Couple mistakes, special teams, and lack of execution again on shots and passes were enough to lose this game.
Classic Avs loss. They’re the better team, but they just let the opposition stay in the game by not having enough killer instinct, and the other team shows them what killer instinct looks like by beating them. They work hard, play great fundamental hockey, and dominate in the O zone for most of the night, but just can’t execute on their shots.
It’s like they put all their effort and focus into all the details of their game, but then when they get a scoring chance, or go to shoot the puck, they relax thinking the pucks just gonna go in by itself because they’re the better team. No you gotta finish off the play. Look at how Kane tried to fire the puck through the net on the GWG.
Annunen played great for 99.9% of the game, but played that first goal terribly. He was so deep in his net with holes everywhere, he looked like a shooter tutor. Way too easy to score there.
Then Nate for some reason in OT decides to leave his man Kane to cover Larkin who Toews clearly had. Not sure what he was thinking there.
Both the PK and PP have been letting the team down big time lately. So strange. Both units are capable of being outstanding, and have been outstanding this year, but they’re so inconsistent. Especially the PP, it’s always been like that with the guys they have. They’ve got to get more traffic and bear down on their shots, because they shouldn’t be missing on so many chances.
Man that OT goal would have been sweet by Byram. He was flying too at 24 mph. Hopefully that settles whether he’s a good skater or not. He just doesn’t always play at that pace, he likes to slow the game down. Thought he played another outstanding game. Lots of great subtle defensive plays and good gaps.