Speculation: Simple question, Playoffs Yes or No

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

We need Ullmark back in a big way. Leevi can only do well for so long. We really need Ullmark for the stretch in a favorable schedule set-up.

 

[DrEasy]

I'm looking at the schedule and I'm in awe of how brutal it is. We thought the 9-game road trip was bad, but it's going to be pretty much back-and-forth home and road games for the next 4 games, including another one of those back-to-back games where a home game vs Boston is followed by a road game vs New Jersey the next day. And that's the beginning of a 3-game road trip...

The 4-game homestand that follows it is against pretty strong teams (Toronto, Utah, Washington, Minnesota). And that's followed by yet another 4-game road trip, where three of the games are against Tampa (x2) and Florida... and which includes one game in Nashville followed by a game in Tampa the next day. And there's another couple of those "home game followed by a road game the next day" after that!

So basically it's still a schedule from hell where we'd do well to just tread water in the standings, until at least the break for the Gimmick Cup. If we're even 2-3 points out of the playoffs at that point I'll feel pretty good about our chances.

Because the schedule only looks truly favorable at the very end of the season, with 8 out of 9 last games at home, but we need to be in the playoff race so these games are actually meaningful.

 

[Big Muddy]

I don't disagree with that to an extent, but I still think Forsberg's performance overall has been poor enough that it's reasonable to accept that it is a significant circumstance that leaves the team handicapped. Not many teams in the league are going to win consistently with their goaltender giving them an .883 save % and some of the early bad goals he gives up. It's team killing territory and I think they also play like it when he's in there. I think there's an avenue to overcome and succeed despite bad goaltending, but the numbers are bad enough to question if that's actually a reasonable expectation. Imo, if the team is going to string wins together, it also has to include Forsberg putting up better numbers, and personally, I have no faith at all that's going to happen. Korpisalo this year would be an upgrade, which is insane to ponder given he hasn't been particularly good with soft deployment this year.

I’m not saying goaltending is not an issue. I much prefer Leevi and feel he gives us a better chance of winning. But like I said, I just hope the team doesn’t deflate after a bad goal. That’s why I mentioned the mental attitude and dealing with adversity. Getting down a goal even if its a bad goal isn’t the end of the game. But, I suspect this kind of thinking just gets lost in the noise in here.

Sometimes I think this is the Forsberg Forum LOL. Its like what the other 19 skaters do doesn’t matter as talk about Forsberg sucks all of the oxygen out of the room. It would be nice if we could get to a situation where this topic doesn’t dominate discussion.