Devil’s Playoff Trends

I think it’s safe to say the Devils were plain outplayed last night. The Flyers played like they wanted it more, while the Devils appeared to play like nothing was on the line. The Flyers were more physical, beat the Devils to practically every puck, and won most, if not all the battles along the boards and corners. The Flyers played with a flare in their game that I used to see in the Devils teams of the late 90s and early 00s. I also don’t think you can blame Brodeur for that loss, who played fantastic, especially in that third period. I think it’s safe to say if Marty wasn’t in net, this game wouldn’t have even reached overtime.

Two for eight on the power play in another game that was highly influenced by officiating is both encouraging, yet concerning. I watch this team’s power play and to me, it looks too routine, making these advantageous situations predictable and easy to counteract for the Flyers. Despite having the likes of Illya Kovalchuk, Brian Rolston, Paul Martin, and Andy Greene manning the points, I think the Devils rely on the point shot too much, as they have on the power play all year. Just once, I’d like to see them try to work the puck down low and around the net for two reasons…the first is I think it could make the Devils less predictable in the man advantage situations and a more likely chance putting one past Boucher. Second, trying to set up lower in the offensive zone opens up more space, especially at the point, who they could feed for that unexpected shot. I look at the Devils power play and think the Flyers penalty killers are successful in keeping the Devils to the outside, while sustaining the perfect amount of pressure on their point men. I’m just wondering how it would look if the Devils get more mobile on the power play and try using the guys in deep to set something up. Any thoughts?

Moving on, I’ve been a huge Mark Fraser fan all year, but putting him in the lineup while Martin Skoula sat was a dumb move in my opinion. Aside from the fact Fraser has zero playoff experience, he’s been the odd man out since the Devil’s blue line got healthy, save those occasional games, where he filled in for players Lemaire wanted to rest towards the end of the season. I guess the point I’m trying to get at is it probably wasn’t too smart to take a player in Fraser, who was exiled to the press box when he wasn’t needed any longer, in his rookie year, and put him in a high pressure situation that is a playoff game…in the opponent’s home arena. Fraser only had 5:52 of ice time last night, so technically, Lemaire was only playing five defensemen in a game, where you need all your players ready and reliable when you consider what’s definitely and potentially at stake…I don’t know but it seems hard to win a playoff game with five defensemen. I know Fraser was involved in that second goal, but my question to Lemaire is what if that were Colin White or Paul Martin that made that same mistake? Would you have banished them from the ice the same way you did to Fraser? And if you’re going to have that tight of a leash on a defenseman, while you sit out an experienced and capable veteran-well…how much sense does that really make, if you’re seeing what I’m trying to get at.

Matt Corrente played another good game, but is having trouble finishing on his chances, whether it be the bounces not going his way or maybe he’s just getting lucky. I think Lemaire’s handling of the fourth line is appropriate, but it somewhat shows his lack of faith and arguably comparative depth to the Flyer’s forwards. Between McAmmond, PL3, and Corrente, they averaged seven minutes of ice time last night, whereas the average ice time of the Flyer’s three least played forwards averaged a little over eight minutes, who I’m sure weren’t on the same line. To me, it just seems that Lemaire is handling the lineup like it’s still the regular season, which is the proper time to experiment with players as far as role and ice time is concerned. Overall, you know the Devils fourth line is incapable of handling a heavy workload, which is why you limit their ice time as he did throughout the regular season, but in a series like this when you need a four line team able to be deployed, does it make much sense to keep the same guys whose role and how much faith you have in their capabilities was clarified in the months prior?

The last time the Devils were down two games to one in a playoff series, came back, and won was in the 2007 conference quarter finals against Tampa Bay. Although they won three in a row to eliminate the Lightning in six games, they were dismissed from the playoffs in the next round by the Ottawa Senators in five games, which marked the last time a Devils team advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. The question I present is what is causing the Devils to go into dysfunctional mode every time the playoffs come around? Since their 2003 championship, they’ve been unable to make the deep playoff run their fan base and outside spectators become convinced of whenever they get hot around December, January. What’s more discouraging is the Devils have been unable to succeed in the playoffs through different scenarios, which created and diffused the various excuses that were used.

Everyone thought it was because Brodeur was burnt out from a heavy workload endured during the regular season. Last year, Marty missed over half the season due to injury on a team that was humming offensively. Upon Marty’s return, he started off hot and then went downhill subsequent to the trade deadline…we all know what happened next. Another excuse was the Devil’s lack of fire power up front, which we thought the breakout play of Travis Zajac and Zach Parise, along with the revitalization of Patrik Elias’ play, and arrival of Brian Rolston solved last year…this year, the Devils still have those four AND even traded for superstar Illya Kovalchuk…I don’t want to say the Devil’s are fated for a third consecutive first round exit, but you have to agree things aren’t looking too good right now, even with these offensive assets that make an arguably competitive looking team on paper.

A few commonalities I’ve noticed with this team and the recent Devils teams unable to get the job done are the absence of an anchorman on defense and regardless of what the team or Brodeur has gone through, Marty plays the majority of regular season games he’s able to (i.e. whenever he isn’t injured or suspended, which has yet to happen). Also, look at the most looked upon members of Devils teams since 2003…Elias, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, White, Martin. I bring these guys up because they’re mostly similar in age and have been here the longest, whose roles have changed little or remained stagnant. Could it be their time has passed and it’s time to move on and instill new blood into this team? Now’s not the time to go into detail, although it’s something to ponder.

I know I may sound like it’s over, which it isn’t, but at the same time, I’m at a loss on figuring out anything realistic we can see this team do and change to turn their play around. Anything else I may say hasn’t already been said and is apparently oblivious to Lemaire, Lamoriello, and the team they monitor and maintain. An NHL playoff series is best of seven and as long as the Devils are still in it, there’s no reason for us not to have as much confidence in this team as we may have had going into this playoff series.