travel_dude

1-9 is almost set. STL would really need to start winning to catch up. 10-16 is all within 6 points from top to bottom. By point% remaining exactly the same: NAS 92 CGY 89.5 OTT 88.5 BUF 88.5 FLA 88.2 WAS 85.7 DET 84.6 Now none of this takes into account current records. Only us and FLA have 2 wins in a row, We have played 65 games along with FLA and WAS. The other teams have 2 games in hand on us. NAS has 4 games in hand. We have gained almost no ground on teams in front of us for the WC spots in a month. I have no idea why after 60 games we decided we would show up. It does nothing than reward the marginal players for a job well done. Or should I say a job well watched others doing.

I was watching the shutour evaporate in OT after Backlund had the little lazy backhand, That's only for shootouts when nothing is working. My fear was realized that Markstrom's first shutout was killed in OT. Then the refs made the oddest call I had ever seen. Not even as quesrionable as the McDavid one that fans and analysts ragged on about for a week. If that wasn't control, I don't know what was. Two goalies get shutouts, we get 2 points. The team is not fooling me. Make me a believer then pull the rug out. This didn't look like a good hockey game. Teams were missing the puck all night. Gus made some good saves, but didn't steal a point, we just didn't get enough going. Two games against Minny and zero goals to show for it. Nothing is fixed, we won two games we played equal to the other team. In both games (DAL and MIN), one goalie let in slightly more. I will give Marky props. This was the type of game that he was losing on one goal. And then another. But he has looked more calm out there. Like he stopped listen to the coach in his ear and just played.

I'm not sold on the line yet. It showed up in one game where the goalie looked a little leaky. I think maybe Ritchie is a fit with Kadri, but more for an attack the net type of line. Ideally, we have a RW that plays that game, not an elite passer playing RW to accommodate them. Why it worked last night is because it created havoc in front of the goalie. I would like to see Huberdeau again with Lindholm and Toffoli. Maybe it pushes down Dube and Mangiapane to a 4th line, but that's just a number. Coach won't agree, but here is what I think makes the most sense for now. I would like to see Kadri and Ritchie paired up for now. Huberdeau-Lindholm-Toffoli Ritchie-Kadri-Coleman Pelletier-Backlund-Dube Mangiapane-Ruzie/Lewis-Duehr

It was a very weird last 5 minutes of the game. Dube, Lucic, Huberdeau, Kadri, Pelletier and others were benched. Neither Dube or Lucic played after the 15 minute mark. Kadri and Huberdeau and Toffoli were out in the final minute. Backlund and Mangiapane were at times then as well. Same with Coleman and Ritchie. I can't explain it.

DAL is the one team I always feel we have a chance to win against. Started last year. In previous years, they would dominate us in size and push us around, while taking no penalties. That has changed. Not Lucic, but guys like Backlund and Lindholm not playing scared. The schedule after tonight favors us. 6 of 11 against non playoff teams. 5 against West toughies. It does nothing to get 6 wins and 5 losses. 2 against Vegas, and we have never won in Vegas. 2 against LA and they are tough to beat. If they can't beat MIN tonight or Vegas, what is the point. The trap games are coming; ANA, ARI and OTT. Any less than 3 wins sets us up to miss the playoffs.

That's the most excitement I have seen here in weeks. Maybe months.

Well, I'm not convinced we were looking at Schneider. We would have just taken him. Let's not forget that Zary was showing a lot in his draft year. The other thing is we got Poirier and Kuz out of SJ, as well as Francis out of CB. Obviously we were scoting the Q and WHL. It's hard to tell what happens on the floor. We may have only had Zary and someone else that got picked, so that means a trade for picks makes some sense. The bigger issue for me is late season runs that mean nothing. We had the chance of playing meaningful games with wins in key games. We crapped the bed. We don't deservce to be winning now. You can't play 3/4 of a season at 500 and think that you can flip the switch. You know we are going to beat the Pacific basement teams. And win a couple more against teams having an off night.

How in the world did we have Hiberdeau and Toffoli on together? And the pass was Weegar to Huberdeau to Toffoli. Tanev also out there. And Kadri. Faceoff loss in a tie game and a missed chance by Dallas turns into a last second goal for us. For some reason Dallas decided to go for it in regulation and forget about the easy point.

We haven't won 2 in B2B games yet. When we win the first one we lose the 2nd one. When we lose the first one, we tend to win the 2nd one.

Who is due to go 16th.

Tmac said we should trade Vladar and start Markstrom with Wolf backup? That's more like Hiller or Smith than keeping Vladar/Wolf.

He was suggesting that we win a bunch and fall short, resulting in something like 16th overall. Including tonight, 12-7 gets us what, 91 points?

You funny. That's a point short and likely 17th overall.

Nope, we had the lead

If this is the way we have to win the next 14 games, then it will be an exciting finish.

Holy crap, Dallas crapped the bed

May need that later

Lot's of goals against by misplays.

4th line out with the game on the line.\ And that's another penalty while they were on the ice.

Need Gaudreau for the sneaky OT goal.

We closed out last game pretty well. Didn't allow a Flames goal all period.

4th line caught out against the top line

Ruh Roh

Cowbell Killer. Qu’est-ce que c’est. Fa fa fa fa faa fa

We just give up a shortie and immediately roll the 4th line. Who would have expected that !!