Sabres at New Jersey Devils 12/29/2017 at 7pm in Prudential Center

[jsb]

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After winning the first five games, the New Jersey Devils look to close out their season-high six-game homestand with a perfect record Friday night when they host the Buffalo Sabres at the Prudential Center.

The Devils (22-9-5) beat the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings on this homestand, outscoring the opposition 20-10 in the process. Along the way, New Jersey's five-game winning streak is its longest overall this season.

"We're not too worried about the streak, I think we're just worried about protecting home ice," explained Devils goalie Cory Schneider, who was outstanding Wednesday, making 31 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Red Wings.

"We have the longest homestand of the year, and I think we've done a great job getting points while we are here. We've got to bank these points while we can."

A four-game road trip follows this homestand for the Devils, though no one is looking that far ahead, nor past the struggling Sabres (9-20-8).

"We want to make this a hard place to play in," stated Taylor Hall, New Jersey's leading scorer who has a three-game point streak entering play Friday. "I think a lot of guys are starting to feel comfortable in this building, and that's a huge thing. Our fans are providing a great atmosphere for us and I think that's a huge boost."

Last season, the Devils won just 16 times on home ice. This season, they have 12 victories at The Rock in only 19 home games, part of a major transformation from last season in general. Currently sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with 49 points, the Devils finished last overall in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 with only 70 points.

The Sabres know quite well about being in last place, which is where they reside coming into play Friday. They have the second-fewest points in the league, own a minus-43 goal differential and average the fewest goals per game.

"It's probably been the toughest season I've ever been a part of," veteran Sabres winger New York Islanders, the Sabres allowed a controversial game-tying goal by Josh Bailey with 69 seconds remaining in regulation -- one in which the on-ice call was overturned by video review -- and then lost 1:08 into overtime when goaltender Robin Lehner misplayed a shot by rookie Mathew Barzal.

The frustration was too much for Lehner following a loss that dropped Buffalo to 4-12-6 since Nov. 10.

"Everything is predetermined against us," Lehner told reporters.

 

Almost beyond belief, the Sabres score on just seven percent of their shots this season. Johan Larsson is without a goal in 31 games, Jason Pominville has only two in his last 25 games, Sam Reinhart has not scored in 15 games and Benoit Pouliot has only a pair in 19 games.

"It's frustrating," Sabres forward Jordan Nolan told the Buffalo News after practice on Thursday. "If we keep playing that way and keep getting chances, they're bound to go in sooner or later. We took a good step (Wednesday) night and played the right way. We just can't give up those late-period goals because you're not going to win a lot of hockey games playing like that."

This is Buffalo's final game before taking part in the Winter Classic outdoor contest against the New York Rangers on Monday afternoon at Citi Field, home of baseball's New York Mets.

The Devils pack their bags for a road contest Saturday against the Capitals in Washington, the start of their four-game road trip.

 

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6 questions entering Devils' final 2 games of 2017

Posted December 29, 2017 at 06:45 AM | Updated December 29, 2017 at 06:46 AM

By Chris Ryan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Devils will wrap up the 2017 calendar year with their final two games when they play the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, followed by an overnight trip to Washington for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday against the Capitals. The Devils have done everything they could have hoped for and then some in the first few months of the 2017-18 season, where they went 22-9-5.

Now in the final two games before January, here are six questions facing the Devils, as they aim to add to their remarkable run.

Who will play in goal?

The Devils will start Cory Schneider for an eighth straight game on Friday, and beyond that, they are still uncommitted. Schneider played the last back-to-back for the Devils, and coach John Hynes left open the chance that could happen again if Schneider plays well Friday and feels fresh Saturday. The Devils have three road games over eight days following the back-to-back, so the team will see where they're at when deciding on Schneider or backup Keith Kinkaid.

"And that's why we want to go day-by-day. That's really where it stands," Hynes said. "We want to try to be able to give ourselves a chance to win and have a strong focus level. We believe in both players. Right now Cory's going to start (Friday), and we'll go from there."

How will top six look going forward?

Now that the Devils have played a couple games fully healthy at forward, they've shown a couple different versions of their top six. Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Jesper Bratt played right wing with Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier, while Kyle Palmieri was on the right with Marcus Johansson and Travis Zajac. The two combos seem like ones the Devils could stick with for the time being.

"Hall, Hischier and Bratt have played really well," Hynes said. "They seem to have some chemistry they've developed, so it kind of made some sense to put those guys back together and keep them there. I think Kyle adds a different element with Marcus and Travis. He's an abrasive player, he's got a shot mentality. It gives you two lines that you feel you can play against anyone or any matchup."

Is there a fix to second-period lulls?

 

The Devils have been very happy with their starts to their past two games, and with their recent starts in general. They outscored the Blackhawks and Red Wings, 5-0, in the first periods over their last two games, but they saw both opponents flip the ice in the second period. The Devils survived both, but they want to avoid such dramatic swings in play against them.

"There's going to be pushback throughout the game," Devils captain Greene told NJ Advance Media. "It's obviously trying to end it as fast as possible, flip it and get control back in our end. That's the part of teaching and learning with young guys, and even us as veterans. We gotta take but control of the game like that."

What would sweeping a six-game home stand mean?

Going into any season, a team can pinpoint their longest home stand of the season and view it as an opportunity to gain a good chunk of points if they use their home-ice advantage. The Devils have done just that so far, winning all five games of their current home stand. They can finish it off with a clean sweep on Friday against the Sabres.

"The last two games, we've played well in segments, but there's been lulls in our game and some details that need to be better," Hynes said. "We want to finish off strong. We had a pretty focused day (Thursday) on areas we need to get better at, and we need to come out with the right mindset, play 60 minutes and try to finish it off the right way."

How do Devils avoid classic trap game?

While the Devils could have their eyes set on a key Metropolitan Division matchup on Saturday against the Capitals, where first place will likely be on the line, the team can't overlook Friday's game against the Sabres. Buffalo will enter with the second fewest points in the NHL, but Greene said the team is playing at a different level than the Devils' 6-2 win in the second game of the season.

"We have to sit here and focus on the now," Greene said. "We've been in the situation where we've struggled in games, and there's no way we can look past opponents. We're still a young team, trying to prove ourselves and make sure we're playing the right way. You see it every night: if you don't come ready to play, it doesn't matter what team you play."

Where is team's confidence at entering 2018?

The Devils enter Friday tied for first place with the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points, but the Devils have three games in hand to add to their total. The Devils could break the 50-point mark before the New Year following a 2016-17 season where they finished with an Eastern Conference low 70 points. Right now, the confidence and feeling in the Devils' room is something the team hasn't seen in some time.

"It's been a few years, but it's been good though," Greene said. "It's been very positive, and very workman like, too. Guys know when we play the right way, we play well. We control the game, we control the pace and we're doing everything right."

LET'S GO BUFFALO

VS 

Edited December 29, 2017 by JSBeersson

[Iron Crotch]

Post #2 in this thread!

 

...other than that I got nothing that hasn't been said a million times on this board.  ;) 

[Stoner]

I just hope the Sabres don't look past the Devils the way they looked past the Isles. Lindy won't stand for it and might start swatting his youngens in practice again.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

This one is going to be tough.

 

GO SABRES!!

[LTS]

Devils have done a great job of turning the team around in a short period of time.  The management deserves a lot of credit.  They could be like some teams who continually find ways to suck for long stretches... oh, they are playing one tonight!

 

Well, it may be a double let down day in terms of hockey but I will still be watching...

[SwampD]

Not sure if I care one squirt about this game. I hate the Devils. Im pretty sure that I hate the Sabres even more.

 

I just have no reason to watch.

[Marvelo]

another chance for Will Butcher to add to his totals: 
 

GP 36 G 2 A 21 PT 23 PM 6 

 

Maybe we can start a thread about players who used the Sabres to up their contracts.

Edited December 29, 2017 by Marvelo

[Samson's Flow]

Quite the lively GDT thread here today. 7 posts by noon.

 

Oh how I long for competitive hockey. :bag:

[Drunkard]

Looks like this is the free game for the NHL.tv app as well. So it's completely free and I still don't know if I want to watch it. Maybe Pegula should open his wallet and start paying fans to watch.

[Stoner]

Devils have done a great job of turning the team around in a short period of time.  The management deserves a lot of credit.  They could be like some teams who continually find ways to suck for long stretches... oh, they are playing one tonight!

 

Well, it may be a double let down day in terms of hockey but I will still be watching...

Apparently the Devils are interested in "just making the playoffs." Schmucks. Terry knows better.

[Thorner]

Apparently the Devils are interested in "just making the playoffs." Schmucks. Terry knows better.

Just making the playoffs isn't good enough.

 

The Sabres appear poised to threaten the all-time league playoff drought to prove their commitment to that idea.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Quite the lively GDT thread here today. 7 posts by noon.

 

Oh how I long for competitive hockey. :bag:

 

On the bright side, there were 7 posts by 1:00 PM here in Halifax.

[Brawndo]

Housley said same lineup as the Islanders game. That puts Lehner in goal and Wilson, Gorges and Antipin out

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Will this thread even reach page 2?

[pastajoe]

Tell Middlestadt to keep his gear on and fly him to NJ in the Pegulajet.

[LTS]

Ok. The USA game has me pumped enough to not worry about this outcome.

 

Let's go Buffalo.

[Stoner]

Take that, Doug Allen.

I wish they'd ban the smelling salts. A terrible look there.

[LTS]

Can someone fire the MSG sound production people?

 

The sound mix has been terrible this year. You can barely hear RJ,Dan, and Rob. The crowd is mixed too high.

 

The radio listening is impossible.

 

Also, noticed that RJ is calling a lot of road games this year and Dan is at home a lot. Is RJ on an unannounced farewell tour?

[Tondas]

Can someone fire the MSG sound production people?

 

The sound mix has been terrible this year. You can barely hear RJ,Dan, and Rob. The crowd is mixed too high.

 

The radio listening is impossible.

 

Also, noticed that RJ is calling a lot of road games this year and Dan is at home a lot. Is RJ on an unannounced farewell tour?

 

Interesting theory.  I think RJ signed up for Rebuild Part 1, not sure he's up for what we now know is Rebuild Part 2. 

Edited December 30, 2017 by Tondas

[Stoner]

Can someone fire the MSG sound production people?

 

The sound mix has been terrible this year. You can barely hear RJ,Dan, and Rob. The crowd is mixed too high.

 

The radio listening is impossible.

 

Also, noticed that RJ is calling a lot of road games this year and Dan is at home a lot. Is RJ on an unannounced farewell tour?

I've been suspecting as much since he went on that western swing. As Tondas says, the reality of where the team is has to be pretty stark for Rick. I also want to believe that Rick of all people knows he just doesn't have it anymore. He seems to be correctly identifying fewer and fewer players as the season goes on. His calls are becoming generic. And that's not Rick. He should leave on a fairly high note and not descend into what Taro called Van territory.

 

I just hope he thinks to record a certain phrase before he leaves, so it can be played after a certain overtime on a certain evening at the arena in the future.

[Jacque Richard]

Look like they want to compete right now

[Stoner]

Shades of that goal against the Leafs.

[Tondas]

Fishing for the what, Rob?

[LTS]

Man. Just drop players on their in front of the net. That was horrible defense for Lehner.

[Jacque Richard]

One lazy ass team