I don't view the game as a "collapse." They were outplayed the entire game and benefited from luck, goaltending and ridiculous shot blocking. The final score 5-3 actually makes it sound way closer than it should've been. 7-1 would've more indicative of the way the game was played. In fact, it should've been like 5-1 Canes after 2, not 3-1 Isles. I was thinking to myself when it was 3-0 that I would actually take overtime, knowing that Carolina was going to start scoring. Alas, not even OT was meant to be.
Reasons for optimism:
This team can hang with Carolina. They outplayed, out chanced and outshot them in game 1. Game 2 was DOMINATED by the Canes but even so, they were able to withstand barrage after barrage. And they also capitalized on their own scoring opportunities which was nice to see. Limit their possession just a bit, spend more time in the O zone, play more like game 1, less like game 2 and there's no reason why they can't take game 3 (and game 4). Home cookin' here we come.
And can we stop with the stupid f***ing rebuild posts in the game day thread?