Todd Cordell: Brunner, Gelinas Lead Devils To Win Over Senators

Hell if Bouch is getting Recchi comparsions i'll take that. He was great player and a guy I always liked and respected even though he seemingly always played for a rival. Great to see Brunner finally playing good let us pray he can keep it up. As for gionta and the 4th line it's more than likely because he is not a very good center. He should be on the wing there is a reason real small guys generally play wing. The guy hustles but he isn't exactly the best skater I think if we moved him to RW it would benefit him and the team the most. Josefson should be the 4th line center but I guess they want Janssen in still.

I thought Henrique had a rpetty good game as well which is good ! I do really believe if he was consistently given better line mates and wasn't always being shuffled to suit everyone else's needs he would have a few more points this season. To me I don't think he has a taken a step back but I would like to see him get a few more bounces as he has hit the post about 5 times this season. Love the energy these kids bring they truly make it fun to watch which is why I am so bumbed to see them go back down when guys like Clowe and Salvador finally come back.

Hell if Bouch is getting Recchi comparsions i'll take that. He was great player and a guy I always liked and respected even though he seemingly always played for a rival. Great to see Brunner finally playing good let us pray he can keep it up. As for gionta and the 4th line it's more than likely because he is not a very good center. He should be on the wing there is a reason real small guys generally play wing. The guy hustles but he isn't exactly the best skater I think if we moved him to RW it would benefit him and the team the most. Josefson should be the 4th line center but I guess they want Janssen in still.
- NickA

I actually thought that when we acquired Carter that he was a center ?

I actually thought that when we acquired Carter that he was a center ?
- blizzzard

He was but we have seen him play center he sucks. Josefson at least knows where to be on the ice most times at center if he actually could play ya know like 10-20 games in a row like Gionta and others im sure he would look fine at least on 4th line. But he's Swedish so screw developing him. We got too many bodies regardless need to make some sort of move.

I thought Henrique had a rpetty good game as well which is good ! I do really believe if he was consistently given better line mates and wasn't always being shuffled to suit everyone else's needs he would have a few more points this season. To me I don't think he has a taken a step back but I would like to see him get a few more bounces as he has hit the post about 5 times this season. Love the energy these kids bring they truly make it fun to watch which is why I am so bumbed to see them go back down when guys like Clowe and Salvador finally come back.
- blizzzard

I never would say he has taken a step back just hasn't really taken any steps forward like I had hoped. His linemates and position constantly getting shuffled hasn't helped that cause this year though for sure. If he is going to play LW as long as he is with Elias or Zajac/ Jagr it's fine. Playing LW on 3rd line with Lokti and Ryder or anyone else is a stupid coaching decision. He's one of our top 5 forwards he needs to play with good players to score as we don't have much wealth to be trying spread it around.

He was but we have seen him play center he sucks. Josefson at least knows where to be on the ice most times at center if he actually could play ya know like 10-20 games in a row like Gionta and others im sure he would look fine at least on 4th line. But he's Swedish so screw developing him. We got too many bodies regardless need to make some sort of move.
- NickA

Im ok with getting more fourth round picks hopefully we find a few more Boucher's and I am kind of interested in seeing how Myles Bell comes around

I never would say he has taken a step back just hasn't really taken any steps forward like I had hoped. His linemates and position constantly getting shuffled hasn't helped that cause this year though for sure. If he is going to play LW as long as he is with Elias or Zajac/ Jagr it's fine. Playing LW on 3rd line with Lokti and Ryder or anyone else is a stupid coaching decision. He's one of our top 5 forwards he needs to play with good players to score as we don't have much wealth to be trying spread it around.
- NickA

He does so much that goes un noticed to though to. He is a great penalty killer he plays a sound defensive game and I think he leads the team in short handed points. I think most if points have come on special teams whether it be pp or pk so that might say something about the players he gets stuck with during 5v5 play.

I never would say he has taken a step back just hasn't really taken any steps forward like I had hoped. His linemates and position constantly getting shuffled hasn't helped that cause this year though for sure. If he is going to play LW as long as he is with Elias or Zajac/ Jagr it's fine. Playing LW on 3rd line with Lokti and Ryder or anyone else is a stupid coaching decision. He's one of our top 5 forwards he needs to play with good players to score as we don't have much wealth to be trying spread it around.
- NickA

He is currently an even player has 2 pp goals 1 short handed goal I know he has 1 short handed assist as we seen last night has 2 game winners

5. Damien Brunner is playing the best hockey I've seen him play since he entered the NHL prior to last year's lockout shortened season. The 27-year-old Swiss forward has four goals and five points in his last five games and has been a scoring threat almost every time he's been on the ice. You can debate if he should have been penalized prior to his goal last night, but either way it was an unbelievable skill play to chop the stick out of Cowen's hand and pick up the loose puck and deke Lehner out of his pants before sliding the puck by him. He's playing with a ton of confidence right now and it's showing. Now the Devils have to sit back and reap the rewards.

Fixed.

Impressive win by the Devils! Congratulations to Reid Boucher for scoring his 1st NHL goal! And, Jagr just keeps on making hockey history…

He is currently an even player has 2 pp goals 1 short handed goal I know he has 1 short handed assist as we seen last night has 2 game winners
- blizzzard

I'm not disappointed or really angry with him. Just hoped by now he would of improved a little more. I think he can be great and become a 40 goal scorer if he works at it enough personally. Just want to see him really thrive is all.

5. Damien Brunner is playing the best hockey I've seen him play since he entered the NHL prior to last year's lockout shortened season. The 27-year-old Swiss forward has four goals and five points in his last five games and has been a scoring threat almost every time he's been on the ice. You can debate if he should have been penalized prior to his goal last night, but either way it was an unbelievable skill play to chop the stick out of Cowen's hand and pick up the loose puck and deke Lehner out of his pants before sliding the puck by him. He's playing with a ton of confidence right now and it's showing. Now the Devils have to sit back and reap the rewards.

Fixed.
- maaddmike

Guess he should hang onto his stick then shouldn't he ? That call could of went either way and it happen to go in favor of us. Guys sticks have been chopped right in half before with no call being made. There has also been times where guys have had their sticks whacked out of their hands with no call so it isn't an automatic.

I'm not disappointed or really angry with him. Just hoped by now he would of improved a little more. I think he can be great and become a 40 goal scorer if he works at it enough personally. Just want to see him really thrive is all.
- NickA

I don't think he can be that good but stranger things have happened. Realistically I think he will be a great leader who plays both ends of the ice and gets 60 pts I could see him pushing for 70 if everything goes right but Kessel hasn't even scored 40 yet.

My Devils debit card just came in pretty pumped they sent me two though

5. Damien Brunner is playing the best hockey I've seen him play since he entered the NHL prior to last year's lockout shortened season. The 27-year-old Swiss forward has four goals and five points in his last five games and has been a scoring threat almost every time he's been on the ice. You can debate if he should have been penalized prior to his goal last night, but either way it was an unbelievable skill play to chop the stick out of Cowen's hand and pick up the loose puck and deke Lehner out of his pants before sliding the puck by him. He's playing with a ton of confidence right now and it's showing. Now the Devils have to sit back and reap the rewards.

Fixed.
- maaddmike

Yeah, you lost the game because of that play (sarcasm). Devils won by 3 goals and dominated most of the evening. But keep telling yourself that one non-call cost you the game.

I've never seen a Devils team with defensemen that are so involved in the offense.
I love that our defensemen are not afraid to bomb away. Gelinas' shot is sick, and Merrill does a nice job of hitting the net just about everytime he unloads a shot. And Zid, Greene and Fayne are always pinching in on the offensive end.

You guys played really great last night. How about our hometown boy Gelinas...solid pick good for ya.

Officials last night was horrible. It is a good thing the Devils are not a mean team, because this group of officials would have lost control.

Good one boys...keep it up!

Guess he should hang onto his stick then shouldn't he ? That call could of went either way and it happen to go in favor of us. Guys sticks have been chopped right in half before with no call being made. There has also been times where guys have had their sticks whacked out of their hands with no call so it isn't an automatic.
- blizzzard

Still a fair thing to mention, given that the play couldn't have happened without it...

Whether you praise him for getting away with one or blame Cowen is a matter of perspective

You guys played really great last night. How about our hometown boy Gelinas...solid pick good for ya.

Officials last night was horrible. It is a good thing the Devils are not a mean team, because this group of officials would have lost control.

Good one boys...keep it up!
- SENSpatriot

He is turning into something special right before our eyes its shed quite a bit of light on this season and not having a first ! Reffing was bad but we can't complain when things like this happen to us we will take everything we can get !

"Goalie Martin Brodeur, who stopped 23 shots to help the Devils pull even with the Rangers and Flyers with 34 points, said he did Jagr a favor by giving up Milan Michalek’s goal.

“I told (Jagr) I let the guy score on me just so it sets up the record for him,” Brodeur joked."

Looks like the boys are really starting to... Gel...

Still a fair thing to mention, given that the play couldn't have happened without it...

Whether you praise him for getting away with one or blame Cowen is a matter of perspective
- Mr_Clean

I think It could have went either way depending on how they looked at it. If you think the stick dropped because he didn't have a tight grip of it then maybe it's not a penalty and if you look at as he slashed him then it is a penalty. We seem to be in a similar position as you guys. Very inconsistent but still hanging around because of how bad everyone else is. We also both don't have our first round picks for this year.

Did DeBoer go back on his meds?

You mean Brunner is starting to produce now that he isn't being forced to play with Bernier out of position at LW to accommodate that scoring machine Bernier at RW. When Bernier gets more icetime & PP time over 6 weeks than Brunner it doesn't take a very high intelligence level to understand why it wasn't working.

If your going to play skill guys; Brunner, with slugs; Bernier, it isn't going to work. Finally early last week DeBoer had a revelation. What if I put Brunner back at RW with Elias & actually put a skill player on that line; Henrique, at LW. Maybe that will work & give us some secondary scoring.

My question is simple. What took so long?

With Clowe close to returning NJ might actually be able to make it 3 scoring lines.

Zubrus, Zajac, Jagr.
Clowe, Elias, Brunner.
Boucher, Henrique, Ryder.

I'm not holding my breath though. DeBoer seems to have visions. Bernier as a scoring power forward. Didvi mention Bernier has the worst plus minus on the team by a significant margin? -11, the only other player even close is Ryder at -8!

Someone needs to steal those incriminating photos Bernier is blackmailing DeBoer with. He leads the team in hits with 60, that's. Less than 2 per game. Sit him already & often.

Thoughts from the bench.

I don't think he can be that good but stranger things have happened. Realistically I think he will be a great leader who plays both ends of the ice and gets 60 pts I could see him pushing for 70 if everything goes right but Kessel hasn't even scored 40 yet.
- blizzzard

Alright that was probably a stretch saying i want him to score 40. 60-70 pt is what we need him to become.

Alright that was probably a stretch saying i want him to score 40. 60-70 pt is what we need him to become.
- NickA

Don't get me wrong I won't complain if he scores 40 goals