Todd Cordell: Devils surprisingly stout in 5-2 win over Oilers

Awesome game, it was fun to watch. The eye test said the Devils were dominant. But I didn't look at the numbers, Todd is always good at giving us the key figures which really support what we saw.

My yeomans takes are:

- The Devils looked 'hard to play against', fast and aggressive. Hynes work is showing in the product.

- Miles Wood said in an interview he focused on his hands all summer, and it shows.

- Wood and Zajac seem to work well together, and Q was involved most shifts.

- Mojo looked awesome. Different player than we have seen. Zacha also. I really like that pairing.

- I think this Europe trip was good for the group, they seem to already have chemistry.

- I was impressed with Mueller. He made a few key little stick plays in tight spots against McDavid that probably saved goals. Still scares the hell out of me having him on line 1. But less so after yesterday's showing. I will reserve judgement for the time being.

- I would like to just take a moment to praise the hockey gods and reiterate how beautiful it is to have an actual high horsepower top line on this team after the dark days of having players like Tootoo on the top line to fill the slot. Whatever happens these guys are young, fast and fun to watch.

- Dea looked good and was blocking shots. So far nothing too obviously horrible.

- The team looked okay less Bratt. Still feel real bad for the kid. Happy to have some depth to cover.

- Boyle looked good on the wing, and I liked Coleman at C, playing Boyle-Coleman-Noesen line when Bratt returns might be something to look at.

- Thanks for Hall female doges. That game must have made Oilers fans throw up in their mouths a little.

- Nothing like getting me all horned up for some hockey and making me wait 4 days. Looking forward to a huge test of our optimism Thursday against the Caps.

Awesome game, it was fun to watch. The eye test said the Devils were dominant. But I didn't look at the numbers, Todd is always good at giving us the key figures which really support what we saw.

My yeomans takes are:

- The Devils looked 'hard to play against', fast and aggressive. Hynes work is showing in the product.

- Miles Wood said in an interview he focused on his hands all summer, and it shows.

- Wood and Zajac seem to work well together, and Q was involved most shifts.

- Mojo looked awesome. Different player than we have seen. Zacha also. I really like that pairing.

- I think this Europe trip was good for the group, they seem to already have chemistry.

- I was impressed with Mueller. He made a few key little stick plays in tight spots against McDavid that probably saved goals. Still scares the hell out of me having him on line 1. But less so after yesterday's showing. I will reserve judgement for the time being.

- I would like to just take a moment to praise the hockey gods and reiterate how beautiful it is to have an actual high horsepower top line on this team after the dark days of having players like Tootoo on the top line to fill the slot. Whatever happens these guys are young, fast and fun to watch.

- Dea looked good and was blocking shots. So far nothing too obviously horrible.

- The team looked okay less Bratt. Still feel real bad for the kid. Happy to have some depth to cover.

- Boyle looked good on the wing, and I liked Coleman at C, playing Boyle-Coleman-Noesen line when Bratt returns might be something to look at.

- Thanks for Hall female doges. That game must have made Oilers fans throw up in their mouths a little.

- Nothing like getting me all horned up for some hockey and making me wait 4 days. Looking forward to a huge test of our optimism Thursday against the Caps.
- TRDevil

Optimism is going to be tested all month:

Caps
Sharks
Stars
Avs
Flyers
Predators
Panthers
Lightning

That's a brutal schedule to start a season.

What do you guys think about Nylander? If there was somehow a way Shero could wrangle it, the following lineup would be possible:

Hall - Nico - Palms
Mojo - Zacha - Nylander
Wood - Zajac - Bratt
Quenneville - Coleman - Noesen

Would be pretty decent, no?

Optimism is going to be tested all month:

Caps
Sharks
Stars
Avs
Flyers
Predators
Panthers
Lightning

That's a brutal schedule to start a season.
- smellmyfinger

If they can make it through at .500 they will have done well. I have a feeling they will take a few of those teams out though.

Awesome game, it was fun to watch. The eye test said the Devils were dominant. But I didn't look at the numbers, Todd is always good at giving us the key figures which really support what we saw.

My yeomans takes are:

- The Devils looked 'hard to play against', fast and aggressive. Hynes work is showing in the product.

- Miles Wood said in an interview he focused on his hands all summer, and it shows.

- Wood and Zajac seem to work well together, and Q was involved most shifts.

- Mojo looked awesome. Different player than we have seen. Zacha also. I really like that pairing.

- I think this Europe trip was good for the group, they seem to already have chemistry.

- I was impressed with Mueller. He made a few key little stick plays in tight spots against McDavid that probably saved goals. Still scares the hell out of me having him on line 1. But less so after yesterday's showing. I will reserve judgement for the time being.

- I would like to just take a moment to praise the hockey gods and reiterate how beautiful it is to have an actual high horsepower top line on this team after the dark days of having players like Tootoo on the top line to fill the slot. Whatever happens these guys are young, fast and fun to watch.

- Dea looked good and was blocking shots. So far nothing too obviously horrible.

- The team looked okay less Bratt. Still feel real bad for the kid. Happy to have some depth to cover.

- Boyle looked good on the wing, and I liked Coleman at C, playing Boyle-Coleman-Noesen line when Bratt returns might be something to look at.

- Thanks for Hall female doges. That game must have made Oilers fans throw up in their mouths a little.

Nothing like getting me all horned up for some hockey and making me wait 4 days. Looking forward to a huge test of our optimism Thursday against the Caps.
- TRDevil

Oh we definitely have been throwing up for the past 24 hours now. Not because of Hall tho lol. I dont think he even had a point. Mostly just for the fact that we suck forever and there is no escaping it and even rebuilding teams sail right by us after a year or two of us being inept. Same old same old here in OilCountry

What do you guys think about Nylander? If there was somehow a way Shero could wrangle it, the following lineup would be possible:

Hall - Nico - Palms
Mojo - Zacha - Nylander
Wood - Zajac - Bratt
Quenneville - Coleman - Noesen

Would be pretty decent, no?
- TRDevil

Nylander would be a great add, but the price is likely to be very high, especially for a team that should be looking at adding a defender if they are trading.

Hrm, nope. Not a flames blog. Seems to be hiding.

Would like to see Santini (or even Gryba) in over Lovejoy. Not dumping on him but he looked slow and struggled at times.

I gotta admit I was impressed with both Wood and Zacha. Bummer I won't get to watch another game until next week!

What do you guys think about Nylander? If there was somehow a way Shero could wrangle it, the following lineup would be possible:

Hall - Nico - Palms
Mojo - Zacha - Nylander
Wood - Zajac - Bratt
Quenneville - Coleman - Noesen

Would be pretty decent, no?
- TRDevil

That’s a big price to pay for him

If we have a winning % after October's schedule, we are playoff bound.