Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyB
Pretty questionable that the play on the losing goal was Johnny's fault. Unquestionable that the previous series winning goal was Johnny's fault.
You say there's lots of these guys in the league, but how many really, and how many of those are available? He's actually a very rare player. I agree that it's not an at-any-cost situation, but he's probably not replaceable.
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Here's the link, and here's how I'd describe the whole thing. And it's a micro-cosm look at why the Flames lost the series, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGrfP1UZnjk
Hanifin makes a limp-noodle pass up the boards, Draisaitl intercepts it. A better harder pass maybe makes it past Draisaitl, and maybe Gaudreau can scamper with it. But you can see as Draisaitl gets the puck, Johnny veers off to his right. This choice is made as Draisaitl is getting to the puck. Johnny just leaves. Lindholm is in no-man's land, heads to Draisaitl, and realizes to late he's left McDavid open - he makes a step or two in that direction, but it's too late. McDavid has shot (a very good shot) and scored. Markstrom does not stop it.
So, who is "at fault"? 4 guys didn't make a play. Hanifin not strong enough in the corner, Gaudreau just chooses not to engage at all, doesn't have ANY effect on the play. None. Except to let Draisaitl make his pass unimpeded. Lindholm isn't effective because he can't get back to McDavid. And Markstrom doesn't make the save (again, this was a hell of a good shot).
So in the mess, there's a lot of "this guy didn't". But to my eye, Gaudreau, with the season on the line, chose to do nothing, just hang out high in case a puck showed up? I dunno. But he sure didn't close a gap, get a stick in, or hit a guy. Nothing.
Buncha guys didn't make perfect plays. Gaudreau made no attempt at a play. And that's the end of the season.