I mean it's pretty simple, scheifele being in the lineup allows players on our team to play in spots they can handle, scheifele out of the lineup means everyone has to play above their level and we don't have the players that can handle that considering we were already needing an upgrade at 2c as it was
I'd like to believe it was that simple but I don't -
The third line, that plays pretty much the same roll they have always played, is doing nothing offensively - even though that is not their bread and butter, they were popping in a few earlier.
The second line is getting chances but can't finish - what does that have to do with Scheif or anyone for that matter - you called me out already for stating they had a bad 2nd period and then came back and stated they are getting their chances. IOW's, the guys that could score earlier, are not scoring now even though they are getting their chances.
The one line that is really being impacted hard with 55 out, is the first line - KC and Ehlers are MIA - but this team's success was based on a lot more than our top line - the team approach to how they played was what made them very good and very successful. That whole hive attitude has changed IMO.
The only way I could possibly support the theory that all of this is due to the loss of 55, is if they all feel the need to change their game (and give up on what worked) because he is out. Who knows, maybe that's what's happening - IDK.