Todd Cordell: Devils Drop Home Opener In Shootout Against Islanders

Oh corsi

I was there and Todd's assessment of Jagr is dead on. The game was going on around him last night. Sadly, it seemed the same for Larsson. When you get bumped by Harrold, you need to take a long look at yourself...that being said, he's 20 and its game 2. It's a bit disconcerting that our best player so far has been the guy we didn't want until the end. It's also a bit alarming that our greatest strength in terms of depth is defense, yet the 6 we roll out there each night is not looking too good at all so far. However, like Elias pointed out, the new guys are learning the system still. He pointed to one shift where all 3 forwards were forechecking at the same time, which obviously leads to guys out of position. I think the road trip is the best thing for them to get away and maybe bond a bit and come together as a team. Remember, its only game 2 guys. Lets Go Devils!!!!

Jagr wont do much this year, hes pretty much done. Brunner is going to be a stud and will easily lead the devils in scoring this year.

Jagr wont do much this year, hes pretty much done. Brunner is going to be a stud and will easily lead the devils in scoring this year.
- mighty13duck

I think Jagr is gonna be sub-par in the second of back to backs, he was better in Game 1

At least they won't go 0-82

Well the D men certainly aren't new to the system. They got burnt for partial breakaways off the wing at least 4 times. Grabner made all our D look like traffic cones. Aside from that, offense looked good and the PP had some decent movement for a change. As for Marty, how about that quickness with the glove in the game and shootout. Nasty. He's still got some juice.

I think Jagr is gonna be sub-par in the second of back to backs, he was better in Game 1
- bml105

Was also his second game this year. Game 1 was his first, he never played in the preseason and missed some practice time. Not that worried he'll come around and chip in.

The lack of talent on D is going to kill us this year. We can cycle with the best of them but it's all for nothing when teams do not have to respect the point and can cheat down low. They can't keep the puck in to well and give it away at the point way too much. Odd man rushes will happen just as they did last year. We lack speed and size , just have a bunch of old average guys and one 20 year old. Larsson didn't play well but its garbage he was benched when not one guy last night didn't get beat or embarrassed by grabner. Sure don't play him 20 mins but to bench him for long periods...how is he ever going to get better and learn?

At least they won't go 0-82
- NYI44

It's a shame . We wanted that so bad this year

The lack of talent on D is going to kill us this year. We can cycle with the best of them but it's all for nothing when teams do not have to respect the point and can cheat down low. They can't keep the puck in to well and give it away at the point way too much. Odd man rushes will happen just as they did last year. We lack speed and size , just have a bunch of old average guys and one 20 year old. Larsson didn't play well but its garbage he was benched when not one guy last night didn't get beat or embarrassed by grabner. Sure don't play him 20 mins but to bench him for long periods...how is he ever going to get better and learn?
- NickA

Larsson got benched and Harrold played BETTER than him....Greene/Harrold pairing had a +23 shot differential in about half of a game! So I thought it was the right move to put Larsson on the 3rd pair with the Pylon himself, Anton Volchenkov

It's a shame . We wanted that so bad this year
- Twist

Larsson got benched and Harrold played BETTER than him....Greene/Harrold pairing had a +23 shot differential in about half of a game! So I thought it was the right move to put Larsson on the 3rd pair with the Pylon himself, Anton Volchenkov
- bml105

I'm not saying that it wasn't the right move to tone back his ice time. But the kid got benched...How can we expect him to get better? Did he makes mistakes? Yup. But who didn't last night? All im saying is he is being held to higher standard then guys with way more experience. How do you think his confidence is when any time he makes a mistake he is punished. While he sits there and watches Zid give up at least a breakaway a game and nothing ever happens to him.

On the Devils 10 game losing streak last season, only one team outshot them (the Panthers, if you really want to know).

I always hated the "shots" stats. It counts every pad stuffer, wish shot, dump in, and 3 inch jam attempt that won't beat goaltenders not named Pavelec or Dubnyk.

It usually takes 8-10 games for a team to establish its defensive game. I'm not too worried about that department.

Since this was 2nd game of a back-to-back, I'm guessing Jagr's age just showed last night. I'm not sure he's in tip top shape right now...

If we come out of the first ten games 4-4-2, we should be all right. I, like many others out there, wish that they hadn't re-signed Zidlicky and had taken one of Merrill or Gelinas. We don't even have a rookie in the line-up this year; that's usually a bad thing, since rookies tend to show a lot of hustle and energy (since they're fighting for roster spots). I wish we would have had one or two, because it doesn't seem like the Devils play a real motivated game out there. They just look old and tired.

I see a LOT of comparisons between this year and the 2010-2011 squad. Clutter of old and tired veterans, lots of low quality shots, few if any rookies. I remember Lemaire complained that his players were "out of shape". We going to have that again this year? I'm not comfortable with either the F line-up nor the D line-up right now. One of those stalwarts has to move somewhere at a desperate cost.

The lack of talent on D is going to kill us this year. We can cycle with the best of them but it's all for nothing when teams do not have to respect the point and can cheat down low. They can't keep the puck in to well and give it away at the point way too much. Odd man rushes will happen just as they did last year. We lack speed and size , just have a bunch of old average guys and one 20 year old. Larsson didn't play well but its garbage he was benched when not one guy last night didn't get beat or embarrassed by grabner. Sure don't play him 20 mins but to bench him for long periods...how is he ever going to get better and learn?
- NickA

Lars was not benched, he was dropped down. It was not only the goal but the entire 1st period he did not look good.

Devils wanted the Greene pairing against Tavares, so they had to replace Lars and it worked to get 1 pt.

Lars was not benched, he was dropped down. It was not only the goal but the entire 1st period he did not look good.

Devils wanted the Greene pairing against Tavares, so they had to replace Lars and it worked to get 1 pt.
- ChuckNJ

If I remember correctly he did not play the 3rd at all and only had 1 shift in OT.

If I remember correctly he did not play the 3rd at all and only had 1 shift in OT.
- Rseen

Was going to say the same thing.

If we come out of the first ten games 4-4-2, we should be all right. I, like many others out there, wish that they hadn't re-signed Zidlicky and had taken one of Merrill or Gelinas. We don't even have a rookie in the line-up this year; that's usually a bad thing, since rookies tend to show a lot of hustle and energy (since they're fighting for roster spots). I wish we would have had one or two, because it doesn't seem like the Devils play a real motivated game out there. They just look old and tired.

I see a LOT of comparisons between this year and the 2010-2011 squad. Clutter of old and tired veterans, lots of low quality shots, few if any rookies. I remember Lemaire complained that his players were "out of shape". We going to have that again this year? I'm not comfortable with either the F line-up nor the D line-up right now. One of those stalwarts has to move somewhere at a desperate cost.
- archromat

I agree with this completely & was saying the same thing to my brother while watching the game. Merrill & Gelinas didn't want to (frank) up. They played with youthful hunger, desire to win & prove their worth.

The defense we have now, they don't give a (frank) since DeBoer & Lou like to reward time spent instead of play, they have no fear of being benched or shipped out. They just shake their head and do the Eli Manning "aw shucks" face and all is OK.

Seems the only one who gets punished is Larsson. Zidlicky usually averages at least one stupid beyond comprehensible penalty per game, yet I never see his ass benched. Why? Because he's our only PMD so they let it all slide? How about shipping his ass out & letting Merrill or Gelinas play. They drive play better than he does. He's far too inconsistent and lackadaisical. Frustrated me beyond belief they re-signed him.

I hold on hoping that next season he'll be gone for good and both Merrill & Gelinas will be in. Hoping at least one of Sal & Volchenkov will be out too.

They're all old, slow, careless, lazy (frank)ing pylons. NJ has 6 defensemen. But the only one I'd say is a top-pair guy is Greene. That's it.

You all can jerk off Fayne & Harrold all you want, those guys would be 6/7 on any other team too.

One good defensemen & a kid still learning & growing. That's it. The rest are poop.

The lack of talent on D is going to kill us this year. We can cycle with the best of them but it's all for nothing when teams do not have to respect the point and can cheat down low. They can't keep the puck in to well and give it away at the point way too much. Odd man rushes will happen just as they did last year. We lack speed and size , just have a bunch of old average guys and one 20 year old. Larsson didn't play well but its garbage he was benched when not one guy last night didn't get beat or embarrassed by grabner. Sure don't play him 20 mins but to bench him for long periods...how is he ever going to get better and learn?
- NickA

I think it's clear that Gelinas is needed for offense and mobility. I think it won't be long before he is up. If you put him in for whoever then your D with Greene, Larsson and Gelinas has three mobile guys and Zidlicky isn't bad in that department either.

I agree with this completely & was saying the same thing to my brother while watching the game. Merrill & Gelinas didn't want to (frank) up. They played with youthful hunger, desire to win & prove their worth.

The defense we have now, they don't give a (frank) since DeBoer & Lou like to reward time spent instead of play, they have no fear of being benched or shipped out. They just shake their head and do the Eli Manning "aw shucks" face and all is OK.

Seems the only one who gets punished is Larsson. Zidlicky usually averages at least one stupid beyond comprehensible penalty per game, yet I never see his ass benched. Why? Because he's our only PMD so they let it all slide? How about shipping his ass out & letting Merrill or Gelinas play. They drive play better than he does. He's far too inconsistent and lackadaisical. Frustrated me beyond belief they re-signed him.

I hold on hoping that next season he'll be gone for good and both Merrill & Gelinas will be in. Hoping at least one of Sal & Volchenkov will be out too.

They're all old, slow, careless, lazy (frank)ing pylons. NJ has 6 defensemen. But the only one I'd say is a top-pair guy is Greene. That's it.

You all can jerk off Fayne & Harrold all you want, those guys would be 6/7 on any other team too.

One good defensemen & a kid still learning & growing. That's it. The rest are poop.
- FLdevilsFAN

I think the forwards have to also be more active in the defensive aspect, as guys are just flying through the neutral zone. But there have been mistakes on D, mistakes on backchecking, guys falling down to lead to odd man rushes, turnovers and ill-timed pinches. It will probably take a few games for them to be more in sync defensively. But I think the main thing needed is one more mobile D-man. If you can put one mobile guy on each unit the D looks much more balanced.

Idk if you guys have already talked about this and I missed it, but the Caps claimed Urbom?? Thats a (frank)ing joke, we lose one of our prospects we've been grooming for years for absolutely nothing and we have to watch Volchenkov give up goals on a nightly basis...

I think it's clear that Gelinas is needed for offense and mobility. I think it won't be long before he is up. If you put him in for whoever then your D with Greene, Larsson and Gelinas has three mobile guys and Zidlicky isn't bad in that department either.
- BarryB1124

hopefully before this west coast trip is over he is. Just can't believe he isn't on the team already. We need that shot so bad...Having Greene, Larsson, and Gelinas would be better. Also would allow us to not play zid in the top 4....He get's so much ice time it blows my mind. He turns over the puck at least once every 2 shifts and Pete just keeps rolling him out there...

ugh

Merrill with 3 assists through 2 periods today.

brodeur to start vs labarberra tomorrow

schneider to start vs the nucks