Sloppy effort by Devils

The Devils played their worst game of the season tonight in losing 6-3 to the previously-winless Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center.

The six goals were the most they allowed this season and it was the first time they were outshot this season (28-26).

But it wasn't just the stats that looked bad. Even after scoring only 47 seconds into the game, they rarely appeared in control in their own end and made all kinds of sloppy plays.

"We just didnt play a smart game," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "That's the bottom line. Too many things we did we can't do as a team to win. We get another crack at it tomorrow at 4 p.m. against the same team. We know we'll have to play a more intelligent team game then. It wasn't what we've been doing the past six games.

"It was a hectic game," Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said. "It was kind of weird. There was a lot of stuff happening. Usually, it's pretty straightforward with what we've been part of. We battled back and we got the lead and had a chance to settle things down and play the way we wanted to play. That was a desperate team out there. They hadn't won a game. They wanted to get on the board with a win and this one game was the way to do it. We gave them life."

Despite their sloppy play, the Devils still led 3-2 entering the second period thanks to Zach Parise's goal with 18.2 seconds left in the first. They did settle down briefly in the first 10 minutes of the second, but kept making mistakes that cost them.

"We were kind of sloppy in our zone and it seemed we got up 3-2 and tried to win the game 3-2," Parise said. "We didn't go after them anymore. We stopped shooting the puck and they kept coming at us. We sat back and they took advantage of that."

John Madden's neutral zone hook on Braydon Coburn at 11:51. Because of the new rule, the faceoff moved to the Devils' zone. Patrik Elias lost it to Mike Richards and six seconds later Simon Gagne tied the game by putting home the rebound of Mike Knuble's deflection.

Before Scott Hartnell's go-ahead goal with 3:05 left in the second, Madden fell down in the left corner while going after the puck with Richards. Richards scooped it up, curled behind the net and walked out in front uncontested. Brodeur made a right pad stop, but left a rebound to his right. Bryce Salvador and Madden were both there too, but Hartnell found it first and slid it inside the left post.

Richards finished with four assists was a handful for the Devils all night. The Devils were unable to contol Hartnel, Richards and Lupul, which combined for three goals and five assists.

"He was dominant," Brodeur said of Richards. "Defensively, offensively, he was everywhere on the puck, making plays. He always gives that kind of effort. That's why he's the captain of their team."

***

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond's boarding major on Riley Cote led to a power-play goal for Knuble that put the Flyers up 2-1. (Brodeur said he knocked it in with his stick by accident).

"That was a bad penalty for myself," Leblond said. "I shouldn't do that. It was an accident. I saw Cote there and I just tried to hit him, but those things happen so quickly. It shouldn't happen."

Sutter agreed.

"It wasn't a great penalty," Sutter said.

Of his fight with Cote in the second period (his first in the NHL), Leblond said, "I felt I had to step up because of the bad penalty I took and he just came to me."

***

Although there were a bunch of negatives tonight, I thought there were a few positives for the Devils, too. One was the continued strong play of Travis Zajac, who scored his first goal of the season, and added an assist. He also created a few other scoring chances and had a couple of his own. And he dominated on draws, going 17-9. The next time Madden is in the box and the Devils have to take a defensive zone draw to start the penalty kill Sutter might want to consider using Zajac instead of Elias. Zajac has done a decent job on the PK too.

Parise also had another good game with a gaol and two assists. He has five goals and 10 points in sevne games.

Petr Vrana also responded well to the increased ice time he received after Jamie Langenbrunner's injury. He played 15:31, which was the most he's played this season and even got his first taste of power play time. I didn't think he did much earlier in the game, but raised his level when he started playing more often.

And, though many of you dislike him, I thought David Clarkson played pretty well when he moved into Langenbrunner's spot on the line with Parise and Zajac. That line had some good shifts down low and created a lot when the Devils started to attack more aggressively in the third period. 

Comments

[Mike]

I was there with my wife, brother, and some relatives. We sat in awesome seats tonight. First row on the end. All I can say is that we looked ok until that Pierre-Luc whatever his name is, got into a fight in the second period. After that the game got out of hand.
WHY ON EARTH DOES OUR MANAGEMENT CONTINUE TO IGNORE OUR DEFENSE? We should be abel to win if we score three goals. MArtin is afraid to hit ANYONE. Oduya and Mauttua are AWEFUL! Every time we try to break out they slap it up the boards to our forwards who can not gain control due to poor passing.
White has ZERO physical presence. It's just downright embarrassing.
This team had Stevens, Niedermayer, and Rafalski ON THE SAME TEAM!!!!!! If we had just ONE of those players at this point we would be that much better.
AllI can say is, this season looks like a repeat of last year. We will make a strong effort but we don't have the toughness and defense to go far in the playoffs.

[jules]

@Mike: I don't think our defense is that bad, although as a whole they didn't play that well. They played very well against Dallas and had one bad game tonight.

Anyway, it's one game. The Flyers were due and they were hungrier and worked harder than the Devils, who couldn't convert on the chances they did have. Let's see how they do tomorrow.

[modnarm]

THe facts remain the same- if Vrana can do just what Gionta does.. then GIONTA and Change for BOUWMEESTER!!! or a defenseman. I just say Bouwmeester because he wants out of Flordia..

[Al]

Not everyone hates Clarkson. He played well tonight and the past few games. It was that dumb LeBlonde pnealty and he though it was "right" to fight because of his hit. Well you don't do it when you have a great cycle going (great playing by Clarkson), he could've waited, we could've scored because we were dominatiing their end until we had a DUMB fight. Rookie mistake hopefully, not a goon mistake. We need Clarkson on this team..PERIOD!

Also Zubrusm unless parked in front is rather useless at cneter and we can't take advantage of Elias and his sniper ability. Zubie is not even close to a Jason Arnott style center.

[Puckster]

You can't win every game. The Devils had a bad night. Plain and simple. However, they've had an excellent overall start to the season so far.

At least Zajac and Zubrus scored goals tonight. Hopefully, that will get their offense going. We can't count solely on Parise to score, although he's been doing a tremendous job so far this season.

[TG]

No way Gionta gets you Bouwmeester.

[Puckster]

Oh, and for the record, I really like David Clarkson. I think he's the type of player you need on the 4th line. He plays with some edge and toughness, but he has the potential to score 10-15 goals in the NHL.

[Puckster]

Isn't Bouwmeester an unrestricted free agent next season? It would take some serious prospects to pull him away from Florida. I wouldn't want to sacrifice the team's future for a guy that'll probably end up signing with Detroit or the Rangers next season for big money anyway.

[GG]

I know they moved tomorrow's game to 4PM because of the World Series, but I thought there was a clause in the CBA that teams couldn't play back to back games in less than 24 hours? Anyone know if there's any validity to that?

[modnarm]

well i said Gionta and CHANGE... picks/prospects.. whatever else needed.

[johnny]

Quit hating. They played an awful game, but it was one game of a great start. Theres so much to look goodness to look forward to and some of you immediately flame them. Let's see how they respond tomorrow, that will be the ultimate test in this matchup. Philly was obviously very hungry for a win and we'll see if what we saw today was really indicative of the devils gameplay. I think they will bounce back and this will be a good learning step for them, if nothing else.

quit hating and don't be so negative.

[mikef]

if we were to trade gionta, it should have been a year or so ago before his value started dropping rapidly. I can see him gone by deadline, but I don't even know if he's worth trading anymore.

[Brodeur30]

Things we do know right now:

A) Gionta has very little trade value so quit acting like we can get much for him...Zero goals in 7 games. Can't believe how far he has fallen...

B) Colin White is really, really baddd. There's no reason why he couldn't have tied up a stick on that goal.

C) Parise cant carry this team every night. He played a solid game and continuted his hot streak. The D has to get better out front...

D) Zajac looks MUCH better. He's gotten a lot quicker and more aggressive when driving the net...I love what I've seen out of him..

[Brodeur30]

btw..If we want Bouwmeester it'd cost us Gionta, Vrana, and a good pick or Halischuk/Bergfors. Bottom line is that you never trade for him unless you can lock him up long-term before the trade...

Same with Gaborik...You don't trade for him unless we can lock him up long-term. Gabby would cost us Gionta (assuming he could re-sign with the wild), Vrana, Halischuk, and a 1st. EASILY.

[TG]

The CBA rule is that the earliest a team can play the day after a night game is 5 p.m. unless it's the same two teams playing as the night before and they both agree to it.

[JJ]

Guys, Bouwmeester is going to be the premier defensive UFA next year if Niedermeyer retires. The market is going to be nuts for this guy regardless of whether he can be counted on to play well in a pressure playoff situation (which he's never proven). If you think Florida's gonna settle for Gionta and a couple of mid level prospects you are deluding yourselves. Besides, Gionta is making money and he is a UFA also.

[mikeP]

Gionta looked pretty good on that last shift of the period with ZZ, in which Zach scored a goal. So why didn't Sutter stick with that, and instead played Clarkson. Gio was all over the ice last night, but there is no doubt playing with Pando and Madden is a waste of his talent. If JL can't go Gio needs to play with ZZ and Clarkson with Madden and Pando.

I agree though that it doesn't look like Gio will be resigned after this season. A much higher priority is to resign Madden, even if he's 36. He deserves a 3-year deal, and Lou better not wait until July 1st to try to sign him. Zajac is coming off his entry-level deal after this season and will need to be resigned as an RFA, otherwise I could see a team like Edmonton making a pitch for him (Lowe drools over getting Zajac).

If Vancouver struggles for scoring, why not swap Gio for Mattias Ohlund, another UFA, who would have to waive his NTC, but with situations like Dan Boyle, we saw that NTC's don't mean much when a team wants to get rid of a player. I doubt Florida would want Gio for Boumeester, unless we threw in Corrente and a #1 pick, which would be too much for a player that we could guarentee would resign here 7/1

[FOTC]

TG, do you think Sutter should try putting Vrana on the second line with Zajac and Parise? I just have this feeling after seeing him play yesterday that he could click with those two.

[Jeff]

I was at he game on Wednesday against Dallas and thought White looked AWFUL. He seems to have lost a mean streak after the eye injury.

If the Devils don't make a trade for a tough, mean defensemen this year, we are headed for a early playoff exit, again. I lke the way the Devils are playing on offense, but the defense just isn't there.

Like I said last year, opposing teams just aren't afraid to to go the front of the net anymore.

[Jeff]

@FOTC,

I think the Vrana/Elias/Zubrus line was the best line the last couple of games. They are creating some good scoring chances and seem to have clicked.

I don't know if I would mess with that line right now.

[Bart]

worst player on our team is colin white, he has so much experience but he's a dumb player, makes mistakes all the time and takes penalties a lot

and all the crazy talk about gio, we need him and i hope we'll keep him

[Ron]

TG, any word on Langenbrunner playing this afternoon or any other line-up changes??

[Bart]

Gio should not be playing on MADDEN/PANDO, they're slowing him down
dont get me wrong, i love JM, MADDEN should be a capt by the way

also SUTTER should try VRANA on ZZ line, i think it could work

[JC]

I think Chico was so right last night when he said that Parise is in the same class as Ovechkin and Crosby but no one pays attention to him. He does not get any share of the spotlight but is one hell of a young player. I feel bad for him, but I am glad we have him and hope he keeps up the amazing job.

[TG]

No word on any changes for today. There's only one possible change -- if Sutter's statement Friday that they wouldn't call anyone up was honest- and that's putting in Brookbank as the seventh defenseman.

I won't have anything on the lineup probably until about 1:30 to 2 p.m. There's no skate today and the team probably won't show up at the arena until then. I'm leaving for Philly in a few minutes.