Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
WADR, I think you are seeing things. Monahan has fired a few great shots that have been stopped over the past few games. There have been a lot of sticks on his shots though. I think the first line is just being checked really hard these days. They will have to find a way to break through it.
I do worry about Tkachuk on the line, because Lindholm was the defensive stalwart (with speed to get back to the offence as well). Tkachuk isn't that good defensively, and he's not fast.
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That is likely the answer, but he's consistently not putting much on net lately. His last game with over 2 SOG was Feb 9, and he was pretty reliably shooting 3-5 most of the season. Even at that (true, I could be seeing things differently) he doesn't seem to be very dangerous out there lately. That stretch also includes Florida, Ottawa and Arizona who you'd hope the 1st line could overcome.
Better defending or entirely due to Gaudreau's struggles, but it feels enough like the way Monahan struggled last season to at least be a little worried that he's banged up again.
You can slash the glove right off a guy or break a guys wrist in this league and get away with it. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been tagged a few times.