I'm sure that excessive positive thinking is never devoid of critical thinking either or is never a reflection of naivety.
It was a tough loss to swallow, left a bitter residue, a “not fair” aftertaste, it looked to be a masterpiece, where our troops had matured into a cohesive deadly unit-then shot to earth suddenly, old warts showing.
The glass is half full! We were playing a powerhouse, in their rink, minus our best player and leader and we dominated for long stretches. We deserved to win and were it not for a fluke goal off a skate and numerous near misses, we would of.
Rielly? I don’t understand the criticism, he “floated” all over the ice with his speed, there is no one I’d rather see carry the puck out of our end.
Gardiner? Just as dominant as Rielly, great skater and passer, sure he sometimes gambles and loses but I’ll take his mercurial playmaking any time.
Hyman? I’d put him out 6-5 too, smart move by Babcock, it’s a game of bodies banging against the boards 6-5, a game of hopefully someone can dig it out when there is so little room, that’s his strength.
Marleau? I’ll take a 20plus goal scorer with speed and his experience any day. Please keep the lynch mob away people; now I read how anger at the possible loss of JVR due to Marleau’s contract is stirring against this first rate veteran. Do we really think this kind of venom will attract a Tavares?
Babcock criticism? Really? Isn’t the best reference what his peers think? Those in the know with no agenda? Check out those reviews, see his name and Quenneville as the most respected. Please Brendan, don’t listen to the lynch mob, shield him, we need him long term.
Elite teams can win even when they don’t deserve to, and that’s what we saw last night. It’s the experience and calm we are missing. That’s why we panicked and ran around with that “deer in the headlights” glaze. And the old razor sharp Anderson would go a long ways, with a generous helping of Matthews!
I know I’m finally convinced and don’t have my historic “Leaf dread” that they’ll fall apart somehow. We really can beat anyone.