That's more like it.
It was "only" two goals and one was an empty-netter but the potential effect Brandon Saad's busting out could well be huge. The expected joy and relief of having finally scored was plainly evident but, almost as good, Saad played with fury, purpose and swagger from there on. It's not as if he'd been playing so badly up until last night but, when that first goal went in, it's like a switch was flipped.
I'd thought he was lost, perhaps he is found.
Yes, there's more
I don't know what to do about Anisimov. It felt like he was dragging Kane & Saad down a bit yet, he's pretty good in front of the net, being as he's large and has okay hands. Is it worth putting up with his lack of speed and his defensive indifference for awhile to see what these three can accomplish?
Toews and Gustafsson had fantastic games apart from one gacked play....and it was the same play for both of them and Toews very nearly undid his end of the mistake, barely failing to lift Rakell's stick as they bore down on Crawford. Gus has been a revelation, having upped every aspect of his game to unforeseen levels. Two months ago I'd written that the roster could only support either Gustafsson or Forsling and not both and, at this point, Forsling will be lucky if Stan Bowman doesn't delete him from his contacts list. Gus could still use a bit of improvement defensively but he is already ridiculously better than he'd been last year.
Marcus Kruger - penalty minute leader. Okay, that has to stop.
Luke Johnson - does anyone know what he does? Schmaltz and Fortin had a few interesting moments last night but Johnson was nowhere around. Coach Q seems really enthusiastic about Johnson so maybe there's something there and I just haven't spotted it yet. As it is, he appears to be a downgrade from super-steady David Kampf.
Corey Crawford is The Man.
That is all.
NEXT: The Rangers on Thursday. Get ready for The Attack of The Killer Zees....or possibly Zeds, with Zuccarello and Zibanejad leading "the charge" in the midst of an icky rebuild.
Left Boy The Return of...
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