Pretty much, yeah that's blasphemy. If there was an endless pit near us I'd have to kick you in it.
I joke I joke.
Really thought I'm not sure how it's arguable that Malkin and Crosby aren't the top two players in the league. The only thing controversial about them being the top two is who is number 1 and who's number 2.
Ovechkin hasn't put in an elite season in over two years now. Crosby hasn't played much in two years, but when he does he lights it up. Ovechkin doesn't have an excuse.
I'm not so quick to jump into the "Ovechkin will never be the same" line of thinking just yet. This will be his second down year in a row (although last year he was still better than a PPG player).
Let's also consider the circumstances they've been in. Crosby has always had Malkin (and more recently Letang) to help shoulder the load. He's been on a team with a better coach with a better system and a better supporting cast.
Ovechkin's down years have come when Green and Backstrom either haven't been around or haven't played well. Look at Washington's PP numbers, which plummet from first in the league (09-10) to sixteenth (10-11) and now twentieth.
I'm going to wait until Green and Backstrom are back in full swing to evaluate whether or not Ovechkin's game is gone.
If we keep relying on Hank to "save" us game after game, how can Torts rest him if we want to stay in first? I am scared to think of Biron in games for us. You could drive a truck through his fivehole and everyone knows it.
Pens are charging, there is a lot of hockey left and Boston can make a go of it. Girardi looked gassed, Cally looked like he should be in the training room with his foot propped up, etc etc. It does us no favors to ride these all-important guys game after game. At this rate, Girardi's legs will be dead by the playoffs.
Big WTF at Dubi fighting. Isn't that why we got what's-his-face from Florida? To fight? No one cares if he breaks his hand, but if Dubi broke a bone or something in that pathetic beatdown, FML.
When you give up a GA 49 seconds into a game, are you guys of the camp of "no big deal; there's lots of time left" or "game over due to total lack of preparation?"
When you give up a GA 49 seconds into a game, are you guys of the camp of "no big deal; there's lots of time left" or "game over due to total lack of preparation?"
The former except, saying its "no big deal" ain't right. It's a huge deal giving up a tally that quick but manageable.
Part of the reason the defense gets worn down is that we have no offense, don't control the puck, and other teams can pinch their defensemen, since they have little to fear from our offense, and can take penalties at will, since we won't score on the powerless play. In any case, we've had 3 power plays in the last two games, which is a reflection of our lack of offensive pressure.
Also, we made no moves at the deadline, while other teams got some fresh blood. I'm glad we didn't mortgage the farm to get Nash, and the standing still at the deadline will help us in the future - I think we're building a dynamic deep team that will be Cup contenders for years, but I doubt we can win the Cup this year with our lack of offense and a pathetic power play.
I do think we should bring up some fresh talent from the farm, if only to get some more energy and give some of our top guys a breather to go into the playoffs on an upswing.
Anyone can look up my posts and see I'm not the biggest Torts' fan, but enough is enough. His stubborness with the dump and chase system is so frustrating. No one here can tell me Scott or Mitchell or Feds can bring more to this team than Zucc can. Look at the PP and then look at how many guys we have that can fight. We're not going anywhere grinding this long, it takes too much a toll on the players.
Its obvious that this type of play is far more energy consuming than actually playing the puck. In a long NHL season it has to wear them out especially as he doesnt use more players. This is going to blow up on his face in the playoff if not sooner. I`m surprised that a player like Richards is comfortable with this, or is he?
From the games I've seen the Devils and Rangers play, the Devils are a mismatch for the Rangers. Our most effective form of offense comes from the boards and below the goaline. The Devils have some very strong defenders along the boards (Volchenkov, Salvador, and even Fayne) WHILE having Marty to fish pucks from behind the net and throw them into safe areas with his passing skill, which is top notch still to this day.
Up front, their players are more dynamic than grinding, bigger players AND can play that way if need be. It's why we struggle with Tampa, Montreal, Ottawa, even Carolina. Those teams have skill players that rely on the rush for their scoring AND can muck it up. We beat the other teams more than New Jersey because the supporting cast for NJ is greater.
The sticking point, is my first statement though, and that's why it's tough to beat New Jersey. Other teams in the league don't have a goalie that can play the puck like him. Mike Smith is the only other one I can think of that plays it very well. The rest are average. Fleury is good at it too, and that's why Pitt scares me more than any team in the east, but NJ is a close 2nd.
It's a terrible match-up, but the effort should still be there. That was the more disappointing aspect of this game. The team can turn it around quickly though having so many games on the schedule at this point in the season. 5-3-2 in the last 10 isn't spectacular, but if this is the slump we'll be in for the season, I'm more than happy it's happening now than happening a couple weeks from now.
Reason #4567866543 why it's so super awesome not to be a Devils fan:
"I think the guys in the room tonight decided to empty the tank. We knew this was an important 2 points."
That's from the head coach. The head coach essentially saying that tonight's game was somehow more important than any of the previous 2 or 4 or 6 or 10.
What'll be even funnier is when they lose the next four games against the Isles and Philly.
I mentioned after the TB game that the Rangers are going to be duking it out for 60 mins in all of their final 20 or so games. It's what happens. They arent going to blow teams out 5-1 or 4-0. In a way, all these close game are better for a top team heading into the playoffs because it keeps them grounded.
The bottom-6 has been atrocious. That's the one area where Boston and the Pens will feed us our lunch. Next season cant come soon enough.
Reason #4567866543 why it's so super awesome not to be a Devils fan:
"I think the guys in the room tonight decided to empty the tank. We knew this was an important 2 points."
That's from the head coach. The head coach essentially saying that tonight's game was somehow more important than any of the previous 2 or 4 or 6 or 10.
What'll be even funnier is when they lose the next four games against the Isles and Philly.
I mentioned after the TB game that the Rangers are going to be duking it out for 60 mins in all of their final 20 or so games. It's what happens. They arent going to blow teams out 5-1 or 4-0. In a way, all these close game are better for a top team heading into the playoffs because it keeps them grounded.
The bottom-6 has been atrocious. That's the one area where Boston and the Pens will feed us our lunch. Next season cant come soon enough.
I want to enjoy this season as much as possible as you never know, but this can't stressed enough. We're a season early, and it can't be under-emphasized. Next season we're looking at Kreider being inserted to this team which will remain the same. Another year on every player to improve. Dubinsky's down season in the past. Possibilities of Thomas and others making the jump from Junior to the NHL at season's beginning or mid-season ala Hagelin. Erixon making our defense even more sturdy and less of a burden on Staal, McDonagh, and Girardi, the return of Sauer. The list goes on. But, we know the future is bright, and that's what leads me to optimism for this team even this season, regardless of some half-assed loss in a regular season game to the Devils.
Let's not over-analyze this game, look to go jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, or do irrational things like saying scratch Girardi. Let's put the loss behind and know we have room to grow, as does any kind of team at this point of the season. 20 games left, let's get at LEAST those amount of points, rest our top guns and set ourselves for a nice spring. If 111 points isn't enough to win the East, so be it. Rest > Home Ice throughout.
Reason #4567866543 why it's so super awesome not to be a Devils fan:
"I think the guys in the room tonight decided to empty the tank. We knew this was an important 2 points."
That's from the head coach. The head coach essentially saying that tonight's game was somehow more important than any of the previous 2 or 4 or 6 or 10.
What'll be even funnier is when they lose the next four games against the Isles and Philly.
I mentioned after the TB game that the Rangers are going to be duking it out for 60 mins in all of their final 20 or so games. It's what happens. They arent going to blow teams out 5-1 or 4-0. In a way, all these close game are better for a top team heading into the playoffs because it keeps them grounded.
The bottom-6 has been atrocious. That's the one area where Boston and the Pens will feed us our lunch. Next season cant come soon enough.
Then so be it. Devils won't win the Cup. If it takes us a couple of more years, who cares. The Devils have been a farm team for the rest of the league with the amount of talent they have lost to free agency. They're a joke.
I agree that the most alarming issue I've seen over the last two games are the amount of turn overs we are causing. That, and let's face it, I think we are totally getting away from our true game when we have a line up that has both Scott and Rupp in it. If Torts is looking at adding more "edge" to our game, we had the perfect guy who by the way could out play and out skate both names mentioned here!!
The Mod is right, but if Jersey fans are all excited about beating a Rangers team that would have lost to most AHL teams the way they played tonight, well kudos to you!
Why not try Staal and Del Zotto on the first line for a week or 2? It will help G and McD to get their form back
This could happen, but really if you think about it they could play on the 1st line, but like, Girardi and McD could still see more time.. that's the way i see it
I think he was trying to make a point that it will affect the Devils more with their financial situation.
either way. They're both gargantuan over-payments and such. But both organizations knew what they were getting into with this. not trying to be an ass, but it wasn't a good move to dump so much money on 1 guy, for either team. The only difference is Dolan sucks money up from everywhere
