I got a fun question for you...

If you could pick one player from NJ's past that would fit in this new high flying system we have, who would you pick? The player would have to be able to fit in this system, so don't pick the most famous Devil, unless they would excel.

I got a fun question for you...

If you could pick one player from NJ's past that would fit in this new high flying system we have, who would you pick? The player would have to be able to fit in this system, so don't pick the most famous Devil, unless they would excel.
- Leniwm1

Hmm that's a good one. Probably one of the obvious ones but prime Kovy has to be up there as one of the top choices right? He'd go nuts on this team, and in particular his shot on Jack's wing would be ridiculous. I think you could argue he'd score 60+ playing there

I got a fun question for you...

If you could pick one player from NJ's past that would fit in this new high flying system we have, who would you pick? The player would have to be able to fit in this system, so don't pick the most famous Devil, unless they would excel.
- Leniwm1

Kovy, parise, rod pelley.

Team doesn't need more scoring, we need goaltending. And instead of Brodeur I'm taking Schneider because Lou did him dirty by not trying to get a single high profile free agent while he was here.

And of course we need the real captain, Rod Pelley.

Hmm that's a good one. Probably one of the obvious ones but prime Kovy has to be up there as one of the top choices right? He'd go nuts on this team, and in particular his shot on Jack's wing would be ridiculous. I think you could argue he'd score 60+ playing there
- vlongo4419

Ya kovy for sure. He wouldnt have to wait at the blue line for his teammates to catch up and lose the puck in doing so.

Rolston was a north/south guy with speed and a shot. I'd imagine he'd fit in as well.

I wonder how many pts #27 would have in a season.

Canes playing like poop lately. With the loss tonight we have a chance to move into 1st which would be cool.

With the Rangers loss in a shootout, the Devils only need 1 point in their final 2 games to clinch home ice.

The Canes lost in regulation again, so we remain 1 point back. Both teams play their final 2 games tomorrow and Thursday. Canes play Wings and Panthers, Devils have Sabres and Caps.

*Devils also own the tiebreaker over the Canes, so if we end up tied in points, Devils win the division.*

With the Rangers loss in a shootout, the Devils only need 1 point in their final 2 games to clinch home ice.

The Canes lost in regulation again, so we remain 1 point back. Both teams play their final 2 games tomorrow and Thursday. Canes play Wings and Panthers, Devils have Sabres and Caps.

*Devils also own the tiebreaker over the Canes, so if we end up tied in points, Devils win the division.*
- vlongo4419

Last week you stated the Devils changes of losing home ice for the first round was at 2.7% - where are we at now? Needing 1 out of 4 points is obviously doable, but not the greatest of positions to be in.

You also stated that having home ice advantage isn't even that big of a deal, especially as it relates to matchups. I completely disagree. Especially if when it comes to matching up our lower pair D-men vs teams better lines and special teams play.

Additionally, IF we lose home ice advantage I'm sure it will have an effect psychological too. Likely a bit deflating to the players and organization right before the playoffs start looking up in the standings vs down (which we have been doing for 90% of season).

With all this being said, are you still okay w/ the team bringing up Utica guys to rest players prior to playoffs? I am not.

Last week you stated the Devils changes of losing home ice for the first round was at 2.7% - where are we at now? Needing 1 out of 4 points is obviously doable, but not the greatest of positions to be in.

You also stated that having home ice advantage isn't even that big of a deal, especially as it relates to matchups. I completely disagree. Especially if when it comes to matching up our lower pair D-men vs teams better lines and special teams play.

Additionally, IF we lose home ice advantage I'm sure it will have an effect psychological too. Likely a bit deflating to the players and organization right before the playoffs start looking up in the standings vs down (which we have been doing for 90% of season).

With all this being said, are you still okay w/ the team bringing up Utica guys to rest players prior to playoffs? I am not.
- hockeybocc

Lol the Devils have a 96.6% chance of staying in the top 2 lol. The only way they don't is if they lose both games in regulation and the Rangers win their final game. You gotta relax. Us winning the division(38.9%) is far more likely falling to #3(3.4%). And yeah, still fully disagree about home ice IN THIS PARTICULAR SERIES. It doesn't matter at all in this iteration of Devils/Rangers.

And yes, I would prefer if we rested guys in the final 2 games. Could you imagine if someone important actually got hurt? We just had a Bratt scare, I'd prefer to not risk losing someone we need. The only thing I care about in the final 2 games is Jack breaking the franchise record and getting into the playoffs with no more injuries. That's it. Don't give a (frank) about anything else.

Lol the Devils have a 96.6% chance of staying in the top 2 lol. The only way they don't is if they lose both games in regulation and the Rangers win their final game. You gotta relax. Us winning the division(38.9%) is far more likely falling to #3(3.4%). And yeah, still fully disagree about home ice IN THIS PARTICULAR SERIES. It doesn't matter at all in this iteration of Devils/Rangers.

And yes, I would prefer if we rested guys in the final 2 games. Could you imagine if someone important actually got hurt? We just had a Bratt scare, I'd prefer to not risk losing someone we need. The only thing I care about in the final 2 games is Jack breaking the franchise record and getting into the playoffs with no more injuries. That's it. Don't give a (frank) about anything else.
- vlongo4419

Why don't you think the Rangers/Devils home ice means as much? Because Rock will be 40% Ranger fans anyway? If so, I agree there- but you continue to discount the last change. There's a reason its a rule and an advantage....

Also - who do you pick/chose who rests and who can stay in and potentially get injured? Clearly you want Jack to play final 2 games to chase 100pts - what if he gets hurt?

To me, and its an opinion, just like yours is - home ice advantage is better than a games worth of rest. They'll have a 3-4 day break prior to playoffs starting. Not a lot, but it is something.

Why don't you think the Rangers/Devils home ice means as much? Because Rock will be 40% Ranger fans anyway? If so, I agree there- but you continue to discount the last change. There's a reason its a rule and an advantage....

Also - who do you pick/chose who rests and who can stay in and potentially get injured? Clearly you want Jack to play final 2 games to chase 100pts - what if he gets hurt?

To me, and its an opinion, just like yours is - home ice advantage is better than a games worth of rest. They'll have a 3-4 day break prior to playoffs starting. Not a lot, but it is something.
- hockeybocc

It has absolutely nothing to do with anything off the ice. The Devils are just a better team top to bottom and the matchups don't matter. We can have any line out on the ice against any of their lines and I'll be comfortable with it. The worst matchup is our 4th line against the Zib line, and that's what our coach wants anyways. So it completely negates the last change when he purposely goes for the worst matchup.

I would rest all the top guys over the next 2 games, split it up however you want. I would 100% rest Jack too but we all know there's zero chance he comes out of the lineup while he's chasing the record and 100 points, hence why I want him to get it. I would absolutely be sitting him though, especially on Thursday. If we puts up 4 points tonight and hits 100, there's no world he plays Thursday if I had the call. There's too much too much to potentially lose over the minimal gain that could be had.

The division is still up for grabs and you're only thinking about getting home ice. That's kinda weird to me tbh. You're acting like there's an absurdly high chance the Devils fall to 3rd for some reason, when that's by far the least likely outcome.

It has absolutely nothing to do with anything off the ice. The Devils are just a better team top to bottom and the matchups don't matter. We can have any line out on the ice against any of their lines and I'll be comfortable with it. The worst matchup is our 4th line against the Zib line, and that's what our coach wants anyways. So it completely negates the last change when he purposely goes for the worst matchup.

I would rest all the top guys over the next 2 games, split it up however you want. I would 100% rest Jack too but we all know there's zero chance he comes out of the lineup while he's chasing the record and 100 points, hence why I want him to get it. I would absolutely be sitting him though, especially on Thursday. If we puts up 4 points tonight and hits 100, there's no world he plays Thursday if I had the call. There's too much too much to potentially lose over the minimal gain that could be had.

The division is still up for grabs and you're only thinking about getting home ice. That's kinda weird to me tbh. You're acting like there's an absurdly high chance the Devils fall to 3rd for some reason, when that's by far the least likely outcome.
- vlongo4419

I don't know the % but still a potential outcome that has to be considered. Call me a pessimist I guess and selfishly obsessed with the Rangers not jumping us in the standings on the last day of the regular season heading into the playoffs. I'm sure I am not alone with this line of thinking.

Now, most importantly, can we now talk about how long Sam has gone without updating a blog that the NJD have now dropped off the website's homepage...? wtf

I don't know the % but still a potential outcome that has to be considered. Call me a pessimist I guess and selfishly obsessed with the Rangers not jumping us in the standings on the last day of the regular season heading into the playoffs. I'm sure I am not alone with this line of thinking.

Now, most importantly, can we now talk about how long Sam has gone without updating a blog that the NJD have now dropped off the website's homepage...? wtf
- hockeybocc

I just told you the percentages:
1st - 38.9%
2nd - 57.7%
3rd - 3.4%

Not only do the Rangers need us to lose both games in regulation, they need to also beat Toronto to pass us.

Optional skate today but both Dougie and Haula are on the ice after missing yesterdays practice, and Vanecek was in the starters net.

Home/Away splits are generally useless. There isn't a "crowd factor", it just feels good to win in your building.

I just told you the percentages:
1st - 38.9%
2nd - 57.7%
3rd - 3.4%

Not only do the Rangers need us to lose both games in regulation, they need to also beat Toronto to pass us.
- vlongo4419

Wait - so after the past week the jump in % for 3rd place only went up 0.7%...? Ok then - lets just get a point tonight and make it all a moot point.

Guessing we won't know lineup till LR talks to media at 5pm since its an optional skate this AM?

Home/Away splits are generally useless. There isn't a "crowd factor", it just feels good to win in your building.
- Pomegrant

https://bleacherreport.co...-the-stanley-cup-playoffs

Looks like in the 1st round the home team wins about 60% of series, and the Stanley Cup Final is around 72%

However, one can deduce that this is a result of the better team being the home team therefore having a better overall historical winning %

I don't know the % but still a potential outcome that has to be considered. Call me a pessimist I guess and selfishly obsessed with the Rangers not jumping us in the standings on the last day of the regular season heading into the playoffs. I'm sure I am not alone with this line of thinking.

Now, most importantly, can we now talk about how long Sam has gone without updating a blog that the NJD have now dropped off the website's homepage...? wtf
- hockeybocc

You’re not alone lol. I’d rather have home ice vs anyone, especially the Rags, despite our arena being 40% rags fans, it’s better than being 100% for a game 7, though they can get pretty loud if they’re winning. Even though Ruff does his thing with the 4th line, I’d still rather have the option of last change. And like you said, even if there’s a slight psychological dip in losing that home ice on the last day, I don’t want it to happen.
With that said, I’m all-in on the division. We haven’t had this kind of excitement in years.. actually watching the standings for something positive instead of what spot we’ll be drafting from. I streamed the audio of last night’s Canes game lol. Exciting times.

Wait - so after the past week the jump in % for 3rd place only went up 0.7%...? Ok then - lets just get a point tonight and make it all a moot point.

Guessing we won't know lineup till LR talks to media at 5pm since its an optional skate this AM?
- hockeybocc

Yes. Hence why it's strange that you're saying it's not the greatest of positions of to be in. When it's actually a fantastic position to be in. I just don't get it. You're acting like they passed us and we need to win out and have then lose to get home ice.

Ruff confirms Luke will play tonight!

Wonder if we'll get a playoff blog

Wonder if we'll get a playoff blog
- FAZOOL

This is the playoff blog and we are the writers.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1630882-how-much-does-home-ice-matter-in-the-stanley-cup-playoffs

Looks like in the 1st round the home team wins about 60% of series, and the Stanley Cup Final is around 72%

However, one can deduce that this is a result of the better team being the home team therefore having a better overall historical winning %
- hockeybocc

Yeah, I'm more worried about being a better team than home ice advantage.

Another stat that people throw around a lot is the one about scoring first in a game. Obviously scoring first is important, but the team that scored second (regardless of who scored the first goal) had a similar percentage to win as the team that scored first. In general scoring goals is better than not scoring so that's why the "come from behind wins" thing isn't concerning to me at all either.

Give me OT tonight with Jack and Luke on the ice together. I need it

Ruff confirms Luke will play tonight!
- vlongo4419

Do we know who he'll be paired with?