My concern about the ebb and flow of last night's game is as always: B's have very little counterpunch when it comes to teams throwing the kitchen sink at them.
And I'm not talking about "wrestling the momentum back" from the other team. Most teams including the Bruins do that whether of their own accord or the other team simply not being able to sustain their onslaught.
My concern is that we don't spring players behind pinching Dmen. Teams like Toronto last night have little fear taking chances for extended periods of time. With the Leafs pinching that often it would normally result in some odd man rushes the other way. Or ideally a stretch pass for a breakaway.
We never seem to get the insurance goal we need in this fashion. I know it's a speed problem, which is the largest factor. We just don't have the team wide speed to make it a threat, and have only gotten slower with the departure of Pevs and Tyler. This particular strategy probably only losses us a couple of games a year. That insurance goal isn't often scored in this fashion as teams usually have a safety valve in place to some extent. But it does make the going a little tougher in wins. We were only up by two last night with an open net goal. Teams that are able to sniff around for wins late into games make us work harder for those wins.
I know it's not "our way" for reasons stated above and others. So I guess you take all the good with just a little bad as many great teams have had that "bend but don't break" more conservative play, that propels them deep in the POs.
Other than that an improved performance overall by everyone. I like that fact that we beat what can only been seen now as a damn good team. Toronto is here to stay for the foreseeable future and I love that. They need to be good and should be good. I hate seeing any original 6 do poorly for an extended period of time (even the Habs). It just doesn't sit well with me, as a life long (50 years) fan of the league.
I've become a bit spoiled from last year's run as this team seems to be able to "flick a switch" when need be. Iggy didn't come to us last year because lets face, going into the POs we were playing horribly. A game like last night's gives me less concern about the regular season's shallow points. The traditional concern about consistency doesn't seem to bother me as much when I see this team rise to the occasion when need be. It's a long season and I'm liking the upgrades (Smith, Krug, and Soderberg and some extent Louie) as they seem to be more creative. I think this is a better team (no offense to Pevs and Tyler). The early showing of Spoons, and even Caron starting to "get it" make me think the depth is there too.
Dougie who I saw as a more talented version of Hal Gill is anything but that. Considering his age and what he's been doing by, pinching and going "down low", joining the rushes, and positioning himself to get pucks at the net is very very encouraging.
I hope Mac is O.K. I don't like losing any grit (selfish of me I just enjoy that type of game). He's one of my favorites. For every one Tyler Seguin or Marc Savard I've watched over the years there's been 3 different type(s) players I've like watching more. The Rob Dimaios, McQuades, L.B's, Dave Poulin, P.J, Dave Reed etc etc, are the players that keep me engaged.
They are getting more and more like the Habs fans. Or is it that some Habs fans are turning to the Leafs because they have the better team right now?
