Just a few other takeaways from today:
1- Brett Howden. His issue is strength. He's fast enough to get to the play. Smart enough to know where to go. Just needs to a much, much stronger base. Reminds me of rookie Petr Nedved just in regards to how easily he gets knocked off the puck or his feet. If he gains strength, he will be a decent bottom 6 forward, and likely a wing. If not, he'll be in Europe in 2 years.
2 - We are playing with house money. Need to remember that. Team is not going to win the stanley cup. And if we lose and get a better 1st pick position or two is fine by me.
3 - this is the perfect way to help the kids learn the rigors of playoff hockey. And with the faster pace and harder intensity, it will be invaluable to guys like Kakko, Chytil and Gauthier moving forward. They all have the size, speed, skill to one day be a royal pain in the you know what in the playoffs.
4 - Team slowly figured out how to play the right style and simplify their game and play harder. But need to do that for 60. And need much better puck support. There were very few 5 ft passes.
5 - Kakko must continue to work on his foot speed. BUT, what's different about him now is he's constantly moving, especially in the offensive zone and that's creating a lot more space once he gets the puck. He's no longer going back and forth and back and forth in the corners trying to beat defensemen. He's cycling. He's finding soft spots. He's moving, moving, moving. Most exciting part is the adjustments he's been able to implement in his game in a short time. Bodes well as he continues to grow and develop.
7. As well as Hank played, I feel like Shesty's stickhandling could make a major difference against Carolina. If he can help limit the effectiveness of their heavy forecheck, it would neutralize a big portion of their approach.
8- D'Angelo is def nursing something. He was lacking explosiveness and seemed to play kinda timid for him.