Well I think the problem there is that a lot of people just refuse to give the team any sort of credit. We definitely are rusty, not sharp, and missing a few pieces. People just seem to forget there is still a lot of talent on this team, not to mention it is in a good system with great heart and work ethic. We never were the New Jersey Parise & Friends despite what ESPN and the main board likes to think. I just get annoyed because some of the stuff being posted on here is stuff I expect out of the main board, not this one.
Well the reason I have a hard time giving them credit is because I look at the forward lineup we brought into the finals last year:
Parise-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Elias-Henrique-Zubrus
Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Then look at tonight's lineup:
Matteau-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Zubrus-Elias-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Barch-Josefson-Anderson
I cringe when I see each line step on the ice. Yet for some ridiculous reason (probably Marty and Moose), the team is doing quite well. Zidlicky and Greene have been shaky. Tallinder and Volchenkov look really slow. Larsson is in the press box. Our most productive offensive prospect is being passed over consistently (Butler).
I get it. We aren't replacing Parise. I don't expect that to happen. Plus we are missing one of our best forwards with Henrique. Here's the lineup I see:
???????-Zajac-Kovalchuk
Elias-Henrique-???????
Zubrus-Josefson-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier
Barch (MUCH better than Janssen)
So who fills those holes? Butler can be one. If the lineup is as deep as it could be, there's less pressure on him. Pittsburgh looked terrible tonight... but there's a stretch where the Devs play them three times in two weeks. I just personally don't feel like the team is prepared to face Pittsburgh and the Rangers.