But look at the teams we're playing. The last four losses have been to teams that have lost either one or two games in regulation in the entire season. Could we really have hoped for more than a couple of points out of those games, in total? Realistically? We're not as good as Chicago and they beat us. It's kind of a "dog bites man" story, really.
But it's the way we are doing it.
We are in year three and you know how much better we play in front of our own net? Or break out of the zone, or handle trappy teams? Not any better than year 1.
Last year we had some truly impressive efforts against the likes of Boston, and a good pile of teams we weren't supposed to beat.
'The dog is whizzing all over the man' story is more like it.
Like others have said before me, when we put in a great effort and lose, I'm not going to hold it against a team that simply can't win. This is different though.
I feel we are worse this year. I have zero to back that up, it just feels like even after losing some dead weight from last year, we are playing crappier hockey.