Thu 3 May 2007
Contrary to my amazingly pissed off ramblings last night, I do not think Ray Emery is garbage. Granted, I don’t think he’s exactly the greatest invention since sliced bread, but he’s no worse than leftover fast food that has been sitting in the back of the refrigerator for that one extra day that really doesn’t make it seem worth it.
Follow what I’m saying? Cause I sure as hell don’t.
Senators fans, I whole heartedly apologize if my remarks offended you guys in any which way. You are merely watching a Devils fan who is so gosh darn frustrated with her team that she feels the need to channel that anger into yelling at others who are not (completely) at fault.
Mr. Emery happened to fall in the cross-fire of this good ole die-hard Devils fan.
Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t think “Rayzor” (as Senators fans seem to affectionately call their netminder…I thought that was Raycroft’s nickname(?)) has been particularly good in the series, but he hasn’t been awful. His lack-of rebound control has been quite disturbing, and his puck handling has also been pretty terrible, but outside of those two main components, I suppose he’s been relatively decent.
I do, however, think Ray has a weak glove hand, and I oh-so-desperately wish that the New Jersey Devils could expose said weakness, but it just does not appear to be happening.
At the end of the day, the Senators are the better team.
Yes, I said it.
The Ottawa Senators are the better team.
…oh, wait, that wasn’t a mystery? Damn. I thought I was being all awesome in admitting Ottawa’s superiority, but I suppose not. Oh well.
Alas, can the Devils overcome such insurmountable deeds? It’s possible. They’ve done it before, and they could do it again. Unfortunately, though, this isn’t the year 2000 and the 2007 Devils don’t possess the sheer heart and determination that Larry Robinson’s group had all those years ago. It’s saddening, but I’ll get over it.
I guess all that’s left for the boys to do is to, well, take it one game at a time. Hell, take it one period (and I don’t mean those yucky things that happen once a month to the female species) at a time if need be. Gotta do something here, and the Devils really don’t have time to sit and ponder what the heck that “something” actually is.
I say, quadruple shift the Zajac line and hope for the best.
…and that’s why I’m not coach.
No, seriously, I would really like to see the Zajac line out there as much as possible. If the Devils prove undisciplined once again, throw Parise on the penalty kill like he was for the remainder of Game 5. Give Clarkson a bit more playing time, and tell him that his first born will be eaten if he does not park his caboose in front of Emery to gobble up a rebound or two.
And for the love of bologna (or whatever you so happen to love), shoot anything and everything at the net! Emery is not God, despite how the Devils have made him looked thus far. He cannot stop them all, and if the rebounds keep on coming, a Devil will surely pounce and finally hammer a couple home.
Oh, and might I also add — can Rafalski and make Paul Martin the go-to guy on defense. Unlike Emery, Rafalski has been garbage.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:00 am
Ray’s rebounds aren’t so much of an issue when the opposing team isn’t taking advantage of them. Sending only one player into the offensive zone won’t capitalize on rebounds.
Funny enough, most of those rebounds make it to either Sens d-men or forwards who’ve come back to help on the D.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Bottom line is a win tonight and this series looks totally different. However, that requires a win tonight, which may be a tall order in itself.
I’ve never thought Emery was that great, but I can’t blame the Sens for making him the #1. An incredible offense mixed with a decent defense means you don’t need the greatest goalie in the world. These two attributes also naturally make the goalie look better. So… I agree with what you did, and did not, say.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Hate to disappoint ya sheepsie, but the Devils play tomorrow, not tonight.
Senator — you make a good point about the defense taking care of his rebounds. The Devils have not been able to scoop up any rebounds, and I’d liken it to part the Sens defense, and part the Devils inability to actually do it.
Regardless, though, bad rebounds are bad rebounds. It’s great that a team can clean up around the net for him, but it doesn’t help his case to be an elite goalie. He’s been GOOD, not great.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:23 am
We all want to blame someone for the back to back losses. Either way, we can’t control it because we aren’t out there.
Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that our boys won’t be headin to the golf courses a little sooner than we’d like.
GO DEVS!
May 4th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
they should let the guys that write kenny D’s monologue start coaching cause his advise always seems like what they finally end up doing a game too late.
May 4th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
****ya know, i watched all 3 championship movies this morning( + the 01′ avs bs) and you know what we’re lacking more than anything????? aside from knowing how to perform offensively, we dish out hit after hit after hit. dominating the boards tremendously (even better than the ducks are doing right now). i mean i know we dont have the 2 scotts and the rules have changed and whatnot, but come on! and if you watch that stupid rangers 94 dvd set, the hits are so often and hard, it’s like watching football on ice. i think they changed the rules so that there would be more scoring opportunities, but if we aren’t gonna attempt to score on wacvk ass emery then put cam in there and let him start crackin people. i know clarkson and parise have had the biggest hits from what i’ve seen so far.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
You know, those rebounds are appearing more and more often, and if we could just get the offense up there after those great shots from 90 feet away, we could easily win. They need to pressure him, or we’re done.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I agree. I think the Devils know to go to the net - it’s how they scored both goals in Game 4. Elias drove to the net, put a shot on Emery, and Gionta drove in behind Elias to get at the rebound for the goal. Martin’s slapshot was tipped by Pandolfo in front for that second goal.
In short, the team really just needs to turn up the speed and the effort to get in Emery’s face. Especially, Brian Gionta - given he did it all last year to great success. But most of the time, it’s a slow breakout, allowing Ottawa to set up the D and forcing the Devils to look too long for holes.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
One thing that alot of people don’t realise is that Emery is still developing as a goaltender. HE IS ONLY 24 YEARS OLD. He’s only been playing pro hockey (AHL and NHL) for 4 years now. It should come as no surprise that he has a few weaknesses. However, I think he’ll be great in a few years - just look at how much he has improved since last year.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
It’s definitely true that he’s still developing and could easily become a very good goaltender within the next few years, and I wouldn’t doubt it, but for this series and this series alone, he simply hasn’t been spectacular. The Devils have not been able to capitalize on his flaws, though, so at the end of the day it’s somewhat of a moot point I suppose.
May 4th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
lets face it, emery IS bad.. his only strong point is his glove hand.. other than that he gives away huge rebounds and looks shaky and half shots thrown at him
May 4th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
“Hate to disappoint ya sheepsie, but the Devils play tomorrow, not tonight.”
I get confused on my days off…
May 6th, 2007 at 1:54 am
Rafalski has been garbage but Martin had one good playoff series. He was terrible the last three months of the season and the Tamap series. Martin played better vs the Sense but he is really clinging on to his draft clippings. The BEST D man we’ve had all playoff was Andy Greene. Let Ralfie go and bring back Sheldon Souray. Trade Colin White as well because he has not progressed, takes stupid penatlies and does not play to his suppossed strenhts.
May 6th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Oh yeah Emery is not garbage, he’s a little bit better than solid.