Karlsson wasn't terrible, but he wasn't good either.
Offensively he missed the net too often and defensively he is nothing more than an observer on occasion.
IMO it appears as if he is attempting to tone down the risk in his game and this is making him less effective.
PS Last night was another example of Mac's "the best players play" being supplanted by prefer the veterans regardless of play decision.
While I agree Neil has his shortcomings, he isn't making the line up decisions.
IMO if Neil was platooning with Condra on the 4th line, there wouldn't be as much criticism of his play. Problem as I see it, he is being put in a role that he can't be successful at assuming MacLean wants three lines generating some offensive.
Lastly, IMO Greening should never be dressed ahead of Stone, Lazar, or Hoffman. Not ever.
I missed a good chunk of the game, but from what I saw, and the final TOI numbers, it seemed like the icetime was well distributed.
Wiercioch was having trouble with Chi's speed, and had the least toi of any D,
Greening was invisible, had the least toi of any forward.
Neil was good for Neil, but wasn't getting free veteran mins.
Ceci was great, got the 3rd most mins of any D.
Karlsson was ok, but even at just ok for his standards is going to be our best D.
Phillips was probably our best LD, so his mins reflect that.
Michalek had his strongest game in a long time, and was rewarded with some decent mins.
Legwand got what he did because he plays both the PP and the PK. I think we should role out Turris to finish off the PK more often, but I don't mind keeping him fresh for ES and PP.
Really don't see anything particularly bad; maybe give Turris a bit more mins, but with so much special teams things go out of whack a bit.
I think it's time for Cowen to come back in, provided he does not play with Karlsson. He needs to be eased in and given the chance to succeed. I really like Wiercioch, but he struggles with in zone coverage whenever a player changes direction. It's not speed he lacks, but accelaration, and because of that players can get a step on him. Cowen isn't much better in that regard, but is better at pinning the guy. Hopefully some time watching from the pressbox has done the trick and he'll react a little quicker.
Also, I think that the wrap-around issue is a coaching one. McLean needs to make the adjustment to get that weak side defender to come in tighter; we don't have the skaters to close that gap fast enough (particularly on the left side) if we have them in the high slot, which seems to be a trend.