Viqsi
"that chick from Ohio"
Okay. Slept on it. Let's go.
This game was watchable, even if it didn't go our way.
Look for trends of play. That will tell you what to expect. We were in a very, very bad position for an extended period after the deadline. We now have two games in a row suggesting that that malaise might be behind us.
I'm not saying that it's okay to be happy with losing - when you play like that, you deserve the 2 points, damnit! But the way the team is playing suggests that in general, it may not be as much of a problem going forward. (And, for that matter, we've had several games in which we've gotten points we seriously didn't deserve, so it goes both ways.) We're on a trend back upward, whereas previously it looked like firing the coach and hoping for a Dead Cat Bounce was our only hope for success (and there's still plenty here who would fairly argue it'd be prudent regardless). I consider that a very good thing, even if we didn't come away with the two points, because it means our chances of making them up in future games look much better than they did half a week ago.
It matters because it has an impact on whether or not one can realistically expect wins going forward. Nobody goes 82-0.
That and folks here start getting on the coach for "turtling and playing defensive hockey", but grumpy fans really shouldn't be a style consideration like that...
* * *
The Devils game was unwatchable garbage - and that was while we were winning.
This game was watchable, even if it didn't go our way.
Look for trends of play. That will tell you what to expect. We were in a very, very bad position for an extended period after the deadline. We now have two games in a row suggesting that that malaise might be behind us.
I'm not saying that it's okay to be happy with losing - when you play like that, you deserve the 2 points, damnit! But the way the team is playing suggests that in general, it may not be as much of a problem going forward. (And, for that matter, we've had several games in which we've gotten points we seriously didn't deserve, so it goes both ways.) We're on a trend back upward, whereas previously it looked like firing the coach and hoping for a Dead Cat Bounce was our only hope for success (and there's still plenty here who would fairly argue it'd be prudent regardless). I consider that a very good thing, even if we didn't come away with the two points, because it means our chances of making them up in future games look much better than they did half a week ago.
* * *
I'd agree IF the team still looked atrocious. They're looking a lot better now. That two week period is, in essence, a sunk cost; we're just going to have to live with it and hope we didn't already cripple ourselves with it.
* * *
Well, this team is used to defenses that take the bait. We started to adapt a lot better to that in the third period, though. But yeah, we spent way too much time trying to get them to flinch, and they didn't bother to do so - not until we started taking more risks in the third and getting them off their game. If we'd done that earlier, maybe we'd be talking about how the game went to OT right now.
* * *
It matters because it has an impact on whether or not one can realistically expect wins going forward. Nobody goes 82-0.* * *
YES. This. Exactly this. Thank you SO MUCH. You get all the cookies.
* * *
Folks are reacting in exactly the same way. Indistinguishably, really. That's the reason why it keeps coming up.
* * *
We could. Have done so before. We just don't do that normally because it doesn't let us maximize the playmaking skill our blueliners have. That's a coaching philosophy thing.
That and folks here start getting on the coach for "turtling and playing defensive hockey", but grumpy fans really shouldn't be a style consideration like that...
