That was a frustrating game for sure. Very sloppy on our part.
Finally had a really bad game from Hunwick, terrible play on the SH goal and on the game winning goal, but I won't kill him because he has been very good up until last night.
The next time Talbot makes a big save to bail out his D let me know. At best he is looking like an average backup, and I may be generous with that. He may be a below average backup right now. I also get on AV a little for this one. Still not sure why Talbot played last night instead of tonight. I am guessing it's because Talbot played well against the Leafs last season, but it still didn't make sense to me. The easier game is tonight, that is when Talbot should have played, not his 2nd game in our last 3 last night. Even from a schedule POV it was logical to play Hank last night and Talbot tonight. Starting tonight, for the next 8 games we play every other day (6 at home). So why not give Hank two days off, Sunday and Monday, before the game Tuesday against the Pens. Just dumb decision by AV IMO. Hank better play 7 of those 8. Let him rest Friday the 21st at Buffalo, which is game 7 of the 8, so 6 straight for Hank now is what I want.
Good to see Kreider playing better though. Nash continues to be a monster. And I think we have found two really solid lines with Nash/Brass/MSL AND Kreider/Stepan/MZA. Now we need to get the 3rd line right. I personally would have Hags and Duke on the wings. A couple of fast guys who would put the D on their heels. For now Hayes at C, but I would maybe look at Miller or Lindberg to come up and C that line and let Hayes go down or watch a few games from upstairs. 4th line Glass/Moore/Stemp. I really like the Moore/Stemp part of it. Wish AV would wake up and replace the Glass part of it with Fast or Malone or anyone else really. But the 12th forward is not going to make or break us as I keep saying.
So while last night was very frustrating, no way we should score 4 and not at least get a point, the good thing is we are closer to being fully healthy (outside of McD). Moore will be back after tonight (not health but still will get Kostka out) and Boyle I'd think misses tops 2 more since he has been cleared for contact. I am thinking he can be back on Thursday against the Avs. My guess is Allen comes out of the lineup over Hunwick.
Even with the L last night we have gotten 12 of a possible 18 points in the last 9 games, which is solid. Now we need to come out and win tonight, and we'll be back in a good groove. Actually really want to win tonight. 2 of the next 3 against Pitt, Tuesday and Saturday. Those Pitt games are big. Considering we are 7 back already, if they win both we may say goodbye to the division by mid-November. Being 11 behind a good regular season team like Pitt is not a good place to be even in mid-Nov and only 15 or 16 games into a long season.