And i will throw my 2 cents in about Appleton, he is a good skater but is a 4th line hockey player at best, he doesn't have much scoring touch or offensive ability. If we are completely healthy he should be on the 4th line and Iafallo should be on the 3rd with Lowry and Neo.
Apples is really struggling at the moment. Seeing his work live last night was an eye opener, and many in our section were talking about it - he was a liability. Plays literally died on his stick. Fanned shots, turnovers, lots of physical stuff where he was bulldozed - he did not give anywhere close to his best game (to be fair). Having said all that, he has routinely and often played much better... and is obviously going through a phase of terrible hockey.
Bottom line, he needs to rediscover his best play. That means far, far better possession and zero turnovers. I hate to say it but last night he sucked, and is capable of a much better level. When he is playing his best, he fits the 3rd line, and contributes by either giving good puck support or slowing down the other side. He's fallen off of that level for a while now.
Perhaps he is playing with an nagging injury?
My 0.02
The positives?
There are many, last nights game was simply that of a good team who ran into a hot goalie, and some obvious calls missed (the hold on Lowry later in the game was the most blatant example of missed call). But thats hockey.