Todd Cordell: Devils 2, Canucks 0: Five takeaways from New Jersey's third straight win

The team is starting to falter a bit for sure, the last three wins after the break have been extremely close games that easily could have been lost. But a win's a win. At a certain point if they keep this up a little bit longer they'll have banked so many points that they'll just have to not completely fall apart to stay in the playoff hunt.

Also waiting to see this team with all of the forwards healthy. Hall, Hischier, Bratt, Palmieri, Johansson, Henrique, Zajac, Boyle, Zacha, Stafford, Wood...not to mention team-leader-in-goals Brian Gibbons...this is actually a very deep forward group, and we all know the goaltending is fantastic. The D just needs to hold it together.

It would be nice to see some games like the first three. The last six wins have all been by one goal (not counting the empty-netter last night). Three of those in OT/shootout. 9-2-0 is awesome but a few bounces go a bit differently and the record could be very very different. They're fortunate to have the sparkling record they have at the moment.

Thank you for a honest blog

Todd Cordell: Devils 2, Canucks 0: Five takeaways from New Jersey's third straight win
- Todd.Cordell

Schneider stole 2 points for us. Simple as that.

With the longish breaks between games and missing palms and Johanson it makes you wonder how that is effecting how they play

The devils have 3 powerplays the last 2 games and been on the PK I believe 10 times, hopefully they can find a way to take less penalties

We we're definitely hemmed in all night and were lucky Hayes was in the right spot at the right time for the rebound on halls shot

Schneider with an amazing game

Not easy when missing some players, road trip, long layoffs from games but they have found ways to win which is all that matters

Hall and Schneider are beasts so far this year!
Don't mind the close games as long as we win them; last year these were the games we were losing.
What's the latest on Johansson that did not look too good.

Yeah I guess you just have to consider they are winning games this year that last year they would've folded and lost. Still can't believe this is the best start in Devils history considering the rosters we had in the past.

Why are all you so negative?!

The Devils consistently find ways to win - that is a hallmark of great teams. We are 4th in the league. Everyone should be so happy and proud instead of whining how we barely won, blah blah.

Only 7 teams have allowed fewer total goals this year and we just pitched a shutout against Vancouver, but every Devil's fan is worried about this defense.

And rightfully so.

Reality will come crashing in at some point, but screw it. Enjoy the ride!

I think the Devils are both not as good as their record and not as bad as everyone thought they would be. If they can keep this going a bit longer, and then get healthy, even if they come back to earth I think they'll have a very real shot at the playoffs.

I think the Devils are both not as good as their record and not as bad as everyone thought they would be. If they can keep this going a bit longer, and then get healthy, even if they come back to earth I think they'll have a very real shot at the playoffs.
- MannySilvers

I don't agree with "I think the Devils are both not as good as their record" because in sports the goal is to win, any way possible. So if they are 9-2, then they are 100% as good as their record. The record reflects the team. Top 5 goalie. Hall playing better than I ever thought he could. Constant forechecking, skating, hitting from all 4 lines and you still say they aren't as good?

Perhaps other teams aren't playing to their potential and we are.

Regardless of the lack of "name power" on the team, this type of play will lead to the playoffs and when it does Shero will give up the first rounder (would be mid-low pick at that point) for a Dman.

Only 7 teams have allowed fewer total goals this year and we just pitched a shutout against Vancouver, but every Devil's fan is worried about this defense.

And rightfully so.

Reality will come crashing in at some point, but screw it. Enjoy the ride!
- Queenie_5_hole

I don’t see it coming crashing down but they will start to lose some games if they play like they did last night and struggle to get the puck out of the zone but the offense is improved and they still manage to produce quality scoring chances

I don't agree with "I think the Devils are both not as good as their record" because in sports the goal is to win, any way possible. So if they are 9-2, then they are 100% as good as their record. The record reflects the team. Top 5 goalie. Hall playing better than I ever thought he could. Constant forechecking, skating, hitting from all 4 lines and you still say they aren't as good?

Perhaps other teams aren't playing to their potential and we are.

Regardless of the lack of "name power" on the team, this type of play will lead to the playoffs and when it does Shero will give up the first rounder (would be mid-low pick at that point) for a Dman.
- Leniwm1

this is some of the dumbest poop. You can win games you didn't deserve to because one of your players has an exceptional performance. This is called a variance high. However, Schneider can't play like that every night and when he regresses to the mean, you lose that game every time. This is the same poop that has happened in Montreal. They actually suck but Price has carried that team for years. Now that you're seeing Price be average, the team looks awful.

Winning one game playing poorly is always possible. Winning a lot of games over time playing poorly, you won't. That's the point. Right now our team could easily be at .500. The play needs to improve if the team wants to succeed long term.

Why are all you so negative?!

The Devils consistently find ways to win - that is a hallmark of great teams. We are 4th in the league. Everyone should be so happy and proud instead of whining how we barely won, blah blah.
- Leniwm1

you're precious

this is some of the dumbest poop. You can win games you didn't deserve to because one of your players has an exceptional performance. This is called a variance high. However, Schneider can't play like that every night and when he regresses to the mean, you lose that game every time. This is the same poop that has happened in Montreal. They actually suck but Price has carried that team for years. Now that you're seeing Price be average, the team looks awful.

Winning one game playing poorly is always possible. Winning a lot of games over time playing poorly, you won't. That's the point. Right now our team could easily be at .500. The play needs to improve if the team wants to succeed long term.
- Pomegrant

Not 9 out 11 though. So no.

this is some of the dumbest poop. You can win games you didn't deserve to because one of your players has an exceptional performance. This is called a variance high. However, Schneider can't play like that every night and when he regresses to the mean, you lose that game every time. This is the same poop that has happened in Montreal. They actually suck but Price has carried that team for years. Now that you're seeing Price be average, the team looks awful.

Winning one game playing poorly is always possible. Winning a lot of games over time playing poorly, you won't. That's the point. Right now our team could easily be at .500. The play needs to improve if the team wants to succeed long term.
- Pomegrant

The Devils are still technically rebuilding this is purely a development year for the young players nothing more

Not 9 out 11 though. So no.
- Leniwm1

Are you saying the team didn’t deserve to win 9 of those games? I would say maybe 2-3 could have easily been losses

Are you saying the team didn’t deserve to win 9 of those games? I would say maybe 2-3 could have easily been losses
- K-dizzle

Im only saying we won 9, we won 9. Which means we earned 9 wins through our play, regardless how bad you guys think we played. WE WON 9 games. All 11 games could have been losses, see AZ... But we played hard and won 9. We earned 9 wins.

Cheer up people.

Are you saying the team didn’t deserve to win 9 of those games? I would say maybe 2-3 could have easily been losses
- K-dizzle

Exactly. There have been many games in which we were out shot/out chanced by the opponent and still won. We've been on a big winning streak but easily could be on a big losing streak. It goes both ways.

Exactly. There have been many games in which we were out shot/out chanced by the opponent and still won. We've been on a big winning streak but easily could be on a big losing streak. It goes both ways.
- Pomegrant

There is no rule that states you need to outshoot our out chance your opponent in order to win. In those cases we didn't, just means how efficient we are.

Not 9 out 11 though. So no.
- Leniwm1

In the NHL 11 games really isn't that big of a samples size, it's 13% of the season. Last season the Flyers had a 10 game winning streak and they ended up missing the playoffs. Winning a bunch over a stretch of a few games doesn't always equate to being a great team over the full season.

The point is 9-2-0 as their record looks like they're one of the top teams in the league, and yes obviously strictly standings speaking, at the moment they are. But part of watching a team at an early point in the season is the classic "who is for real?" question which pretty much is equates to "who is actually as good as their record indicates?"

Obviously winning is all that matters, but the point is saying "Okay based on what has happened so far in these games, besides the simple final score, does this look like a team that will finish at the top of the conference?" and when you have more often than not been out possessed and out shot, when you give up more scoring chances than almost any other team in the league, plus 6 of your 9 wins are by one goal (three in OT) then there is reason to believe they are not "for real" - as in they aren't actually a top team in the league despite their record at the early going saying so.

It's not being negative, the team has been super fun to watch - but as a fan you're fooling yourself a bit if 11 games in you feel strongly that the Devils are truly the best team in the east because they have the best record (points % wise, less games played than Tampa).

I say we all sit back and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

I say we all sit back and enjoy the ride while it lasts.
- FAZOOL

This is probably the best attitude to have

In the NHL 11 games really isn't that big of a samples size, it's 13% of the season. Last season the Flyers had a 10 game winning streak and they ended up missing the playoffs. Winning a bunch over a stretch of a few games doesn't always equate to being a great team over the full season.

The point is 9-2-0 as their record looks like they're one of the top teams in the league, and yes obviously strictly standings speaking, at the moment they are. But part of watching a team at an early point in the season is the classic "who is for real?" question which pretty much is equates to "who is actually as good as their record indicates?"

Obviously winning is all that matters, but the point is saying "Okay based on what has happened so far in these games, besides the simple final score, does this look like a team that will finish at the top of the conference?" and when you have more often than not been out possessed and out shot, when you give up more scoring chances than almost any other team in the league, plus 6 of your 9 wins are by one goal (three in OT) then there is reason to believe they are not "for real" - as in they aren't actually a top team in the league despite their record at the early going saying so.

It's not being negative, the team has been super fun to watch - but as a fan you're fooling yourself a bit if 11 games in you feel strongly that the Devils are truly the best team in the east because they have the best record (points % wise, less games played than Tampa).
- MannySilvers

Before the season started I told everyone the Devils will surprise people. I wasn't pulling that out of my ass. So I'm sticking to my gut with we are making the playoffs, through strong play and not squeaking in.

I get your point, but my differs.