Quote:
Originally Posted by united
Sample size for evaluation is so important, especially when evaluating such a drastic tactical change. Hopefully a lesson learned for many.
|
Yup - and it wasn't just calling for his firing - people were being straight up childish with the name calling and criticism of GG without giving him a chance to prove himself.
It really was embarrassing the way people were acting on this one IMO.
In terms of looking at the season - I like breaking the season into three segments at this point.
Start of Season to Nov. 23rd (U.S. Thanksgiving)
27) 8-12-1 - Terrible start to the season and the team looked brutal. Goaltending wasn't good, team wasn't grasping the system, and GG had questionable lineup decisions.
Nov. 24rd to Jan. 25th (Montreal Game)
15) 16-12-2 - Team had actually already improved a lot going 16-8-2 (6th in the league in that time frame) up until the "pathetic" 4 game stretch where they went down 4-0 in each game. Johnson's goaltending really helped prop the team up, and Monahan & Gaudreau each had a hot streak in this time.
Jan 26 to Now
1) 12-2-1 - Best team in the NHL in this stretch, overall game is much improved, and on a 7 game winning streak. Defense pairs and forward lines have been stabilized with the new additions, goaltending is what we expected to get coming into the season.
So while people are focusing on this last 15 game stretch the team has actually been really good going back to US Thanksgiving, especially when you take out that 4 game stretch where nothing went right and they were down 4-0 each game.
Outside of that 4 game speed bump the team is 28-10-3 since U.S. Thanksgiving which is a remarkable .683 win percentage over a 41 game streatch.