Strange game. Was almost an exact reversal of the Nashville game - where we badly outplayed the Predators for 35 minutes and then lost - until the last 10 minutes got weird.
Defensively absolutely horrible for the first 30 minutes. A repeat of the Seattle game in that respect, which they also won - bizarre that this team has won their two worst 40-minute performances this year and lost their 5 best.
- Horvat is doing his best to put the team on his back. He's obviously on a scoring streak but is also playing some of the best two-way hockey of his career. Worked his ass off in this game.
- much better performance for Garland also, looked lively, created ES offense.
- Podkolzin continues to struggle badly. Rough night despite both his linemates playing well. Mental mistakes keep happening. Hard to believe this is the same player who was breaking out at the end of last season.
- Pettersson line was fairly quiet, but Pettersson still picked up a couple points which is the mark of a top player. Kuzmenko had I thought his weakest game of the year. Mikheyev continues to be a solid pickup - now 8 points, +8 in his last 8 games.
- Miller line looked slow and struggled defensively. Looks like Boeser has now had his goal taken away and awarded to OEL.
- Studnicka played his best game. Doesn't look like he'll make a huge impact but unlike the 'Benning age gap' guys he looks like a guy whose skillset fits a depth role. Skates well, works hard, looks well-coached. If he keeps this up he'll be a useful depth player.
- Tyler Myers. FML. Playing even worse than he did in the bubble. Just atrocious. Could have been directly responsible for 4 or 5 goals tonight but Martin saved his ass constantly.
- Ethan Bear played probably his worst game so far but it still wasn't bad, and Rathbone isn't easy to play with.
- Rathbone ... man. You want him to play but then you understand when he's scratched. He's better than Stillman, but for a skill defender he panics far too easily with the puck on his stick in his own zone. Not composed when facing a forecheck.
- thought Schenn was our best defender and was the one guy holding things together. Did some very good PK work. Also beat the crap out of Austin Watson.
- Martin allowed a couple weak goals but made a lot of huge saves and was overall a positive. This game could have got out of hand early.
Without the bizarre run of early blown leads and Demko's surprisingly poor play, this is shaping up similar to expected. Team can score - 5th in the NHL offensively now - but defensively is obviously weak. We're going to see a lot of high-scoring games ... people will either enjoy the action or pull their hair out over the problems defensively.
Crazily the team is only 2 points out of a playoff spot when you adjust for GP.
