I don't think this board has ever been "in love" with either Nemeth or Barberio. They've been praised when they played well, yes, but I don't recall Landy-levels of swooning over either of them.
Cole's doing precisely what they asked him to do, provide stability on a blueline that desperately needs it, especially with Barrie and EJ starting as slow as they have. I mean...he's kind of the perfect #4 guy. I'm fairly certain his role will be reduced over time but right now he's flourishing in that role, and I think he'll start doing even better once Barrie finally finds that consistency.
Glad they won and showed a solid across-the-board effort in a game where Nathan MacKinnon was actually not that great. Rants and Landy were on their game, but MacK was fighting the puck more than a little last night. I also thought, nice McDavid stop aside, that Zadorov wasn't really spectacular either. Fumbled and mishandled pucks a little too much for my liking but I wouldn't say he was awful either.
Was the ice really bad or something last night? I thought the ice guy at the old Rexall Place was one of the best in the business--Edmonton had, for years, the best sheet of ice in the league. Has that changed, because the puck was bouncing way more than it usually does in Pepsi Center, at least by my observation.