Well, you can't lose them all. For much of the time it looked like Markstrom theft time again and it would have been awful to lose a game the team absolutely deserved to win. Effort was much more organized and consistent and you could see this team with a little easier schedule and few more practices actually begin to put together some good hockey.
Good
Hoglander - guy is revelation - never thought he could be this good. If he can develop a little more finish he looks like he could score well in the this League. However, right now looks more like a playmaker than scorer. Another real good game.
Edler - did a lot of the grunt work this team needs around their net. Like others much better job of standing up at his blue line and not getting pushed deep all game. Him and Schmidt formed maybe the best combo we've had this year. Schmidt much more effective in getting up ice to support the play and push the play offensively. Most positive I've been about Schmidt all season
Demko - made some important saves and kept his head in the game even when he wasn't getting a lot of action.
Myers - played more conservatively and didn't get himself into as much trouble. Nice work on the winning goal and, in general, moved puck fairly well
Joulevi - compared to most efforts a real improvement. Thought he had good first period and overall was much more involved in the play and much more willing to take on the play at his blue line. Made a couple of good passes that helped create some offense. I've been critical of Joulevi and not optimistic about his chances, but at this point, he doing enough to just play him and live with the results. Glad to see Green had him out late in a one goal game. Confidence and learning good spacing look like crucial elements moving ahead.
Hughes - wonderful goal and jumped up to produce a number of good chances. Thought him and Benn had a very rough first period but got a little better in the last couple of periods . Still don't think this a viable unit and one of the greatest chores the club has is finding Hughes the right partner. And this may not involve spending a lot of money but just finding a player that fits like Schenn seemed to do.
Not So Good
Virtanen - becoming something of expert at making plays that put teammates in awkward and often impossible situations. Play remains random and unpredictable .
Miller - some good things but still more bad than good. When on there is some flair to his play but when not that flair turns into big mistakes. The lotto line seemed close all night but overpassing and being too cute is murdering chances
Gaudette - just not a fan. His type of play causes the lack of organization the team has suffered from all season. Had chances in this game but everything for Gaudette seems to come off broken plays and not a result of playing within a system. Moreover, not close to converting chances he does get. Carried along by the play of others in this game.
Others
Eriksson - good puck management but never looked close to providing the team with more than decent defense. Safer player than many others that play in the bottom 6.
Pettersson - looked very dangerous at times and is improving as the season goes on. Still his line is having trouble in their zone way too often and often lack their former smoothness in their execution with the puck. Just seems a step, or good move, away from really breaking out.
I guess the downside here is that Benning gets his behind saved again for awhile. Still you want to maybe put that aside for a bit and hope that the team can build off this effort. Next game will be crucial in trying establish where the team is actually at.
