Its incredible what happens when a team buys in to a system from the captain down. Toffoli is just as important as Pearson as Kopitar as Richards as Brown. They would've embarrassed the Pens.
canaan wrote:Its incredible what happens when a team buys in to a system from the captain down. Toffoli is just as important as Pearson as Kopitar as Richards as Brown. They would've embarrassed the Pens.
It also helps that accountability is on a game by game basis. I like how Sutter adjusts his lines and playing time based on the guys who come out strong to start the game.
It doesn't hurt that guys have defined roles and not filling in wherever. For instance, stoll knows what hes there to do. Hes not playing 4th line center one minute, 1st line winger 6 minutes into the first the next. Their d is mobile, responsible, and adaptive. Martinez and Muzzin (yay rayjean) are not only acceptable, but difference makers.
canaan wrote:It doesn't hurt that guys have defined roles and not filling in wherever. For instance, stoll knows what hes there to do. Hes not playing 4th line center one minute, 1st line winger 6 minutes into the first the next. Their d is mobile, responsible, and adaptive. Martinez and Muzzin (yay rayjean) are not only acceptable, but difference makers.
I think what we're saying is that they do a lot of things right.
Yep. There are no egos. No drama. No "I can't believe they let this guy skate every night" kinda dude. They play as a team. Very blue collar. I couldn't imagine Crosby et al wearing the hard hat to work everyday.
It's kind of easy to build a team like that ("No "I can't believe they let this guy skate every night" kinda dude.") when you only have 1 guy signed beyond this year at $7 mil or more (Drew Doughty).
Since their best forward locked up longish-term is only making $6.8 mil a year, and the next highest-paid forward is paid almost a million less, you have a huge amount of cap space to fill out a roster with serviceable players.
They don't have the problem of being a "top heavy" team cap-wise, and it's definitely paid dividends.
so I have no dog in the LA/Chi fight though I would prefer LA because I don't like back-to-back winners unless it's the Pens.
anyhow, how in the heck do 4 sets of eyes miss this high stick?
after Doughty highsticked Regin the stick was stuck in Regin's visor and he skated off with it lodged in his helmet. ridiculous.
canaan wrote:Its incredible what happens when a team buys in to a system from the captain down. Toffoli is just as important as Pearson as Kopitar as Richards as Brown. They would've embarrassed the Pens.
I was watching the Kings game last night while falling asleep and it was quite calming. There is no "what if" with the Pens now, I know that even if they had stumbled into the SCF the Kings would've smoke checked them. It really put actual closure to the Pens season for me because I know now that there was never going to be a Cup. It's not a complete knock on the Pens, but praise for the Kings. It's fun to watch.
I totally get that way of thinking. when the playoffs start I just pray the Cryers get knocked out before the Pens. I love watching the Pens but their playoff hockey can be so stressful that I find myself almost wishing for them to be knocked out so that I can just sit back and actually enjoy the playoffs. my only complaint this year is that we haven't had enough multi-OT games. MOAR OT!!!!!
This conference finals has been pretty terrible, compared to the standard we've grown accustomed to. Chicago has a much better shot of making it a series than Montreal.