Sutter unhappy again

Brent Sutter clearly wasn't happy after this one and held a closed-doors meeting before the media was allowed in the locker room. In fact, Sutter pulled Arron Asham, who scored his first goal as a Devil in the second period, out of a live interview with the Devils' radio team so he wouldn't miss the meeting.

"Again we didn't play like we need to in the first period, like we're expected to play," Sutter said in reference to his team being outshot 17-9 and falling behind 2-0 in the first 20 minutes. "You're playing a very good hockey team and if you're standing around and watching them, they'll take it to you and you rely on one person and that's the goaltender."

That several players echoed Sutter's statement to the media about "not being prepared when the puck is dropped" appeared to indicate that was a major point in his postgame meeting.

Comments

[mike]

how about giving Matvichuk a chance, and bench the aweful Oduya. RM would bring a little more stability to the defensive corp

[Patricia Greuter]

Actually, mike, Oduya had his best game of the season today. He made a lot of great plays in his zone, and had it not been for him, this game might have looked significantly worse.

It wasn't a bad game. Ottawa is a strong team -- very strong team. The Devils were simply outmatched, and their defensive shortcomings shined today. Dare I say we need White back?

[2600]

I think mikes point is valid. Matvichuk is a stabilizing defensemen. He isnt fast, so his game is about control.

Oduyas game on the other hand is about reaction.

They bring different things to the defense core. While Oduya may play well along the boards to break down plays, Matvichuk is patient and will regain posession.
For the puck possession gameplan that sutter wants. we need to have our D regain the puck more frequently.

[devfan-ru-]

Johnny Oduya is a player who is lacking confidence in himself after a bad stretch last year. But now, Coach Sutter is giving him a chance, and 3 games in, he has been getting better and better.

Matvichuk simply does not fit into the new Devils philosophy. He is too slow and immobile. With the Devils D-corps suffering from a loss of skill and stability, we don't need stay-at-home defensemen who cannot contribute offensively.

[MoonDragn]

I actually agree with you both. Oduya does look like a man who is getting his confidence back. However. I think Matvichuk also needs to be in the lineup for those times when the crap hits the fan. He is good for stabilizing and calming down the team and I think we definately needed him during the tampa game. Even if it is for a shift against their top players it would be worth it.

[JIMBO]

First off I want to thank Tom for providing us Devils Fans with as much info as he does. It is great to have at least one source of information that is based on fact rather than animosity against a great franchise. About Matvichuck, I could see Sutter not playing Matvichuck if White was healthy but I think the Devils need at least one stay at home D who can protect Marty. So far without White we lack that. Have you noticed the Defensive breakdowns within 5 feet of Marty. Matvichuck could at least fill in for White and protect the crease and our goalie. If you would have told me after last post season that Matvichuck would not play in the first 3 games and was a healthy scratch I wouldn't have believed you. Matvichuck was by far our best D last season in the playoffs and I think he could add something, at the expense of offense for the first few games while we wait for White to recover.

[TG]

In reference to the comments about Oduya, Sutter said after the game that other than Oduya and Martin, the Devils defensemen was too passive. They passed the puck back and forth too much instead of moving it ahead and out of the zone, which is what they want.

Not moving the puck ahead more quickly also allowed the Senators to put more pressure on in the Devils' end.

As for Matvichuk, I think he would be able to help, particularly on the penalty kill. The Devils need someone to clear opposing forwards from in front of the net.

[D-fan]

Oduya has become a liability. He needs to learn how to position himself to avoid taking dumb penalties, especially on the penalty kill, where he has left us in one to many 5 on 3 situations to be trusted. I would be all for giving him a chance, but as long as White is out, and Ralf gone, we need experience, and Matvichuck has that.

[Ron]

I want Bergfors back. He can score.

[Mike F]

The Devils D needs some help. A shake up needs to happen. Matvachuk needs to be inserted into the lineup as does this new kid Brookebank (sp?).

In terms of Offense, they need to hammer out their line combos. I think they need to break up Parise and Gio. They're two fire starters. Break them up. Put Elias and Gio back together with Zubrus. Parise and Zajac back together and maybe put Clarkson on the line for a while until Jamie gets back.

Then have Madden Pando, Asham on the 3rd line. And Brylin, Rupp and Berg on the 4th line.