Observations XXI

[FossilFndr]

Oops, never mind.

 

[Scoresberg]

Look, I hate the loss as much as the next guy but with that lineup, on the road against a desperate team playing as tight as they can in front of a rookie goalie it's not a miracle that we lost. With that lineup, it's not even reasonable to expect us to win every night.

Now, we can talk about the PP till the world ends, and with a decent PP we would've had points last night, probably in Chicago as well. No amount of Stones or Simmonds' will fix that dumpster fire. I think all is said about it, and something has to change. It's cost us a lot of points already, and it will cost us come playoff time if it's not fixed.

 

[PredsV82]

This team is unwatchable crap. It's going ruin my Christmas vacation. I think I'm gonna tune out for a while.

 

[MrJoshua]

I got hit in the cup with a wrist shot while playing last night, and I still think that was more enjoyable than watching that Preds game.

 

[predfan24]

This team is unwatchable crap. It's going ruin my Christmas vacation. I think I'm gonna tune out for a while.

These last few games have triggered Trotz era emotions that I had buried down deep.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

one of the most unenjoyable stretches of preds hockey in a pretty good while.

 

[Pred303]

on the bright side, we probably get to lose early tomorrow and have the entire free saturday night ahead of us

 

[Scoresberg]

Kyle Turris last and only ES goal of the season was Nov. 2 against Tampa. 4 other goals, 3 on the PP, 1 in OT. Last goal Nov. 20 against Tampa. One 5-on-5 goal in 28 games.

Since returning from the injury:
5 games
1 assist
-3


I mean, this is the guy we emptied the cupboard for. Essentially, we gave up a 1st + 2 2nds. In my mind, Girard’s value was easily a 1st.

 

[101st_fan]

Kyle Turris last and only ES goal of the season was Nov. 2 against Tampa. 4 other goals, 3 on the PP, 1 in OT. Last goal Nov. 20 against Tampa. One 5-on-5 goal in 28 games.

Since returning from the injury:
5 games
1 assist
-3


I mean, this is the guy we emptied the cupboard for. Essentially, we gave up a 1st + 2 2nds. In my mind, Girard’s value was easily a 1st.

We need more out of everyone right now. Those numbers for Turris are bad ... but we won't know until next summer if he returned healthy or rushed back due to the other injuries and is playing at less than 90%.

 

[Scoresberg]

If he isn’t 100% why is he playing then? He’s not bringing anything to the table that a guy like Tolvanen couldn’t bring. Joey-Bones-Jarny-Freddy would be a servicable center core.

 

[101st_fan]

If he isn’t 100% why is he playing then? He’s not bringing anything to the table that a guy like Tolvanen couldn’t bring. Joey-Bones-Jarny-Freddy would be a servicable center core.

(if that speculative question I asked earlier is in fact reality) Why does a player ever play at less than 100%? He may be 100% and just failing to put up numbers right now. He might be dinged and trying to get through it.

Meanwhile both top line wingers are out ... two of our top four d-men missed the last game ... Watson is out there with a fractured foot ... Sissons to IR ... and our PP sucks, and did before the run of injuries. Still 3rd in the Western Conference, and in contact with the leaders, as of this morning.

 

[NoNecksCurse]

it's downright depressing seeing our record this past stretch considering how easy our opponents have been. we are lucky to be hit with the injuries when we have been. (actually lucky would have been to have the injury free season of last year but that's beside the point)

 

[Scoresberg]

Soo.. good news for us. Bergeron returning for Boston tonight.

It might get ugly.

 

[101st_fan]

it's downright depressing seeing our record this past stretch considering how easy our opponents have been. we are lucky to be hit with the injuries when we have been. (actually lucky would have been to have the injury free season of last year but that's beside the point)

The recent stretch sucks. The one good thing is the hot start the team had before the injuries so that even with the current struggles we are within reach for the conference and division leads.

 

[101st_fan]

There is something nice about watching a game replay when you know the outcome and don't get emotional while streaming. Today's live game pissed me off.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Nothing to be encouraged about but this wasn't a poor effort. The 3 goals that mattered were all self-inflicted, 2 bad penalties and Josi blocking Rinne in the crease. 5-2 was not indicative of how we played overall.

 

[Scoresberg]

Turris is obviously reading this board.. scores right after I call him out.

I think Lavy said it best about the game, we played decent enough to win, but made too many mistakes to lose it. Especially the 2nd period, and the first 10 minutes of the 3rd we played fine but the penalties cost us.

 

[Soundgarden]

Rinne kept us in this, he stole a couple goals from them today.

 

[BigFatCat999]

So just over 50% of possible points. The only pewter colored lining here.

Keep talking like that and you might sound like an optimist like me. Just wait for health, the team is in playoff position and the team is not even at the half-way mark

 

[Pred303]

well, that felt like another kick in the teeth.

 

[jwhouk]

Last time this team was this bad in December, we traded away our starting goaltender.

 

[Pred303]

10 road losses in a row. Would have never thought that was even possible no matter how bad the injury situation was. Even our expansion team never lost 10 road games in a row. Of course, our expansion iced a lineup better than what we are icing right now. Not sure the return of 1 player is going to make that dramatic a difference. might take 2 or 3.

 

[LCPreds]

We always talk about regression in hockey. Looking forward to it.

 

[101st_fan]

Unstoppable on the road to start the season ... unable to buy a win over the last ten road games.

The injuries only exacerbate issues that were evident earlier ... the PP sucks, Fiala is trying so hard to play himself into a big contract that he's playing like a guy who should be on a two-way minimum salary deal, and the coaches aren't doing anything that produces visible results to change those on the ice.

Hope is not a method but right now all I can do is hope that the entire staff takes the next couple of days away from each other and the rink as an opportunity to clear their heads ... maybe Fiala can find a way to relieve a little of the pressure he's putting on himself. They need to come back to the rink next week ready to refocus and shift methods ... unlikely to happen, but all I can h0pe for.

Maybe the Grinch can steal a willingness to shoot the puck more often.

 

[predfan24]

For sure the biggest problem with this team is up front. Taking away Arvy and Forsberg has just accentuated that. You couldn't help but think at the beginning of the year if Fiala progressed forward and Tolvanen could come in and score goals right away that we could really have something decent. Pretty much the exact opposite has happened. I am very worried about Fiala's psyche and development. I'm concerned we hitched our 2c wagon to the wrong guy in Turris. Guys who you would hope would step up with all the injuries like Bonino and Jarnkrok have not. Hartman and Sissons have been mildly nice surprises but not enough to offset the injuries. I think it's obvious we need a "line driver" on the second line. We pretty much need another 1st line talent on the 2nd. That guy needs to be able to create offense for himself and his linemates. Turris is too slow and weak to create much. Smith tries really hard but does his best work with guys who can get him the puck in scoring positions.

At this point it feels like Poile has to make a really tough decision this year between waiting for everyone to get healthy and hope Fiala can turn it around or deal his first round pick AGAIN and perhaps other young talent to bring in that piece we need after JOFA.