Its game like this that make me think Matt Bradley was spot on. Semin looks like he could care less about playing this game. Schultz and Collins combo look sloppy. And for the love of god...why is Knuble playing LW??? Semin was a natural LW, he should play on that side. Knuble can never handle the puck on his off wing.
Singling out Semin? Really? The guy who had two pretty damn good backchecks to save scoring opportunities? At least one caused by sloppy passing from the D?
And for the love of god...why is Knuble playing LW??? Semin was a natural LW, he should play on that side. Knuble can never handle the puck on his off wing.
Why put out Hendricks & Perreault at 4-on-4 and keep them out for a defensive zone draw?
Some bad, bad goals given up so far. Pretty much the worst type of goals you can give up really with the exclusion of a shorty. Terrible blunder by the goalie that leads directly to a goal, check. Horrendous defensive positioning on the first pp goal, check. Terrible penalty late in the period that lead to a pp goal, check. The only thing missing to complete the four pillars of horrendous goals allowed was an own goal.
They gotta out and out work these guys the next 2 periods. Cut down the turnovers in the defensive zone. And stay out of the ******* box. Hope Greenie comes back quick cause that Collins-schutz paring is giving me stomach pains already
Two gripes:
-I hate the reliance on the boards in the D-zone and its been like that for years now. Teams simply take the boards away and keep us in our own zone, Pitt generally does this well.
-The offense since last year has been virtually one-and-down with no sustained pressure.
When you use guys like Semin and Ovi as Snipers you play them on the LW. When you use them as danglers you play them on the right (keeps stick towards the boards and away from the denfender). I think BB likes Semin working his way back towards the middle off the right boards with that curl and drag that he's fond of.
I get that but he is making Knuble a liability on the ice. He constantly is giving up the puck on his side. Not worth it IMO.
I appreciate your optimism. But.....maybe against a team like the Islanders, but frankly the caps were dominated that period. I say this game could get ugly from here out.
Also, to continue on with my terrible goals allowed theme, the penalty that led to the last goal of the period was taken in the offensive zone :-/. Very, tremendously, stupendously not good hockey thus far.
I appreciate your optimism. But.....maybe against a team like the Islanders, but frankly the caps were dominated that period. I say this game could get ugly from here out.
Good, turn off the tv and computer and go to sleep.
