Okay, so, the good news is that we won another one on Saturday night. The fun part was listening to the disgruntled Toronto fans boo the hell out of their second-rate neo-Flyers of a squad, justifiably angrier at their home team's own 0-6-1 start than at our performance in a modest 4-1 win. But for a team with numbers as good as our own so far, the bad news is surprisingly the way we played this game.
In the big picture, we're 7-1 to start the season, we've won 7 in a row, we've outscored our opponents by an aggregate 32-15 (no team has scored more (only the Oilers and Thrashers are on pace to tie us in 8 games), and of the teams that have allowed fewer than 15, only the Coyotes are on pace to allow that few in 8 games), we haven't even trailed since 8:09 of the third when Gaborik tied the Caps on October 8, and the first period that night remains the only period of hockey we've lost other than the second period of opening night. Hell, since losing on opening night, in 420 minutes of hockey, we have only trailed at all for a total of 30:39, and never by more than a goal.
But in what Michael Obernauer rightly refers to as "eerily similar" to last season's start, something feels wrong. It started when we faced the Leafs the first time, in the second period. After we worked so diligently to beat the Ducks 3-0 and were up 3-2 the very next night, it was easy to excuse a tired team for taking a "good-enough" lapse in the second before exploding for 4 in the third. But since then, we submitted an inappropriately low effort in winning two more by an aggregate 8-3. We were outshot 71-49 across the two games, through which we didn't even outshoot our opponents in a single period.
Now, as I said a few days ago, I know these are kids and energy is going to peter out. But there's a mental component here, too, and that needs to be improved. When Lundqvist is so obviously the only guy keeping you in these games during your vapid periods, and Leafs are so obviously taking runs at him, and the referees are so obviously ignoring said runs, it's time to send Hank a thank you card in the form of violence toward others.
There are positive takeaways. Obviously, the 4 points we took away from these two games are pretty positive. It's nice that we can steal wins even when we're sliding, against a good team and a desperate (if pathetic) team. Moreover, there was some promise near the end of the second and through the third of Saturday night's game, where we started to turn on some speed and play in the Toronto zone. But, again, that's not all that promising; it was only Toronto.
I guess the point is, like we said at this time last year, this is fun, but if we keep playing like this, it can't last. That's the bottom line. Adding up to the bottom line, however, is a lot of more positive ingredients than those that added up to the same line last season. These include a radically more potent group of forwards and a young and excited group of talented defensemen, paired with the same great goalies. That's part of why our 10-2-1 October that kicked off last season saw us outscore our opponents 36-25, winning 6 of the 10 by one goal, including 2 shootout wins, while this season, we've won by a total 32-15, winning 4 of the 7 by three or more.
Funny story. Going 6-1-1 through their first 8 games, Tom Renney's "defense-first, defense always" squad, backdropped by a stellar Henrik Lundqvist, gave up only 14 goals. Going 7-1 through their first 8, Tortorella's "always be attacking, safe is death, we'll deal with the odd-man rushes as they come" group, backed by the same Lundqvist, has given up only 15. Kinda makes you wonder what all that focus on the defense was buying us, huh?
Chris Higgins is starting to get very pissed off at his lack of scoring. I'm fuzzy on how appropriate that is, even for a top six forward, if you're playing as well as he's been playing otherwise and your team is averaging 4 goals a game. Whatever it is, Torts is ready to help develop a spark there. For tonight's game against the Sharks (and possibly the foreseeable future), Higgins will be down on Anisimov's line, and Avery will be up with Drury and Cally. I think it's a good move. I'd like to see Avery have more of an effect, and I'd like to see Higgins bring some offense to the third line - I think Avery-Drury-Callahan and Higgins-Anisimov-Kotalik is an upgrade for both lines, actually.
Our nine games with Del Zotto are almost up. Steve Zipay put it best: "For those knuckleheads who were counting down: It'll be nine games into the season tomorrow. Yeah, Del Zotto's going back to juniors. 'Bout as much chance of me being voted Miss Congeniality..."
Sharks, Heatley and all, at the Garden tonight at 7. Our chance to go to 8 in a row. Or, to continue sliding into a loss. Tomorrow night, the Pens have the chance to win their eighth of the season (go Blues!). Leafs are off until Saturday, by which time the Isles will have had two chances to make the Leafs the only winless team (go 'Canes and Habs!). That's all for now.
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