~~The Devils will never lose again!~~
The Devils resume winning next Monday!
What’s on your mind?
[NHL FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsxgt-xQLVs)
[ESPN Facts](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401559253)
[Shift Chart](http://shiftchart.com/game/2023-10-13-coyotes-devils)
[Sam Kasan Story: Devils Fall in Shootout to Coyotes](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/devils-game-story-vs-arizona-10-13-23)
[2023-24 Regular Season Schedule (October, all times EST)](https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2023-10-01)
by Devil_Dane
24 Comments
Too many penalties. Tough to get into a rhythm when you’re constantly playing special teams.
Yotes played well, far better than I thought they would. Thought we could’ve defended better on the Dumba goal, thought guys were caught watching the puck instead of following their man, but so it goes.
Not concerned, I know it’s only game 2 but would like to see Nico/Timo/Dawson get on the board – overall depth scoring.
Take a few days off boys, come back ready to play against the Panthers.
I suppose it’s a sign of how much better this year is than last that only getting 3 out of 4 points to start the season feels kinda demoralizing. I’m not really concerned. We have good players who will play well and win us games. In the inevitable line blendering to come, I hope they don’t break up Jack and Bratt again, because those two are magical together. I have no worries about Nico, I know his points will come, though I do wonder why he’s still losing so many face offs. I have little concern about Mercer. We know he’ll get it together, he works too hard not to. I am starting to have a bit of concern about the third on that line, though. No where close to some of the comments I’m seeing, “this guy doesn’t care, isn’t trying, what a waste of 8.8m.” Nothing like that. But I do think it’s fair to start wondering when exactly Mr. Meier is going to start consistently playing and producing like the stud we thought we were getting last season.
Oh well. One dropped point so far. PP looks very dangerous, I think our 4-on-3 unit might honestly be best in the league. PK really needs to tighten up, and the sheer number of penalties we’re taking is staggering. Need to play smarter. Goalies still look good. Dougie still a beast. Luke still looking like he’s gonna be special someday but is also a rookie. Just gotta take the good with the bad there. The future is blindingly bright, and the present is pretty damn solid too. Rest a bit then on to Florida. LGD
Woke up still annoyed that smith took that dumbass penalty when we were looking at 6 minutes left in the game up 1.
God that 3-on-3 was awesome. Overall, there’s some rust to shake off but nothing to worry about. Akira made some phenomenal saves and the Hughes-Bratt connection was buzzing all night. I will say though, it’s funny how the Devils have totally revamped their roster compared to the dark years, yet they still can’t seem to get it together in the shootout.
Also got to meet Logan Cooley’s family at Redd’s before the game, his parents are super nice and I’m so happy they got to see his first two NHL points.
We always knew our defense was gonna have growing pains. Settling in to a couple games and having them gel a little more I think we’ll be fine in the long run, I mean it’s game 2 of 82. I’m more concerned that by the looks of it we’ve had trouble setting up our Offense on 5v5. Holtz improved a LOT but I also feel he’s been playing kinda scared, while our passing has felt sloppy and too fancy. The group will click soon, it’ll just take a little more time.
Everyone needs to realize this isn’t the Arizona that’s been shit for years. They got some good young players and good goalie to support them and for veteran experienced blue liners back there. They’re like us from last year imo
Fuck Brendan Smith so bad
Can’t win ’em all. See you all on Monday!
Funny how you jumble up 2 lines that looked good and played together all preseason and they both end up looking disjointed
We were a successful Jesper Bratt breakaway away from having a hat trick, 4-2 lead, and an extra point. But all in all can’t be mad about 3 of 4 points on a back-to-back to start the season.
They got Panthers Monday, and that’ll be interesting. Seems like the Devils seldom beat those guys regardless of how well each team is doing in the standings. Let’s get it.
That second line, particularly Timo Meier, probably would like a mulligan to start the year. They have been putrid.
Disappointing start, I think goaltending will bite us harder than we thought.
I would like Luke to not try and behind the back dangle the puck at the blue line again. You’re in the big leagues now.
I can’t wait for our only problem to be Luke and Nemec’s growing pains on defense and not the fact that Brendan Smith is a terrorist
Far too many penalties, and we really need to wake up in the first period. It’s great that we were able to take the lead in the 2nd but why are we always in a position where WE need to catch up.
Also fuck Smith he was a problem with penalties last year too.
Felt like Arizonas goalie bailed them out , guy made so many great saves
I think Luke looked really good out there. He did have some gaffes like the penalty and the failed dangle at the blue line, and a couple falls. But outside of those very visible mistakes, he played well. He was solid on the PP and he was very very good at getting back, getting the puck in our zone and then getting it out with amazing first passes.
He’s a young rookie D with tons of skill. He’s going to make mistakes. Remember Jack in his first year? He would try to do too much because he wasn’t sure what he could get away with yet at the pro level. I think it’s the same with Luke. He’s figuring it out and adjusting.
Luke is going to be fire for us this season and no one should be upset or worried about him.
Devils are 5-15 in the shootout (20%) since the 2021-2022 season. With the personnel that we have that is inexcusable. With how many OT wins we had last season, we need to be much better in the shootout. I know the shootout shouldn’t be a thing, but it is and we’re leaving points on the table. Teams know we are bad at the shootout and dangerous 3v3, they will just play keep away possession to kill time in OT when they realize they have an 80% chance of winning if they take it to the shootout. The games we do win in SO tend to be the ones that our goalies are perfect and we are able to score one. We need to figure out how to score more in the shootout or we will leave a lot of points on the table. A 50% win rate last year would have had us easily in 1st place to take on the isles instead of the rags. The shootout should be a coin flip but whenever we get there it feels like playing rock paper scissor and our opponent knows we will always throw rock.
3-4 points in a back to back season opener, personally I’m ecstatic and can’t wait for Monday.
Sucks to go in the weekend on a loss, but 3/4 points to start the season is great. Better start than last year.
Arizona looked on their way to being legit, no laughingstock anymore. I’m sure they were fired up starting the new season as well.
We’re not a good shootout team. We need to end these games in 4v4 OT. We don’t have any real pure snipers/shootout aficionados.
As a tourist from the UK the game was really fun to watch, I don’t know anything about the sport but it was a fantastic viewing experience, shame about the result. I will 100% be a Devils fan from now on and would love to come back one day. I went to one of the stores in the stadium and the Jerseys were $250, is that the standard price or can I get one cheaper somewhere?
At least the Meier/Nico/Holtz line provided some offense in preseason. The only thing the Mercer/Holtz swap has given us is 2 ineffective lines offensively.
Detroit and Arizona are good up and coming teams.
We got three out of four points in the first two games, much better than going 0-2 like last year. Too many penalties. Nicos line doesn’t seem like they’re gelling. I wonder if playing Holtz instead of Mercer with that line has affected the chemistry at all during pre season, since Jacks line seems to be clicking.
Our bottom four pairing defensemen worry me. Goaltending was supposed to be our crux, but has been our strength through two games interestingly. Yeah Schmid would like that one goal back but other than that I thought both VV and Schmeedo played well.
Onto Florida, and another winning streak.