Important to note, the team isn't still on pace for 104 points. Even without Schmidt and Tuch. And have some extra picks for defensive rental help.
They haven't played well and need to do better but staying in touch at the top and finding ways to win are good for the team. The goals will come with forwards as talented as ours, I'm sure our Corsi and advanced stats are good.
They have good goaltending, a good power play, resourcefulness to win and have been good penalty killing. That, along with a sound defensive structure (they need to work on) are vital to good playoff runs.
'On pace for' means nothing in October, but McNabb is on pace for 82 minor infractions
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Finding a way to win is great and all, but hard working statement games from start to finish are what's needed. Maybe that's too much to ask against Colorado, but they'll get stomped if they come out flat again playing 5v5 like they're on the power play. Skill is one thing but as we can see with Glass not clicking on the 3rd line because of (mostly) the poor play from Pirri & Eakin, their bread and butter needs to be being strong on the puck, heavy along the boards and tenacious down low. They also need to be better with gap control (hard to do without Schmidt) and forcing NZ turnovers because the more time they spend in their own end the more likely it is they'll give up a 5 on 5 goal. That's just how it is with this team. You can only survive so many defensive breakdowns, goal mouth scrambles and equipment malfunctions.
and their possession metrics must have taken a big hit after the LA game. I'm just being real and putting things into perspective.
Having said that, I'm glad they clawed their way back into OT & Shea Teddy bea is absolute clutch in the shootout.
Hopefully Roy plays next game and brings more of that Carrier/Nosek grindy jam jam hustle.
