*Take it away, Krusty!*
[What the hell was that?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vSe-mmw)
What’s on your mind?
[NHL FULL GAME RE-CAP](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0zzoSnUAY)
[NHL Game Center](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wpg/2023/11/14/2023020236)
[ESPN Game Cast](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401559469)
[Shift Chart](http://shiftchart.com/game/2023-11-14-devils-jets)
[2023-24 Regular Season Schedule (November, all times EST)](https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2023-11-01)
by Devil_Dane
12 Comments
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN
Maybe we need to run with Vanecek and Schmid one more year after this to see if we really need to make a move for a goalie. I’m not convinced they aren’t the answer just yet.
For what it’s worth we had more expected goals than the jets… offense was okay, but once again we gave up twice as many as expected. Schmid only expected to give up 2.5 goals and well we know how that went. He looked pretty good most of the game too. Defense having brutal breakdowns and mental lapses. Even the ‘deserve to win o-meter’ was slanted in our favor 72-28 and we still blew it. Fuckin harsh.
Almost everyone said Dougie and Hughes pairing would be a defensive disaster… Ruff legit thought it would be a good pairing.
Devils need a goalie. Badly. Yes, there are defensive breakdowns, but that’s when a goalie could come in and steal a game for you. Akira and VV haven’t done that yet nor have the capabilities to make this team a cup contender.
Ruff can’t coach. His system is shit, plenty of solid players on the team but he isn’t the guy for this team.
Just hope Fitz doesn’t wait too long to do something and shake things up.
[deleted]
Oh no we suck again
Sals made an interesting point that we are averaging top 3 in the league for Expected Goals For, but bottom 5 for actual Goals For, and that puts us exactly last for Goals Differential (GF-xGF). Yet we are by far #1 on PP GF. Really surprising.
My view on this is that we play with a different confidence on the PP, zipping the puck around and scoring from half boards, deep slot, mid slot and tip ins. We get players in front of the goalie, and just dominate. Even on a losing night again, we kept up our 40% convert rate (2 Goals from 5). I’d just be looking for ways to play more PP-like when 5v5, to increase the High Danger chances and to get more players in front.
The D is still problematic. I felt we played a solid responsible first period, then really messed up multiple marking assignments in the next 2 periods, leaving Akira either with no chance (i.e. open player on the back door with a wide open net), or multiple times with odd man rushes and attacker fully open.
I look at the save rates on Natural Stat Trick for high mid and low danger SV%. Both Akira and VV have almost pristine MDSv% and LDSv%, but they are lagging on HDSv%. So that’s both on them but also equally on the D for exposing too many HD threats.
It’s a young D though, and they show signs of progress (eg Period 1), but need more consistency.
That’s my view!
I really want Ruff to succeed but I don’t know if he’s the right guy to take this team all the way. When you have a team this talented that is giving up 4+ goals a game with spurts of motivation that have yet to last a full 60 mins, you start to think it’s a coaching issue. I hope I’m wrong.
Look we’re pretty much a .500 team right now. Gotta think Fitz sees what we got on D and is trying to make a move. There are just so many breakdowns on D game after game.
Defense and goaltending wins championships, at least Fitz can assess the team without JH (who was obviously carrying the team).
Knew something was off last year, this fan base is meant to be miserable. This is more like it.
Kevin Bahl is going to be a star
Lindy Ruff is a mediocre coach
These are the only two things I know and the only things I’ve been saying all season