Was at the game last night. Overall impression is that this team works hard but not everyone is similarly invested. Two examples from watching after the play:
1) When Glencross failed to get that backhand clear on the PK and they gave up the second, heads hung and expressions changed very quickly. I was looking at TJ and he looked genuinely discouraged, but not in the "darn we just gave up a goal" manner. I was 7 rows back of Glencross and was shocked that he couldn't get that out... he had all the time in the world. Brodie's look was one of "come on, I'm working hard and you mess up an easy clearance?"
2) I think it was in the third, before things fell apart, where we had some sustained pressure. At one point Stajan skated a half circle around the zone and had Wideman very open on the point. Instead of making the good pass to give Wideman a nice look, Stajan looked him off and then just continued his skating arc, the defenders closed and he tried a weak wrister that got deflected out. After the whistle went, Wideman just stared at Stajan while slowly drifting backwards towards the bench for a change. Stajan was skating with him and just shrugged his shoulders.
Perhaps these are small things, but from them (and watching other after-the-play interactions) I got the impression that this team has some players that have realized the level of consistency and smart play that they need to exhibit in order to win. And then there are a few players who, either for lack of consistency, laziness, or lack of vision / skill, are just not on the same page and making life just a touch harder for others. Players like Cammi / Wideman seem to be invested in this team and you can see a contrast between them as veterans versus Stajan / Glencross.
Small anecdote: was at the game with the gf who is a local but doesn't follow hockey much. Her comment in the first period, unprompted by any complaining from yours truly: "Why does #8 look so slow out there?" It was followed on the next shift by "Oh no, #8 is back on already."
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