MapleLeafBlueJayBoy
Well-known member
This was maybe the worst game I've ever seen this team play since Wilson left, and these past 6 weeks of hockey is probably the worst stretch of hockey this team has played since Toskala left. And that is VERY bad. Think about this - if not for having 2 good goalies in Reimer and Bernier this season, we'd be a sure bet for 1st overall pick at this point. This is how BAD our season's been.
I remember early December I was saying this team needs some drastic changes to turnaround. I was told nope, the team would ride it out ... yeah, we sure did ride it out.
What's the most puzzling is Carlyle, who through most of his years in Anaheim, actually had a pretty good record and was a pretty good coach, has made some of the stupidest decisions in his career this season. And tonight tops them all ...
- Why did he think Gleason, who couldn't even crack the Canes' top 6, could play on our top unit with Phaneuf??
- Why did he think of all the young defensemen, it was Gardiner who should sit, while Franson - the worst of them all, gets a free pass night after night after night?
- Why did he think Fraser, looking so bad the last time he played, can get into the lineup when our D is already having all kinds of problems moving the puck?
- Why do we still struggle with basic breakout from our zone after 50 games? Shift after shift you can tell EVERY TEAM just dump the puck in, forecheck on our D and come out with scoring chances. Is it because our D can't move the puck all of a sudden? No, it's because they have nobody to pass to. Our forwards are never in position to receive and outlet pass. This cannot happen at this point in the season.
It was just a total crap game from beginning till the end. I feel so bad for our goalies. Reimer did NOT have a good game tonight, especially struggle with rebounds, which is not all that surprising considering he's been sitting on the bench for so long. But he did make so big saves to keep us within 2 goals. We could EASILY be down 4-0 after just 10 minutes. How game after game we come out SO unprepared to start the game?
I said we needed drastic measures to turn this team around in December and I was called a drama queen. We desperately need drastic changes if we want to see playoff hockey in this town this spring.
Well you would have been called that by me. The writing has been on the wall for this team for a while. It has been clear as day to see.