injuries are going to kill the Caps.

Backstrom and Green each played about half a season.

second either goes down the Caps are toast.

As for the Sens, Michalek, Spezza, Alfie, and Karlsson are all overdue for an injury.

guess when that's going to happen?
- Rimland

The Bruins have never been known to play rough...

Todd, my biggest concern as a Devils fan is that the point totals are very misleading. I don't feel like looking it up, but the Devils won a LOT of games in the shootout (and to a lesser extent, in 4 on 4 OT) -- big thanks to Kovalchuk and his ridiculous shootout %.

The Devils were one of the worst 3rd period teams in the league (and THE worst of the teams in the playoffs) and one of the worst 5 on 5 teams of teams in the playoffs.

I see NJ getting by Florida, mainly because the Panthers have been god awful for the last month. They should've wrapped up the Southeast division 3 weeks ago, but lost a ton of games to non-playoff teams. The Devils, in contrast, have been relatively hot -- especially winning the games they "should" win.
- Ravidel11

The team that ended the season is very different from the team that started. It took a while, but Pete did a great job getting this team to play within his system. We blew a lot of leads early on, but we didn't need the shootout nearly as much since the all-star break.

I looked, like an idiiot, at ESPN's final power rankings. Somehow winning 6 in a row to end the regular season sent the Devils from 8th to 12..Hahaha I wish ESPN would just stop pretending.

wait, did you read the Burnside article? He picked Panthers in 7...
- Pomegrant

It's also Burnside, I saw that earlier too.

I looked, like an idiiot, at ESPN's final power rankings. Somehow winning 6 in a row to end the regular season sent the Devils from 8th to 12..Hahaha I wish ESPN would just stop pretending.
- Kovaltron

they are a joke on espn

they are a joke on espn
- dmarsden2988

The more I read from various places, the more happy I am getting that people are underestimating the Devils. We play better as an underdog.

The more I read from various places, the more happy I am getting that people are underestimating the Devils. We play better as an underdog.
- Kovaltron

Just look a the rings. They talk poop about us every single year and it's just what it is. All talk. Making the playoffs 20 out of the last 22 years speaks for itself. 3 cups with the same core speaks for itself. Burnside, ESPN, and the rest of hockey media can get as butthurt as they want because the Devils success speaks for itself. I think it's hilarious that we're dropped in the power rankings week after week. Just proves to me that big markets are favored over small markets.

Just look a the rings. They talk poop about us every single year and it's just what it is. All talk. Making the playoffs 20 out of the last 22 years speaks for itself. 3 cups with the same core speaks for itself. Burnside, ESPN, and the rest of hockey media can get as butthurt as they want because the Devils success speaks for itself. I think it's hilarious that we're dropped in the power rankings week after week. Just proves to me that big markets are favored over small markets.
- Pomegrant

I love being the underdog and after winning each series see these tools that picked us to miss the playoffs start picking us. We are better on the road anyway so I am glad we start in Fla.

I love being the underdog and after winning each series see these tools that picked us to miss the playoffs start picking us. We are better on the road anyway so I am glad we start in Fla.
- Kovaltron

Our power play looks so much better on the road. Same with the flow of the offense. I love the crowds but we really don't need everybody yelling shoot when Kovalchuk enters the zone.

Our power play looks so much better on the road. Same with the flow of the offense. I love the crowds but we really don't need everybody yelling shoot when Kovalchuk enters the zone.
- Pomegrant

9/10 times I go to the game, I want to punch some bumhole in the section that yells shoot every time I guy has the puck in the zone.

I just want to turn around and be like look dumbass, you can't just shoot it pass a goalie 99 times out of 100, you need to set up and be in a prime shooting position.

The number of times a guy has the puck in a poopty position and someone yells shoot is beyond me. It's even better when Kovalchuk is in on a one-on-four and people get pissed off at him for losing the puck or not shooting....the idiocy of some fans is just tremendous.

9/10 times I go to the game, I want to punch some bumhole in the section that yells shoot every time I guy has the puck in the zone.

I just want to turn around and be like look dumbass, you can't just shoot it pass a goalie 99 times out of 100, you need to set up and be in a prime shooting position.

The number of times a guy has the puck in a poopty position and someone yells shoot is beyond me. It's even better when Kovalchuk is in on a one-on-four and people get pissed off at him for losing the puck or not shooting....the idiocy of some fans is just tremendous.
- _Zippy_

I got to say the fans have one thing; a lot of passion. But yeah, in general I agree. When that poop happens I wait for the guy to shoot and when it goes right into the defender's shins I tell people that's what happens when you want him to shoot and he's got nothing. When I go to games and there are people yelling and poop I'll once in a while tell them why they're wrong and it gets them to shut up. It's worth a try now and then.

wait, did you read the Burnside article? He picked Panthers in 7...
- Pomegrant

Burnside's an idiot, f' him, devs in 5/6 tops

Burnside's an idiot, f' him, devs in 5/6 tops
- GioRock

The guy looks like Fat Bast*rd from Austin Powers, just thinner.

I got to say the fans have one thing; a lot of passion. But yeah, in general I agree. When that poop happens I wait for the guy to shoot and when it goes right into the defender's shins I tell people that's what happens when you want him to shoot and he's got nothing. When I go to games and there are people yelling and poop I'll once in a while tell them why they're wrong and it gets them to shut up. It's worth a try now and then.
- Pomegrant

At the Avs/Devils game, that went into a SO 0-0, I had the people I was with complaining we were playing poopty, when we were actually playing pretty well, then I had the guy next to me saying how much Kovlachuk because he can't hit the net. He would always say it after a shot got blocked or deflected and would say how Kovalchuks a waste of money, blah blah.

My dad knows this too, and there's games when we will start walking around the arena and he would know how pissed off I was getting at the people around us. Some people are just irritating.....

The guy looks like Fat Bast*rd from Austin Powers, just thinner.
- Kovaltron

He's up Cindy Croby's @ss so far he could tell you what he had for breakfast.

He's up Cindy Croby's @ss so far he could tell you what he had for breakfast.
- GioRock

*Sniff sniff* smells like Peanut Butter and jelly...hahahahaha

*Sniff sniff* smells like Peanut Butter and jelly...hahahahaha
- Kovaltron

With a specific type of bread, PB, and jelly....

At the Avs/Devils game, that went into a SO 0-0, I had the people I was with complaining we were playing poopty, when we were actually playing pretty well, then I had the guy next to me saying how much Kovlachuk because he can't hit the net. He would always say it after a shot got blocked or deflected and would say how Kovalchuks a waste of money, blah blah.

My dad knows this too, and there's games when we will start walking around the arena and he would know how pissed off I was getting at the people around us. Some people are just irritating.....
- _Zippy_

hey, I was at that game.

4 more days

9/10 times I go to the game, I want to punch some bumhole in the section that yells shoot every time I guy has the puck in the zone.

I just want to turn around and be like look dumbass, you can't just shoot it pass a goalie 99 times out of 100, you need to set up and be in a prime shooting position.

The number of times a guy has the puck in a poopty position and someone yells shoot is beyond me. It's even better when Kovalchuk is in on a one-on-four and people get pissed off at him for losing the puck or not shooting....the idiocy of some fans is just tremendous.
- _Zippy_

it does get annoying when people shout shoot, but there were also times where we hung on to the puck for too long, made an extra pass to try to be pretty and didnt take the shot when it was there, there were numerous times this season where we had a guy that pretty much had a clear shot to shoot but made the pass or waited too long and the defender would have gotten in the way or the guy with the puck would get a defender on top of him

alot of the time people just shouted coz they wanted them to shoot, but there was also a good amount where they should have shot and didnt because they were trying to be too fancy and make a "pretty" play

it does get annoying when people shout shoot, but there were also times where we hung on to the puck for too long, made an extra pass to try to be pretty and didnt take the shot when it was there, there were numerous times this season where we had a guy that pretty much had a clear shot to shoot but made the pass or waited too long and the defender would have gotten in the way or the guy with the puck would get a defender on top of him

alot of the time people just shouted coz they wanted them to shoot, but there was also a good amount where they should have shot and didnt because they were trying to be too fancy and make a "pretty" play
- dmarsden2988

I find this similar to back seat driving, regardless if you are right or not, it doesn't help. And I'm sure al 30 teams went through some times of over passing or under passing etc. The players are out there because their decisions make them the best players in the world. We should let them make the decisions.

hey, I was at that game.
- Pomegrant

But I am going to assume you weren't wearing an Avs jersey, so it's all good.

it does get annoying when people shout shoot, but there were also times where we hung on to the puck for too long, made an extra pass to try to be pretty and didnt take the shot when it was there, there were numerous times this season where we had a guy that pretty much had a clear shot to shoot but made the pass or waited too long and the defender would have gotten in the way or the guy with the puck would get a defender on top of him

alot of the time people just shouted coz they wanted them to shoot, but there was also a good amount where they should have shot and didnt because they were trying to be too fancy and make a "pretty" play
- dmarsden2988

The Devils set-up the way they do for a reason, they have set plays within that set-up. They know what they want to do when a team does whatever. Elias isn't just going to shoot the puck from the sideboards, it's just not going to happen. Maybe he will on a one-timer, but other than that, yelling shoot it is just going to make them get antsy and rush it.

There's a LOT of times, a player would be in an awkward position or the pass he recieves doesn't allow him to one-time it or shoot it quick enough and you have idiots complaining that they don't shoot. The puck could be in the guys feet and I could hear calls of "shoot it." It's annoying and stupid.

But I am going to assume you weren't wearing an Avs jersey, so it's all good.
- _Zippy_

yeah, was rocking a roy canadiens jersey so everybody in attendance thought I was a good guy

yeah, was rocking a roy canadiens jersey so everybody in attendance thought I was a good guy
- Pomegrant

Serious or sarcasm?