So all that stuff I said about being an optimist....yeah, not so much right now.
How does NOBODY on this team think - maybe I should look for a guy to cover in the crease as someone tries a wrap around? Three Terriers and who gets to the puck? A Pioneer. Ball game.
Another simple play that epitomizes the lack of structure and a plan. A simple two on two while shorthanded. Peterson has the puck skating up ice through the neutral zone. He has a winger that is 15 feet ahead of him skating up along the boards, with nobody on him, wide open for a pass. Does Peterson pass? No, that would be the obvious play. He keeps skating with the puck so of course, the winger has to hit the brakes, and now we're down to a 1 on 2 since the winger has no momentum going into the zone. Why not pass to the winger? It would force the d to keep retreating rather than allowing them to stand up at the blue line. This is a basic hockey play that high schoolers know how to make. I swear that the sign of a good team is when players always push the puck up ice, even if the pass is only 5 feet. It keeps the puck moving and forces the defense to continually adjust. Teams with guys that are thinking about "how can I make a great play" are the ones that keep the puck in these situations, leading to...nothing.
If this team doesn't right the ship and win convincingly tomorrow night, then it is time to make a change at the top.