My positives from tonight:
-Rybinski looked great again. I think he deserves a shot higher up in the lineup next year- I think he's got the talent and drive to be a 20-20-40 guy in the AHL. The whole 4th line was good all night.
-Lapi had a strong, tenacious game.
-The PK came through during the penalty box parade late in the game. Other than the post shot, they didn't really surrender any big chances.
-Probably most importantly, they didn't roll over and die, even though they couldn't quite complete the comeback.
I expected them to come out flat as a board. I felt they were in complete control of the game out of the gate until the shorthanded goal (granted, that was pretty early). If not for the penalty box parade, I genuinely believed they had a really good chance of sending the game to OT.
I really hope they didn't expend all their energy tonight... but if they can put up another similar performance, and if Shep can right himself (I doubt Nelson throws Stevenson in now), they're gonna be in this series. Big IFs, I know. Now for my negative cap... if they lose Sunday, they're done. I don't see them taking 2 of 3 in California if that's the case.
For a banged up team that's been playing every other day for a week and just went to overtime twice this week... I thought they played a good game. Maybe Coachella finds their sea legs and Hershey completely empties their tank too soon. But until that happens, I'm giving them a chance.