This team feels like the Covid season when everyone was saying wait until they play Ottawa. Then before they played Ottawa everyone was saying oh no Ottawa is playing better. Turned out it didn’t matter as they were mediocre that year until it didn’t matter then they were garbage.
This feels exactly the same. Sure strength of schedule matters, but if you want to be a contender it shouldn’t matter that much. If you want to be one of the best you should be able to beat the majority of the teams. If you have to wait to inprove your record by playing bottom of the league, then you are mediocre.
Something is missing with this team, not sure what but something is. They don’t have anyone to take over a game but you can’t just go out and get those guys. This team plays slow and disorganized. They very rarely have a nice rush up ice that results in sustained pressure. Something is off but they should be better, much like the Covid year.
If they make the playoffs it will be barely and they don’t seem like they will have much of a fight in it. Just feels like if they make it, will be another 5-6 game 1st round loss. Not much faith in this group right now. Hope they pull out of it but doubt a Phillips or anyone in their system will move the needle enough, they just don’t seem to have “it”.
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