Seems like our PK has been coming back to Earth the past week or two.
It's still very strong. I believe they gave up a 5v3 and a 4v3. The 5v4s continue to be great opportunities...for the Devils. I actually get excited for the PK--like I did when MadDog was in his prime.
Clarkson has found a way to pick up tons of garbage goals. Good for him, I still think his hockey IQ and skating sucks though. Also I liked the Zubrus goal from crashing the net: something I'd like to see more of.
The Spezza goal wasn't quite what I was expecting to see. Fayne and Tallinder weren't spaced and if they are going to be on the blue line right, they shouldn't be on it. Pretty poor D there. The SHG was brutal by everybody.
I was thinking "man, where has Clarkson disappeared in the past few games?" And in 5 seconds he scored and the commentators told about his 4 goals in 7 games or so.
How is it that we continue to run around in our own zone? It really seems like they have no clue where to go and once a breakdown occurs, someone is wide open for a layup. Usually its a backdoor play so the goalie has no chance. The PP is awful as well. Those are my big 2 issues with Pete. Neither have shown the slightest of improvements yet.
Being a bubble team sucks. Thats why I chuckle when people say we'll roll up the standings and when Pete says that we're a second half team and we'll start to get the wheels turning soon.
while you still may not want to watch the highlights, this goal in particular was not the type you are thinking of - this was a breakdown coming across our blue line. Farther out than the crease area where we usually blow the coverage.
so, does anyone know the records for SHG allowed in a season? we've allowed the same # of SHG as we have PPG. that is seriously mind boggling.
the next closest team (SHGA/PPGA ratio) is Montreal who have allowed 12 more PPG than SHG.
To make matters worse, we've been short-handed five more times than we've had the extra skater. So we've allowed proportionally *more* goals on our powerplay than when we've been killing a penalty.
Even dragged down by our woeful value of 6, the league average for the delta of PPG-SHGA is 21.
Maybe, when Volchenkov is returns, we should play our PP 4-on-4 and park A-Train on our own blue line
I wonder when teams will start intentionally taking penalties when playing against us?
I think it will lead to making things harder for the 5 on 5. Teams will start playing more aggressive and gung-ho in their style because they can always resort to a hook or just accepting a roughing because they are not at a disadvantage to do so. Hell, they are better off on the PK than the PP against NJ. This is something that needs correcting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Saugus
Unless something changes, we're going to break that dubious record. Our PP is historically bad and our PK is historically good. Makes no sense to me.
At some point you have to wonder if we'd be better off taking penalties than drawing them.
I would honestly consider declining it if we had the option.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richer's Ghost
while you still may not want to watch the highlights, this goal in particular was not the type you are thinking of - this was a breakdown coming across our blue line. Farther out than the crease area where we usually blow the coverage.
Ya I went back and saw em. Not what I was expecting to see. It looked like he got picked a little and didn't know where to go. Then an open guy flew by and had a breakaway, essentially. Meh, they should play deeper in their zone if that happens more often. I'm still unimpressed by the d zone work by the team. This is something that needs correcting.
To say Wednesday and Friday's games are huuuuuge is an understatement.
In fact, I have never remembered the standings being this close, this far into the season. We are an extended streak in either direction away from the top 4 or the bottom 4.
To say Wednesday and Friday's games are huuuuuge is an understatement.
In fact, I have never remembered the standings being this close, this far into the season. We are an extended streak in either direction away from the top 4 or the bottom 4.
Meh I think the winnipeg home and home are much more important in a week or so.
I'll take 3 points in the next 3 games. In my opinion, Boston and Pitt are better teams personnel and management standing
we are 7-3-1 in our last 11 and 9-4-1 in our last 14.
I'd say thats a positive streak.
True.
And the fact that we aren't the same team as in years past has soften the blow a little. We don't have that stellar goalie that can win games on his own anymore, our blueline blows and our PP is not getting any better with time.
Mix all of that together and you have a bubble team. I've come to realise that we'll be fighting for a playoff spot until those issues are rectified so going on a winning streak isn't something I'm expecting but the stats you pulled out are actually encouraging.
we are 7-3-1 in our last 11 and 9-4-1 in our last 14.
I'd say thats a positive streak.
But we're still marking time with regards to the rest of the pack. We need to break away, and cement ourselves into the upper echelon of teams. We're not nearly there yet.
But we're still marking time with regards to the rest of the pack. We need to break away, and cement ourselves into the upper echelon of teams. We're not nearly there yet.
That's because we are just not that good compared to the teams you are mentionning. We need a couple of upgrades at certain positions and if Lou doesn't get us those players, we'll be fighting for a playoff spot alongside 7 or 8 other teams who have the same issues as us.
The way I see it, you have the "locks", the "bubble teams" and the "celler dwellers". As of today, we're in the second group IMO, when in years past, we were in the first group.
