Quote:
Originally Posted by Caboose
Changing the topic a bit, but on a whim I checked faceoff numbers for the play-in so far. Most faceoffs won? Not-a-#1-centre Sean Monahan. He's gone an excellent 60% in the dot so far. Along with his boring 4 points, I've noticed some pretty decent defensive plays, breaking up entry passes and supporting down low.
I know he's not a sexy player, (stylistically that is...) and almost everything about him screams "boring," but he's an effective player that does do little things well. It bothers me when he gets a rough ride on this board. Is he the top 5, elite NHL centre that we all dream of? Nope. Is he a solid #1 NHL centre? Absolutely.
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My issue with Monahan and the top line is that they're not creating a damn thing five on five.
It's a really good sign that they've found their game defensively and are playing better five on five away from the puck. The issue is the offensive side.
Monahan for example has a xGA/60 of 1.37, which is stellar, he's third on the team.
But his xGF/60 is only 1.0, which is well behind every member of the second and third lines.
I'd like to think this is a step in the right direction. Quiet your zone, than start to learn how to counter on transition.