GDT: TankTown Express: Dance with the Devils

[stl76]

Interesting post game interview with Berube:

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Interesting post game interview with Berube:

Yeah, total coincidence that we deal guy who didn’t want to be here and team energy picks way the fork up.

 

[Brian39]

I don't buy into an argument that Tarasenko was the problem or that guys weren't working hard because he was bringing the room down. But I'll definitely buy an argument that Berube is the best 'us against the world' coach in the NHL and is using the trade to motivate guys.

The media correctly poked fun at Bettman for acting like tanking was nonexistent in the league. But he was technically correct when he said that players and coaches don't tank. Berube's job is to make Army's decision about selling the remaining assets more difficult. I don't think Army should be swayed by what Berube (and the players) has done since the All Star break, but I'm encouraged about Berube making some tweaks and getting some results from this group.

This game was a very strong effort and beating the Devils impresses me more than the Coyotes or Panthers.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Yeah, it's a combo of us against the world, a combo of a nice little break to clear head, a break that allowed for adjustments to be implemented, and with regards to the trade, maybe it allowed for more of an identity 3rd line, and a familiar face in Blais doesn't hurt.

I don't think it's as simplistic as Tarasenko out, we play better. I remember when Tarasenko and O'Reilly got hurt, there was a short stretch of games where they played really good, and that gave me back up against the wall type vibes. I'll be curious if they sustain it, it's easy to get an us against world type jolt, but it's harder to actually sustain that for a long stretch.

After those 2 got hurt, we had road wins against Toronto and Jersey, loss to Montreal, but then shut out Minnesota on the road. Is this current stretch like that, or have we actually found our groove.

 

[Xerloris]

I don't buy into an argument that Tarasenko was the problem or that guys weren't working hard because he was bringing the room down. But I'll definitely buy an argument that Berube is the best 'us against the world' coach in the NHL and is using the trade to motivate guys.

The media correctly poked fun at Bettman for acting like tanking was nonexistent in the league. But he was technically correct when he said that players and coaches don't tank. Berube's job is to make Army's decision about selling the remaining assets more difficult. I don't think Army should be swayed by what Berube (and the players) has done since the All Star break, but I'm encouraged about Berube making some tweaks and getting some results from this group.

This game was a very strong effort and beating the Devils impresses me more than the Coyotes or Panthers.

It's not always that you're aware of something bearing weight on you until it's gone. Tarasenko not wanting to be here and everyone waiting for the shoe to drop and maybe even wanting it to be over with can weigh you down. I suspect it was a little bit of that but IMO it seems like we changed Dzone strategy and that's the main thing.

 

[BlueSeal]

All joking on my part aside, I don't see Vladi as a bad guy in any of this. His situation with the Note was absolutely screwed up and the feelings he has were absolutely justified. Problem is, his situation and him staying there was poisoning the well. Moving him was right for Vladi and for the team.

 

[joe galiba]

Fair points about the quality of the wins.

It’s remarkable how different the team looks tho. Like, win or lose, I like the way they’re playing right now. I don’t think it has to do with Tarasenko being a cancer or bad guy, but the trade seems to have woken guys up and they are playing better individually…but more importantly they are playing a MUCH better team game.

Tiny sample size and I still think this is probably a lost season. But it’s encouraging to see them not going quietly into the night!

I have always had the feeling this group gets along really well in real life
all the UFA’s and what might happen has been hanging over everyones head all season, exasperated by the stretches of bad (pronounced putrid) play
moving two of the UFAs seems like it just loosened everyone up

 

[oPlaiD]

This game was certainly encouraging, but the team's had a couple other win streaks this season and a couple periods where it looked like they were actually giving a full effort like they did tonight, but they didn't last.

The tweaks the coaches made certainly help, but even if moving Tarasenko exorcised a demon that's sapped their vitality all year, it's still an open question if they can maintain this level of effort for longer than a few games.

It is encouraging though that, despite the results, despite losing their longest tenured player, an all-star goal scorer, the players haven't completely given up on themselves or each other, because some of those games in the previous weeks could certainly make you feel they had.