Best about this game (besides the result) was how physically we played and stood up them. In sweeping us last year they regularly bullied us. Our team looks much more rugged in the early going. Even Hamilton is throwing his body around.
We played more low in their zone, showed ourselves willing to play more of a cycle and possession game than we had last year. Were better in center ice, contesting territory and puck possession. Didn’t get pinned in for such long periods.
This was a big win even early. Washington is a team we need to beat to make the playoffs. It’s crazy that our schedule has us playing them 4 times before the end of November. Plus defending a 3d period lead was big as something we need to do well this year.