K-9

I suspect Asplund gets inserted and somebody else gets a bump up the lineup. Vinnie gets called up. But there ain’t no replacing Tuch, that’s for damn sure.

I certainly hope you’re right, but this kid has been fooled too many times this season by thinking the youngest team in the league has finally learned some lessons about managing success, especially at home. Don’t get me wrong, the FLA sweep was huge, especially last night’s game and what winning it meant in the standings. And we all need to feel great about that as we should. But it was just the start of something and I will need to see that they understand that and tomorrow will be very telling in that regard, imo.

It’s not about fearing the Caps or whether the Caps are gassed after playing today. It could be any opponent and I’d still think tomorrow would be the biggest teat of the year. It’s strictly about how we respond to the challenge of being home after a successful road trip that saw us move into a playoff spot. And I think that response largely depends on how they’re “preparing” on a day off. My concern is that they’re thinking they actually accomplished something last night vs. the realization that last night was strictly the beginning of getting something accomplished. Will last night serve to fuel higher aspirations or are they satisfied? Given how often we’ve fallen flat after successful outings this year, especially at home, I think my concern is valid. Young teams need to learn to manage success every bit as much as failure. Perhaps even more.

Agree entirely. Which is why I think KA and Co. will hold on to all three 2022 1st round picks.

Except it’s not hockey. It’s cheap shot bullcrap born out of frustration and has no place in the game. None.

I say this because we are a young team coming off a sweep of the always very difficult FLA hitch and coming home with a day off today. I wonder where their collective psyche is as they are doing their own thing this afternoon and evening. Are they hungry, focused, and determined to make a statement after getting killed 18-6 in their last three at home? Or are they looking at the standings and thinking they actually accomplished something last night? Will it be yet another home game let down or an emphatic announcement that we intend to stay in a playoff position and continue to move up in the standings? Will they punch a struggling opponent that must win in the mouth or let them off the hook? We haven’t had a game in this type of situation for a long time.

It seems teams have decided that the best way to defend our PP is quick pressure on Dahlin, Tage, and whomever is on the other half wall, frequently leaving the middle of the house wide open. That play is there to be made and it was great to see Power take advantage of it. We need to see that more often. We all need more Sofia Vergara.

That was a reference to the Jets game on 1/26, not last night’s game.

If we are, then that most likely means something great happened so I hope that’s the case.

The 2nd period (I think it was the 2nd) of that game was probably our best period of hockey since the Briere/Drury days. It was stunning and coming against a good team made it all the better.

Verhage is a dead man.

Darn.

Mitts will make waves making winning more wondrous.

While this won’t be a popular post, it’s perfectly understandable given the inconsistency this team has displayed all season long. They are just as capable of rising to the big moments as they are of being crushed by them. Tonight is a golden opportunity for this team to serve notice and convert some doubters.

It was one of those Stockholm games where Kucherov basically ended Sobotka’s career, too.

I don’t think it’s that so much as he does have the chops to play at a high level. But he’s always been kinda streaky and can go several games without a point and then explode for a few games. Other guys on that list produce game in and game out for the most part.

Yeah, we caught Vasilevsky on a rare off night I think.

They’ve been dirty for a while now.

Need to get VO off the Cozens line. Peterka, too. Poor Cozens has been saddled with two rookies most of the season only to inherit VO. Not sure Donny Meatballs has many options though.

No need to apologize. Look at it like one in the bank for the next time I rip on Mitts for something he did wrong. And make no mistake, I will be ripping him about something, that’s for sure. He’s like clockwork.

Huh? I haven’t blamed Mitts for anything in a while now. Not saying I couldn’t have, I’m just worn out from doing it so often earlier on.

Duffer just made a great point. If not for the penalty, then Boosh never would have been on the ice. It was meant to be.

We’re not even moaning and groaning yet.

He deserves a stick in his eye socket and out of the back of his head. One of the dirtiest players in recent memory.