Ordinarily this is the kind of game where I would expect us to get trounced. Ottawa has lost 4 straight and we're the team that teams love to bust slumps against.
That said, I think Pommers 1000th game makes this special. And I think the guys respect and like Jason, and will come to play for him tonight.
Actually, statistically, he and Myers are pretty similar. The only difference is Myers is so injury prone. But they're basically 40 point, second pair, defensemen.
It was kinda the same thing with Myers. We all kept hoping he was going to come along, but in reality he was what he was and he hasn't gotten any better.
Risto is basically the same thing. I think what you see with him right now is all he'll ever be. Place him in the lineup accordingly.
Regehr and Myers were both average hockey players. Myers still is. So that point is a total loss.
And you know what, Beaulieu would probably have been the better choice last night over Risto.
None of that happens if:
A. Risto isn't on the ice in OT because he's not a goal scorer
B. Risto doesn't try to score a goal because he's not a goal scorer
There was no purpose to him carrying the puck all the way like he did. He completely blew that entire thing starting way back in his own in when he was just casually meandering up ice with no urgency. Instead of starting a breakout he just kinda fumbles around with the puck until he's covered too much ice to do anything other than carry the puck into the zone himself. You can literally watch the lightbulb go on in his head as he decides to skate it.
And when was the last time Risto did ANYTHING below the faceoff dots in the offensive zone that warranted him thinking that it was the place he needed to be in overtime?
So I blame Phil too because Risto doesn't belong out there.
The problem with blaming the roster depth is that it doesn't explain the extremely boneheaded plays Risto makes all on his lonesome. That's no one else's fault.
The middle two lines last night were essentially useless. Jack-Pommers-Skinner were effective, as were Berglund-Girgs-Larsson. But the middle six were just plain bad.
Here's Risto in a nutshell:
-Talented enough to eat big minutes
-Has not developed the offensive mind we had hoped for
He's not a goal scorer and he shouldn't be on the ice in situations where it is expected that defensemen will be scoring goals. Overtime is a perfect example. Risto doesn't belong there.
They were asking him if he felt like he played better than he did in "those other games" and he was basically like "I don't know where you guys get your opinions"
It is what it is. You won't hear it from me ever again. But I don't know what else to call Risto that accurately lends enough gravity to just how dumb he is.
They can be mad. It's probably the first time I've used that word in years. My Aunt has Downs and I don't care for it either. But holy cow, Risto is DUMB.