Ugly, ugly game defensively. Adams deserves some criticism for how loose the team has been defensively under his watch despite the improvements offensively. Really poor from Hoffmann to do that in a 1 goal game in the 3rd period as well, you expect better from a veteran OA leader.
On the bright side, D'Amato has been on a tear since his return from the AHL (and the switch to Adams), he could be playing himself into having good trade value. He has 7 G and 3 A in 7 games since returning, a 1.43 PPG pace. For reference, when Erie traded Maksimovich as an OA at the deadline in the 2018-29 season, he was playing at a 1.44 PPG pace, and they got two 2nd round picks plus the rights to Swankler for him. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest D'Amato could fetch two 2nds or a 2nd + a 3rd at the deadline if he continues this pace, especially considering he is bigger, stronger, and faster than Maksimovich was (to Maksimovich's credit, he was more creative offensively to compensate for his lack of size). I'd like to see them move him a contender in the East if they can get that kind of value, then just give the young guys tons of playing time the rest of the season.