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

It's 1 game. Hopefully the defense doesn't poop the bed for 81 more games. Got some work to do, but we'll get there.

I can't see any reason why Fayne wouldn't have played over Harrold, other than Lou is trying real hard to move him out. We'll see tomorrow I guess

Yeah it wasnt that the effort wasnt there, they just couldnt buy a goal. If we would have got that one Zid passed it would have changed the game possibly.

But back at it tomorrow with a fast young islanders team, think teddy and JJ get a nod tomorrow? we looked slow today and could use some speed upfront. and on the back end..

Need more shots that are actually a threat to go in. I would say 5 maybe 6 shots where at all a threat. We cycling well and then pass to the point and get a horrible shot praying for a deflection. This would work if we actually had good dmen but we don't.

There were definitely some good things to take away from that game. Faceoffs definitely were an issue as it seemed every defensive zone draw was lost. I wonder if DeBoer is going to rely on Loktionov and Zajac to take those draws.

The chemistry will come in time, the one thing that bothered me was at times the forwards were all within 10 feet of each other trying to get into the offensive zone. If one of the three can find separation and get some space in the center of the zone or further out, they'll be able to create a chance from being wide open or at least spread the defense out to open up more passing lanes.

I can't see any reason why Fayne wouldn't have played over Harrold, other than Lou is trying real hard to move him out. We'll see tomorrow I guess
- bobert836

Harrold plays because he's a right handed PMD and he plays some PP on 2nd unit

Could not score. Overall NJ played well. I liked

Lokti
Brunner
Zajac line.
Harrold.

Elias was quiet, Schneider did not have a good game. Lars made mistake on goal 1 and Volchie on goal 2

How's Schneider going?

Harrold plays because he has dirt on Pete and Lou
- bml105

Fixed.

How's Schneider going?
- docmorgan

Wasn't really tested too much and our defense didn't help much on the goals. Not his best but not like he lost us the game.

Fixed.
- NickA

Their worst Defenseman is Volchenkov, Harrold is not the problem

Harrold plays because he's a right handed PMD and he plays some PP on 2nd unit
- bml105

Fayne is a righty too, and frankly, I would prefer him on the PP to Harrold

How's Schneider going?
- docmorgan

Best player on the ice today for NJ

when is volchenkov contract over?

Their worst Defenseman is Volchenkov, Harrold is not the problem
- bml105

They both suck. Anton is horrible.

when is volchenkov contract over?
- wingz4life

3 more years he should of been a buyout..... Have to assume not having the sale finalized with the new owner may have factored into this.

"Despite the 3-0 loss, I'd argue the Devils played very well. The team won the possession battle pretty convincingly and teams win more often than not when that is the case. In 55 minutes of 5 vs. 5 hockey, the Devils were +19 in Corsi (shot attempt differential). That's pretty impressive."

I just feel like we were saying that all last season too. It's obviously only the first game but hopefully we wont just be patting ourselves on the back about how we can spend all game in the offensive zone...

There were definitely some good things to take away from that game. Faceoffs definitely were an issue as it seemed every defensive zone draw was lost. I wonder if DeBoer is going to rely on Loktionov and Zajac to take those draws.

The chemistry will come in time, the one thing that bothered me was at times the forwards were all within 10 feet of each other trying to get into the offensive zone. If one of the three can find separation and get some space in the center of the zone or further out, they'll be able to create a chance from being wide open or at least spread the defense out to open up more passing lanes.
- 104shutout30

Definitely showed in all the lines. I'm almost positive this was the first game any of them where together for besides the CGB line. They didn't seem to create much but no one really did.

"Despite the 3-0 loss, I'd argue the Devils played very well. The team won the possession battle pretty convincingly and teams win more often than not when that is the case. In 55 minutes of 5 vs. 5 hockey, the Devils were +19 in Corsi (shot attempt differential). That's pretty impressive."

I just feel like we were saying that all last season too. It's obviously only the first game but hopefully we wont just be patting ourselves on the back about how we can spend all game in the offensive zone...
- MannySilvers

I agree all that zone time is worthless if the majority of shots don't pose any threat. We had a few close in stuff attempts but not enough. Need more shots from the rush and some one-timers down low. Something to really test the goalie. Not these weak ass wristers from the point we love to waste a good 45 seconds of cycling to get. It's frustrating watching them posses the puck for most of the game and create very little. Having a guy like Gelinas right now would help but we like to roll out Volchenkov and Harold instead....

the whole Urbom thing continues to bug me when i think of the fact that Urbom-Gelinas >>> Volchenkov-Harrold. We lost Urbom for nothing. To me, he was either a potential mid-pairing guy, or dman to be packaged in a trade for a useful piece. He had value. Harrold has ZERO value for this team moving forward.

the game.

1st game, 4 of the top 6 wingers were new. New players, new system for those players. After the 1st, they found their legs, better lines were put together (I knew DeBoer should've just sticked with the lines he had before the recent change..), and they played the system tighter and forchecked harder = more time in offensive zone, better management in the defensive zone.

Jagr and Brunner were our best forwards. Zajac and Zubrus were good too. Clowe doesn't look slow at all.. and neither does Jagr. These are serviceable wingers for us and I'm sure Ryder will show himself soon enough. - Relieved we didn't acquire bad eggs. It's game 1- everyone will get better.. including the newbies.

The D, while it improved after the 1st, is still mediocre at best. Larsson looked solid, as he did in preseason. We're relying VERY heavily on the forwards making up for the below-average defense. I feel it somewhat stifles the transition game because our D are so immobile and just not very good. Can't wait for Merrill, Gelinas and Santini to arrive and for Salvador, Volchenkov, Zidlicky, Harrold, to all be gone. The D is going to be so much better in a few years. Still pissed we lost Urbom.. would've been nice to package with a pick/prospect/player for something useful.

We'll only get better. I really like the positives, and the negatives can be managed. Even when we're on our game, i'm weary about the D. But once we start pressure in the offensive zone, we're pretty good at sustaining it and maintaining control. Just have to finish. With more games will come more chemistry, and we'll be fine.

to the lines.

Should've went with what he had a week ago. oh well. moving forward, Lokti-Brunner looked good. Henrique-Zajac-Jagr was our best line. 4th line was OK. Elias was not so great in the middle. I hope that was a 1 game experiment.

Henrique-Zajac-Jagr
Zubrus-Loktionov-Brunner
Clowe-Elias-Ryder

I can't imagine that 3rd line doing much, but I don't think DeBoer wants to break up the other 2. I'd switch Elias and Henrique and see how that goes. Elias' skill would be nice to see with Zajac-Jagr. ZLB line looked good. More of that please.

looking forward to game 2- wish I could watch it. Hope Brodeur is ok mentally.

is there a stat anywhere that compares Elias and Henrique's FO % in the last few seasons? It's 4am and I really need to stop researching audiophile junk and sleep. Farewell.

henrique was junk on the wing

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

Need more shots that are actually a threat to go in. I would say 5 maybe 6 shots where at all a threat. We cycling well and then pass to the point and get a horrible shot praying for a deflection. This would work if we actually had good dmen but we don't.
- NickA

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.