- Thread starter
- #1
MCDevils
NJ Devils: Sweden West
- 3,277
- 24
- 38
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2010
- Hoopla Cash
- $ 1,000.00
- Fav. Team #1
Sorry for the belated post, but I couldn't watch tonight's game live.
Here of some of my observations from the game.
Chances: The Devils had at least 15 quality chances to score tonight. If all world Ryan Miller wasn't the Sabres goalie this game wouldn't have been close. He's really just so big in the net it looks impossible to score.
End of the PP:This was a very small thing but something that I noticed and absolutely loved. After getting burning with a man coming out of the box earlier in the week, the Devils had Kaleta (I think) covered when he was exiting. That's fantastic game awareness and definitely highlights the Devils doing the little things right and game sense.
Battling for Pucks: The Devils out fought the Sabres most of the night IMO. Even on the Sabres limited chances, the Devils rarely let the Sabres have good positioning except for the one Derek Roy play where he went around the Devils D, but Tallinder definitely back-checked to help Marty make the second save on that play.
Arnott - Elias - Langenbrunner: It's obvious that this line is going to explode soon. IMO, they are the most important line this season, because Parise's line is going to get the toughest dmen. Elias and co. need to take advantage of that.
Skating the Puck Out on D: The Devils D seemed much more comfortable skating the puck up the ice tonight. Buffalo didn't have the best fore-check going, but it was still encouraging to see the D with a plan to escape instead of just dumping it off to their partners.
Pelley: I tallied 6 separate instances where he made an exceptional play either on the fore-check, PK, or in the defensive end. Two solid games in a row. Hopefully he's maturing into the Madden replacement he was expected to be last year.
Colin White's Positioning: Excellent all night. He's doing much better with a d-man who seems willing to carry the puck up ice (Taormina).
Ilya not skating into trouble: He did a much better job of protecting the puck and ensuring it got deep. Only one play resonated where he stick handled into trouble, and that was with Myers covering him. 6'8" dmen have that reach though. It's tough to get around.
Blocking Lanes on the PK: Took lanes away constantly. Need to be careful of screens though.
Races to the Puck: Consistently won these even in the second and end of the 3rd. The game winner was a pure hustle play combined with the best shot I've seen in a while.
Fraser: He's doing the best he can but is still inconsistent.
Tallinder: Best game he has played with the Devils thus far. Two solid games in a row for him.
PP Pointmen: Did a great job getting pucks through to the net in the third period. Had some problems earlier, but definitely adjusted.
D minimized second chances: The D consistently kept the Sabres from getting juicy rebounds. That's how Devils hockey plays at its best. Good to see.
Effort: By far the most consistent effort the Devils have had since the seasons tarted. Even in the second, they weren't outplayed by much. The obviously carried the entire first, the majority of the 3rd and all of OT. If the Devils work hard, they are going to win a lot of games.
Now time to get to .500.
Here of some of my observations from the game.
Chances: The Devils had at least 15 quality chances to score tonight. If all world Ryan Miller wasn't the Sabres goalie this game wouldn't have been close. He's really just so big in the net it looks impossible to score.
End of the PP:This was a very small thing but something that I noticed and absolutely loved. After getting burning with a man coming out of the box earlier in the week, the Devils had Kaleta (I think) covered when he was exiting. That's fantastic game awareness and definitely highlights the Devils doing the little things right and game sense.
Battling for Pucks: The Devils out fought the Sabres most of the night IMO. Even on the Sabres limited chances, the Devils rarely let the Sabres have good positioning except for the one Derek Roy play where he went around the Devils D, but Tallinder definitely back-checked to help Marty make the second save on that play.
Arnott - Elias - Langenbrunner: It's obvious that this line is going to explode soon. IMO, they are the most important line this season, because Parise's line is going to get the toughest dmen. Elias and co. need to take advantage of that.
Skating the Puck Out on D: The Devils D seemed much more comfortable skating the puck up the ice tonight. Buffalo didn't have the best fore-check going, but it was still encouraging to see the D with a plan to escape instead of just dumping it off to their partners.
Pelley: I tallied 6 separate instances where he made an exceptional play either on the fore-check, PK, or in the defensive end. Two solid games in a row. Hopefully he's maturing into the Madden replacement he was expected to be last year.
Colin White's Positioning: Excellent all night. He's doing much better with a d-man who seems willing to carry the puck up ice (Taormina).
Ilya not skating into trouble: He did a much better job of protecting the puck and ensuring it got deep. Only one play resonated where he stick handled into trouble, and that was with Myers covering him. 6'8" dmen have that reach though. It's tough to get around.
Blocking Lanes on the PK: Took lanes away constantly. Need to be careful of screens though.
Races to the Puck: Consistently won these even in the second and end of the 3rd. The game winner was a pure hustle play combined with the best shot I've seen in a while.
Fraser: He's doing the best he can but is still inconsistent.
Tallinder: Best game he has played with the Devils thus far. Two solid games in a row for him.
PP Pointmen: Did a great job getting pucks through to the net in the third period. Had some problems earlier, but definitely adjusted.
D minimized second chances: The D consistently kept the Sabres from getting juicy rebounds. That's how Devils hockey plays at its best. Good to see.
Effort: By far the most consistent effort the Devils have had since the seasons tarted. Even in the second, they weren't outplayed by much. The obviously carried the entire first, the majority of the 3rd and all of OT. If the Devils work hard, they are going to win a lot of games.
Now time to get to .500.
