So much to like from last night's game...
Yes, the injuries were unfortunate, and beating a depleted Jets team takes a little bit of the joy out of the win, but the important thing, IMO, is that the Flames didn't just win this series, they went out and won it decisively. They got better every game, and they exorcised some demons. They got the job done and got stronger and stronger doing it.
Loved the way they pushed the game forward last night - led by Bennett and Dube.
Loved the team defense, keeping the Jets to the perimeter, tons of examples of individuals busting their asses on the backcheck.
Watching Hanifin-Andersson was just a treat. They dominated. The entire D crew was really good. Yes, Gio struggled a bit, but 38 year old legs take a little longer to get into gear. Also, he has not experienced much personal success in the playoffs, so he has some personal challenges weighing him down. I fully expect him to get better with each game as we move forward.
Tip of the cap to Talbot. He wasn't tested a lot, and he didn't have to make too many 5 alarm saves, but he was square to the shooters the entire series, and he did his job flawlessly. That is exactly what you want from your goalie.
Still need this team to prove more to me, but they sure made a positive statement in games 3 and 4. Really looking forward to seeing if they can raise the bar further in the next round - and feeling a LOT better about their chances of doing so!
|