Random thoughts:
Gaudreau should have changed when they were hemmed in their own zone in the first. With no stick and he was probably 15 feet from the bench. Ends up in our net
Neal started to get some SOG but he seems pretty meh when he’s not scoring. Flubbed at least a few passes, including the one on the PP that ended up in our net
I think Dube-Ryan-Neal have potential... Dube brings speed, Neal is the shooter, and Ryan is strong on the dot and plays a smart game on both ends of the ice. Might have to make a change if they can’t get Neal going though...
Love being able to throw out Bennett-Janko-Frolik as a “fourth” line. If they can chip in some offence that’s basically another third line in your bottom six.
PP lost us the game on Wednesday; it won us the game tonight. Kept the zone entries simple and Johnny was doing Johnny things. Don’t remember seeing a cross-ice PP goal last year and tonight we get two. Eff you Dave Cameron.
The defensive zone lapses will kill this team. Vancouver hits the post immediately after the 5-4 goal, and then Smith has to make a huge glove save after another scramble in our end. Hope they can figure it out until Hamonic gets healthy... Stone and Prout are okay as a 5 and a 7 but not ideal as a 4 and a 6 against a quick team like Vancouver.
Chucky with four assists, one goal (disallowed, which was BS IMO), 2 PIM (based on reputation — weak), one drawn penalty, and one shot block late in the third (off his shoulder — tough SOB didn’t even leave the ice). Suck it Canucks.
Not sure what to make of the reffing. Pretty questionable penalties, one while on the PK (on Stone to put us 5-3), and the one on Tkachuk when we were on the PP to even it up. Didn’t like either.