Time now for Erin's Optimistic Takes. You didn't think I was going to skip them, did you? 😊
1. Yes, we lost to the Flames, in regulation. Not good. But not the end of the world, either.
2. Corey Perry. Enough said. The man...
1. Yes, we lost to the Flames, in regulation. Not good. But not the end of the world, either.
2. Corey Perry. Enough said. The man...
...is a treasure to this team.
3. Jake Allen. It's his doing that the score remained within chasing distance until the (slightly bitter) end. He made some unreal saves and made it possible for Perry to ruin Markstrom's shutout.
4. Markstrom did not get a shutout. That...
3. Jake Allen. It's his doing that the score remained within chasing distance until the (slightly bitter) end. He made some unreal saves and made it possible for Perry to ruin Markstrom's shutout.
4. Markstrom did not get a shutout. That...
...deserves its own take.
5. The boys were not on their game tonight, and it showed. They also played less than 20 hours earlier. I hear the "no excuses" crowd, and the people sneering that a one-hour plane flight is no big deal, etc. Do tell me: does the Habs' plane...
5. The boys were not on their game tonight, and it showed. They also played less than 20 hours earlier. I hear the "no excuses" crowd, and the people sneering that a one-hour plane flight is no big deal, etc. Do tell me: does the Habs' plane...
...pick the team up at their hotel and deliver them to the next one? No? Then the trip takes more than an hour. They didn't schedule a morning skate; that wasn't out of laziness, you know. When other teams lose a back-to-back game after a schedule like this, people...
...including the media have no problem pointing out the toll the schedule is taking on them. We shouldn't either.
6. The reason that #5 above is an optimistic take is that this isn't what our team's best looks like, and we know it. We also know they're going to bring their...
6. The reason that #5 above is an optimistic take is that this isn't what our team's best looks like, and we know it. We also know they're going to bring their...
...best game on Saturday and make the Flames pay for this nonsense.
7. Maybe it's just me, but I thought Suzuki started to gain some strength as the game wore on. That's an encouraging sign if so.
8. When Ducharme took over as interim head coach, the Habs were...
7. Maybe it's just me, but I thought Suzuki started to gain some strength as the game wore on. That's an encouraging sign if so.
8. When Ducharme took over as interim head coach, the Habs were...
...in a losing streak and would lose the next two games as well. But starting with the win over the Senators on March 2, the Habs have not lost two games in a row. Granted, they've also not won two games in a row, but I am certain Ducharme wants to change this as...
...soon as possible.
And this is a team that can get there. I didn't think so a month ago. But the whole mindset and attitude is different. This is a team that in spite of everything didn't quit tonight, even with the Byron penalty, and that's the most hopeful thing of all.
And this is a team that can get there. I didn't think so a month ago. But the whole mindset and attitude is different. This is a team that in spite of everything didn't quit tonight, even with the Byron penalty, and that's the most hopeful thing of all.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
