Good effort by a lot of players but defense too leaky and goal tending too suspect against a team with real speed. When Hronek went down, we knew we were in real trouble and we are.
Good
Hughes, Hughes and Hughes - you can't go far when one player has to carry the offense. Another incredible game. While others live out their personal head problems he just soldiers on. No doubt now who is the true leader and true heart of the team.
DiGuiseppe - should never have been send down. Gives the team heaviness and forecheck that forces the play in the offensive zone. One of the better defensive forwards on the team.
Sherwood - created chances and helped tie up the puck in the Ottawa zone. Line mates can never seem to take advantage of the chances he creates however. Maybe should be back with Pettersson
Blueger - wish he could score but was critical on the PK. So much sloppiness by others that he had to keep cleaning up.
Suter - thought he was good on both ends of the ice and helped produce a couple of goals
Not good
Heinen - game were he didn't keep up speed wise. Bad on the back check especially when he gloved the puck to the Ottawa player to give them a 2 on 1 on the second goal. Screwed any chances he had to score b/c of a lack of anticipation and finish. Also, he drew a bad penalty. Simply a negative in this game. Overall a disappointment and seems another bad off-season move by Allvin
Lankanin - could say he held them in early but some of that was pure luck. Has fallen off since the return of Demko
Forbert - looked slow and unable to stay with the Ottawa forwards. Passing was poor and couldn't make easy clears on the PK. Much as expected, he is very marginal NHL player.
Soucy - struggled all game. One of his poorer games of the season. Being given too much to do in the absence of Hronek. Both him and Myers are being overplayed out of necessity..
Karlsson - not close to NHL caliber. Just shunted out of the play with ease and couldn't hold on to the puck at all. I don't get why the Cancks keeping trying "to make a silk purses out of cow's ears". Keep bringing up people like Bains and such who simply are not, and never will be, NHL players. Shows you the lack of depth in the organization. You watch these players, like Karlsson, who are able to poach some goals at the AHL level but they are not good in the general run of the play even at that level - just don't have the speed. Ottawa showed speed in their game tonight and that is the kind of speed you need at a fundamental level to play in this league.
Others
Desharnais - thought he was at least decent. Took people off the puck hard and his first pass was much better. Actaully looking better over last while.
Joshua - nice goal last game but really getting very little done overall. Game time is reflecting his lack of execution
Miller - kind of bull in china shop approach that worked sometimes. But he is still not handling the puck well and his first step seems lacking. So far from the player he was last year and some of that must be injury. Heart seems in the right place but getting caught flat footed too often.
Pettersson - saw on a couple of occasions where he seemed startled and unprepared when the puck came to him. Indicated a lack of focus or concentration. Things seem to be wearing him down and, at times, looks to be going through the motions. Somehow has to get more spring in this game.
Juulsen - terrible penalty but in the end had little to do with the final score.
Boeser - got some huge goals to get the team a point but lack of speed was also a factor in this game.
Team is on the knive edge of either of falling out of it or getting their game together and making a decent playoff run. Problem is that if they open it up and try to score they lack the defense to stop goals against. If they try to just hold down scoring, the offense dries up.
