Lamoriello: "That was a very difficult loss"

Like his head coach and players and the team's fans, Devils president, CEO and general manager Lou Lamoriello was stunned by the team's final-80-seconds collapse in a 4-3 loss to Carolina in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Tuesday night at Prudential Center.

The Devils led 3-2 until Jussi Jokinen tied it with 1:20 remaining. Eric Staal scored the game-winner with 31.7 seconds left.

"I'm sure your reaction is the same as mine," Lamoriello said. "Unfortunately, it did happen. There's nothing that can be done about it today and what you do is just look for reasons. No excuses. No looking left or right. Just look straight ahead and take a step back right now and reflect on everything."

Lamoriello said the collapse should not have happened.

"When you are in control of a game like that, you cannot let it slip," he said. "You don't have any reasons for it. That was a very difficult loss."

Lamoriello has seen the Devils lose in double overtime to the Rangers in Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals and lose a Game 7 in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals in Colorado. He's never experienced a defeat like this before, though.

"Not the way this was lost," he said. "The set of circumstances, the last 80 seconds. We've seen it in other profressional sports. We've seen it with a Hail Mary pass. We've seen other situations and I've been on the other side of it in one situation in college, but certainly not here on the negative side of it. But, it's reality. It happened and we can't look for excuses and no one to blame. We're not pointing any fingers anywhere. It came upon us as a complete surprise, especially the way the end of the game went."

Lamoriello said he did speak to some of the players after Tuesday's game, but would not reveal which ones or what he said.

"I don't think there's anything that could be said that everyone felt," he said. "We'll speak tomorrow, That was a very difficult night for everyone."

{The Devils will undergo their post-season physicals and have a media availability Thursday afternoon at Prudential Center. I will be there to post all the pertinent news and what is said.}

Lamoriello said he did not blame head coach Brent Sutter or goaltender Martin Brodeur for the shocking ending.

"You don't blame anybody," Lamoriello said. "Anybody who does that or thinks that way or insituates that is just looking for excuses."

This is the second season in a row in which the Devils were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They have won only two playoff series since their 2003 Stanley Cup -- a four-game sweep of the Rangers in the 2006 conference quarterfinals and a 2007 six-game win over Tampa Bay in the same round.

Lamoriello still believes this team was capable of going much further than it did.

"Unquestionably in my mind did I feel that," he said. "I will stand behind that comment. I believe in this team. We won 51 games during the regular season and I felt that this team could have gone further."

Lamoriello made only one deal prior to this season's trade deadline, acquiring defenseman Niclas Havelid from Atlanta for defenseman Anssi Salmela, who had played in New Jersey and Lowell (AHL) before that March 2 deal.

Has he thought about whether he should have done more or something different. 

"You always do that," he said. "You self reflect. You always look at things, but you look to learn. You don't look to rationalize because you can't. We'd all be geniuses if we knew yesterday what we know today."

Other things I discussed with Lamoriello today.

On Jamie Langenbrunner's Game 6 return from April 18 arthorscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee:

"It was what the doctors predicted, that if it was what he felt it what, he predicted that we could get him back by the sixth game, but only if everything went perfectly. Everything did go perfect, but it isn't surprising with Jamie. Jamie did everything he could do to get himself ready to play and certainly played well when he came back."

On Bryce Salvador's left knee injury:

"I have no more knowledge of it. But the only thing I do know is he is healthy."
{Lamoriello would not say if Salvador had an MCL sprain. Salvador said Tuesday that it was not his ACL}

On planning for next season:

"You start right away. You take one step at a time. You take a step back and you reflect. You look in your own mirror. When time is on your side, you use it. As I said, you don't look for excuses, you look for reasons and then you go from there."

Lamoriello would not discuss whether he wants to re-sign any of the team's free agents.

"It's too soon for anything," he said. "Those things are too soon."

Comments

[pando20rules]

I think some of the posters on this blog need to take this sentence to heart...

"You don't blame anybody," Lamoriello said. "Anybody who does that or thinks that way or insituates that is just looking for excuses."

[KU Chris]

Well you lose as a team is the bottom line... Do you really expect Lou, Sutter, or one of the players to come out and say Colin White taking himself out of the play and laying down a hit cost us the game? or Marty has to make that save?

[Scratch28]

I just posted this on the previous thread:
Lou needs to stop recycling old Devils. You can't look to the past of your franchise to solve your present problems. No more Holiks, Mogilnys, Rolstons etc etc...and to those of you out there calling for Niedermayer, especially no Nieds!!! The guy didn't want to be here...good riddins!
We need to start looking at YOUNG talent, guys with youth, speed, drive and determination on their side.
Enough with the dinosaurs trying to con Lou out of one last fat contract so they can lay back and finish out their days relaxing in NJ (Rolston).
DEFINITELY get a goalie that we can depend on and that can grow with us (Not Clemmer)
And get a coach that has the balls to tell Brodeur when to play and when to sit. I'm tired of the goalie telling the coaching staff what to do.

[Scratch28]

We will have veteran leadership in Langs and Elias.

[pando20rules]

KU Chris,

that's the whole point! You win as a team and you lose as a team, that's been the Devils way, and it will continue to be that way while Lou is here. Now, I know some of you think Lou should be gone, but that's nuts.

Anyone who lived the mid 80's days as a Devils fan knows this to be true.

[Gilly]

A caller on NHL live just summed up the way I have been feeling. He said he hasn't been this down since he put his dog down, and I can relate. I am still stunned. Such a crushing loss, and it is going to sting all summer.

After the 552, this team just lost that magic. Watching that 552 game I thought "Wow, this team is special." Then it died. The Devs put up a good fight in the playoffs, but they just could not rekindle that. Now here we are, down in the freaking dumps.

[devils_fan]

This is certainly the worst lose I have ever seen from the Devils. I thought about who might, be the one to blame for this. But in all honesty it gave me a headache.

This lose is still really difficult to comprehend.

[Just Some Guy]

Am I the only one who was way more pained by the 1994 loss to the Rangers?

[Chris]

You are right, game 552 was played like a game seven, they never rebounded, and they end up where they are today becuase of it.

[Shari]

The day after and I'm still stunned, 94 was bad, very bad, but this is worse to me because, they had this, it was practically won, on to the next round, then WTF just happened? Done for then season.

[mikeschoenf]

Just some Guy.. we may have been pained more but that loss and the 2001 losses to colorado but not more shocked. Only us can find a way to choke more then the rangers who blew a 3 game lead. We gave up two goals in a minute 20 to cost us the series. I would have rather lost the way they lost or lost last night 25 to nothing.

[Jeff O.]

First of all, TG, thank you so much for the continuous fantastic coverage that you give us Devils fans! You are a great asset to us, and I hope you continue this for a long time. We really appreciate it!

Now, it's been a long since I've cried after a loss. This was the closest I've been since. When the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead to the hated Red Sox in 2004, I think I was more angry than sad. This time, I'm sad, shocked, and thoroughly disgust at how we lost the game. How do logically explain putting Madden and Pandolfo on for more time than Elias, Parise, and Rolston? You can't. After we went up 3-2, we needed to get one more goal. Earth to Sutter: IT'S NOT GOING TO COME FROM LINE 3! Our scorers needed more TOI. We can't keep matching lines and sitting back late in games. We can't do that anymore in the new NHL, especially in the playoffs.

I know it's early, but I have ideas about who we should keep, get rid of, and pick up this offseason as will many of you. I'll start with the Devils free-agents.

BRIAN GIONTA:

I think that we should keep Gio. If we get a playmaking center to put between him and Patty, Gio will be much more productive. I'm not going to guarantee 48 goals again, but I will say 30+ goals are quite possible. We sign Gio before July 1st, then we turn our attention to getting him a skilled center.

JOHN MADDEN:

In my opinion, John Madden still has a place on this team. I know he isn't the same player he once was, but I still think he has two years left in him. A two-year deal is what I would give him. He may get a small raise in my, but I doubt it will be substantial enough to really make it seem outlandish to re-sign him. If Sutter is still our coach, I hope he doesn't continue to use Madden the way he has.

BOBBY HOLIK:

I'll make this short and simple. See ya!

TRAVIS ZAJAC:

You want to talk about someone that has to be re-signed, here he is. He really improved his play this year, and deserves a long-term deal. I hope he gets one; he deserves it.

MIKE RUPP:

I say that we let him see what he can get on the open market. If we lose him, fine. If we re-sign him, fine. If we do lose him, I say we put PL3 in his place. That will definitely make this team younger, and I don't see any difference the two.

BRENDAN SHANAHAN:

I would like him to stay for one more year, but I have a feeling that he won't. If in fact last night was the last time that we see Shanny on the ice, thanks for ending your career with us.

PIERRE-LUC LETOURNEAU-LEBLOND (PL3 for short):

We should re-sign him in case Rupp leaves. He plays similarly to Rupp, and is good to have on the team in case we have an injury during the season.

NICLAS HAVELID:

(See: Bobby Holik)

ANDY GREENE:

I like Greenes play, and has the potential to be a decent puck-moving defenseman. Paired with a stay-at-home defenseman, Greene would have the ability to move up and attack with the forwards.

JOHNNY ODUYA:

I'll make it short. Re-sign pre-July 1st so he can stay with Martin. They are the most cohesive pairing of who we have.

BACKUP GOALIES:

Although Weekes has a fantastic attitude, Clemmensen showed he is a more than capable backup to Marty. I say we keep him and let Weekes find another team.

(I know this was kind of long, but I'll do who we should pick up in a separate post)

[SonicDude]

i dont expect lou to say much today. but in the near term, its imperative to hear him say that we must get back to what made us great...a mix of highly skilled and hard hitting d-men.

add 2 d-men studs to martin and oduya, nothing less will do.

---

BTW, congrats embo.

[ChiDevsFan]

2001 is and always will be the worst for me. Up 3-2 after a complete victory in game 5, bringing my camera and everything to the arena expecting to see a celebration only to have a goal disallowed and lose 4-0 followed by game 7. The difference for me is that was the cup finals. Yes, yesterday's loss was terrible, devastating (pick a word), but it was only the first round. Washington, Pitt or Boston, Detroit (more than likely) still awaited them.

[KU Chris]

You lose as a team and you win as a team... those calling for Sutters head are NUTS.. we just won our division in a year where everyone was calling for us to fall out of playoff contention and we didnt have Brodeur...

As far as Rolston goes the guy was hurt for a while and then came back and still scored almost 20 goals while playing 4th line minutes...

The team needs to go out and rebuild the defense.. lets face it since 2003 when the big 3 defenseman left we have not been able to do anything worth bragging about in the playoffs...

although this loss was painful guys you need to look at the bright side of things.. theres more to sports then winning a championship and this whole attitude of cup or bust is crazy.. we saw our goalie break the all time win record, we saw Elias break the points record for the team.. we saw Clem come into his own... what about that game where we beat the piss out of the Rangers 8 to 2 on a Friday night... sure its a let down.. but theres more to sports then just winning. I am just as upset as all of you guys if not more then some of you... but its only a game guys.

5 and a half months till training camp!

[pando20rules]

the difference between this and 1994 and 2001 was we were ahead here. We had the game in our pocket and it was ripped away. In 1994, it was OT, everyone knew it was next goal wins...... and in '01, we never were that close in either game 6 or game 7. This one, we HAD, and we let it slip away.... and that is what hurts most.

[ges918]

1994 was crushing on so many levels. I still think this defeat hurts more because of the way they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory (at least in `94 Zelepukin's goal showed the team was still playing down the stretch). Watching the sequence that lead to the third goal was like watching a train wreck unfold.

[Louie u]

Either many people here are dilusional or I am a genious but it is obvious why we are here. What made the Devils good this year was the fact that since 2003 we did not play a defense first, match-line type of game. This was in part because I believe Sutter and the Devils didn't feel comfortable trying to win one goal games with Clemmer, so they would try to outscore their opponents and play an aggressive game. I also remember Sutter commenting about not wanting to match lines, etc...What happened this series? Madden, Pandolfo got more ice time than your top line...very bad move. I do not blame Sutter, unless you are blind it is obvious to see that Brodeur calls the shots on this team. Coincidence that once Brodeur gets back our system changes? I think not, the system to fatten up Brodeurs inflated numbers was back in place.

Brodeur allowed two very soft goals in this game. Forget about the positioning of White, Brodeur had the angle and saw the shot..that is amust stop goal. I am adie hard Devil fan, but I am not and really never have been a big fan of Brodeur. The reasons are because of his inability to ever own his bad play. He sells out the team after every bad goal or game. By the way, I have never heard any other Devils ever sell him out or their other teamates. But as long as fatty is still areound get used to the first round oustings...at least I get a "fat" credit for next years seasons.

[TG]

I said this on the other post, but thought I'd repeat it here just to be safe.

Jay Bouwmeester will not sign with the Devils. The word is he wants to play in Canada in a hockey market after playing in a place (Florida) where hockey was an afterthought for all of his career.

I know this won't keep a lot of you from asking about him and wishing he would come here or others from creating rumors about him coming to the Devils, but you should be prepared for it not to happen.

The Devils should still make their inquiries and an offer if he'll listen, to make him say 'no.' They'll have to have a more realistic July 1 plan, though, that they will need to work on just as diligently. You don't want to come up empty on Bouwmeester while other options (if there are any) are signing elsewhere.

[Mike]

My feelings completely echo Jeff O's. Couldn't have said it better myself, especially about Rupp. Don't mind if we keep him or lose him really. Havelid and Holik, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Pat]

Oduya is not a first pairing guy, never will be. I'll take him back as a 2nd pairing guy for < $2M/yr, otherwise, see ya. Martin is borderline 1st pair.

I am absolutely disgusted by Marty's comments. I'd trade him in a heartbeat if we got a good package as mentioned before of 1-2 good young players, 1-2 prospects and 1-2 picks. It wouldn't cost them as much to sign a new goalie and that would give even more cap space considering we're hamstrung by a few bad contracts.

[Alz]

"You don't blame anybody," Lamoriello said. "Anybody who does that or thinks that way or insituates that is just looking for excuses."

It wasn't an act of God, it was poor management and sloppy play. Those are not excuses, they're mistakes and they ARE preventable. Anyone who thinks that the Devils were somehow "destined" to lose and should accept it as some Divine Intervention should give up being fans and go join a Monastery.

[Steven]

I expect them to keep Madden and Gio, but everyone else is up in the air. On a side note will Parise or Martin head to Switzerland to join team USA in the IIHF World Championships?

[TG]

The Devils had to change back to checking lines because their other lines were not doing the job defensively late in the season (the six-game losing streak). It was done by necessity because what they were doing wasn't working anymore.

And, people seem to be ignoring that in the games in Carolina (which they lost two of), they did not match lines for the most part because they don't have the last line change on the road. Zajac's line and Zubrus' line saw much more time against Staal in the games in RBC Center than Madden's. So, you can't really blame this series loss on matching lines.

They only they really tried to do on the road was to get White and Mottau out against Staal's line. That worked until Game 6 (and then the last minute of Game 7).

So, if you want to blame the coach, at least do it with things that were true.

[DCdevil]

"Lamoriello said the collapse should not have happened."

Well guess what lou...it happened. Now get to work on signing some young talent. I dont care if billy guerin is willing to work for free. I agree with scratch, lou dropped the ball by signing these dinosaurs. We help pay for these guys contracts and this is what we get?