I had 4 games yesterday as our playoffs wrapped up. I play in our B and C leagues....Not sure I'll ever do C again. I was asked to join to help out and teach but I'm tired of being hacked with the refs using a "they are learning still" as an excuse for no call. Because they are learning is precisely the reason it needs to be called. Anyways....I missed the game.
I see a lot fo talk about how bad the canucks were and that is likely the case. But the interesting thing in these games is that the Preds aren't creating a lot of scoring chances and lanes are being kept clear for the goaltenders. I watched a few highlight packs and there aren't a huge number of big saves being shown when normally they would be. I look at natural stat trick and the scoring chances are about even.
Either way a win is a win is a win. Third string goaltender in his first playoff game. A dressing room that is likely still battling the flu. Ending this in 5 would be huge so that everyone can recover a bit.
I do think that Myers wasn't the only battling the flu and last night they didn't play great for long stretches but I think some people are overreacting a bit.
With Demko in net during the regular season the nucks averaged almost a goal more per game and you can see how risk adverse they are without Demko. Nashville also deserves credit for how well they have clogged the NZ.
The two empty net goals were obviously helped by being 6 on 5 but the way I see it a big thing was the fact they obviously opened up full throttle because they had no choice but to and as soon as they had that attack mentality they looked like the team we saw on many nights this season.
At the end of the day I could care less about getting a bunch of shots as long as we do what we've done all year and capitilize on our high danger chances and win the special teams battle.
We saw the best version of the preds for most of the game yet we play arguably our most listless game of the year for 55 minutes and still managed to win and now that we're up 3-1 I think we see them play a much more aggressive game on Tuesday, at least the start.
One thing I think we should do is unite the lotto line, not because Suter deserves a demotion but to try and get EP his confidence back.
I'm not as negative towards him as others have been because I think his wingers have been worse than him and EP at his best maybe gets his wingers going but right now he needs guys to pick him up and that's ok he just needs one big game to get that swagger back and it baffles me that some people here are turning on him to the point one poster said he wishes we had moved him for Because a guy with what a 40 point career high?
What an absolute joke but sadly with this fan base who has wanted to run Quinn, Brock, JT, Garland out of town as recently as this season for two of the above listed.
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