Scott: You know what’s lame and weak bullshit? Your comparison of the shootout to Score-O and your whining that it’s a skills competition. Something tells me you absolutely despite penalty shots.

But seriously, you’d rather have teams turtle for 65 minutes to have games end in ties? The whole point of competition between two teams is that there is a winner and there is a loser. In a perfect world, all games would play regulation hockey until there’s a winner. But that’s not feasible in an 82-game season. If you have any better suggestions other than a shootout, I’d love to hear it. Until then, I’ll be in my seat supporting the Devils throughout to the end.

P.S. Putting a defenseman out there to challenge the shooter as well? So the forward has to beat TWO people? That doesn’t make it legit, that makes it absolutely unfair.

you want to make it more legit… PUT A DEFENSEMAN OUT THERE, then I might think about it! There was no shame in walking away shaking hands and saying good game sir, we’ll get you next time!

But hey want my real opinion?

Anyway: I’ve noticed that Weekes tends to go into the butterfly quite a bit. The Devils defenders are likely already aware of this, but it further emphasizes the point that they just cannot allow opposing players to get enough time and space to lift that puck or pot home that rebound. It burned the Devils thrice against Tampa. I fear that Detroit has scouted out Weekes’ tendencies and will, well, light him up.

Yes it depends on the goalie, but if he’s a butterfly goalie, his pad’s always rested against the ice, flashed up (11′ high wall). Get that shot a foot off the ice and either he’ll have to magically lift his leg up in response, get a great jump on the shot and slide in its direction (in essence, cutting it off with the rest of his body), or get it with his glove, blocker, or stick (which means he’ll likely have to split if the shot’s gunning for the post).

Looking at a goalie in his ready stance, you’re looking at what’s open, but once you shoot, all of that changes. We all know the goalie will play the odds and go into the butterfly. Just shoot it to where he won’t end up. For example, one of my hardest places to cover is just between my glove and pad and 6 inches away from my shoulder even though my stance has that covered clearly.

Personally, I want to see Kevin end up with a positive record by the time he decides to leave his pads behind. Seeing him win was the highlight of that game.

and it depends on the goalie… Smith did spit out some chunky-soup sized rebounds last night… though as a goalie too…. I kinda feel bad for Smith… Tampa is clueless on playing in front of him… least for once we pounded a defense and a goalie enough that it WORKED… hooray!!!!

Anyone else thinking Saturday’s Detroit game is gonna be ugly???

I’ve been calling that the Langenbrunner move (and any move that involves sliding the puck along the ice at an open net) “Pulling a Rolly”. Seeing as how the namesake just became a Devil again, I think there’s a much better reason to spread the name around.

As a goalie, I know the easiest save is one that’s less than a foot high – especially for a butterfly goalie – and always cringe when Devil players shoot low (unless they’re looking for a rebound or have the goalie moving) or into the goalies’ chests. Sutter should get a shooter tutor on the goal that only has space a foot off the posts and at least a foot off the ice.