Take stupid penalties we always get burned

just play the fourth line on the power play.

perhaps we keep Wood and McLeod together.. and I guess Zacha with Zajac by default? Or put Zacha on the RW of Wood-McLeod and put Kuokkanen to the left of Zajac? We could of course put Gusev to the left of Hischier and Sharangovich on a bottom 6 RW spot..

Sharangovich-Hischier-Palmieri
Johnsson-Hughes-Bratt
Zacha-Zajac-Gusev
Wood-McLeod-Kuokkanen

just play the fourth line on the power play.
- Pomegrant

I second that

3 for 25 we may have the worst PP and struggle to even create chances

Severson loves the pipe

perhaps we keep Wood and McLeod together.. and I guess Zacha with Zajac by default? Or put Zacha on the RW of Wood-McLeod and put Kuokkanen to the left of Zajac?

Sharangovich-Hischier-Palmieri
Johnsson-Hughes-Bratt
Zacha-Zajac-Gusev
Wood-McLeod-Kuokkanen
- MartysBetter88

With how they're playing right now, im taking Sharangovich or Gusev out before i take Bastian out. But we're still likely another 1-2 weeks away at a minimum from Nico returning so a lot can happen until then with this schedule

With how they're playing right now, im taking Sharangovich or Gusev out before i take Bastian out. But we're still likely another 1-2 weeks away at a minimum from Nico returning so a lot can happen until then with this schedule
- vlongo4419

and apparently Palmieri out now. it is what it is.

Good game

and apparently Palmieri out now. it is what it is.
- MartysBetter88

Yep covid related absence. But if they continue to play how they are im not breaking up the Johnsson/Hughes/Bratt and Wood or Kuok/McLeod/Bastian lines, they've been our best 2 lines the past few games. Mix and match the rest of the guys to figure out what works with the other 2 lines

I just wanna see this team play at full strength with a complete lineup for once. But these covid situations were expected, and they'll continue to happen throughout the rest of the season

perhaps we keep Wood and McLeod together.. and I guess Zacha with Zajac by default? Or put Zacha on the RW of Wood-McLeod and put Kuokkanen to the left of Zajac? We could of course put Gusev to the left of Hischier and Sharangovich on a bottom 6 RW spot..

Sharangovich-Hischier-Palmieri
Johnsson-Hughes-Bratt
Zacha-Zajac-Gusev
Wood-McLeod-Kuokkanen
- MartysBetter88

I'd take Zacha out before Bastian at this point.

and apparently Palmieri out now. it is what it is.
- MartysBetter88

If I understand the rules correctly, Palmieri now needs 4 negative tests over the next 7 days before he return, so with him and Hischier still out no need for them to make a decision for at least a week.

I'd take Zacha out before Bastian at this point.
- rmdevil313

Bastian has played well in his role. Our penalty kill has been poop and Zacha is supposed to be a major part of that. Also, I know Zacha isn't going to provide a lot of offense but some of these chances he's missing is unacceptable. I don't expect him to bury all of them but he is fed prime scoring chances and can't capitalize on any of them.

If I understand the rules correctly, Palmieri now needs 4 negative tests over the next 7 days before he return, so with him and Hischier still out no need for them to make a decision for at least a week.
- smellmyfinger

Its not looking good that we're leaving a trail of positive tests at the moment. Doubt he'll be the last positive.

If I understand the rules correctly, Palmieri now needs 4 negative tests over the next 7 days before he return, so with him and Hischier still out no need for them to make a decision for at least a week.
- smellmyfinger

Not necessarily. It depends why he's on the protocol list. Theres 5 different reasons a player can be put on the list, and the earliest a player can get off is 2 days as we've seen with multiple players around the league already.

Bastian has played well in his role. Our penalty kill has been poop and Zacha is supposed to be a major part of that. Also, I know Zacha isn't going to provide a lot of offense but some of these chances he's missing is unacceptable. I don't expect him to bury all of them but he is fed prime scoring chances and can't capitalize on any of them.
- Pomegrant

I've learned to not expect offensive production from Zacha but he's been way too casual in his own zone recently. There was one play today at the end of a shift where he had the option to chip it up the boards and clear the zone but he did a blind spin pass across the ice to no one. Just so stupid while sitting on a one goal lead, especially since he doesn't get to use the rookie excuse.

Its not looking good that we're leaving a trail of positive tests at the moment. Doubt he'll be the last positive.
- rmdevil313

Yep. The only real positive to playing a season under these conditions is we are sure to get some looks at Maltsev, Merkley, McLeod, Kuokkanen, etc that we wouldn't normally get.

Not necessarily. It depends why he's on the protocol list. Theres 5 different reasons a player can be put on the list, and the earliest a player can get off is 2 days as we've seen with multiple players around the league already.
- vlongo4419

Good to know, any chance you know what the requirements are for getting out of protocol that early? I had read something about needing negative tests on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 to get out of protocol.

Good to know, any chance you know what the requirements are for getting out of protocol that early? I had read something about needing negative tests on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 to get out of protocol.
- smellmyfinger

The 4 positive tests in a 7 day span are the normal quarantine protocols for flying into the country, and if you have a confirmed positive test. But i have no idea what they are, i think its something to do with a close contact that gets cleared or a false positive. I just know multiple players have already gone onto the covid list and cleared the list then played 2 nights later. Coleman was one, Josh Bailey too when the Isles played us. We would need to know why Palms went onto the list, which we likely won't be told so no point in speculating. At this point im just hoping Palms, Trav, and Blackwood are okay and its not something that will keep spreading


But if you wanna take a positive out of it, it's giving us a chance to get all of these kids in and give them a few looks that some of them may not have gotten with a fully healthy team.

I know the devil's are going and learning

But we do need to figure out how to minimize the stupid penalties. Some here and there are expected but it seems we take more unnecessary penalties than we should including when we are on the power play

Our power play needs massive help, 3 for 25+ and many times we haven't had any pressure and can't get into the zone.

Overall the devil's are playing better than I thought they would be and really haven't looked out of a game.

Who saw the clip of ruff after the game congratulating cormier on his win McLeod's first 2 goal game and then said first game subban hasn't been a - in the +/- column?

Ouch guys got jokes

Reilly Walsh goal in preseason

I mean, the only real similarity between Hall and Wood are that they are fast. Maybe you could argue they both drive to the net hard too, but part of that is because Wood can't stop or change directions after a couple steps.
- rmdevil313

Ya. And that is how I summarize Hall as well. He can change direction and speed a little better for sure, but mostly thrives on burning up the wing. There is a reason he dominated on the point sheet by over 30 points when he was a Dev. He generates chances on his ability to drive the wing. He does a lot on his own, while not requiring much in terms of quality line-mates. He doesn't make other around him much better, but you can have him be effective with a cheap supporting cast.

If you watch Woods game, he just drives the wing, and works his tail off. Passing is not one of his greatest attributes. But he is fearless, drives the net, and works his tail off every shift. Hall obviously has another level to his game, that can see him working the puck around on the PP, whereas Wood is used as a screen/net-front presence. Happy to see the 4th line doing so well. If only Zacha could just figure out how to pull the trigger, we could string together 4 decent lines.

just play the fourth line on the power play.
- Pomegrant

Why are we playing Palms in the middle passer position on a 1-3-1 Power Play setup? I thought he was our best trigger man? Bratt/Gusev/Hughes are all far better options to free up our top sniper.

Apparently Fitz is the Pens number 1 choice for their GM position

Apparently Fitz is the Pens number 1 choice for their GM position
- dmarsden2988

Friedman on 31 Thoughts this morning said that he's no longer a candidate. The Devils declined permission for the Pens to talk to him, and he was pulled out of the race for the job