Truth & Rumors > NHL
Devils depart from tradition, embrace offense
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08:24 AM ET 10.14 | On the face of it, the scoreboard belied what a different approach the Devils took Thursday night. There were only two goals scored in their 2-1 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings tonight, but it was an offensive battle that would have been rare for the Devils for many years. "It was a little bit up and down, no question about it," said Patrik Elias, who scored the Devils' goal. "It was an exciting game for the fans. Pete (DeBoer) came in and said, 'Let's go for the win.' Sometimes when you do go for the win, you get it." Another change was DeBoer's decision to go first in the shootout at home. Past coaches have often chosen to let the other team shoot first.
Zach Parise, Getty Images
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Comments (35) Add A Comment
The Best Defense Is A Good Offense, Bros.
I Love LA
Total Comments (5564)
"Let's go for the win". What a novel thought for a hockey team when there are no ties possible!
Who'd a thunk it?
Slapshot
Total Comments (8987)
A lot of teams don't play to win, they play not to lose. Different mindset. When you play to win, you take risks that may pay off or may go south. Defensemen pinch in on the play and sometimes they can't get back leading to odd man breaks the other way.
I strongly dislike Tortorella, but in Tampa Bay the motto was "safe is dead" and that mindset killed the Flyers. Hitch plays not to lose and it cost us. That and Ruslan Fedotenko. whatev.
cromster
New London, By Way Of Philly, CT
Total Comments (1776)
The Devils have a mediocre at best defense and good forwards, so they should embrace offense. And for a 1-1 game it was pretty good, think there was like 65 shots or something like that.
Nard Dog
Total Comments (3364)
When you don't have much in your own end of the ice, might as well unfetter your forwards and see what happens. You might win a game. A novel idea for sure .... when it comes to the Devils.
roamer
Total Comments (9580)
With Brodeur, a mediocre defense can work.
BTW - sorry about the disaster of a garden party. Thought the idea was a good one.
Nobody expects…
Total Comments (13149)
Brodeur is already hurt. Hedberg played well. And the Devils better lock Parise up, because that guy is a beast.
Missed the episode, have it on my DVR.
Nard Dog
Total Comments (3364)
A 65 shot game ???? Lou must be rolled up murmuring in the fetal position somewhere
Harry Crack
Total Comments (7127)
He's vacationing in Tajikistan. He'll hear about it in two weeks, when he gets back.
roamer
Total Comments (9580)
Never has, never will...Worked with the likes of Stevens, Daneyko, Rafalski, Niedermayer, etc. and hasn't worked since.
Golden Bay
Total Comments (3935)
Really so when Mike Mottau was on the first pair defense with Colin White and the Devils had the lowest goals for the year that means it didn't work? Or when Johnny Oduya was on their top pairing and Brodeur was in the top 3 for fewest GAA it didn't work then either. OH OK. Got it.
Nard Dog
Total Comments (3364)
Think of the offensive juggernaut they will become when they pick up The Avery?
Hank Kingsley
Port Alberni, BC
Total Comments (11740)
Didn't hear that Brodeur was hurt. Seeing the Devils focus on offense is going to be like a bizarro world.
Think you'll like the episode. All I can say is I raise my glass to the Nard Dog and toast him and the Devils.
Nobody expects…
Total Comments (13149)
I think his "go for the win" came right after Marty got injured (or tweaked as he says). You could noticably see a change in the Devils play after that. It was similar to the difference between the 1st and 2nd half last year... playing not to lose vs playing to win. It was a great win - 79 more to go...
MWM Devs
Sparta , NJ
Total Comments (103)
On the post Stevens/ Niedermayer Devils, Marty is 222-134-32 with 41 shutouts and 2 Vezinas. Just saying. During those years the Devils "premier" defensemen were Colin White, Oduya, Paul Martin, etc.
If anyone benefited most from the equation you mention it was Rafalski, who spent almost his entire career paired with Stevens or Lidstrom.
PoopyFaceTomatoNose
Parlin , NJ
Total Comments (13)
I hope you mean when they pick him up and throw him off a tall building.
PoopyFaceTomatoNose
Parlin , NJ
Total Comments (13)
Didn't you hear, he has a hurt shoulder. Sadly for you, you might have to go the season without seeing him. Unless you get to watch AHL games....
Nard Dog
Total Comments (3364)
Number of Cups since...0.
Regular season numbers mean nothing...
Golden Bay
Total Comments (3935)
He will heal up quickly. And play hurt.
Tough as nails that guy.
Hank Kingsley
Port Alberni, BC
Total Comments (11740)
Yup he is very versatile. He can score no goals and take stupid penalties healthy or injured-a real peach.
Harry Crack
Total Comments (7127)
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