I thought Backlund was the best player on the ice tonight. Just continuous good plays all night, and with speed.
I don't think there was a single passenger tonight. I can't point at a single player as having had a bad game tonight. That's great to see.
Bennett is looking more comfortable out there and showing flashes. I like the speed he brings to that line on top of his physicality. I think he is working out. Just keep him on that line and see where it goes.
Nesterov rarely gets a mention. I noticed Ball and Hrudey talking about him today and how he looks like such a pro out there - he does! He really seems like the perfect partner for Valimaki - he is smart, he is solid offensively and defensively, and he allows Valimaki to take more chances out there. Now this isn't a direct player comparison, but when I was watching them tonight, I thought: "Nesterov is to Valimaki what Hamrlik was to Phaneuf". I think he has been a really complimentary partner to Valimaki. I really had my doubts about Nesterov at first, and felt that perhaps this was another unnecessary roadblock to Kylington, but nope.. Nesterov is a legitimately good D without any warts to his game that I can see. He is a complete defencemen out there, and as the games go by, he is looking better and better.
Great to see a strong game from start to finish. If they play this way, they will quickly climb up the rankings in no time.
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