How many injuries are there now? Can’t the hockey gods show some damn mercy?!
<points to entire roster> GET BETTER FAST (ON AND OFF THE ICE)!!
Back at it this Thursday!
What’s on your mind?
[Video Recap.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itpBG_ffQMU)
[ESPN Game Cast](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401559837)
ESPN’s *Three Stars of the Game*: some rando 1st, some rando 2nd, Colin Miller, 3rd.
[NHL Game Center](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-van/2024/01/06/2023020611)
[Shift Chart](http://www.shiftchart.com/game/2024-01-06-canucks-devils)
[2023-24 Regular Season Schedule (January, all times EST)](https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2024-01-01)
by Devil_Dane
12 Comments
Hello darkness, my old friend..
If—and I’m just putting this out there—if the Prudential Center was built on some kind of cursed ground (I’m thinking Indian burial ground but any burial ground would probably do), it would go a long way in explaining both a) losing a roster player to injury every goddamn game and b) that godforsaken ice.
As far as hockey itself, Jesus fucking Christ, this season. Best thing I can say is the pressure’s off. No one could reasonably expect this team, with this run of injuries, to see any kind of success. The fact that they’ve crawled into a playoff position is cool and frankly kind of amazing, though it’s hard to feel like it matters with our players dropping like flies to potentially long-term, serious injuries.
I’m pleased with the continued progression of Holtz and Mikey. Nemec is shockingly composed. He’s already our best dman and his future is very bright. Love that kid. Luke also shows significant flashes of promise, but he does have to work on his balance, because apparently that shit at the end of the game wasn’t a trip. Can’t be falling down just because a guy slams his stick and then foot into your legs. And Daws looked shaky with some of the goals he allowed, but shaky in a way that still makes him the clear number one of currently available goalies.
So yeah. I don’t know. Offense from Miller and Smith sure was weird. Can’t wait to see what next game brings. Long-awaited Max Willman hatty? Could be a treat before he inevitably goes out with a fractured pelvis or something. Or maybe Vitek inexplicably pitching a shutout? Perhaps the whole roster getting healthy and ending up all playing together at once. Can’t wait to find out where this goes, though I’d feel confident betting against that last one.
I know the injuries are big and piling up, but it ain’t over til it’s over. We’ve clawed our way back into a playoff spot, and there’s still a lot of talent on our roster that can see us through games. It’ll be a grind for sure, but time heals all wounds, we’ll get players back.
Wildcard please
No more black jerseys
The boys need to continue to hold out for .500.% and above hockey until they are healthy enough. Everything is worth giving the team at least another round of the playoffs, teaches them so much
Nemec is it. Daws looks very promising. Offensive specialists Miller and Smith will carry this team lol.
Luke and Jack need to grow their physical game and get better defensively, they’ve collectively decided to pick up the Severson turnover torch this season. Twice last night Luke had horrendous turnovers on the breakout with all the time in the world. One became a goal and the other Daws bailed him out with an incredible save.
I tend to focus on the few negatives in a win. In this case, I think it’s fair to focus on the few positives in a loss.
First and foremost, we were in a game til the very end we had no business being in. It was clear off the hop we didn’t have it, that Vancouver was going to hound them for every possession, and Tocchet stacking his best players on one line was a smart move knowing our defensive struggles.
Daws had a great game despite the endless barrage of shots. It’s a weird feeling to “expect” a goal against and then to be surprised the goalie can make big saves in big moments. I don’t get that feeling with Vitek, in fact I cringe with almost any decent scoring chance.
The last PP was beyond frustrating to watch. If the Devils learned anything from this game, it was that you can beat Demko clean. Shots on net are scoring chances, and we decided the best approach on the PP was to make 5 extra passes to set up the wide open glorious opportunity that never came. I love Luke as QB, but he rarely has a shoot first mentality and is much less threatening because of it.
Small bright spot is TB, Pit, NYI lost in reg too. NYR, CAR lost in shootout.
Another bright spot: 5 days off could not have come at a better time. Let’s hope that we see some guys heal up with the extra time off. Tampa is a beatable team right now. I hope Daws gets the start.
Hot takes incoming:
People bitching about a ‘kicked goal’ not being reviewed need to understand there was 0 kicking motion. Puck directed in off the skate. Goal stands either way.
The obvious no call on the trip at the end was frustrating, but you can’t hang the whole game on that.
Devils played like garbage for 50+ minutes last night and earned the points they deserve for that effort.
Daws earned the starting goalie position in just 3 games up, which shows just how badly we need a goalie.
Everything bagels are the best bagels, no exception.
That is all.
Big props to miller for some old school bombs from the top into the net.
I was at this one live, and honestly we were just out matched. The Canucks just had a death grip on the game. There was so little daylight at all times, and the fact that it was a one goal game at the end is kind of impressive. Daws got peppered and did an admirable job, the team kept themselves in a game they didn’t deserve to be in. Disappointing result but not a disappointing effort imo.
From a slow motion replay someone posted on Xitter… Seigs’ broken bone is left foot interior (first) metatarsal. Assuming it did not crack to the end of the metatarsal (joint where metatarsal meets phlanges), it could be month or five weeks. No idea why all skaters in the NHL do not use those clear plastic foot guards over their skate boots. Those guards would have prevented Seigs’ broken bone for sure. Just…insane not to use them.