Had to run off for meetings 10 minutes into the third, just saw the rest during a late lunch break.
In this game you just have to tip your cap to Glass for being not worthless on the puck and absolutely relentless when it comes to his physical play and work ethic. With a lineup as low on skill as this one was, that was important in keeping the puck in the Flyers end for most of the game. Less so in the third, but a push was expected with how the second period ended.
+'s to the grinders all around. It sure wasn't pretty, but they played hard.
+ to Bortuzzo who played real well after the first 10 minutes. Makes no sense not to just ride this horse from now on. He is ready for it and plays with an edge you rarely see from any of our other D-men.
+ to Niskanen and Dupuis for starting the season in a way that ought to increase their trade value even further. Niskanen does not look all that good in the defensive zone when we are under pressure, but he is fine when we are in control and he adds a lot to our transition game when going forward. Of course it boosts his production that him and Scuderi are out there with Sid's line as much as they are too.
- to the knowledge that I am so far from being in agreement with the Pens management that such a trade scenario would be an awesome idea to explore.
+ to MAF who played REALLY well except for that penalty.
+ to having Sid and Geno. They're pretty good at hockey.
- Kobasew on the 2nd line. There is just no way Jeffrey is not better for that line when it comes to his characteristics as a player. Not that he should be considered a second line option, but in a spot like this with Neal and Bennett out, it just kills me that the coach does not first think "who will be less obviously kryptonite for Geno". With the 1st line being set, it is overwhelmingly obvious to me that the answer is Jeffrey, and then you can use Kobasew on any of the bottom two lines in a role where he will be that much more likely to succeed. But nothing new there - the concept is just alien to Bylsma.
Bylsma I suppose should have a + his way for the fact that our neutral and defensive zone coverage was back to being largely very good in this one.
Ultimately.... ++++ on winning 4-1 at the Flyers, never mind how much they suck right now, and ++++ for the fact that they suck that much also
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