Reasons why this team is good:
1) Sit in 2nd place overall
2) 2nd best goal differential
3) 3rd most goals scored in the NHL (just a goal shy of 2nd overall)
4) 10th best goals against
5) 9th overall in PP%
6) 3rd best FO%
7) 3rd in Shots Against
8) 12th in shots for
These are elite numbers any which way you want to look at them. IMO, they just need to tighten up on their PK (which I find is usually pretty good - must have had a bit of a skewed set of games earlier on that I am forgetting about, and that Pittsburgh game). All this while having Smith a bit shaky in net for a long spell this season, and Rittich having a shorter shaky streak not long ago.
These are numbers that a bona fide cup contender usually have. Smith has looked really decent for a stretch now (exceptional at times even) and Rittich seems to be getting out of his short-lived funk too, so I think these numbers will only climb. Looking forward to an easier schedule and hopefully seeing everything improve, as I can imagine their numbers took a bit of a hit this month with all their travel.
This is not a good year. This is a really, really great year.
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