Yeah, I'm not seeing the energy, enthusiasm, and belief required to turn things around in a 17 game window and a series plus beyond that.
We've seen one 7 game stretch of 60 some odd games where they looked like they had some sort of consistent belief happening, where they didn't need to play perfect hockey to make the clutch plays at the important times and come out with the win. I think it's the fact that they're approaching it like they need to play a perfect game from start to finish just to squeak out a win. That certainly wasn't the case during their streak though. Their sense of belief and confidence was high, which resulted in being opportunistic when it was needed. I think that's sometimes just as important if not more so than playing a perfect game by the coach's book. We've seen by now just how much winning the advanced stats game does for you at the end of the night and in the standings.
These guys look frustrated, they have a 'victim' mentality going on starting with the coach, and they looked starved of creativity in part due to this box of a system that they're playing within and they're hanging their heads as soon as a couple bad goals go in, even if they're still fully in a game!
They've got to focus on what's in their control, shift by shift. Win a shift, make something happen, then win the next one, and that will lead to goals on its own. A ref going on a vendetta to prove himself isn't something they have any control over. When those things happen they're putting their energy into frustration rather than greater focus, and GG would do well to set an example for that. (although yes, last game was rubbish from the officials)
It's not about the numbers, cause they're only a point back and well within reach, but just seeing the overall vibe emanating from that bench, it doesn't look like they're primed to suddenly start playing their best hockey of the season.
I've seen stranger things happen, but damn it's hard to think that this is one of those times. I guess we'll see how much the last game ruffled their feathers and will rally them. If that game didn't do it for them though, then I'm not sure anything this season will.
Last edited by djsFlames; 03-02-2018 at 03:37 PM.
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