Sometimes things make sense, sometimes they don't. We have a lineup filled with players who don't score very often 21-44-53-27-11-20-7-32-29 with again the NHL's worst powerplay, but the numbers are good enough. We have a defense with DeAngelo, Romanov, Mayfield, Boqvist who make tons of mistakes yet the shots against have not been lower for such a long stretch while the overall goalie numbers not good based on the 0-3 start.
And here we are, second place. The doom/gloom predicted here during the entire preseason had not happened as Drouin sits with his three goals in over twenty games, and most of the forward group is the same. We saw the turnovers that made 77/28 almost unplayable, but when the game ends the shots against are in the twenties.
As we approach the one year anniversay of Varlamov's injury, Rittich went from someone unplayable to someone indespensible, who makes huge saves as he did against Seattle who faced fewer chances, but more dangers then the counterpart. It's not making sense.
Being in contention is the name of the game, banking points (even awful skills competition) they are treated like 10-0 regulation games by fans/poor media we have, it's ugly but they are in a playoff spot today.
Everyone knows what I think Pageau-Palmieri-Cizikas. Palmieri killed them Saturday with another bad play in the crease where he again cost his team the tying goal because he's cluelss with no hands in front the goal, who can't finish all season. Shabanov cannot take his job fast enough. They shutout Seattle with Ritchie as third line center, get rid of the two week wonder in Pageau ASAP, anyone can win faceoffs except Barzal (right Mr Roy) Cizikas should not be a center or anywhere but an old timers game. Call up anyone with scoring hands who can pot some goals and move Cizikas or waive him.
We knew the attendance at the holidays would be a pack of propaganda/lies, and the team sponsored pro Belmont bloggers did what they are told. Only surprise was Dolan's media getting on that bandwagon like they have a vested interest, we never saw it this bad before unless they were working to run down the renovated Coliseum/Barclay's that Dolan lost before he demanded Cuomo/Wang support Belmont. I think Ledecky regrets Belmont and made a bad deal.
