I agree, and I'm excited, and nervous at the same time. Just 3 weeks ago before we started this streak I was getting on everyone's nerves around here with clinching a playoff spot, and getting scared. Not to mention Buffalo came from 11 points behind us to 4 in like a week! Glad the Devils turned it around, and shut me up.
Still like I say the Devils have been the best team in the Conference since clinching. You look at Pittsburgh, Flyers, Rangers. I know they clinched 1-2 weeks before us, but all those teams played crappy once they clinched. Not consistently bad, but some games they were sandbagging, and other games not showing up. I'm talking two big losses to the Islanders from Pittsburgh who were like 15-1-1 before those games, and the Flyers playing carelessly against Tampa Bay. The Rangers having their moments. I don't even think Ottawa won a game after they clinched. Aside from Washington who clinched second to last game the Devils were the only team to win all games after they clinched, and not take their foot off the gas.
We could have lost every game after that Tampa Bay win, and still been in 6th. Would have had to have an OT loss though cause Ottawa would have tied us, and won the tiebreaker.
This is a great post man I couldn't agree more with you with the Devils riding a 6 game winning streak into the playoffs I feel we can be a sleeper team in the East this year and our first task comes tomorrow night vs a very hard working Florida Panthers team that on some nights you don't know what your going to get out of them. The Devils will need to earn every win because it's going to be a hard fought battle and most likely a low scoring series but we will see tomorrow night when Game 1 gets underway.
This is a great post man I couldn't agree more with you with the Devils riding a 6 game winning streak into the playoffs I feel we can be a sleeper team in the East this year and our first task comes tomorrow night vs a very hard working Florida Panthers team that on some nights you don't know what your going to get out of them. The Devils will need to earn every win because it's going to be a hard fought battle and most likely a low scoring series but we will see tomorrow night when Game 1 gets underway.
There were times I thought we would blow it, and miss again for the second straight year. I didn't even completely trust Pete until we clinched a playoff spot! I did say we could win a round at least though if we made it.
The Devils are so much better than a lot of these teams. I just hate how sometimes they don't show up, and they make goaltenders who aint even starters[Clemmensen] look like Vezina winners.
Still pissed we couldn't beat Boston this year! We had the lead in every game!
There were times I thought we would blow it, and miss again for the second straight year. I didn't even completely trust Pete until we clinched a playoff spot! I did say we could win a round at least though if we made it.
The Devils are so much better than a lot of these teams. I just hate how sometimes they don't show up, and they make goaltenders who aint even starters[Clemmensen] look like Vezina winners.
Still pissed we couldn't beat Boston this year! We had the lead itn every game!
The Devils do tend to make goalies look like Vezina winners I agree but let's hope that's not the case against a team like Florida who I know we can beat in a best of 7 series. In regards to the way you felt about Pete I thought he has done a amazing job this year and guys like Zach and Kovy have excelled under him and from what I've read and heard they both love Pete and the system and style he has put in to the team this year. I am confident in this team this year and feel they can do some serious damage. With all the people saying Devils in 5 or Devils in 6 well now we need to put that into action and prove people we can be a cup contender this year and that starts tomorrow night at Bank Atlantic Centre.
I was talking with my buddy today on the phone. He flew down from Jersey, and we're meeting up for the game tomorrow.
I was saying how Kovalchuk is only not considered an elite world class player, because he doesn't have much playoff experience/success. Hopefully Kovy comes ready to play! Don't miss those open nets or shoot too high either dammit!
The Devils do tend to make goalies look like Vezina winners I agree but let's hope that's not the case against a team like Florida who I know we can beat in a best of 7 series. In regards to the way you felt about Pete I thought he has done a amazing job this year and guys like Zach and Kovy have excelled under him and from what I've read and heard they both love Pete and the system and style he has put in to the team this year. I am confident in this team this year and feel they can do some serious damage. With all the people saying Devils in 5 or Devils in 6 well now we need to put that into action and prove people we can be a cup contender this year and that starts tomorrow night at Bank Atlantic Centre.
I was skeptical of Pete, because his team in Florida sucked when he was there. Now clearly they didn't have the talent we had, but I was still skeptical. I would point out every flaw up until a couple weeks ago. Now I've found myself liking him a lot more than Sutter.
I bet Maclean has gotta be so bent over a guy who coached the last place team in the Conference last year taking the Devils to the level, and the points they are most seasons. Same amount of wins, and one point shy of where we were 2 years ago! As if Lemaire coming back, and taking them to by far the best record in the second half of the season in the whole league wasn't enough of a kick where it hurt to him. I was pumped we clinched by beating his team. What a difference a year makes!
We have won the division with this record before! Boston won their division with the same amount of points. We're in the best division in the league though.
I was skeptical of Pete, because his team in Florida sucked when he was there. Now clearly they didn't have the talent we had, but I was still skeptical. I would point out every flaw up until a couple weeks ago. Now I've found myself liking him a lot more than Sutter.
I bet Maclean has gotta be so bent over a guy who coached the last place team in the Conference last year taking the Devils to the level, and the points they are most seasons. Same amount of wins, and one point shy of where we were 2 years ago! As if Lemaire coming back, and taking them to by far the best record in the second half of the season in the whole league wasn't enough of a kick where it hurt to him. I was pumped we clinched by beating his team. What a difference a year makes!
We have won the division with this record before! Boston won their division with the same amount of points. We're in the best division in the league though.
I am with you on that Maclean has to be wondering how did basically the same roster last year do so good this year and the answer is a better system and style but most important trust in the coach you could even see it when Lemaire returned to players trusted him with all the stuff he put in when he was head coach and the same can be said about Pete but with MacLean it was trying to put in a new system that doesn't work here that the players were never used too playing and also trying to make them make long breakaway stretch passes when JMAC was coach but Oh yeah know that just didn't seem to work out. So Yeah know some things just are not meant to be and that was the case with John Maclean.
I would love to see Henrique come out with a bang in his first NHL playoff game and maybe chip in on the offense which could be good for his confidence.
I was talking with my buddy today on the phone. He flew down from Jersey, and we're meeting up for the game tomorrow.
I was saying how Kovalchuk is only not considered an elite world class player, because he doesn't have much playoff experience/success. Hopefully Kovy comes ready to play! Don't miss those open nets or shoot too high either dammit!
I have a feeling that Kovy is going to play with as much speed and precision like a winningjockey on a winning thoroughbred.
He will be an untameable monster if he's in the right mindset.
So pumped for this game. If the Devils win it tonight I think the team will have an amazing advantage mentally over the Panthers for the rest of the series.
Also, I think it's really cool that on the Panthers GDT they're posting where everyone is sitting. I think we should do that for game 3, we'd probably have a massive list.
I want to see wins!!!!!!!
