Entertaining game. Edmonton shot themselves in the foot with all the delay of game penalties. Team won the game with the PP and McDavid matchup.
- just absolutely outstanding by the group of 5 guys, especially Horvat and Tanev, tasked with playing against McDavid/Draisaitl. Not only contained them, completely neutered them and won the possession matchup. Tanev is back to form as arguably the best shutdown defender in the game. I didn’t like the notion of Eriksson against McDavid but full credit as he did well.
- conversely, Hitchcock really failed by allowing that matchup to happen so easily. Finally double-shifted McDavid late against Gudbranson and the puck instantly in the net.
- Boeser-Pettersson were lethal on the PP and horrible at ES. Didn’t help they were always on the ice with Gudbranson but they spent most of the night pinned in their zone by 3rd liners. Leivo really not good tonight and looked very slow in this very fast game.
- Gaudette was good in the first half of the game, did nothing wrong ... and was benched.
- Motte continues to play well.
- Gudbranson just rubbish. Stuck in his own zone all night until Hutton could finally get the puck and rescue him. Slow to the corner on a retrievable puck on the first goal, took nobody on the 2nd. Again, the difference in level of performance between Biega last night and Gudbranson tonight is just comical.
- Stecher and Pouliot were just hanging on all night and was a miracle they didn’t get scored on. Pouliot just can’t keep up when the pace of the game rises.
- I’m no Del Zotto fan but he was having a very effective month of hockey aside from two dumb late penalties and it’s absurd that Pouliot is in over him.
- Markstrom solid again. Really on a roll looking solid right now.
- just absolutely outstanding by the group of 5 guys, especially Horvat and Tanev, tasked with playing against McDavid/Draisaitl. Not only contained them, completely neutered them and won the possession matchup. Tanev is back to form as arguably the best shutdown defender in the game. I didn’t like the notion of Eriksson against McDavid but full credit as he did well.
- conversely, Hitchcock really failed by allowing that matchup to happen so easily. Finally double-shifted McDavid late against Gudbranson and the puck instantly in the net.
- Boeser-Pettersson were lethal on the PP and horrible at ES. Didn’t help they were always on the ice with Gudbranson but they spent most of the night pinned in their zone by 3rd liners. Leivo really not good tonight and looked very slow in this very fast game.
- Gaudette was good in the first half of the game, did nothing wrong ... and was benched.
- Motte continues to play well.
- Gudbranson just rubbish. Stuck in his own zone all night until Hutton could finally get the puck and rescue him. Slow to the corner on a retrievable puck on the first goal, took nobody on the 2nd. Again, the difference in level of performance between Biega last night and Gudbranson tonight is just comical.
- Stecher and Pouliot were just hanging on all night and was a miracle they didn’t get scored on. Pouliot just can’t keep up when the pace of the game rises.
- I’m no Del Zotto fan but he was having a very effective month of hockey aside from two dumb late penalties and it’s absurd that Pouliot is in over him.
- Markstrom solid again. Really on a roll looking solid right now.
