Even in the finals last year since people want to keep bringing it up. Their inability to finish killed them in that series.
They have to go the net, and they have to bang with the Capitals. When the Capitals hit them because they are in front of Holtby, they have to hit right back. Get the sticks on the ice, and deflect the rebounds with any part of the body.
Look no further than Stepan and Kreider...they show up once every 3-4 games. Stepan is simply a 2nd/3rd center, no speed and cant win a draw. Kreider is a mystery a lot of the time...his soft play off the wall tonight says it all...he thinks he's a slick play maker. I dont think he'll reach a dominant level in this league, doesn't use his assets enough and he just doesnt have it upstairs. If 2 of your top six forwards dont show up consistently this is what you get.
Kreider is too much of a drifter to be a big time scorer at this point. He certainly can mature still and get there, but now he is great...and then invisible for a few games...and then great again. Frustrating.
His biggest problem and the problem of many like him. Don't bring the same effort consistently which keeps them at being 20 goal a year guys instead of 30+.
Sports are funny though it can change quick. TB down 3-2 to Detroit on the road and found a way to win 2 in a row and now look unstoppable vs Montreal. I will reserve offseason moves for when they are officially eliminated
They need to FINALLY get Lindberg full time action and see what he can do next year, and maybe they find someone out West who would take Boyle's final year for a pick or prospect. Let Skjei take the 6/7.
I'd like to add that Brassard should be the captain of this team. The guy is one of the few who plays with fire out there. Mcdonagh is an overrated slug and it's time people start realizing that. He's another soft as they come type of guy.
Caps two goals...soft play TO by Kreider on the boards AND terrible play by McD on the boards for a breakaway. Bad stuff. BUT we still only scored 1 goal, and that isn't good enough. Caps tying goal changed the whole game, we needed the lead after 2, and that killed us. Hags penalty shot was a golden chance, but no good. And we score 1 again, and two bad D mistakes look huge because we don't score.
I don't agree about McD Mess, but I do like Brass a lot. He gets dirty and does what is needed to score in the playoffs. That contract will be a steal. Hags is that dirty guy also. The others are too pretty. Miller and Hayes and Kreider can be those dirty guys also, but need some more growth. Hard to let Step walk...but maybe.
Everyone knew this team would have trouble with smash mouth playoff hockey early in season when Isles pummeled us 3x. Yes, we went on a nice run but run and gun and the stretch pass are not playoff hockey. Forechecking /pounding other D is playoff hockey and paying the price to make a play is. Did Sather get a guy to win faceoffs ? Did he add some size ? Again, no idea how to build out a team
They should make a play for Eric Staal in 2016, then put Brassard Hayes and Lindberg behind him. Trade Stepan.
