i think datsyuk’s actually trying to do too much right now with zetterberg and whoever the other wing is. teams are playing him much closer this year, getting on him faster, and in some instances covering him with both D and a roving forward. he’s not having much success finding anyone open, either, but it seems like that’s because whoever he’s with just doesn’t seem to be working hard enough as a unit. thus my criticism of zetterberg…

Interesting thought about leaving the third pairing out to dry on the road. Not at all out of the realm of possibility that it has been exposed. Kindl is fantastic, and he’ll only get better. Everyone knows my thoughts about Ericsson.

Regarding Zetterberg, maybe he’s still banged up — but I doubt it’d carry over this long. I hadn’t noticed, to be honest, but I’ll keep an eye out as we move along. Is it possible he’s just being overshadowed on his own line by Datsyuk?

I was thinking injury. He only had two shifts in the third period, and 8 minutes is Petrella-in-college-like. Which is to say… hardly in the game at all. 

But he HAS been taking dumbshit penalties (a la Ericsson), so maybe he was getting the pine. 

PIMs. dumb ones.

and of course, ericsson’s first few games were the high end of what we can expect from him; he’s dropped back to reality.

i also hope kindl’s last few games are the low end of what we can expect from him, because he’s been looking like a lost puppy out there. pairing 4 and 52 on the road against the opposition’s last change is…suicidal.