Well, I stuck to my guns and didn't listen to any hockey radio or visit any hockey-related websites from noon yesterday until I watched the game in the evening. And boy did it suck.
I was impressed and happy with our team last night. Our effort was there, focus there, we showed up to play and we knew we had to or we'd be run out of the building. All in all I will consider that a real solid rebound game from what we watched Saturday.
Still some kinks, obviously, but I think we'll get there. Our depth is really impressing me. It's not showing up on the scoreboard just right yet, but you can just see and feel our forward depth right from the top line to a guy like Thorburn. I don't see or feel a weak link in our forward crop, even if some guys haven't got on the scoresheet yet.
Ladd, Little, Wheeler MUST get going, ASAP. Noel did the same thing last season at points when they were struggling, play them more so they can get out of it, and he said the same thing too. I certainly agree you must play and reward your best players, that is where accountability comes in. I trust Ladd, Little and Wheeler will wake up and win us Hockey games, but they have to do it quickly because we can't have 10 game goal droughts from them or 18 games before one or two get going. Last year Wheeler and Little got off real bad starts, we cannot have that this go around and if that's what they're going to do then they must take a backseat to players who look better than them.
I trust these guys will get going, hopefully tonight vs. Washington. I think they'll have to. I do not expect Ladd, Little and Wheeler to win us games each night, but I do expect them to win us a game once in every 2-3. And I expect other guys to win us games in between that. We don't have one line or one player who can carry the mail offensively for this team consistently game in, game out, so it's going to have to be a group effort and these guys are simply going to have to step up and get it done - no excuses.
Couple points,
- I liked Kane last night. As did Jokinen. Both had to good opportunities and was involved.
- I had a hunch yesterday Wellwood wouldn't do much against a physical Boston team, and he really didn't. He has his on and off games, but, that's what he is, a versatile guy you can move up and down the lineup.
- Burmistrov is looking so, so strong! He has so many tools and talents and is still so young. This kid could be a player if/when he figures it out and puts it all together. I am going to be careful in how confident I get in Alex though as he got off to a tremendous start last season to. So much so to the point where Noel said of all our forward, Burmi was the least of Noel's worries. Then it all came to a halt. Burmistrov is exciting and looking great though, and I think it's going to help him in tremendous ways that he's got guys like Antropov and Ponikarovsky to play with.
- I thought Scheifele looked quite good in the minutes he played. Again reassuring me and what I said yesterday in that I think he's ready to learn at the next level here and has topped out in the OHL. Time will tell though. I want to see him get a more prime role.
- Team wise, we're a big team, but i'd like to see us be more physical on the body, initiate more. Boston threw a few good hits at us, and we had our shots too, but I'd like to see us be more of the aggressor. I'd like to see us instead of just playing the puck, attack the body, take the man out and not just the puck. But, I have to remind myself even though we've got good height/weight, we've got a bunch of guys who aren't exactly overly physical.
I am excited for tonight! Hope we do well.