For me, the frustration comes from where the bulk of my frustrations with AV have come: player deployment and usage.
Sure, you have injuries and as a result have subpar players in the lineup, but that doesn't mean you need to ride them. Sure, Steve Kampfer has to be in, but should he be out there with 2 minutes left trailing? Ditto for Carey, Holland and Catenacci. Why is Holden out with the goalie pulled instead of Skjei or DeAngelo? Zibanejad is taking the faceoff, so why not have McDonagh at the right point, DeAngelo at the left point (where Shatty would've been) for his RH shot to slide out for a one timer or at least draw attention for the threat?
If the team was trailing in the past AV would have no problem benching Buchnevich or Miller, in past years, in the 3rd period to try and roll what is working, but for some reason he didn't do that tonight with our bottom two lines. I know it's a back to back situation AND playing in Denver, but he should've cut the bench down for the last 7 or so minutes. Holland's line and Kampfer should not have been out there with under 3 minutes left.
Also, why did he change the forward line with 11 seconds left? It's 11 seconds, was the top unit that exhausted that Zibanejad couldn't have won the faceoff back and they couldn't put a puck on net from the point? If that's the Penguins and their Crosby, Malkin, Kessel unit is out pressing with the goalie pulled for a minute like our 1st unit was and they get a whistle in the O zone with 11 seconds left, is Sullivan taking them off?