Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
This team's core and leadership group, that has been around 5 or so years, seems to have what you could compare to something like the putting or chipping yips in particular situations on the ice. Beginning of seasons, beginning of games, key games, powerplay, Anaheim - there seems to be a mental barrier that emanates from the core group to the team as a whole. The patterns are so seemingly consistent that it's hard to ignore despite different coaching staffs, turnover in the non-core players. That core group of Gio, Brodie, Monahan, Backlund, Gaudreau have been the common denominators and leadership group of the team. They are all really good players, but are they in the right frame of mind for those situations, and are they helpful leaders in getting the team as a whole in the right frame of mind.
I'm trying to explain these trends in my mind, and this is the only thing that's making sense.
|
I believe that the biggest mental block that most of the young core struggle with is from the goaltending this team has suffered during the rebuild. This includes Smith. I know he had a good start to the season last year but from mid-December on (even before he got hurt), he was not good.
All these guys have experienced in the NHL is their goalies being a weakness rather than a strength. One of the biggest common denominators of this team over the past 4 to 5 years is being the better team/carrying the play to start the game and their goalie lets in the first goal. It’s happened so many times it’s frustrating as a fan. This happened under MacDonald, hiller, ramo, elliott, and now smith. Not once for a full season during this rebuild has the starting goalie been anything close to an MVP for the team.
It must be even more frustrating as a player. It makes it so difficult to build momentum or to feel comfortable in the game. Even when you have a lead, it’s not safe because the goalies have constantly let in a goal that completely saps any momentum. For example, when the flames scored to make it 3-1 and then the canucks made it 4-1 almost immediately after that.
It’s why this team has a pattern of playing nervous/scared. I don’t know what the solution is because it’s a combination of having better goaltending and also breaking that nervous feeling the players and fans get from their goaltending.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk