travel_dude

So, in retrospect, the only thing they managed was 3 picks from Fox. Lost the other assets to FA. No cups. One 1st place in the division.

Perhaps I missed it, but how did the last two guys come from the DH trade?

The timing of the NHL and AHL seasons don't mix very well. They play till almost the same date, then the Heat will be in playoffs. The Black Aces won't be anyone they want to be in a development league winning environment. What I am saying is that there may be some recalls before the playoffs and get in some game action, but Sutter wants to win every game. If they come up, they have to play or it's useless. Game action, regardless of the league, is better than just practice. Sitting regulars sounds good, but going into the playoffs on fire is as well.

I think Sutter uses Jedi mind tricks on the players. Tell them they aren't elite like FLA or AVS. Tell them they need to work as a group. Yet, we are seeing an elite group. Not top 10 scoring (even though Gaudreau is #4), but elite in results almost every game.

I always enjoy beating the Leafs. Maybe even as much as the hapless Oilskids. In some ways, the refs let us and the Leafs play hockey. If that's the case, they can't touch us. The Oils on the other hand rely on chintzy calls. Or lack of them called against them.

Toronto game was a combination of their bad goaltending and our good goaltending. They pounded on us for 48 shots, but I would expect a bit of a letdown playing the 2nd in a B2B. No excuses for sure, we have to be better than that. And I think we have shown a lot better both before and after that game. For the most part, we are almost doubling the shot for vs against.

I would suggest that this team is not happy with any loss. Making the playoffs is not the only goal and once we clinch, that is just Phase 1. Win the division is Phase 2. Win home ice through the first three rounds is Phase 3. A long winning streak going into the playoffs is a mirage. Teams are resting players. Non-playoff teams are tanking or playing spoiler. We want to be tweaking and fixing things going into the playoffs. We want Sutter to be complaining about little things. Perfection may not be realistic, but you need to know where you have fault, so you aren't just fixing after a loss in the playoffs. You should be fixing that in a game. Wardo was incapable of stopping the bleeding. Had two goalies and didn't understand how to use them. BP didn't have any answers and we counted on a goalie that pretended he was not the reason for a loss. Yeah, big deal you were seen by some to be playing out of your mind. Making the first 2 saves wasn't enough. Flopping around like a beached whale. EDM saw that last year. So, Sutter is of the mind that we are not going to be successful by trying to outscore the other team. We only will win by preventing the other team from scoring. That fits well to the playoffs. We never seemed to be able to win low scoring games in the past. I'm not worried about OT losses in regular season. Gimmick. Holding a lead to the end of 60 is more important to me. Or getting to OT if we are down a goal.

I've often thought the PP was loaded up on one unit, leaving the 2nd unit wanting. We currently deploy Kylington almost like a forward, though I think his shot is better from the point than Hanifin. But with Monahan on the 2nd unit you saw immediate results. Monahan sprung for a clear shot to the net. When was the last time Monahan had a clear shot period? I think it's good to tinker with the PP units myself. Backlund was only there to win draws. Monahan can do that in his place. I just wonder if we need a RHS on the 2nd unit. I'm okay in giving the last deployment a try. See if that extra RHS add to the scoring. I might go with a modified setup though. Tkachuk Toffoli-Lindholm-Gaudreau Ras The new setup has Gaudreau moving around on RW and has less behind the net, around the boards passes. Lindholm is the slot player and Tkachuk net front. Toffoli is the one timer option from LW. Ras has to cover the right boards. Less around the horn, more targeted to net and one timers. Gaudreau's shot from RW is more dangerous.

Sutter likes to insult his own team. We aren't Vegas with elite players. W have to do everything perfect. The last few years we have tried to win by scoring more goals and that didn't work out. You can't win by doing that. You don't always score 4 goals. You have to be able to limit the other team to 2 or less. So, he's saying that it's nice to score 6, but don't count on it. And don't give up 4 if you do. It's so funny listening to him. He doesn't talk like a coach coming off a 10 game win streak. You would think we just lost. Talk about even keel. Yeah it's nice to win 10 or 7 at home, but we missed out a lot of games due to the shutdown. We are nowhere yet. He wanted to make it a tough play to play. Coming around to it. Hailey asked him about having this cushion of wins. He said it takes 100 points to make the playoffs. A cushion is made of feathers, and you lose a few feathers and soon you are sitting on nothing. Classic.

I am really starting to wonder what a #1 C even looks like now. Is Bergeron one? Lindholm is 11th in scoring from C, 8th in goals and #1 at +39. Selke? For sure. #2C by some arbitrary standards? Yes, he's not elite. There are maybe 8 in the entire league.

So, the top PP unit included Toffee and Mony moved to the 2nd unit. Backlund moved off completely. I wouldn't call it freat execution of any of the units, but Mange connected on Monahan on a rush, End result one PP goal. It's going to take some time to get Toffee into the systems. He's a better possession player than Monahan, but we only have one C out there. Monahan on the 2nd unit is smart. They lacked a good shot. Well, Mange is a good shot, but doesn't have the same size to do it in the slot. I'm not sure the best setup with Toffee on the top unit. Aching to see his one timer on the left circle. Not sure how to set that up with Johnny trolling the left side. 1-3-1 with possession? Tkachuk Gaudreau-Toffoli-Lindholm Ras? The problem with that is we have zero RHS on the 2nd unit.

I wouldn't say good game, but our defense was good. Nobidy really was out of position and we killed all the PP's. That was important, since we were lucky to get any goals. The special teams were the difference. We ended up +1 on all the penalties for and against. That's all you can hope for in a close game. NExt game a rematch against Demko. Then a home and home against the Wild. Tough series, though we don't have Mike Smith as our #1 goalie. Thanks Blockchain.

Oooh, a math test.

I think Marky deserved one, but whatever. Lindholm was NHL 1st star for last week, so it's fitting he was rewarded game 1st star. Wake up NHL, Lindy is coming for you.

Happy that you could watch it live for a change. Keep up the GDT streak buddy. Kudos for keeping it alive.

Lindy starting on his next NHL first star. Low scoring games are tough. Scoring with less than a minute is sweet. Doesn't allow for much of a EN comeback. Better than the glitzy 3v3 OT sequence. Besides we need the RW's, not the ROW's. Back to 4 points up on VGK with two games in hand. Up 7 on the stinkin' Oilers.

I got the sequence mixed up. BTW, I stopped using More Cowbell in the GDT's. Phase complete works better. Started in Dallas.

10 in a row BABY.

Toffee puts the cream in the coffee.

Forgot. It was TO to call the challenge.

Challenge it you Blockchainers.

WHAT.A.GOAL.

Lindy complete Phase 2

I will give it to Toffee.

Lindholm to complete Phase 2.