Really enjoyed last nights game, especially as we managed to keep it to a 1 goal game against one of the best teams in the league right now.
I think the one thing that came out to me thought was the difference in skill level between the two teams. The pens were making good tape to tape passes, were as too many time we had passes go off skates or behind the players leading to a pens turn over. We cannot keep doing that otherwise we are putting our goalies under more pressure than they already are.
Backlund is turning into a great centre man, those points are going to start piling up if he keeps playing the way he is right now.
Monahan seems to be struggling right now and I think he needs more time off to ensure that break is healed. I don't know why but i think he was rushed back when there was really no reason to. Just an opinion with nothing to back it up.
Smid showed some real grit last night, that one shift where he took a big hit at one end and then worked his way back to break up the pens play before bouncing into the boards, really impressed by his play. Cannot believe that the oilers let him go but glad they did.
|