Todd Cordell: Devils can't beat Quick as Kings shutout New Jersey to take 3-0 series lead

The only words I can come up with for how I feel about last nights performance are disheartening, lackluster, and embarrassing.

I know this series is over but I really think deboer should keep the lines from the end of last game.
Parise-henrique-kovy
Elias-zajac-zubrus
Poni-josefson-clarkson
Carter-gionta-bernier

I also think he should put larsson in the lineup. He scored a huge goal for us in the philly series maybe he could do something good in this one.

Where do i start with that debacle of a game?! I'm so disgusted because i know we're much better than what i saw last night.

Our PP is a (frank)ing abortion!
How many times are we going to shoot the puck right into Quick's pads and chest and not get any traffic in front of him?! Shoot the (frank)ing puck high; aim for his damn mask! He's a great goalie and has payed well but we are making it really easy for him.
I understand he's hurting but Kovy is more of a liability than an asset at this point. His careless turnovers and inability to keep the puck in the zone on the PP's is leading to too many chances for the Kings.
JJ if you're not going to shoot then ride the pine; you weren't inserted into the lineup to give up the puck on quality scoring opps.
Defense WTF?! Why is Martinez all alone in front of Marty whacking at the puck 3-4 times on the first goal?! Harrold was in position and should have been able to prevent the pass from getting through to Kopitar for the second goal.

We looked tired and slow compared to the Kings. They are on an incredible run and any team that wins 10 road games during the playoffs are focused beyond belief and almost certain to go all the way.
After losing game 2 i had a sense this series was over, after goal 2 last night now i know it's over.

Thank you Devils for a great season but it looks like destiny is with the Kings this year. (Hopefully i'm wrong)

I know this series is over but I really think deboer should keep the lines from the end of last game.
Parise-henrique-kovy
Elias-zajac-zubrus
Poni-josefson-clarkson
Carter-gionta-bernier

I also think he should put larsson in the lineup. He scored a huge goal for us in the philly series maybe he could do something good in this one.
- BDizzlez

Kovy and Parise have no chemistry whatsoever. Spilt them up. Go back to the lines from the NYR series. Those were much better and balanced. Honestly though, Kovy is injured. Parise has done nothing. Elias is playing like he is on another planet. He has disappointed me the most. Clarkson needs a shooter tutor. The guy has no accuracy whatsoever. If I see Greene get burnt by Carter down the boards one more time I might cry.

Kovy and Parise have no chemistry whatsoever. Spilt them up. Go back to the lines from the NYR series. Those were much better and balanced. Honestly though, Kovy is injured. Parise has done nothing. Elias is playing like he is on another planet. He has disappointed me the most. Clarkson needs a shooter tutor. The guy has no accuracy whatsoever. If I see Greene get burnt by Carter down the boards one more time I might cry.
- Kovaltron

you sum up my feelings

Zach Parise is believed to be fully healthy.

Bingo Todd i blame him way more then i blame Kovy. Hes the captain and the non gimped star and this is what he does in the finals. Very disappointing to say the least with Zach. There best players have been the best in this series and ours well i think its pretty obvious they have been the worst players in this series. Still its been a hell of a run and i never expected them to get to the conference finals let alone the cup. I'm proud of the team and just hope there is a miracle in them but im not holding my breathe.

Kovy and Parise have no chemistry whatsoever. Spilt them up. Go back to the lines from the NYR series. Those were much better and balanced. Honestly though, Kovy is injured. Parise has done nothing. Elias is playing like he is on another planet. He has disappointed me the most. Clarkson needs a shooter tutor. The guy has no accuracy whatsoever. If I see Greene get burnt by Carter down the boards one more time I might cry.
- Kovaltron

I dunno parise-henrique-kovy was great in the regular season. When deboer has tried to put zajac between them however its been downright atrocious.

With out a doubt we are DOOMED

I dunno parise-henrique-kovy was great in the regular season. When deboer has tried to put zajac between them however its been downright atrocious.
- BDizzlez

They werent as good as 2 superstars on the same line should be. At least one is playing out of position. The lines against NYR and PHI were way more balanced with them split up. Any coincidence that we wont those series and now they are back together we cant score a goal?

They werent as good as 2 superstars on the same line should be. At least one is playing out of position. The lines against NYR and PHI were way more balanced with them split up. Any coincidence that we wont those series and now they are back together we cant score a goal?
- Kovaltron

We also had Sykora in maybe its him thats the key to success

They werent as good as 2 superstars on the same line should be. At least one is playing out of position. The lines against NYR and PHI were way more balanced with them split up. Any coincidence that we wont those series and now they are back together we cant score a goal?
- Kovaltron

the problem with splitting them up is the D can isolate Kovy or Parise. Zajac, Zubrus, Poni, Henrique weren't getting open.. and Parise/Kovy were unable to make plays to them as they were swarmed. I don't mind them on the same line.. we don't really have another option.

Maybe put Patrik on the right with one of them? Even Elias doesn't have the finish tho. We have no one that can finish. How scary is that reality. NO ONE can FINISH. No one can aim. No one can power the puck through. No one can hit that back bar. Its either wide, high, or into the chest, into the leg pad (of an amazing goalie), right in the glove.

I'd try ..
Parise-Zajac-Elias
Kovalchuk-Henrique-Zubrus
Sykora-Josefson-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Elias is smart enough to make some skill plays on the wing and maybe find Parise. Henrique has some speed and Zubrus can hold it in the zone, maybe generate a play for Kovy's shot.. cuz Kovy can't generate any plays by himself being as hobbled as he is out there. sad to watch.
Josefson and his speed can maybe get Sykora some good looks. Clarkson just has to bang around and go to the net.
its all desperation.. but it can all work.

Kings are simply too good this year. No one was going to beat them this playoffs.

With out a doubt we are DOOMED
- shvingter88

Oh well, season still quite the success, plus you don't have to worry about giving up a top 10 pick for the Kovalchuk debacle.

The only words I can come up with for how I feel about last nights performance are disheartening, lackluster, and embarrassing.
- Kovaltron

I wouldn't be embarrassed, NJ has had a great run. They just ran into a ridiculous goalie and a team playing at it's peak. No reason to be embarrassed losing to this team the way they're playing.

Oh well, season still quite the success, plus you don't have to worry about giving up a top 10 pick for the Kovalchuk debacle.
- Lahey

The real unfortunate part is Rammstein's tour concluded May 25th.

I wouldn't be embarrassed, NJ has had a great run. They just ran into a ridiculous goalie and a team playing at it's peak. No reason to be embarrassed losing to this team the way they're playing.
- canadianpenfan

I am not embarrassed by the team or the season they have had. I am very proud. Game 3 however, was embarrassing. They honestly looked like they just gave up after it went to 2-0. It was hard to watch.

anybody got a broom?

anybody got a broom?
- Oil_Addict

Yes the kings do

Yes the kings do
- shvingter88

good run by the devils, 28 other teams would want to be in your position, it seems like you can't fight destiny

They had to score on the 5 on 3 but they didn't.

The Kings are on fire this year as they destroyed Vancouver, Blues and Coyotes. Maybe it's just their year.

The Devils had many chances, but if you can't score on them, the other team will.

They need to take one game at a time and like you said, put some traffic in front of Quick.

Devils have nothing to be ashamed or embarassed about. They had a wonderful season. The Kings are just that good. Everyone kept saying LA never faced adversity, totally forgetting the fact LA faced it for 82 games in the regular season. They made teams look so bad that people assumed the other teams just sucked, but it's just LA playing their game perfectly.

Devils were great. I hope you guys keep Parise. I really do. I wanted him in LA (I still do) but I hope you keep him. Of course if you don't I hope we do.

Here's to a clean Game 4

Not trolling here, but as a Wings fan who felt the sting of a sweep 17 years ago, I'm pulling for the Kings. Welcome to the club

gimp kovy vs. gimp gaborik, Brodeur vs. Lundqvist, Devils vs. Rangers.. DeBoer vs. Torts, we won convincingly in 6. Thats something to be happy about. We made the Flyers look silly, frustrated, childlike. Thats something to be happy about. We got past the 1st round against the overachieving Panthers.. winning the last 2 games in overtime.. that was fun.
But its never fun to come so far and come out with NOTHING. Hopefully we can get a win to avoid being swept. Maybe we can then win at home in game 5 and break their road win streak.
So that would make it 3-2 Kings. We'd still have to win 2 more without losing one. .. that in itself is seemingly impossible with the speed, strength, and health of the Kings.. vs the age, struggle and grind of the Devils.

The only words I can come up with for how I feel about last nights performance are disheartening, lackluster, and embarrassing.
- Kovaltron

If you look at the performance as a whole, taking away the score and the four goals, it was pretty even. Up until the Kings scored first, we were playing better than them. The matter of it is we can't find a way to finish, and that's a testament to the Kings defensively and Quick. If there ever is such a small glimpse of hope in this series, its that we have been in every game, let's face it, if we scored on one of our chances before they scored, it would be an entirely different game. Once they scored, we got frustrated. Same goes for two OT games, we didn't get destroyed by the Kings by any means, we just can't find ways to finish.

If the hockey gods somehow give us some luck in finishing scoring chances, we could have a glimmer of hope in this series, a very small glimmer though.