I care if we win or lose, but that play impacted nothing. Just because you may like seeing players go boom, that doesn't make it the correct play in every possible situation, and there's really no benefit to getting run over there. He very clearly attempts to anticipate and block the lane up the boards. It's a common play, and Marner is actually quite good at it. It's too bad that it didn't work that one time, but hardly anything notable.
Dekes, I gotta disagree with you here brother.
I believe not stepping into that play sets a precedence to Boston that feeds into the belief that we are soft. That if they take it to the boards they will beat us. That belief in their system and team, is what propels them to beat us in any series. The same could be said for FLA, and Tampa (years past). I made a point in another thread that I think NYI would do the same to us. I truly believe, if we somehow matched up with them, they would have beaten us this past playoff.
I don’t want to see skill players getting greasy for no reason, game 65 of the regular season, absolutely not. In the playoffs, IMO, it’s a non-negotiable. Especially from a captain and 11Mil player.
And yes, I absolutely cheered when Matthews cross checked Dahlin in the face or whatever. Why do you think players take these liberties constantly with our top guys? The no push back, “cutting off corners”, “move valuable on the ice”, doesn’t win playoff series. Look at the snarl McDavid has in his game now, or what Crosby developed into - I’m not saying Mitch needs to McSorley a guy over the head, but you have to put it all out there sometimes to become a champion in the NHL.
