The fact is (and I know some people don’t like this) that these three games are just as valuable as the last three games. Checks cash just the same for the points we earn now as opposed to later. We finished hot last year and everyone talks about that (and rightly so, it was a fun ride), but that only happens because we start 4-0-1. Start 2-2-1 and last year’s second half run comes up short.
Plus, it’s against good teams. It may actually play to our advantage that we get games against good teams like Washington and Tampa out of the way early while everyone’s still finding their systems and shaking the rust off. Evens the playing field - something you’d much prefer against a Tampa than, say, an Ottawa.
