Some Thoughts Before Game 5

Assorted NJD notes before 7:30p ET

1) The talk now shifts to “what are the NYR adjustments”? We saw NJ get more pucks out/in, play with NZ structure and limit turnovers for Game 3 and 4…so those would be the obvious answers for the opposition. I’m not trying to throw on red-colored glasses here, but in my optimistic mind…aren’t the Devils playing in a fashion that is prepared for those hypothetical adjustments?

NJ wingers have totally supported the centers in the NZ. All the defensemen have been excellent in going back on retrievals and methodically pushing the play, with or without the puck, against the boards and then grinding/squeezing it out of the DZ (if an easy exit isn’t available).

I know it’s not THAT easy/simple, but that’s what I’m seeing/thinking currently. More traffic in front of Akira Schmid is an area to watch again, something Gerard Gallant said they unequivocally didn’t do after he stressed the importance of that following Game 3.

2) Now on the NYR PP, this could be something to watch for:

Hard to analyze how this all plays out, assuming we even see it. NYR PP really didn’t try and do anything different the last two games. Can they move off puck like that and be in sync like they usually are? I saw this Stefan Noesen PP goal two nights ago and was relatively blown away by how such a simple thought/move created such a wide-open opportunity.

Scott Mayfield assumes Noesen is there and it creates an unbelievably wide-open cross-slot chance. Be tight with heads on a swivel tonight.