diceman934
Help is on the way.
Sorry Gary Babcock has not coach them to be afraid and that has been the biggest difference fear. Gutless play is on the players and not the coach. Far to many have been on Babcock for playing Hyman with Mathews and Nylander yet Hyman was the only one of the 3 to show up! Babs got ripped for starting Komo over Johnnson when he was the softest player on the ice by a wide margin he turn away from the puck several times skated to middle ice when he was to be on the boards and only attempted a few stick checks.I agree, we're not done yet. I do think Babcock deserves some criticism at this point. I say this as someone who has defended him all year and I don't want to go overboard here either. However, when a team shows as poorly as we did in game 1, some of the blame rests with the coach IMO. I know he's not on the ice and so on but still, it's his job to prepare the team and they didn't look prepared. And Kadri lost his cool, if I'm the coach I have a long sit down with Kadri before the playoffs and make sure he 100% understands that he simply has to keep his cool no matter what. Anyhow, not blaming Babcock for the loss(es), just saying he doesn't get off scot-free as there's plenty of blame to go around and some of it lands on him.
I also thought we looked a lot better last year against WSH than we have so far. Those were tight games and we came pretty close to beating them, certainly a lot closer than we are now. JMHO.
It is easy to blame the coach but it is usually that people do not want to admit that we have players lacking in a key area and it is not a coach able area. Either you are willing to play to win or you are not hopefully we play with some pride at home and we might just be able to get back in this series with last change. I look to see Martin dressed as even Levio with Johnnson back in the press box where he belongs.