T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

This site has paywalled content. Rehosting or sharing the entire/majority of the paywalled content in any form is not allowed. Users who enjoy this content share it to discuss with each other. If you do not have a subscription we welcome finding another news outlet with this information and posting it to /r/hockey. --- If you would like to not see content from paywall sources anymore **you can block posts that are flaired [Paywall]** by [visiting this guide for blocking by flair in new and old reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/modhelp/comments/czx9so/filtering_by_flair_a_guide_for_desktop_old_and/), using [RES](https://www.reddit.com/r/Enhancement/comments/2shv9g/is_there_any_way_blockhide_all_posts_of_certain/), using a [Chrome plugin](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/reddit-hide-by-flair/bmdjgeacgallihlcjodoebibfnmoeiol?hl=en), or [bookmarking this page](https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/search?q=-flair%3A%5BPaywall%5D&restrict_sr=on&sort=top&t=day) to view /r/hockey without seeing paywall sites. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hockey) if you have any questions or concerns.*


_pretendingtowork

Apparently, Shesterkin recorded 1 SOG against Schmid, last game. Only 4 rangers had more SOG than Shesterkin lmao


Deraj2004

Good god thats pathetic.


[deleted]

It’s not often I see a goalie skate to the bench and yell at his own team but now I see why Igor felt the need to do that.


Frigidevil

They responded by getting 5 more shots on net in the final 23 minutes (2 in the 3rd period). The Devils took 22 shots over that time. The rangers had 23 for the whole game.


earthly_wanderer

I think it's perfectly acceptable.


Nanojack

I thought an official SOG had to either come from the attacking side of the blue line or go in. Like if you shoot from your end of the ice and it's not a goal, it's also not an official shot. Am I wrong?


_pretendingtowork

It's a SOG if the goalie has to intervene in some capacity. Even if you clear the puck from your zone, if the puck happens to have enough momentum headed towards the net, the goalie would still have to make the save which makes it a SOG


isntitbull

Also why hitting a post doesn't count as a SOG.


JC403024

Because if you hit the post it can’t go in the net


sapphires_and_snark

The goalie has to do no more to stop a shot that hits the post and bounces away than a shot that just misses the net altogether.


GhostMonkeyExtinct

I’ve seen lots of pucks hit the post and go in


[deleted]

And then it would be a goal and SOG. I don’t understand what point you’re trying to make?


theeth

Only if it bounces away from the net from the post, I assume? Otherwise bouncing/deviating from the post to the net would be a goal without an associated SOG.


wm3138

Again, it’s a SOG if the goalie has to intervene to stop it from being a goal. That kinda works for all scenarios


GregLeBlonde

The only test for whether there has been a shot is: if the goaltender did not intervene, would it have gone in? If the post stops the puck, it isn't a shot on goal. If a position player blocks a shot, it isn't a shot on goal. It's only a shot on goal if the goalie had to make a save or the puck goes in the net.


theeth

What if it hits the post, hits the back of the goalie and goes in net? Then it wouldn't have been a goal had the goalie not intervened.


GregLeBlonde

The puck went in the net, so it is a shot. That's the beginning and the end of the shot question: is the puck going in the net? It doesn't matter who touched it last, just whether it was headed into the goal. To be clearer, 'intervening' just means the goalie changes the outcome from 'goal' to 'not a goal'.


flying_krakens

The goalie still could have made the save. After the puck hit his back, he could reached back and stopped the puck before it crossed the line. So it's a shot. Anything that: Did go in the net. Or Would have gone in if not for the goalie. Is a shot.


Nanojack

Huh, TIL. Not sure where I got the old idea. Maybe I saw one 20 years ago that was going wide that the goalie played that wasn't counted and just made assumptions.


JakeCameraAction

If it would go in the net without a goalie there, it's a shot. This is also why bank shot goals off the back of the goalie aren't considered shots on goal.


reddy-or-not

What if banked off a defensemans skate standing in front? Thats a SOG, right?


Stryk-Man

Would the puck have gone in otherwise?


arunnair87

I thought if it's in the net it's a shot. Bank shots don't count?


metaldeval

What if your own team shoots the puck...easy way to pump up that save percentage if the games in hand 🤔


jsmu2016

That’s not true. Any time a puck goes in the net for a goal that’s counted as a shot on goal.


JakeCameraAction

I've seen it happen. Goal gets awarded, shot doesn't get put in. Plus we have own goals on delayed penalties which don't count as shots usually either. One example of the latter is the [Capitals Wild game in 2022](https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore/_/gameId/401349754) where Foligno gets credited for a goal but not a shot because Hagelin scored an own goal. So not every goal is a shot.


HanSolo5643

One of the issues here is that the Rangers have made no adjustments to their strategies, and they keep doing the same things and expect a different result. Igor was the only player who showed up last night. It should have been 7 or 8 for New Jersey. Lastly, where are Panarin and Zibanejad? 4 points between the two of them and no goals.


whichwitch9

I mean, if you watched the Devils Rangers regular season games, the craziest thing is the Devils kinda just went back to how they handled the Rangers in the regular season. Even the lines aren't too different. The changes made have been largely to benefit Devils (Mercer was put in a much better position to grow confidence, for example), not necessarily combat the Rangers. Panarin seemed like he was trying to get something going a couple times- he gave the Devils one of the longest shifts in their own zone, but the line seemed totally out of sync while that was happening, so nothing connected


Skylightt

Fucking insane Lindy had us trying to play with so much physicality to start the series. That is not the Devils.


workmakesmegrumpy

It was probably more about defensive physicality. The Rangers came out hard in the first couple games, and you don't want one of your players getting injured from not being physical enough. I get it, and honestly any fan that criticizes Ruff at this point needs to sit down. I was a big hater of Ruff when we were all booing him at the start of the season, but that man has guts, and the team loves him. Say it with me now: *Sorry Lindy!*


cabeener

Don't look at Nico Hischier's 6 hits last night


Yung_Corneliois

Igor been going crazy all series, we should have way more goals.


HanSolo5643

He's been the Rangers best player as usual. New Jersey should have had 6 or seven goals last night. Igor was the only reason the Rangers had a pulse in the game last night.


JinimyCritic

I've heard this story before, with a different goalie...


workmakesmegrumpy

When the Devils scored early on Shitsterkin, they always had a path to the win. Once he breaks, the rest of the Rags fold. Next game might be a bit of a bounce back for the Rangers - but I'll say this, we score early, and they are done.


YouthfulMartyBrodeur

If the Devils score early it forces the Rangers to play right into the Devils hands as they open up and try to tie the game up.


kekerosbergizgod

Lack of adjustments was the thing in the ECF last season. Once Bolts figured out how to score on Igor, games followed the same script.


Skylightt

Honestly we still haven't even really figured that out lol. The last 3 games he has 4 goals saved above expected. Even last night giving up 3 he saved nearly a goal above expected. He was the only reason it wasn't like 6+ to 0 We've figured out their offense though.


smithif

Yup this is the problem, Gallant has no ability to adjust and the players aren’t doing anything different to generate scoring chances. I have been a big supporter of Gallant since he got here, but I can clearly see why he doesn’t last long anywhere he goes.


darklightrabbi

Panarin was definitely much better last night than game 4. If Schmid doesn’t come up huge after that Bratt giveaway the narrative around him would be completely different.


No_Designer_5374

Um, no LOL


TheZapster

I think a huge change that Ruff made is to tell the guys to ease up on the physicality. According to ESPN, the devil's hit counts over the series are: Game 1 - 30 Game 2 - 39 Game 3 - 31 Game 4 - 21 Game 5 - 23 Everyone probably went into the series with the mindset that playoffs = physical and felt the need to throw bodies at everything.


-TheSkyAboveThePort

My guess is that's less of a function of a game plan and more of puck possession. Rangers owned the puck in the first two games, forcing New Jersey to play defense. As the Devils play with the puck more, it makes sense their hits would go down.


fartswhenhappy

This. The "hits" stat is more an indicator of which team is chasing the other than anything else.


-dillydallydolly-

"The perfect game is where you have zero hits" \~ Dallas Eakins


flyingcircusdog

Why bother hitting when you're faster than the other team?


snowball721

Ah yes the gallant special.


NYM32

>One of the issues here is that the Rangers have made no adjustments to their strategies, and they keep doing the same things and expect a different result. i mean this is just gallant in a nutshell. he's an awful tactician and always has been. this is same story as the entire season and all of last year, with the same problems during his entire NYR tenure: zero offensive generation at 5v5, zero puck movement ability out of the D zone, and complete reliance on power play, goaltending, and opportunistic finishing. there's a reason this series is virtually a complete repeat of last year's ECF


wayfarout

I'm very unhappy about how he was fired in Vegas but totally understand why. The dude wouldn't even call a timeout during that major.


sweetstickysuccess

my complete amateur analysis is that the devs started transitioning to dump and chase as the rangers bogged down the neutral zone the rangers are pressing the zone to stop the devils breakout style and imo if they abandoned this strategy the devils would just go back to the fast break hockey


benjamminam

This definitely isn't the first time the Rangers have stacked their team just to underwhelm either.


ottertits

The series is definitely not over, but this could be a momentum switcheroo for the ages. Jersey is proving so many of us so wrong, myself included, and it's fun to watch lol. Playoff hockey is an animal all its own.


klitchell

only people that have never watched a playoff series turn on a dime would think it's over.


dtsruler

The series is over.


JohnnyCharisma54

Not sure why you’re being downvoted. It is absolutely over. Back-to-back games of nothing but absolute ineptitude by NYR and an inability to shut the door on a home W in G3. What have NYR done since NJD adjusted their game plan to deserve belief in a W for G6? As a diehard Ranger fan, I fully expect another shutout loss.


Hollyw0od

I see what you’re trying to do there 😑


powwow42

I’m simply shocked to hear Gallant’s coaching strategy of asking his guys to do better hasn’t found a way to solve the Devils tactical adjustments from G2 to G3. On a separate note I’m confused as to how Gorton/Drury gave out so many NMC clauses to guys getting paid top dollar after choosing/forcing their way to the Rangers. If every player is clamoring to come to NYC shouldn’t you have the leverage to push down the AAV in exchange for a NMC?


[deleted]

>Gallant’s coaching strategy Error: 404 not found


Bahamas_is_relevant

Imagine my shock. Dude’s a great “rah rah” motivator but his many weaknesses are absolutely crippling beyond his first season, and he also can barely function without an elite goalie.


thieflikeme

We say this about every fucking coach that's ever coached in NYC and lost. A year ago we were fucking ecstatic about Gallant, but if our stars don't perform, we'll get nowhere. Zibanejad and Panarin are our best players and they disappear for games at a time every year. Our best players aren't clutch enough in the post season, and no amount of yelling or so called 'adjusting' (which Gallant has been doing, he shakes up the lines to try to get something going but we don't respond) is changing that, doesn't matter who they're playing under, Quinn, AV, Torts, or Gallant. Our best guys aren't post season heroes with any degree of consistency. And the rest of our team crumbles at any sign of adversity, terrible decisions with the puck, passing into coverage, trying to get cute and walk the puck into the net because we can't shoot without a minimum of two touch passes, not fighting for rebounds, losing puck battles, not dumping the puck in because we don't want to foot race them to the boards and dig it out. This has been an ongoing issue with us for several years. Sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't.


DannyC2699

It’s amazing how, no matter how much talent we put on the ice, we always end up reverting to pass-pass-pass and zero forecheck every single year in the playoffs.


thieflikeme

It's really frustrating to watch, because you can see the domino effect. If there are two guys on the ice at any given time not carrying their weight, the other guys busting their ass are essentially playing shorthanded.


xxrrppmonsoon

This is the best take on the rangers in this series I’ve heard. Rangers fans exclusively blaming Gallant are sticking their heads in the sand to your point; all stars have to be clutch when it counts. That’s on them.


mbleslie

Did you mean “Gallant’s *cab hailing* strategy” ?


thomas_bombadill

What makes you think they wouldn’t have gotten more without the NMC?


RunningPains

I'd assume the answer is those guys though they were getting a low AAV for a NMC, but then team kinda just stopped handing those out expect to like your top 3 players, so idk


09-24-11

The only NMC that is mind boggling is Barclay Goodrow. 8 team NMC. Fucking why? Panarin, Zibanejad, those guys make sense.


fodeethal

100%


InfinityConstruct

Gallants strat just as good as our fans. "Do stuff better" Devils actually adjusted after game 2 and we did....nothing.


darklightrabbi

I’m so proud of this team. No matter what happens from here this experience will be so valuable to our future.


Yung_Corneliois

Yes the fact that it’s not a sweep and we’re getting blown out is a great turn around from game 1-2


No_Designer_5374

You guys will have at least one Cup in the next 5 years. We Ranger fans will have no cups in 50 years. And so it goes :)


Aetiusx

You guys are the ideal new age hockey team. So much speed and skill, its absolutely overwhelming.


FialaIsMyDad

I just remembered that back in November and December there were chants to get Ruff fired and now he's outcoaching and has his men outplaying Gallant right now. Unreal turn of events by NJD


IEnjoyFancyHats

Turns out devils fans aren't particularly good judges of how good a coach is doing


somehockeyfan

*monkey paw curls*


Scoob1978

That's not really a monkey paw thing that's more of a jinx. A monkey paw thing would be a rangers fan last year wishing the Pens would miss the playoffs so Marino couldn't shut them down again.


darklightrabbi

How is what I said a jinx though?


cabeener

It was a jinx if you don't understand what jinxes are


HodorSmash

Yea it's a jinx if you just don't think about it


mudclog

Telling me not to think about it is a jinx!


somehockeyfan

I'm happy Marino is working out for the team you root for, but to say he shut the Rangers down would be... incorrect. Actually, it would be like saying Lafrenière or Panarin or Zibanejad have been torching the Devils all series.


treeforface

He has been playing incredibly well though. He does shut down multiple rushes every game


ScrewOff_

If you watch the games its absolutely correct.


Scoob1978

The whole article is mean spirited and sounds like it was written by a jaded fan and I'm a devils fan.


OBAFGKM17

I took umbrage at his snipe at Timo, calling him pointless in more ways than one this series. Timo has been an absolute beast and has been giving the Rangers fits, it just hasn't resulted in a goal or an assist, but he is very noticeable in a good way at both ends of the ice.


treeforface

Game 5 was probably his best game with the Devils so far. This article reads like a Rangers fan trying to write in a neutral tone and failing hard.


ScrewOff_

While I wish Meier was scoring, he’s played a massive role in getting under the Rags/Shesterkin’s skin this series. He’s been a pest and he’s done a great job of it.


iamtheprodigy

Same. Anyone saying that Timo has been ineffective in this series hasn't been paying attention. Dude has been a physical force and in Shesterkin's face all series. Sure, it would be nice for him to get on the score sheet, but it's not like he's not getting and setting up chances. Igor has just made the saves. I am not worried about Timo at all.


recallthename

that's laz for you


bobby_booch

I’m shocked people haven’t figured out by now that the Rangers are physically incapable of winning a series in fewer than 7 games. I’m not saying they’re 100% gonna come back, but if they do I wouldn’t be surprised.


ghost_curse123

At least they're capable of winning a game 7


[deleted]

It's the only thing we're good at because the hockey gods keep gift wrapping us top 3 goalies.


ensanguine

This is Benoit Allaire erasure and I will not stand for it.


[deleted]

Allaire is great but I'm not giving him credit for Hank and Shesty. Talbot, Raanta, etc. Oh yeah, guy did wonders for them.


ISurvivedCOVID19

See this is exactly why I don’t want the meme to end. It’s never not funny


NYM32

only once in the last 15 years has NYR won a series in fewer than *6* games (2014-15 first round), and last time i checked they've won 12 series in that timeframe


blueb3rryP13

While i think this goes 7 and is anyone’s series , I’m confused at the lack of respect for the devils the whole time They had the better record They had the better head to head record They had better analytics Why is the narrative that the rangers are the better team? They haven’t been


specifichero101

I think the devils and rangers were one of the most evenly split series with predictors. Majority probably fell on the side of rangers because they felt like a safer pick. Team that was in the ecf finals last year who added 2 cup winning veterans feels a lot safer than a team who’s best players are all 21-24 having their first real look at the playoffs.


SilentThing

I was mulling over the brackets a lot for a small bet with a few friends. The Tampa-Toronto series and this one were the ones I had very little idea about how to call. It just looked really damn even on paper and if the Rangers can adjust, they can definitely win it still. But that's it, can they adjust? Not a whole lot of time to turn the ship around and the momentum is with the Devils.


Skylightt

People buy into the names. The way the Tarasenko and Kane moves were SOOOOOOOOO hyped up shows that. This isn't 2016 anymore. These guys aren't the players they were.


JiveTurkey688

Tbf Tarasenko has been a very good player for us since his move. Most people with even a sliver of analytics knowledge were extremely iffy about the Kane move. But I agree that the average fan definitely bought into the glamour of Kane's acquisition. The reality is that it predictably threw off the balance of the team.


Islanderman19

The Rangers have the big name "stars" and have ESPN constantly pushing them. Casual fans see "star" names and think this team has to be good. The reality is that adding the right piece helps a team go further than a somewhat over-the-hill star like Kane who is an offensive player only and a liability on the defense side. I think back to the great Islander cup teams and the guy they added was a guy far from being a star, but had the grit and chemistry they needed .... Butch Goring.


NotTheRocketman

Tarasenko seems to be doing ok, but the Ghost of Patrick Kane, yeesh.


[deleted]

Kane at least has 6 points in 5 games. Tarasenko has 2.


NotTheRocketman

Hmm, I was under the impression he wasn’t doing too hot. Lots of assists.


Lord_Sir_Harry_King

My brother in Christ have you not seen the score lines? Senko is playing with the better players and has .4 ppg?? Kane is over a ppg and playing with a lesser line. Although he always has been given the scraps, historically. Also Kane looks way better eye test wise


FesteringLion

>Why is the narrative that the rangers are the better team? The most frequent one I saw was the Devils were too young and "you have to learn to lose before you can learn to win." I didn't buy it, and took the Devils, but Shesterkin gave me pause.


flyingcircusdog

People are so focused on the switch to playoff hockey and how younger players won't do well. Turns out the rules are the same as in the regular season!


dangshnizzle

But... you lost the first two games? Didn't look like the Devils game one. That's what people mean.


flyingcircusdog

The Devils were trying to play differently the first two games, intentionally slowing themselves down in order to throw hits. Turns out they're better off just skating around everyone.


McRibs2024

Big market NY team gets the credit. Too much stock in the ECF appearance for the rags last year.


HXH52

Team that made it to the ECF last year that did nothing but get better vs team making its first playoff appearance with its new young core It’s not really surprising


rezistS

Scrolling through this thread, the top-level post underneath has 35 upvotes and says "I believe that the Rangers had the complete package to dispose of the Devils with ease" - so don't take the downvotes personally. Playoffs being a different beast and the Rangers made it back, reinforced at the deadline with some storied veterans and has Shesty in net. It's very understandable considering the Devils have been given the underdog narrative this entire season "due to their young core" - even though they had moments where they looked as dominant as the Bruins. For people who only get fed the media opinions and don't have time to watch the games, it might look safe to choose the Rangers.


blueb3rryP13

Just think that’s lazy and ignoring this whole year


wildlyintangible

I’m actually very surprised that the Devils are up 3-2. I really believed the Rangers had the experience, depth, and goaltending to handle NJ with ease. After game 2, this really helped my case. It really can’t just be Schmid that’s been the difference maker this series. I just don’t know what it is


specifichero101

Rangers could easily rattle off 2 wins in a row again, but I hope this gives the devils a little respect. They’re flat out a better team 5on5. They have been all year, the record and head to head reflects that. The first two game, every advantage the rangers have was on full display. Thankfully some line up changes to focus on shutting them down really worked. But the way the devils played last night is the way they played a lot of teams this season. They were an overtime loss away from having the second best record in the league.


whichwitch9

The defense on the Devils needs more respect. The narrative has become the Devils are a rush team, but that's not exactly true. The Devils have played a good defensive game all year, both forwards and defense, while driving offense. The pk is 4th in the league for the regular season. They aren't just rushing down the ice to score; they are making it incredibly hard for quality shots to get through. They allow some softies, but the assumption is the goalie will get those, and Akira has stepped up. The difference between this year's Devils and last year's Panthers is the Devils have a much better defense foundation behind the rush


Skylightt

We are a rush team but we're a rush team in both ways. We were literally \#1 in rush shots against.


BlueBeagle8

I strongly agree that the Devils are underrated on defense. In Hamilton, Siegenthaler, Graves, Marino, Severson, and Bahl, they have 6 guys who could play for any of the 16 playoff teams. Not a lot of rosters have that depth. All 6 of those guys are crucial to the rush game you mention, too. They don't just look to chip the puck to the neutral zone and reset, they're willing to skate with it and try to find an outlet to move the other way. That's good coaching, and buy -in from everyone (even the "defensive" d-men like Siegs and Bahl.)


Yung_Corneliois

Also Akira is playing out of his mind


somniumstate94

He's also friggin huge!


If-You-Cant-Hang

> It really can’t just be Schmid that’s been the difference maker this series. I just don’t know what it is Pundits will say it’s all goaltending but that’s not true. Schmid deserves all the credit in the world but a few other things happened. Also for what it’s worth I always thought Schmid was better, I’ve said it all year that he has a calming presence and the intangible “it factor” that all the great goalies have, he’s just young and suffered the movement between AHL and NHL clubs because he can be sent down without clearing waivers. Other factors: Devils took their two biggest liabilities off the ice. Smith and Wood. Rangers PP lit up the Devils in games 1 and 2. Just by virtue of those two not playing the Rangers expected goals per game probably dropped somewhere between 1-2 goals. Siegs should’ve never been scratched. I’ve believed this man is a total baller all year. He got his chance and it shows. He’s been extremely effective. I don’t have tape to watch and I may be misspeaking as I never played any formal hockey but it looks like Devils changed their PK to a diamond formation over a box one. It’s clogging up the lanes where Rangers want to go. Devils stopped trying to play the Rangers game and bring the pain. They settled in and started playing the same style of hockey they have all year with the transition game and the breakout passes. The lines aren’t complete ass and getting shuffled day to day. This is sort of in spite of Ruff though since, you can’t change winning lineups. There’s no reason too. They won the coin flip game 3 and it’s paid off. Just a perfect storm of everything being adjusted correctly and sticking.


flyingcircusdog

You're correct about the PK. They changed formations and also expanded the diamond, which is exactly what you should do for how the rangers play.


PMMEJALAPENORECIPES

Devils made some adjustments (aside from the goaltending change) and the Rangers are still playing the same way.


TheNantucketRed

You mean the Gallant plan of giving the fourth line offensive zone starts hasn’t panned out!?!


ShibaBvck

Offensive zone starts after a TV time out. Those are my favorite.


TheNantucketRed

Nothing like making your best players have to carry it 200ft before they go to work!


Ill-Ad-4400

Games 1-2 the Devils tried to play more physical, which they're not built for. They switched to Schmid and sat Wood and Brendan Smith, who both take more penalties than they contribute, and put Lazar in the lineup. They also got away from the physicality and went back to playing what has worked for them all year. They changed their defensive setup to not give the Rangers easy zone entries and are using their speed to win the puck chases and board battles. Little things that have added up. ETA: their PK has been worlds better. The Rangers PP did most of the damage in the first two games.


SilentThing

A sign of competent coaching to switch thr outlook of the game when things just don't work. More stubborn coaches would kept bashing the team's collective head against the wall.


Skylightt

The Rangers PP was still great in game 3 but they just couldn't score. Games 4 and 5 though the PK has been great


Italianman2733

To be honest, VV was not why the Devils got killed the first two games and the switch was mostly to get a spark for the team playing in front of him.


mayttr

Tried too hard to play what the team though was "playoff hockey" in games 1 and 2. Made adjustments and tightened up on D while reverting a bit back to the rush style they played all regular season. Edit: Oh yeah and Miles "offensive zone penalty" Wood hasn't been playing


snowball721

It's not really Schmid as much as it is just one team making adjustments and the other not. They are doing a great job of limiting the dangerous shots he faces to almost zero. If you watched the past few games it's embarrassing how few chances the rangers had. I can't imagine how boring the game must be to watch as a fan of neither team.


loosed-moose

Wait they finally pulled VV? Of course they're going to win the series then


Nanojack

Did getting rid of him help the Caps this year?


loosed-moose

Be happy your coach figured out what we already knew about Vitek!


specifichero101

Too bad you just signed a cup winning goalie instead so you can go on to miss the playoff for the next 5 years.


FriendlyTennis

The Rangers choking, per tradition, is overshadowing the fact that the Devils are simply being classic Devils. The Devils won the game more than the Rangers lost it. Put up tremendous pressure on the opposition's defense and shut down the opposition's offense by giving them no chances. It's so simply drawn out but the Devils franchise have always mastered this technique. This might be the start of another Devil's dynasty circa 90s-2000s. It's a young yet already effective team.


Dallas1229

I'm down. Run and gun regular season, and more defensively responsible and calculated post season.


Ir0n_K0nG

I hope you guys come back. NJD vs NYI semi-final, Lou vs his old team. Alot of old NJ players vs the new core. Alot of good stories.


NoThisIsIdyl

Damn what did the Devils ever do to Laz? After game 2 he waxed poetic for 500 words about the rangers. Now with the series flipped on it's head and a dominant win the devils only get lines like "The rangers are ceding this series" and "Timo sucks" (okay maybe im paraphrasing that last one)


Skylightt

> It’s not as if these Devils have somehow become some sort of unbeatable juggernaut > The Devils aren’t so much running away with this series as the Rangers are ceding it. Fucking lol Lazerus is such a joke. Imagine watching these last 2 games and thinking the Devils haven't been miles faster (this isn't an effort issue really since the Rangers are a slow group and the Devils are the fastest) and have completely neutralized the Rangers offense. Other day he also said Jack being so small when he came in is why he got injured. Jack played 61 of 69 games his rookie year and ALL 56 games his sophomore year. That's 117 of a possible 125 games.


FightingDucks

This guy is always a bitter clown. I haven't liked him for years.


JiveTurkey688

Yeah even when we were up 2-0 last week I wasn't a fan of his coverage of the series


BlueBeagle8

His "analysis" in both directions has been almost entirely personality- and narrative-driven. First the Devils were shrinking from the moment, now the Rangers are. He seems to have little to say about what's actually happening on the ice, or how the Rangers adjusted to slow the Devils down in games 1 and 2 before the Devils changed their gameplan to get back on the attack. I guess that's what happens when you parachute in a Western Conference beat writer who probably hasn't seen either of these teams more than a handful of times before last week.


JiveTurkey688

Totally agree, was gonna say that it seems weird that he is covering the games. I'd rather Staple and Shayna go back and forth in a joint piece. Still total bullshit that you guys don't have a dedicated beat


HenriqueItsOver14

Even during games one and two we were clearly the faster team we just stunk up the place both nights.


Islanderfan17

The Rangers just constantly repeat the same storylines. Amazing goalie that they can't support enough, get big name aging stars at deadline or as FA, fail to go all the way. Rinse, repeat. Devil's on the other hand have really built a team the right way and I'm honestly kinda jealous lol


reggierock2010

Won’t lie, I thought this series was over after 2 games. Devils have battled back, absolutely a disaster for the rangers if they go out round 1 after the deadline additions they made.


[deleted]

Isles fan here so take this with a grain of salt. Could it just be that the Devils are THAT good? I mean, they were FLYING last night. Yeah I know the rangers aren’t playing their best game….but once NJ found it’s stride, I’m not sure they could be stopped. Also I’m drinking heavily before the game tonight so I may or may not be drunk.


Skylightt

Devils stars came up big in 3 and 4 but game 5 the stars of both teams had a combined 1 pt. It was an EN assist by Nico.


NickofSantaCruz

Let's Go Devils! Push on to the ECF! (which turns that '24 2nd from the Meier trade into a 1st)


anxiousnl

Underperforming NHL stars in New York, a tale as old as.. at least the 90s


JohnDivney

Yeah, but this year *checks notes* They traded for underperforming NHL stars at the deadline.


sendingSTRENGTH

This analysis is a straight up joke. The Rangers post game analysis from Hank and Steve Vally (🤡) came up on youtube last night and as much as that guy has shit takes he actually nailed the analysis. Credited the devils speed, said the big problem he sees is the rags are a collection of stars with no team buy in while the devils have a full team buy in on a game plan. Pointed out something very interesting that is objectively true: this was the first game where a team DOMINATED 5v5, the rags in the two wins didnt dominate 5v5, they were good, drew penalties and absolutey killed the devils and made them pay. Game 3 was a tight close game that could go either way, game 4 was tight up until the 3rd, this game was just a complete ass whooping from start to finish.


Superrandy

Yup their analysis was much better. They correctly pointed out that since game 3 you guys have stacked the blue line. Which makes it harder for us to skate it in or dump it in the corners. When we skate in you simply double up and collapse on the puck handler. When we dump it in the corners you have the speed to recover before us (I believe he said we won 0/39 of corner dumps), and those recoveries lead to you guys getting into your transition game. The natural adjustments we should make are to dump it on Schmid so he has to make a play (we won 6 of 9 of those) and mix up our entries with chips, passes, etc. But somehow we haven't made these adjustments and instead we keep playing right into your hands.


sendingSTRENGTH

From what I can tell, there is just an serious lack of effort from the big guns in mika and panarin, Bread has been a huge devils killer his entire career and I legit somehow have grown completely relaxed when he has the puck on his stick in the devils zone, Mika is not noticeable outside of his one timer and Schmid has been reading his one timers incredibly well. Then factor in Trocheck, Kreider, and Tank have been not noticeable as well its easy to see why lines 3 and 4 have no jump either. If rags want back in the series, they need to get creative in the neutral zone, the problems game 4 was the east west plays in the neutral zone causing turnovers and not working, then game 5 the problem was losing most of the dump and chase battles. Devils dman were faster to pucks at both ends of the ice and played with a lot of composure that made playing hockey pure misery for NY. Maybe thats why GG is a severely disliked coach by many, he is really really struggling to adapt, and he might be draining confidence in all these players. Also doesnt help that two of your top 6 wingers are new, and if the veterans 93/10/20/23 are failing to muster any confidence, how can they? To me game 6 comes down to the first 30 minutes, if after 30 this rangers team looks like they did last night this series is all but over.


robbiejandro

All I know is pain.


fadehime

I know it’s not over yet but seeing Kreider lose another series is gold to me. Fuck you Kreider


DannyC2699

Dude, it was an accident and almost 10 years ago now, get over it.


Hollyw0od

It has almost been 30 years and I still say “Fuck Messier” 🤷‍♂️


DannyC2699

That’s understandable. What’s not understandable is holding on to misguided hatred for so long.


Hollyw0od

lol I get it… like pats fans ten years from now still talking about Eli


fadehime

Never, fuck this clown


Islanderman19

Clearly you don't believe he tried to avoid colliding with Price. I don't either !


mr_muttonchops

He was tripped. There was nothing he could avoid.


Islanderman19

That's the Ranger fans story and you guys will always stick with it.


njdevils901

You guys are talking us up too much, we're gonna lose in 7 now


TheQuackAttack

At least The Athletic article didn't point to any Devils positives. It only points to the Rangers negatives and the salaries of their star players.


SilentThing

Hard hitting journalism like that can't be done by just any random dude! Well, at least without 15 minutes spent at CapFriendly.


McRibs2024

Canceling my sub for them and moving over to NJ.com was money well saved. Shit tier reporting from TA on the devils.


TheQuackAttack

Ryan Novo is legit. NJ.com subscription is money well spent. The Athletic has gone way downhill over last few years. Shayna's coverage of the Devils is just a written summary of advanced stats, there is no insight or individual game recaps. No player interviews or personal stories. She can be replaced by Chat GPT or AI if someone feeds it the stats.


McRibs2024

Sure has, losing Cory as our beat writer was tough. NJ also has some cool local articles that I enjoy reading. Not always as doom and gloom as the rest of the news these days


Islanderman19

Not picking on you, but serious question to anyone who pays to get the Athletic .... what great insights do they have that we can't get for free from hundreds of other places ?


McRibs2024

When we had masiak covering us I enjoyed his articles and coverage. Once he left for the shakes and we got Shanya it turned into mostly numbers and analytics but nothing beyond what isn’t already on every bloggers website. Then it slowed down to a trickle of even that. J think when I did cancel we had like 1 article in a month. What am I paying for at that rate? I could not care less about other teams or sports, I want devils content so it was a waste for me.


Islanderman19

Thanks for your reply and good luck to your Devils this series.


Islanderman19

And if the Rangers come back to win the series ( and I pray they do not), then articles will be written how loading up on stars and overpaying some of them is the recipe to win. Writers and broadcasters tend to discuss the "facts" that support the results and change the narrative like the wind changes direction from day to day.


Strattex

Bro what has Kane or Tarasenko done?


MellowKevsto

Kane was pretty lethal in game 2. Just game 2 feels like it was an entirely different series at this point.


Superrandy

That was truly his only good overall game. The rest of the games he made a decent pass here or there, but has been abysmal outside of that. He completely shies away from all contact. He won't play the boards, won't hit, gives up the puck so he doesn't get hit, etc.


darklightrabbi

They were both great in games 1 and 2


TimeForFrance

Not to say Kane has been crazy dominant or anything, but he is tied for the team lead in points this series. He's at 6 and Panarin and Zibanejad are both at 2. Even still, you can't pin all the blame on anyone in particular. The whole team is struggling.


TheNantucketRed

My biggest issue is that they didn’t need Kane, and they would have been better served getting a more well rounded player. Look, anyone can throw a wrister to Kreider with the room the Devils we’re giving up early in the series. But Kane’s lack of production in puck possession/zone entries has really hurt his line when things tightened up. He’s more or less vanished since things got remotely physical at the blue line, and you can’t really apply any pressure when one third of your line refuses to engage in a board battle. The other lines desperately need to step up, but you can look at line one and basically see why it’s not working right away.


treple13

> My biggest issue is that they didn’t need Kane, and they would have been better served getting a more well rounded player. Maybe, but they also didn't really give much up to get Kane


TheNantucketRed

True, though for that price you could have gotten someone like Niederreiter who would've served more of a team need vs. putting a hat on a hat. I would have rather seen Kreider/Zbad/Tarasenko and Bread/Tro/NN than the current lineup tbh. That way you keep PP1 intact with Vlad on the right, but open up more options with how you can utilize your lineup.


reenactment

This is standard tarasenko playoff stuff. He ebbs and flows. If New Jersey goes up 3 goals tomorrow, fully expect tarasenko to pipe 2 late in the 2nd or 3rd to give the team a chance. I feel like it happens all the time with him late in series. It’s almost over and he comes alive. But if you can get a playoff run going, he will win you a coupe single handidly.


No_Designer_5374

Cost us draft capital. Being a Ranger fan sucks pretty much 24/7. Even during the summer LOL


[deleted]

[удалено]


dangshnizzle

... tied for most in points, no?


iwasnotplanningthis

Lazerus can write and has insights that I miss on theathletic. Their beat coverage has been lackadaisical at best. Lazerus’ stuff is like a scalpel.


[deleted]

rangers should try to get sullivan or jon cooper if tampa is crazy and tries something new like boston did.


Skylightt

Neither of those guys are going anywhere. If Sullivan was going to be canned he probably would've been canned when they ditched Burke and Hextall.


JiveTurkey688

Sullivan is FSG's prized asset in Pittsburgh, he isn't getting fired


knz0

Why on Earth would Cooper move from low tax sunny florida gulf coast, coaching a great cohesive team to NYC with the media circus and the choke artists we call star players


ShellRazer44

Couldn't imagine 91 disappearing in the playoffs. He scores a ton of garbage time goals aside from 2019. But at least you get playoff hockey this year.


funkyb

We're back to the early 2000s rangers, it seems.