- Joined:
- May 15, 2010
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Man, Kane can make anyone look good on his line.
They really showed how they can play when they put their minds to it.
First time I've seen them play like that wearing the black. Kane put a puck right in Strome's watch pocket for his 2nd goal. Lots of chances off Anaheim's lapses. Lehner got his 1st shutout of the year for someone else. Heck of an evening.
I continue to be impressed by Dach -- he made that first goal happen with a beautiful entry into the zone. I know he isn't necessarily tearing it up on the scoresheet, but I continue to be impressed by his hockey IQ with regard to little-but-important things like back-checking and opting for the responsible/safer play (as opposed to the dumber play) more often than not. I almost appreciate him more than I do Kubalik, at least with regard to the finer details; and he's really finding his confidence and utilizing his size -- it seems like it would almost be automatic for a big guy to know how to truly use his size in protecting the puck and along the boards, but it's not. You need to be strong on your edges -- that's why players like Bickell and Hayden were never really effective players in utilizing their size to their advantage.
Nylander had a very pretty goal, but it was the wrong play in my view. The pass was way open and he definitely should have dished it to Saad to complete the three-way play -- if he wouldn't have scored, I would have been livid that he didn't pass. He could have made the play/goal easier by just passing.