It's tied for me with Ehlers' play, I wish Ehlers was just invisible but he's visibly bad right now.
He made some brutal plays last night -- don't think that was the case in 1, where he set up some Grade A chances and sat alone in front of the net as Toffee wanged it away at a terrible angle. He's trying too hard, he's making mistakes -- but who the feck else is carrying the puck on that line? Or backchecking? Or drawing D in to open up lanes? Where have Mono and especially T been?
But Helle is our best player, so he has to be our best player. He hasn't been. Watching Bob pull saves out of nowhere makes me wonder if Helle can't save a game and put an overmatched (for long stretches) team on his back.
I thought the Avs pounded us in game 1 and were unlucky to lose. Then they did it again for much of last night, and weren't so unlucky. Mack will play half of every game until he can't anymore, but that's unlikely to happen in Rd 1. Bones seem pleased at how our 1st and 3rd lines are handling his line, but they're not nearly as free to create offence when their game so focused on containing the Avs' top guns, for 24-28 minutes a night.
Not sure what Bones might to but bringing in 91 and maybe shifting T might help even things out. And you know the next man up will play his heart out. That second line, like the 4th, needs to be winning its matchups. The top line has played some very committed hockey, but we can't win as a 2 line team.
Agree with others that our D has looked static and slow. I've been banging the drum for a switch-up that has Sammy on his natural side, even if it means bringing in 88 or Miller. Pionk is written in stone, so it's up to him to get his fecking game going and carry the puck without coughing it up.
Too few D leaving the zone with control, too many plays where the puck gets panic-passed right back to the next wave of Avs -- usually Mackinnon, but honestly if doesn't seem to matter -- way too much time spent camped out behind the net praying for options. Big Stan ain't helping to clear a crease or transition a puck when he's Stewarting himself out of position for the big hits. Too little time on transition with puck possession and not enough pressure on Georgiev.
1-1 is fine. There's time to sort things out. Even if that means some creative adjustments and a whole lot of learning on the fly. The Jets can play elite hockey. They need to do it now.
I’d suggest getting Perfetti in the line up, and switch Toffoli with Names. Gets more speed on the 2nd line, and Names has been solid so far, giving more support for Ehlers.
Solid suggestion for sure. Especially if Barron can draw back in and ratchet up the speed and heavy forecheck.