I'll take a ref monstrosity if the payout is a game we can all breathe a little easier with what we have in net.
Rittich was tracking extremely well and entertainingly engaged as we've come to love - as you said... FEISTY! But we can beat any team with goaltending like that. By the 3rd, I was back to feeling confident when the puck was in our zone and it felt pretty good!
Mangiapane was a bit of a bummer, but hopefully that's just his first swing at the top 6. Him and Czarnik are playing the kind of hockey we will need to get the top lines going again but that didn't seem to make a difference last night.
Not 100% sure what to think of the 1st line last night, as I don't normally like Tkachuk on that line... but the 2 biggest problems you point out (Gaudreau and Tkachuk) were playing some of their best hockey in a few games last. Tkachuk was definitely more engaged, but I think that has more to do with Vegas than his linemates.
Monahan though might be the biggest problem on that line right now despite Gaudreau and Tkachuk statistically more problematic. With what we saw last night, I wouldn't mind Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk but I don't know what works down the lineup for Monahan. He seemed a step behind a few times last night, and I think his play conflicting with Tkachuk's was the problem last night on that line. Monahan looked good in spurts, but seemed to have an issue finding his spot if I was to guess. Gaudreau and Tkachuk might be worth exploring a bit more though.
Defence was back to solid last night. I thought Gio was one of the bigger problems against Toronto, but he looked to be on his game again. Prout was good, and Brodie had a solid game with him as a pairing. Hopefully that combo sticks around, as Andersson's pugnacity on that line could bring a new element to that pairing Gio will thrive in.
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