All About The Jersey - New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers: Game Stream #31A world class blog for Jersey's team: the New Jersey Devilshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47083/lou-fave.png2016-12-18T08:00:03-05:00http://www.allaboutthejersey.com/rss/stream/49493832016-12-18T08:00:03-05:002016-12-18T08:00:03-05:00Game Preview #31: Devils at Rangers
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<img alt="New Jersey Devils v New York Rangers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dkpQt0V2c7VwvZ_l9tojEUqstmI=/0x72:3661x2513/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52343241/611462842.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Rangers vs. Devils — Part Two | Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Devils enter this game very, VERY cold. Here’s the preview.</p> <p id="JjIHQh">The second half of a back-to-back, against our most hated. </p>
<p id="GPId6F"><strong>The Matchup:</strong> The New Jersey Devils (12-12-6) vs. the New York Rangers (22 -10 -1)</p>
<p id="1NMBvF"><strong>The Time: </strong>7:30 PM ET</p>
<p id="HE6TnT"><strong>The Broadcast:</strong> TV – MSG, MSG+2; Radio - 660 AM & 101.9 FM WFAN; Digital Audio – The One Jersey Network</p>
<p id="B9xGNz"><strong>The Last Devils Game: </strong>The Devils faced the Senators last night. They lost to the score of 3-1. The Senators outshot the Devils 31-30, and outhit the Devils 29-20. In the first period, the first Senators goal occurred because Bobby Ryan entered the zone, and batted the puck to Chris Kelly. Chris Kelly then shot the puck and it deflected off Bobby Ryan and into the net. This was four minutes into the game. John Moore then tied the game 11 minutes in, and tied the game 1-1 on a rather basic looking goal. At this point, the game looked somewhat salvageable. </p>
<p id="mUudm0">And then the 2nd period occurred, where Brassard scored on a tip-in one minute in. At this point, the score was 2-1. At this point, the Devils tried to get into it, but it ended 3-1 on a Zack Smith goal. A hard fought-game, <a href="http://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2016/12/17/13996734/new-jersey-devils-deflected-ottawa-senators-fifth-straight-loss">and a disappointing loss.</a> </p>
<p id="YB14Jl">Overall though, it was a better game. The Devils weren’t completely dominated for the first time in a while, and hope wasn’t lost in the 1st or 2nd period. Hopefully, the Devils can continue playing with this urgency. </p>
<p id="2zfnmA"><strong>The Last Rangers Game: </strong>The Rangers faced the Predators last night. They beat the Predators 2-1 in a shootout. The Predators outshot the Rangers 32-27. Rick Nash scored first eight minutes in, 1-0 Rangers. Rick Nash’s goal was particularly good, as he skated across the ice, and sniped a shot over Saros’ shoulder. Mike Fisher then tied it up in the 2nd, shooting a wrister through the screen. The game went to a shootout, where the Rangers’ Jimmy Vesey and Mats Zuccarello scored, and the game ended 2-1. Nashville gives up 2.83 goals a game on average, so hopefully this is a good sign for the Devils game. Based on the stats, it seemed like a relatively neck-and-neck game, but if anyone watched the Rangers game, let me know how it was. </p>
<p id="byTCI1"><strong>What to Look For?: </strong>Pavel Zacha, Beau Bennett, and PA Parenteau should not be scratched. When I saw this in the pre-game lineups, I was immediately annoyed. Pavel Zacha especially, should not be scratched. If a 19 year old is in the NHL, he should be playing, and getting developed, not sitting in the bench. It’s not like the Devils are playing anyone better either — Luke Gazdic is playing only about 5 minutes on the ice a night. I understand that Hynes is trying to add physicality — but it seems contradictory to only use it for five minutes a game. I questioned the signing before, and I question it even more now (if that’s possible). </p>
<p id="j1jSEb"><strong>A Very Cold Winter: </strong>The Devils have now lost 12 of their last 15. Any hope had after a wonderful start to the season seems over now. They’ve been atrocious defensively and offensively during this time. In their five game losing streak, they’ve given up four or more goals each time, and have scored two or less goals a game. Schneider and the defense have been struggling, and against the Rangers, it’s unlikely it will end. </p>
<p id="TXbKeB"><strong>The Rangers’ Dynamic Forwards: </strong>With the league’s 3rd highest average scoring, <a href="http://www.nhl.com/stats/team?aggregate=0&gameType=2&report=teamsummary&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20162017&seasonTo=20162017&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=goalsForPerGame">at 3.30 goals a game</a>, this team can score really really well. They currently have seven players projected to score over 20 goals on the season, with two of them projected to get over 30 goals on the year. For comparison, the Devils have only have three players projected to score 30 or more goals on the season, and Cammalleri is projected to get 30 goals. Based on the last result, and the Devils’ current struggles, I’m not optimistic about this game at all. The 5-0 loss to the Rangers on the 11th showed the Rangers firepower, with Kreider, Vesey, Pirri, Miller and even Brady Skjei scoring against the Devils. </p>
<p id="62NdCh"><strong>Starting Goaltenders: </strong>Today is likely going to be Schneider vs. Raanta part two. Raanta’s been playing incredibly well this season, with an 8-2-0 record and a .941 save percentage. Schneider, not so much. His numbers have really taken a hit because of his recent struggles, and he now finds himself with a 9-9-4 record, and a .905 save percentage. While I first resigned that Schneider was just in the middle of a cold streak, I’ve started to become concerned now. I still have hope that Schneider will recover, and play better, but I’m becoming less confident now. </p>
<p id="ceJ5rW"><strong>Overall Thoughts: </strong>There’s not much to say about this. The Devils just recently played the Rangers last week, and we all know how that turned out. Let me know what you guys think will happen, and have a good day!</p>
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https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2016/12/18/13996490/game-preview-31-devils-at-rangersDevin Yang2013-12-08T12:55:44-05:002013-12-08T12:55:44-05:00Devils at Rangers: Zone Exits and Passing Stats
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<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This is a look at the Devils zone exit and passing stats when they took on the Rangers Saturday Night. The forwards were good; the defensemen could have been better. Read on for the evidence.</p> The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">Devils</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Rangers</a> played a back and forth game that finished the way all Devils always want it to against the Rangers. Despite going down 0-2 early in the 2nd period, the Devils took over most of the game going forward and outscored the Rangers 3-0 5-on-5 the rest of the way. A PPG apiece at the end of regulation and early in OT secured the 2 points for the Devils. Let’s get to it. <p>
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<strong>Passing Stats</strong></p>
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<strong>Forwards:</strong></p>
<p> <span>Reid Boucher</span> followed up a dud with a very good passing game. He went 7/8 in the offensive zone and generated 6 shot attempts. The 6 SAG tied him with <span>Jaromir Jagr</span> for the team lead on the night. <span>Dainius Zubrus</span> generated 4 shot attempts on 10/12 passing. The next highest were <span>Adam Henrique</span>, <span>Patrik Elias</span>, and <span>Tim Sestito</span> with 3 SAG each. The only forwards not to generate anything? <span>Cam Janssen</span> and <span>Damien Brunner</span>. </p>
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<span>Travis Zajac</span> was quite busy in the defensive zone, going 8/8 and 6/8 on the other 2 zones. <span>Michael Ryder</span>, <span>Andrei Loktionov</span>, and Brunner had “meh” games with not too much production to speak of, other than Ryder’s goal of course, which was a great individual effort. Overall, the forwards generated 31 shot attempts, which is well above their season average. </p>
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<strong>Defensemen:</strong></p>
<p> Not as active in the offensive zone as they’ve been recently, no doubt some of which is a direct result of Marek Zidlicky’s absence. The group averaged over 81% in each zone, which is a few points better than the season average. <span>Andy Greene</span> had a rare off-night, completing 8/13 in his own end. He was the group’s highest generator of shot attempts with 3. <span>Peter Harrold</span> was good considering this was first game in the last 5 or so. <span>Mark Fayne</span> and <span>Anton Volchenkov</span> were decent, nothing great or terrible to point out. </p>
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<span>Eric Gelinas</span> attempted 29 passes tonight, 21 of which were in the defensive zone. He only generated 1 shot attempt, but his totals are steadily rising. Of those 29 passes, he completed 25, a solid percentage for the game. <span>Jon Merrill</span> attempted 21 overall, 14/17 in the offensive zone. He also generated 1 shot attempt. </p>
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<img alt="Game_31_devils_rangers_passing" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3690817/Game_31_Devils_Rangers_Passing.jpg"></p>
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<strong>Passing Data Explained</strong></p>
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Pass: A reasonable and deliberate attempt to get the puck to a teammate which maintains possession or results in a shot attempt. This excludes zone clears, dump-ins, and anything that is akin to a desperate swipe at a loose puck. If a player passes a puck into space or off the boards, it finds a teammate, and it appears it was done deliberately, that shall be a pass. When in doubt, common sense will prevail. </p>
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What you see above is a chart illustrating pass completions, pass attempts, and pass percentages for each player in all three zones. A pass that goes across a zone or two will be marked as occurring in the zone it originates from. </p>
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Each completed pass that results in a shot taken by a teammate counts as one “shot attempt generated” or “SAG” in the chart below. This is tracked to attempt to determine which teammates are better at generating opportunities to shoot. </p>
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<strong>Zone Exit Stats</strong></p>
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<strong>Forwards:</strong></p>
<p> The forwards only had 1 turnover and had a 52.1 PE% for the game. Notable performers were Jagr (of course) at 57.1 PE% on his 7 attempts. Zajac was 9/9, but only 3 maintained possession. Sestito went 4/5, but only 1 maintained possesion. Ryder and Brunner had decent exits. Boucher and Zubrus were the other forwards who finished below 50 PE%. </p>
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<strong>Defensemen:</strong></p>
<p not the best night for blue line. a combined turnovers between greene harrold gelinas and merrill rookies did look particularly secure in some of their puck i noticed that will attempt to carry an awful lot resulting more turnovers. course he naturally have if handling much than other defensemen but it remains stat should hopefully decrease bit. handling:="">
Greene’s below-average passing for the game resulted in a few pass turnovers in his end. Harrold’s turnover was early on, but he was steady the rest of the way. Fayne and Volchenkov combined to attempt 19 zone exits, successful on every one of them. Their PE%s were 42.9 and 33.3 respectively. Volchenkov continues to be exactly what a 3rd pairing defenseman should be: effective at clearing the puck out of the zone and not taking many risks. </p>
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Collectively, the defensemen finished at 40.6 PE%, another game below their season average. Harrold was the only blue liner at the 50 PE% mark. </p>
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<img alt="Zone_exits_game_31_devils_rangers" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3690809/Zone_Exits_Game_31_Devils_Rangers.jpg"></p>
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<strong>Zone Exits Explained:</strong> Any attempt made by a player to advance the puck from their defensive zone. These actions fall into the below categories (as illustrated on the below chart). </p>
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<strong>Possession Exits:</strong></p>
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(P) Pass: When a player passes the puck out of the zone and it successfully finds a teammate. </p>
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(C) Carry: When a player skates with the puck out of the zone, maintaining possession. </p>
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<strong>Successful Zone Exits without Possession:</strong></p>
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(FP) Failed Pass: When a player passes the puck out of the zone, but it fails to find its target. </p>
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(FC) Failed Carry: When a player skates with the puck out of the zone, but loses possession shortly thereafter. </p>
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(CH) Chip: When the player lifts the puck out of the zone or throws it off the boards and out. </p>
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(X) Other: Any action that results in a successful zone exit not already covered. </p>
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<strong>Unsuccessful Zone Exit:</strong></p>
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(PT) Pass Turnover: When a player fails to clear the zone with a pass and it results in a turnover to the opposition. </p>
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(CT) Carry Turnover: When a player fails to skate out of the zone with the puck and loses possession. </p>
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(I) Icing: An attempt to clear results in icing the puck. </p>
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(T) Turnover: Any action that results in a turnover not already covered. </p>
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What reaction do you have to these stats? How do they compare with your viewing of the game?
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https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/12/8/5188672/new-jersey-devils-at-new-york-rangers-zone-exits-and-passing-statsRyan Stimson2013-12-07T23:42:56-05:002013-12-07T23:42:56-05:003 for 3: Devils Beat Rangers Again, 4-3 OT
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<img alt="Photographic evidence of Travis Zajac scoring a goal." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a9jZ-IVC5ihYUTpaU9y1-Q9tqzA=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24714011/20131207_pjc_ae5_309.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photographic evidence of Travis Zajac scoring a goal. | Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The New Jersey Devils conceded a late equalizer but Eric Gelinas' shot got past Henrik Lundqvist in overtime to beat the New York Rangers 4-3 and end a three game winless streak. This is a recap of an exciting rivalry game.</p> <p>Going into tonight's game, the <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a> found themselves with no wins in their last three games. It's arguable that they could have won Monday's game in Montreal if it wasn't for the combination of a great goaltender, a great defenseman clearing two pucks off the line, and lack of puck luck. Wednesday's game against Montreal should have been a win but a late deflection equalizer led to overtime where the Devils pushed but couldn't get a goal and so lost in the shootout because that's what happens in shootouts this season. Friday's game was awful and it was the only deserved loss the trio. Tonight's game against the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a> was already important because it was against a hated rival and a divisional opponent. Just needing a result to avoid a slide to four winless games just multiplied the game's value.</p>
<p>I am very pleased to write that the New Jersey Devils did get that result. They went into Rangerstown again and got a win. The winless streak is over and it comes with additional bragging rights as the Devils are now 3-0-0 against Our Hated Rivals. Plus, it was a dramatic and very entertaining game, one befitting of a rivalry. Given what Devils fans all over the world had to endure last night, that's a point worth highlighting. There were highs, lows, and even a little controversy.</p>
<p>It wasn't at all perfect win. The final result was 4-3 in overtime, which means Our Hated Rivals get a point out of all of this and stay ahead of the Devils in the standings. The Rangers did get a last-minute equalizer, which makes it two such goals allowed in the past four games. That was made possible due to an avoidable penalty within the game's final 80 seconds. The Devils started off on the wrong side of the scoreboard, again with a 0-2 deficit. They conceded the first goal on the first shot allowed. They gave up a quick one in the second period. Even though the Devils came to play, the decifit looked like a mountain to climb. A video review from Toronto had to confirm that the Devils' first goal would count and even after that score, the Rangers definitely made an effort to avoid leaning on their own lead. And, again, they did salvage point out of this game.</p>
<p>However, like people, perfection isn't possible; it's about getting the job done. The Devils came out shooting early on and it took them less than half the game to match Friday's shot total of eleven. While the game was a fairly up-and-down affair, thanks to the Rangers' good transition game, the Devils hung with them. They drove to the net instead of settling for blasts from the perimeter. They forced Lundqvist to make some tough stops throughout the game. Contributions came from multiple players. <span>Tim Sestito</span> and <span>Cam Janssen</span> made an important play. Sestito actually had two (he had a good game, believe it or not) as his little touch opened up space for <span>Michael Ryder</span>, who had a great individual move for a score. <span>Travis Zajac</span> scored off a bounce in front, something he badly needed given how many good shots he's had that didn't get in the net over the past week or so. <span>Jaromir Jagr</span> ended his pointless streak by setting up that Zajac goal. <span>Eric Gelinas</span> showed that his shot is the truth and his last one won the game in OT from distance. All of these guys figured on the boxscore and others did so in other ways. Hockey is a team game and the Devils played well enough together. Devils fans all over the world should be smiling about this win. I know I am.</p>
<p><b>The Game Stats: </b>The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/GS020444.HTM" target="_blank">NHL.com Game Summary</a> | The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/ES020444.HTM" target="_blank">NHL.com Event Summary</a> | The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/PL020444.HTM" target="_blank">NHL.com Play by Play Log</a> | The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/SS020444.HTM" target="_blank">NHL.com Shot Summary</a> | The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20132014/TV020444.HTM" target="_blank">NHL.com Devils Time on Ice Report</a> | The <a href="http://www.extraskater.com/game/2013-12-07-devils-rangers" target="_blank">Extra Skater Game Stats</a></p>
<p><b>The Opposition Opinion: </b>There should be something up at <a href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Blueshirt Banter</a>, so check them out.</p>
<p><b>The Game Highlights:</b> From NHL.com, here's a whole bunch of highlights from an exciting rivalry game.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=2013020444-X-h" frameborder="0" width="640" height="395"></iframe></p>
<p><b>Oh, Yeah, Controversies: </b>I did say there were highs, lows, and controversies. There were a three that come to mind.</p>
<p>First: Janssen's goal. <span>Martin Brodeur</span> beautifully lobbed a puck to Tim Sestito in the neutral zone, who had a lot of space in front of him. Sestito shot for a rebound, which is smart as I doubt he would beat Lundqvist straight-up on a shot. The puck was knocked out to the center and Janssen runs into it. He tried to stop, he didn't, but the puck was propelled into the net. Lundqvist, his teammates, and Al Trautwig all claimed it was a kick. But there was no distinct kicking motion. That would require Janssen to control himself and actually intend to do something. When he gets up to speed, he's like a three-year old running around. His balance isn't always good and he just takes a spill. That's what happened. Good call by the ref and Toronto to uphold the call.</p>
<p>Aside for the first: Yes, Janssen has three goals. He didn't take a call, he didn't do anything dumb, and he got lucky for a score. I have zero complaints with his game.</p>
<p>Second: <span>Marc Staal</span> was knocked out of the game. He took a hit from <span>Reid Boucher</span> along the boards and got sandwiched between Boucher and an official. There appeared to be contact to the head but there was no call. I would agree with the no-call in that it was a very quick hit. There certainly wasn't an intent to hit him high. Boucher's shorter than Staal so I don't think he could have done it even if he wanted to. Staal walked off the ice, threw his helmet down in anger (for a lack of a call? for being ruled out of playing?), and that was that. I doubt Boucher will get a call from the league about it.</p>
<p>Third: The Rangers' late equalizer came on a power play. Travis Zajac, who otherwise had a good night, made a big mistake. He tried to chip the puck off the boards and out but he missed the glass. That's a delay of game. That wasn't the controversial part. The goal itself was. As the Rangers were in control with six skaters, they would cash in late. <span>Chris Kreider</span> jammed at a puck amid three other bodies and maybe more sticks. It got launched up and past Martin Brodeur. That wasn't the controversial part either. That would be <span>Ryan Callahan's</span> role in it. He appeared to fall down right in front of Brodeur and possibly on the goalie's stick. I could understand how some Devils fans wanted to see the goal waved off, if not a penalty given for interference. But given the traffic in front, I don't know how a ref would have clearly seen in that way. It wasn't like there was a big mistake on the equalizer. The Devils were where they needed to be, but it's a 4-on-6 situation so there couldn't have been enough to get the stop they needed. It's moot now since Gelinas won the game in OT.</p>
<p><b>Why I Call it The Truth: </b>It's not a slight at Paul Pierce or Shaquille O'Neal. Eric Gelinas' shot is the truth because it hurts. It's often heavy, it's usually low, and it's sometimes going fast towards the target. If a defender gets in front of it, I'll bet it usually causes a bruise. If a goalie isn't in a good position to get in front of it with their body or their equipment, then it becomes difficult to handle. Gelinas tied Zajac for the most shots on net tonight with four. His fourth was a slapshot one-timer from distance that went past a screen by <span>Steve Bernier</span> and off Lundqvist's glove. That hurt Lundqvist, the Rangers, and the denizens of Rangerstown. It doesn't always lead to a goal but it definitely is for real. That's why it's the truth.</p>
<p><b>Speaking of, Penalties by Guys Who Had Good Games were Costly: </b>Ryan Callahan and Zajac both had good games for their respective teams. Zajac scored from in close, got four shots on net out of six attempts, and played well with tough minutes. He took a delay of game call late in the game that ended up erasing another late lead. I understood what he wanted to do, but his error was costly. A 3-2 lead was turned into 3-3, the Rangers got a point, and the possibility of going winless in four games returned.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Callahan did him one better. Callahan picked up two assists. His only shot on net led to Brodeur kicking it out wide that <span>Mats Zuccarello</span> immediately picked up and threw right back into the net. He created the chaos that led to Kreider's equalizer in the dying minute of the game. Like Zajac, he came out ahead in possession. But he took an even worse penalty. He high-sticked <span>Andy Greene</span> in overtime. Greene was just carrying the puck in deep into the Rangers zone and he just snapped his stick up into his grill. I don't understand why he did it. It wasn't along the boards or in the midst of a battle, it was in open-ice. Even if Callahan didn't get his face, it wouldn't have stopped Greene from moving on. Worse, he drew blood so it was a double minor. Callahan not only took an obvious call, but he doomed his team to 3-on-4 hockey for the rest of overtime. The Devils didn't take long to take advantage as Gelinas' shot was the truth and beat Lundqvist. Sometimes even guys who do well will make an error that ends up being a big deal.</p>
<p><b>Message: </b>To John Moore: I still have your jockstrap. Sincerely, Michael Ryder.</p>
<p><b>Guys Who Didn't Have Good Games: </b>While the Devils did put together a good team effort overall, there were a few players I didn't really like tonight.</p>
<p>First, I thought <span>Peter Harrold</span> struggled mightily at times. He was a surprise inclusion as <span>Marek Zidlicky</span> was ruled out due to the dreaded "upper body injury." In a way, it seems harsh to fault him since he's been sitting for quite a while and suddenly had to be an offensive-minded defender alongside <span>Anton Volchenkov</span>. He decided wrong on a pinch that led to a two-on-one for the Rangers that yielded a goal as <span>Brad Richards</span> kept it and beat Brodeur cleanly. It would be one of two-on-ones he conceded. On a power play, Greene put a pass behind him which put Harrold in a tough spot. He had to not only get the puck out of the zone but he also lost it and so the Rangers were off to the races. Fortunately, Brodeur got a stop. In between, it took some time for him to settle down and he had take some big hits. If he keeps getting games by necessity, then I think he'll get better. But it was tough to watch him at times tonight.</p>
<p>Second, <span>Damien Brunner</span> continues to shoot himself in the foot. He made a nice move to beat a man one-on-one (I think it was <span>Anton Stralman</span>) and force a close shot on Lundqvist. He followed that good play by hooking Marc Staal in the Rangers' end of the rink. Later, he made a nice move to win possession along the boards. But as he tried to turn towards the center looking for help, he lost the puck. Brunner then decided to snag Derek Stepan's arm from behind. That's two offensive zone penalties. His last notable moment could have led to some redemption. <span>Adam Henrique</span> saw him behind the D in the neutral zone so he lobbed a pass into the Rangers' end. It was perfectly placed and Brunner managed to stay onside. However, the breakaway was whistled dead because Brunner swung at it high with his stick instead of letting it drop. In summary: Sigh.</p>
<p>Third, I thought Henrique and Bernier had quiet games. Ryder was on his way before he decided to posterize Moore on an individual effort. They didn't get a lot of tough competition unless you consider Zuccarello and <span>Derick Brassard</span> tough. But they just didn't get much going. At least Henrique was a bit better in his own end and Bernier did set one nice screen at the end.</p>
<p><b>Difference of Special Teams: </b>The Devils finished ahead in attempts (46-44) and shots (23-17) in 5-on-5 play. But when you add special teams, the Devils were way behind in attempts at 61-48 and shots held even at 24-24. The Rangers did get more power play time but they tried to make the most of it. There were stretches where they had nothing but control and all the Devils could do was hope they make a mistake, get a block out, or Brodeur make a save where the Devils can clear it. The PK did weather quite a bit and almost came out of it perfectly until the 4-on-6 situation at the end. I'm not mad about that. But it's worth noting as it shows how much Brunner's two calls plus a stick-hold against Gelinas hurt aside from Zajac's late penalty.</p>
<p><b>A Champion & A King: </b>To be fair, 21 saves on 24 shots doesn't suggest a great performance for a goalie. I thought both Brodeur and Lundqvist had to make some tough stops. I'd say both goalies wish they had one of those three goals back. For Brodeur, it would have to be Zuccarello's goal. I know he didn't intend to kick it out that far but in retrospect, he would have tried to angle his pad differently. For Lundqvist, it would be Ryder's goal. He didn't just make Moore look silly but the shot just snuck through the five-hole. The shot was not screened and unlike Richards' goal, it was taken from quite a distance away. Therefore, I'd say the goalies were even tonight.</p>
<p><b>The I Got Scored on by Cam Janssen Club Now Has Three Members: </b>Though, this is a rivalry so I will be snarky and welcome Lundqvist to a club that features well-known goalies <span>Carter Hutton</span> and <span>Ray Emery</span>. I think Lundqvist should pick up the next check when they have their monthly dinner meeting. He's certainly good for it now.</p>
<p><b>Three Games, Eleven Goals Scored, Three Allowed, Three Wins: </b>It's always good to beat the Rangers.</p>
<p><b>Your Take: </b> What's your take on tonight's win? Are you pleased with the performance as well as the result? What did you like and dislike from what you saw? Who do you think did well and did not do well? Are you glad the Devils have taken Rangerstown again? Please leave your answers and other thoughts about tonight's win in the comments. Thanks to everyone who commented in the Gamethread and followed along <a href="http://www.twitter.com/inlouwetrust" target="_blank">@InLouWeTrust</a> on Twitter. Thank you for reading.</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/12/7/5187162/new-jersey-devils-snap-3-game-winless-streak-third-win-new-york-rangersJohn Fischer2013-12-07T18:30:03-05:002013-12-07T18:30:03-05:00Devils at Rangers: Gamethread #31
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<p>The New Jersey Devils are hoping to snap a three game winless streak by snapping Our Hated Rivals for the third time this season. The game is in Rangerstown, this is your gamethread, and you can talk about the game here until the recap is up.</p> <p><strong>The Time:</strong> 7:30 PM EST</p>
<p><strong>The Broadcast:</strong> TV- MSG+ ; Radio - 660 AM & 101.9 FM WFAN</p>
<p><strong>The Matchup: </strong>The <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a> (11-13-6) at the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a> (15-14-0; SBN Blog: <a href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Blueshirt Banter</a>)</p>
<p><strong>The Game Previews:</strong> Karen did the preview for this game earlier this morning, <a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/12/7/5184722/new-jersey-devils-at-new-york-rangers-game-preview-31">check it out here.</a> For the opposition side, <a href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2013/12/7/5185846/rangers-vs-devils-preview-rangers-seek-first-win-over-new-jersey-this">Bryan Winters has this preview at Blueshirt Banter.</a></p>
<p><strong>The Song for Tonight: </strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M68kfFSzms4">"1,000 Eyes" by Death.</a> It's one of my favorite songs. The vague tangential relation is that there will be a lot of attention paid to how the Devils respond after an awful, terrible, no-good game against Detroit.</p>
<p><strong>Gameday Info: </strong><a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/brodeur_hit_in_kneecap_again_in_skate_but_will_start_vs._rangers_josefson_out_brunner_back_in/">Tom Gulitti reported earlier today at Fire & Ice</a> that <span>Damien Brunner</span> will be in the lineup in place of <span>Jacob Josefson</span>. I guess <span>Tim Sestito</span> will center the fourth line then. For Brunner's sake, show some hustle and fire some pucks towards and on net. Then you may play more often. There may be other changes by the time it's gametime. For the Rangers, <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/rangerrants/morning_skate_dorsett_hurt_miller_back_pouliot_dz_out/">Andrew Gross (Gulitti's co-worker) reported</a> that <span>Michael Del Zotto</span> and Benoit Pouliot are both out while <span>Derek Dorsett</span> is hurt. <span>J.T. Miller</span> returns to the roster while <span>John Moore</span> stays with <span>Justin Falk</span>. Devils, please challenge that pairing.</p>
<p><strong>The Reminder of Rules: </strong>This is a place where you can comment about this game before, during, and after it's played before the recap is up. This is a place where we primarily discuss the Devils game. An odd mention of other NHL games is OK, but it shouldn't dominate discussion. All comments will be clean, respectful of each other, relevant to the game, and legal (read: no streams). Please refrain from super-big pictures and .GIFs to keep the gamethread moving for everyone. Lastly, <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span> is not Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, or Roger Taylor - and I will not accept seeing otherwise here.</p>
<p>Go Devils.</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/12/7/5186354/new-jersey-devils-at-new-york-rangers-gamethread-31John Fischer2013-12-07T07:00:02-05:002013-12-07T07:00:02-05:00Devils at Rangers: Game Preview #31
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<p>The Devils are right back at it after a disappointing game last night. They face the Rangers for the third time this season in what could be Brodeur's last game at Madison Square Garden. </p> <p>
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<p><b>The Time: </b>7:30 PM EST</p>
<p><b>The Broadcast: </b>TV - MSG+; Radio - 660 AM & 101.9 FM WFAN</p>
<p><b>The Matchup: </b>The <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a> (11-13-6) at the <a href="http://rangers.nhl.com/">New York Rangers</a> 15-14-0; SBN Blog:<a href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/"> Blueshirt Banter</a>)</p>
<p><b>The Last Devils Game: </b>Last night was quite possibly the worst game of the season for the Devils so far. They fell to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/">Detroit Red Wings</a> 3-1 with a disappointing 10 shot effort. <span>Cory Schneider</span> was in net and saw a lot of what he's been seeing this year - no offensive support. What was unusual was seeing the Devils outshot by a wide margin. To read the full recap and vent about the game, check out<a href="http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/12/7/5184460/new-worst-game-of-the-season-new-jersey-devils-lose-3-1-detroit-red-wings"> John's write-up here.</a></p>
<p><b>The Last <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">Rangers</a> Game: </b>The Rangers played the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> on Thursday and won 3-1. It wasn't a pretty win, but New York got goals from <span>Rick Nash</span>, <span>Brad Richards</span>, and Mats Zuccarello. Henrik Lundqvist was in net and made saves on 27 of the 28 shots he saw in the first game after signing his monster contract to stay in NYC. You can read the full recap from <a href="http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2013/12/6/5181880/rangers-vs-sabres-it-wasnt-pretty-but-a-win-is-a-win">Joe Fortunato at Blueshirt Banter here.</a></p>
<p><b>The Goal: </b>The Devils will be facing a rested Rangers team at the beginning of a nine-game home stand at MSG. New Jersey should have energy since they didn't show much of it last night. Hopefully they'll come to play after such a disappointing showing at the Rock against Ludqvist (presumably) and company.</p>
<p><b>Goals?</b> Like the Devils, the Rangers have trouble scoring. They have scored just one more goal than New Jersey so far this season and both teams have a <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?navid=nav-stn-main">-7 goal differential.</a> Each team has also received solid goaltending from both goalies on the roster as the season has progressed. The top players to watch out for from the Rangers are Brad Richards, <span>Derek Stepan</span>, Rick Nash, and rookie (?) <span>Chris Kreider</span>.</p>
<p><b>Shoot the Puck: </b>Ten shots on goal will not win you many games. I don't imagine another effort like that for the second night in a row, but they need to shoot a lot more against their bitter rivals if they want to get a few by Lundqvist.</p>
<p><b>Line-up: </b>Brodeur will be in net for the Devils tonight, and while that is the only known change in the line-up, there may be some more after the weak performance last night. While I get that <span>Damien Brunner</span> hasn't done much in quite some time, he may get another shot to try and spark something new in the line-up. I would be fine seeing either Sestito or Janssen sitting to get someone with a better shot at scoring on the ice.</p>
<p><b>Step-up: </b>The Devils need someone to step up so the top line of Zubrus, Zajac, and Jagr doesn't need to be over played. Even they haven't scored in a while, so another line needs to click and start scoring now more than ever. There were a few new faces on the score sheet in the games against Montreal with goals from Loktionov and Ryder to name a few, but there needs to be even more of that.</p>
<p><b>3-for-3: </b>The Devils have won the first two meetings of the season series with New York. A win tonight would be huge since New Jersey is just two points behind the Rangers in the standings with the same number of games played. After three frustrating losses, it would be great to get back on the right track against our hated rivals in what should be looked at as a 4-point game.</p>
<p><b>Your Take: </b>What do the Devils need to change from last night in order to beat the rival Rangers? Would you like to see any line-up changes? Who needs to step up their game and be a game changer? Feel free to discuss your thoughts on tonight's game in the comments section below. Thanks for reading, and let's go Devils!</p>
https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2013/12/7/5184722/new-jersey-devils-at-new-york-rangers-game-preview-31Karen Meilands