I forget the retired ref... Maybe Fraser... Who somewhat bemoaned the progression of hitting in the NHL from a player he cited, Craig Ramsay, with a modest jar along the boards designed to free the puck, to Scott Stevens the headhunter.
Is there a working definition of "hit" that teams use? NYI are notorious for seemingly overcounting, but maybe they have a different standard.
In reality there are hundreds of points of physical contact during a game. OTOH you don't want to count only the open ice boomers.
In addition to Taro's theories for the letdown I have to wonder how many of the boyeeees were at the Bills game. Not suggesting that they overindulged in anything (beer, unhealthy food etc.), but if they sat in the elements that might have turned out to be no bueño even for young dudes.