Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesrule14
Really like what I'm seeing from Monahan the last few games. You can tell when he's feeling it cause he drives the net more and uses his shot. Gaudreau still struggling for the most part. Little better tonight though. Bennett just has no confidence right now. Thought he was decent the first two periods, but then in the 3rd takes two penalties and that's all everyone remembers. Just needs a game so badly to break out and pot a couple to get him going a bit. Hope it comes soon.
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Just building off of what you said; you mentioned all the players I was going to give my take on. There's a quote in the Neal sniper article on Player's Tribune that I was reminded of, concerning Monahan's change in attitude along with the recent goal streak. (I quote Player's Tribune articles ad nauseum, btw)
Quote:
"So much of scoring goals is confidence. If you shoot a puck and you don’t believe it’s going in, it’s not going in, buddy. I’d say the toughest part about being a goal-scoring winger is that when you go through a slump, it’s pretty brutal.
"Hockey is really unique in that respect. You could be having the worst game ever, but if a shot deflects in off your shin guard, your whole mood changes. You get instant confidence. When you’re in a drought, it feels like there’s a forcefield over the net."
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You're seeing it right now with Monahan, just as you said - he's shooting more and trying to get into those scoring areas. He's got the hot stick. And not all the goals are dazzling pretty, but they don't have to be. They just gotta go in.
Johnny and Bennett I feel are experiencing some of this "forcefield" frustration. They just gotta wait patiently. Hockey things will happen... a shot will bounce in off Sam's butt. A puck will tick off Johnny's blade into the net when he wasn't sure where it was (like his 1st NHL goal) Once this happens, it'll be a slow trickle and then the floodgates will crash open.
Sam is basically the last guy on the team to find himself... just nothing is going right for him. Bad penalties, tripping himself on his skates, bad plays with the puck. I think 1 game in the pressbox will do him wonders. Not because I view it as punishment, but sometimes all a young slumping player needs is to calm down, a big step back (above) and to view the game as a scholar without the pressure of in-game mistakes. Freddie Hamilton had a great night, while Ferland and Hathaway are still both DTD. Stajan can move up a line and we shouldn't miss a beat.