That was the first full game i have got to watch this year because of the crap time zone I live in for game timing, and did I get served a complete snoozer. Afternoon game plus holiday layoff = disjointed boring hockey.
Woll was great, Lorentz is a beauty, JT, Patches and Tanev also beauties. Knies had spurts, that nice goal that was called back might have really helped get him back, too bad Willie not paying attention to where he was.
Not much of anyone else played great, Nylander was in full casual mode, Marner was pretty invisible, and I have long been a Rielly defender, but if today was a good depiction of his play of late, he looks completely lost - endless bad plays clearing the puck and vacuum on the PP.
Our ability to clear the puck from the defensive zone is shockingly bad, and everyone seemed to be constantly cheating to blow the zone only to have the puck stay in our zone, which led to a goal thankfully called back, and almost led to Woll being injured.
Our PP against the league worst PK was embarrassing, needs a complete overhaul - less Rielly, but with OEL out not many options for a D to quarterback.
Connor Dewar does not seem a fit on this team at all, guy put up double digit goals in limited ice in Minnesota but is a black hole for us. I think he gets flipped before deadline to bring in a different look in the bottom 6. Myers looks very slow on the backend too, we have zero offense from the D especially with Rielly struggling - think that needs to be a focus for adds either this year or next.
Reaves some ok hits and nice chip out on the Lorenz goal, but manhandle someone please, Willie took a big hit from Horvat, a few other scrums, and culminates in Patches getting 3 guys going after him at the end, the so-called Reaves deterrent nowhere to be found.
Those are the games you need 2 points, especially with how tight the Atlantic has gotten, but that was one of the few positives of this one.
Happy New Year
