or anything. It's one game against a cup contender in their home opener with no chemistry developed yet.

That said, I think this team needs a trade. They HAVE to make room for Gelinas or Merrill. The D we went with last night cannot effectively generate offense. Fayne should be in for Harrold and one of the two I just mentioned should get a shot.

The Devils got smoked at the faceoff dot also. Get Henrique off the wing please.


clowe-henrique-ryder
elias-zajac-jagr
zubrus-loktionov-brunner
carter-josefson-bernier

I know PDB likes the Brunner-Elias pairing so switching Brunner and Jagr would work too.

Just my $.02. I know the team needs time to develop chemistry but last night's performance reminded me of the 11 game losing streak last year. Dominate possession, get no quality chances, opponent takes advantage of every defensive breakdown and lose the game you spent 75% of in the offensive zone.

Let's go Devils. Get it back on track right away on home ice!
- jbivens13

Agreed on the defense. We need to be more mobile and have another threat from the point.

And this "need to wait for chemistry" argument works both ways. Team defense is more vulnerable at the starts of the year than team offense, and that means that the Penguins defensive play is also suspect right now.

No, the sky is not falling, but this offense has a LOT of work to do.
- archromat

Not necessarily. Pens D is essentially the same as last year with the addition of Scuderi, who played there only a few seasons ago on their Cup run (should've never let him go) and is one of the better defensive dmen in the league, even at his age. There's not much need for chemistry there. Maatta is the only exception. The D know each other well and played like it. With the exception of stud Bennet, the offense is the same as last year too, with the best line in hockey, centered by the best player in hockey, remaining intact.

However, our D should've had "chemistry", but it's our old slow defense.. it looked like it's age, and the guys didn't have their legs under them at all the 1st period. The offense is where there's a need for chemistry as 4 of the top 6 wingers are new. It'll take time, but we'll be fine.

YUP!. I love that "wish shot" it describes our offensive zone strategy perfectly. I still think most of the goal scoring problems starts with having a below average transition game and no threats from the point. Not being to ever enter a zone or breakout clean kills all momentum and results in a bunch of broken sloppy plays up the ice. And not being able to create anything when the puck is cycled and sent to the point makes defending us so easy.
- NickA

and it's all because Salvador, Zidlicky, Volchenkov and Harrold can't get the job done. It forces our forwards to compensate for their pathetic coverage and ability to make plays both defensively and offensively. It puts our forwards so deep in the D zone, so often, there's rarely room for a transition game. sad.

I'm not going to over-react and say it's going to be a long season or anything. It's one game against a cup contender in their home opener with no chemistry developed yet.

That said, I think this team needs a trade. They HAVE to make room for Gelinas or Merrill. The D we went with last night cannot effectively generate offense. Fayne should be in for Harrold and one of the two I just mentioned should get a shot.

The Devils got smoked at the faceoff dot also. Get Henrique off the wing please.


clowe-henrique-ryder
elias-zajac-jagr
zubrus-loktionov-brunner
carter-josefson-bernier

I know PDB likes the Brunner-Elias pairing so switching Brunner and Jagr would work too.

Just my $.02. I know the team needs time to develop chemistry but last night's performance reminded me of the 11 game losing streak last year. Dominate possession, get no quality chances, opponent takes advantage of every defensive breakdown and lose the game you spent 75% of in the offensive zone.

Let's go Devils. Get it back on track right away on home ice!
- jbivens13

exactly.

However, our D should've had "chemistry", but it's our old slow defense.. it looked like it's age, and the guys didn't have their legs under them at all the 1st period. The offense is where there's a need for chemistry as 4 of the top 6 wingers are new. It'll take time, but we'll be fine.
- MartysBetter88

Couldn't agree more. Old and slow is going to kill us. Aside from Greene and Larsson, the D has next to no mobility and it seems like nobody can make a decent calm outlet pass. Too much panic and out of position plays for veterans.

I hope he swaps Elias and Henrique at some point too. On Josefson i think he deserves a shot as well. I dont want to single out one guy on offense cause no one really played good but i thought carter looked awful out there last night. He was slow, didn't create anything, and didn't hit. Wouldn't mind seeing him in the pressbox tonight and move Gio to the wing. But i doubt it since the isles are a physical team.
- NickA

he looked as good as he did in the preseason.. which is not good at all. He missed some preseason games with a small injury. Maybe he's still finding his game? I'd rather see Tedenby-Josefson-Bernier over those guys at this point. The Swedes are not liabilities at all in my mind. Speed and skill and size. At least we have 2 good 4th lines, and 3 decent 2nd lines.

I've been recognizing the benefit of having a star player in addition to/vs. depth. Star players have better shots, better abilities to get open, more strength and/or skill. It's the star players that are able to get the offense through the star defense, and get the puck past the star goalie. I'm not sure have that ability. We may simply always be playing just good enough to limit opponent's scoring opportunities, and hope we can get a puck through, rather than asserting the scoring. That's the difference and that is why we can "outplay" teams, yet not be able to score. Stupid Parise. Stupid Kovalchuk. Regardless of our depth, you NEED those players that are BETTER than 80% of the other players on the ice. You need those guys to win. "committee" can only go so far when committee can't generate and capitalize on quality scoring chances.