[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Entertaining game.

Ruzicka looks like the fit the top line needed. He is playing with more confidence in his physical stature and skill set. He has confidence with his puck carrying and his willingness to go to the net. He made some really good plays to keep the puck on the zone as well. Also unsaid has been his speed. He doesn’t look slow for a 6’4 225 pounder. If he can keep this up we may have a player. I recall at one time he was ranked in the first round but we got him in the fourth. His size and offensive ability are super tantalizing tantamount to another great job by our scouting staff. PS he looks like a bad ass with that red eye of his. Red eye ruzicka… wasn’t the ruzicka of the 90s nickname “rosy”? We have our own it seems.

Lindy looks to be coming online. Perhaps it has to do with his wife expecting a baby? It’s like they are human beings and their personal lives affect their play? He looks a lot better. Him and toffoli look to be synergizing and ruzicka is a good compliment.

Toffoli is a gamer. I knew those missed empty nets killed him but he really is a good shooter. I’m still on my prediction of him scoring 35 plus.

I just don’t think hubby works on that line due to whatever nuance I’m missing. I did see him gel a little better with backs though. Perhaps it’s as simple as rhs vs lhs? I know people mused about that being an adjustment Jeanny L’hockey had to make. That might be the best assessment since he looked to find backs for a couple prime chances that were either deflected or saved.

Jeanny L’hockey is a solid player. He played well and he’s so nice to have on our pp. his poise and passing makes us a threat much more so. I’m happy he scored. The pseudo shot fake really fooled Quick.

Backlund is poised for a bigger offensive year with hubby on his wing. He should be our captain.

Mangiapane getting one was nice. He has been a bit like a yo yo but he played chippy. I think that’s how he needs to play to get himself in the vein of the game. He was throwing hits and bumping guys after the whistle. Last year I noticed how he would challenge bigger player during the play and after the whistle while not taking penalties. For a little guy he has a lot of grit. Dube is similar but he did look better at center.

Dube will be fine. He’s just snake bit and I think he’s a natural center.

Ritchie is really impressing this year. For a league minimum contract he sure is proving a shrewd retention. His hits are thunderous. He plays straight ahead and his goonish tendencies are waning as he gains more confidence. Him and zadorov are really giving this team the thump that brings fans out of their seats and fwds and defenders a reason to look over their shoulders.

Ras and hanifin I’m thinking are happy Tanev is back. Hanifin is talented but he doesn’t look assertive or ahead of the play. It’s hard to forget he’s about to turn 25 with all the miles on his skates. Ras looks like he is still young and makes mistakes when opposing forcheckers turn up the pace on him. They both are good two way dman and still have room for growth.

Tanev. What more can I say about that guy? He is an elite number two dman. I like weegar with him. They interchange well in their own zone. Aside from some bad luck last night that pair was smothering. Tanev should be an all star. He is so good at disrupting high speed and skill nhl level forwards. No doubt that series vs the coilers would have been different had he not been gruesomely injured. He also slots our other d quite well. Kyllimgtons speed and skating coupled with him sure was a nice way to transition to offence but weegar looks more sturdy beside him in the d zone.

Zadorov is such a punishing player. He also could stand to punish himself a bit more for his dzone play at times. He can get panicky and myopic with his clearing attempts. But his physical play is a dimension that outweighs his gaffs. He did start this year better than he started last year and we know how he evolved later as the year progressed. Perhaps he can keep evolving, Pokémon style. He also needs a partner that can compliment him. Gudbranson did by being tough and safe himself. Stone looked to replicate that as well. Desimone doesn’t quite pass the eye test. Mackey still looks unconfident.

Marky is still fighting consistency demons but that save he made to secure the win proves he’s a gamer. Quibbling and mewling about some bad bounces and his positioning is what fans do. That guy is a pro. He will figure it out. And I think a lot of the criticism against him should be levied at the team in front of him being scrambly and not being more secure themselves. They over commit and look out of sorts many times this year. It’s gonna happen with so many moving parts. Thus, it’s not all on marky. It’s a long season and as long as he keeps them competitive I think the flames will use the fodder from these first two months as teaching tools.

What was the stat they shared on the broadcast about six goal games last year? This was our first this year and we had like 12 last year? Man did I pick the wrong year to say they would under achieve offensively. Lol it was a good natured bet and that money went to good causes. But what’s the over under on this teams goal totals? I doubt they score six in as many games but maybe they will do it despite me. So I’m saying the score 6 in less than 13 games. And I say they score less than 220.

And LA is a decent team. They took Edmonton to the brink last year. Something we couldn’t do. Kopitar is a stud. Give any pro that much room and time they will make you pay. That move by kempe fooled the in-zone coverage pretty good too. Plus, the shot was post and in. Pretty small margins to say marky should have had that. Any of you mewling ever play goal? It’s rough at times. Deflections, seeing eye shots, tic tac toes. Some of y’all expect perfection and it shows. Perfection is impossible. Consistency is king.

GFG