PerreaultForever

We only win this game if we have amazing goaltending. Both teams are fast, both can score, but they are more tenacious, more experienced, play better team defense and are much better in front of the net (both ways). We are however, good enough lately that if they are not at their best and we are we could make it close or pull an upset.

Allstar games have always been BS and are still BS. Dahlin isn't the only one who should be in it but isn't. It doesn't matter though.

I said it doesn't matter. The sentiment is what matters. I also like the "Earn It" thing referenced in the top quoted article here on the site. I stick with what I said. I think this means Dahlin will sign a big/long extension and will be named captain for next season.

A lot of guys on that team are simply fast and fluid skaters. They exert less effort and energy maintaining high speed compared to some other teams/players. We have some guys like that too.

It doesn't matter, but I don't think he actually wrote that. The english is too fluid and smooth but again, it doesn't matter. It's a nice letter. I wonder if this is a prelude to him being signed to a long term extension and then being named captain next season.

All 3 of those guys did AHL time first though. It's an important step imo.

Lindholm and Ullmark have been extremely good for the bruins and they have ridden that to their early success. They are really missing DeBrusk and Taylor Hall has reverted to the Taylor Hall we saw here so they were scoring on 3 lines early, but now it's all about Pasternak and the usual old guard again which is making them more ordinary and they definitely have cracks.

I could be wrong, but isn't this the last year for Savoie in junior?

But he's better than a Beauvilier so they have gotten better than they were. Horvat's playing for a contract too so he will be motivated to show he has it no matter where he plays.

they don't tell you much truth these days but I'd guess Thompson has bruised ribs from a hit he took, Cozens got his bell rung and has a mild concussion, and Samuelsson either has a bruise from a blocked shot or s muscle pull. Nothing serious for any of them. But it's a guess. Maybe not as hard, but he's developed great vision and accuracy this year. Picking the open holes frequently. He's got more of that in tight skill than VO.

I'm surprised they made that deal (unless they already have an extension worked out) just for a shot at making the playoffs this year. Ownership must really want a playoff spot in that new arena or something. Deal is about what I'd have expected. It does make it harder on the Sabres to make it this year though.

That's true, the Canes can play the speed game we play (they thrive on it) but with more added tenacity and experienced skill. They have better 2 way players as well. Our shot would be a mismatch in styles and obviously some luck. I just kind of figure if we sneak in we'd be at the bottom and thus play the Bruins.

Vegas got that early taste of huge success and it went to their heads imo. They believed they could buy/add the missing pieces quickly and take it over the top. In their minds adding an Eichel for a mid level player for them (Tuch), a propsect who hadn't proven himself yet (Krebs) and a few future picks seemed like a no brainer upgrade and on paper I guess it was. They didn't consider chemistry and character though. If they had, they wouldn't have dumped the very popular Fluery for the nutjob Lehner to start.

I agree, team chemistry is important and this team has developed some bonds. idk if they can "go pretty far" but I could see them pulling a first round upset against the Bruins with their speed. If we make the playoffs, Granato needs to watch and copy the Carolina game from today. Old Bruins are hopeless against that sort of tenacious speed.

Bruins having problems with speedy teams. You know, if we do manage to squeak into the playoffs we could potentially upset them. It would probably depend on Ullmark.

I suppose it is, but it also speaks to just how good Stone is in comparison. Stone's more of a leader and he elevates the players around him more. Eichel's just not that guy.

I think it's the Mark Stone injury that seems to have hit them hardest. He's the key to that team, not Eichel.

Aside from hits that was a pretty even game that could have gone either way. UPL obviously attended the Robyn Lehner School For Shoot Outs but what can you do. Win in regulation next time. This road trip could have ended the season if it went badly. Instead, they are right in the heart of the wild card battle. That's pretty darn impressive.

Sid and Ovie are a step behind them in talent, but what they both have is an incredibly strong work ethic and compete level and that elevates the team around them. When your stars put in extra effort and hard work generally you feel the need to do the same and so their teams are led well. That's not Jack. Mario was a dominant force without doubt. Am I the only one that has occasionally seen Mario like plays from our own Tage Thompson this year? Maybe he will end up being more "generational" than old Jacky boy.

In my opinion it's not really about Jack not living up to the generational label. It's not about his points production. It's not about his injuries. It's not even about his comparisons to McDavid. It's about his attitude, how he conducts himself, his personality and his lack of leadership. He got a lot of slack for being a "young man" and "immature" and all that but the dude is now old enough and should be smarter (even if it's fake) but he hasn't changed much at all. Guy has an ego bigger than the building but doesn't have a work ethic to match it. Has he ever taken on the burden of responsibility? If so it's rare. Even in this Cassidy situation he puts the blame on the team as a whole and not on himself. The real great ones always take the blame and spread the credit out, and that's not Jack. The snipe at Buffalo fans last year was just a flagrant example of his personality coming out. The man is, simply put, unlikeable.

idk about "scary good" but they are certainly taking great strides forward. A number of players coming into their own at the same time and some solid continuity as a result. It's taken a while but they are playing as a unit now. Good communication all around. It's a huge difference and so it isn't making any difference facing starting goalies, they can still score and they can still possess the puck and they are hard to defend against. I think we will likely still struggle against the physical grinders but maybe we can beat them with speed. Hard to say at this point. We will be "scary good" when we can beat (and beat up) Tampa. When we run their goalie instead of them running ours.

Fight night in Minnesota with the Flyers.

They dominated for quite a while. Very impressive. If they knew how to defend better, this wouldn't have been as close as it was but who cares, they showed they can in fact win without Mule. Power developing and gaining his confidence much faster than I thought he would. he is going to be a force.

Forget the Islanders. 3 pts behind Washington with 3 games in hand.

I think Jost was simply a good fit for the spot they put him in. He has the speed to flow with his two linemates but he also brought a little better 2 way play from what he learned on his previous clubs and that complemented the line well. Sometimes the expectations on a player are too high and he was expected to be an offensive talent when he was drafted. Now the bar was lowered substantially and he got the chance to be a serviceable 3C until we can upgrade with Savoie or whoever. At this point I would re-sign him but on a low end contract.