I’m a bit torn on how to feel after this one. Still pretty frustrated on the level of play and obviously the loss and the losing streak; at the same time, we fought back from down 0-3 and got a point (some may say we stole a point). I’m feeling a bit bipolar after this one. 
Certainly this was not Kari’s strongest game ever. It is tempting to just say he’s overworked–the guy has seen like 900 shots since the all-star break, it feels like. I would not be surprised to see Moose get the next start–I think Kari is starting to break a bit from all the work. (He still made some sweet saves, and you can’t really fault him on the OT goal, but he let in some softies as well).
As for the defense, they are still pretty frustrating to watch… Zhitnik still took a few stupid penalties (although the refs were particularly bad tonight), but he did step up his hitting and obviously got a big time goal in the 2nd. Klee also had a big time goal (was that really his 1st of the season?) and some big physical hits, but got seriously outplayed on the OT goal. Didn’t that exact same play happen Carolina? Or NJ? I can’t remember–but giving up point blank shots at Kari is never a good plan. Enstrom had a pretty solid game and Havelid had a pretty quietly solid game. Havelid had a few misplays keeping the puck in the zone at the point, but I can’t get over how much better #28 seems this year. I honestly didn’t notice Kiwi out there too much tonight – nothing in particular stands out that he did positively OR negatively. Finally, Exelby looked flat out awful out there. I’ve defended Ex at times this season, but it seems clear he’s in a pretty big slump lately. (They said he’s -7 in the last 5 games on the post game show).
On the post game show, someone called in asking why Popovic continues to be scratched while Zhitnik and Ex continue to struggle out there. Jeff and Dan said something to the effect of “there are 8 healthy defensemen, and DW is going to put in whoever is getting it done out there.” Maybe it is just me, but I just don’t have that much faith in DW anymore. I know Mac’s stats aren’t great, but he really stepped it up in the several games before he was scratched. Popovic hasn’t really played enough for me to analyze it, but the times he has played he’s been absolutely fine. I just don’t understand how Ex and Zhitnik continue to stay in the lineup while Mac and Pops sit. (To be clear, I thought Zhit played OK tonight). I mean, Zhitnik was even benched for almost the entire 3rd period against Carolina–if what Jeff and Dan say is true, he should have absolutely been scratched the next game and Pops or Mac should have gotten a start. Odgers said that now is not the time to worry about guys feelings, and you have to put in whoever is going to get it done. I agree that that is what SHOULD happen, I just don’t think that is what DW is doing.
As for our new additions–I saw some pretty positive stuff out there. When Armstrong, Christensen, and Perrin were out there, they looked pretty dang good. We didn’t really get to see those huge Armstrong hits we were promised, but I thought he still played a solid game. He showed a lot of hustle and actually did a better job in the offensive zone than just about any other Thrasher out there tonight.
Holik looked pretty good out there, I think he is probably playing with a bit of a load off his shoulders now that his status is clear for the rest of the season. Recchi had some trouble holding on the puck tonight, but hustled out there for most of his shifts. Kovy is playing frustrated, you can see it in his face every time he doesn’t score. He did have some good chances tonight… I’m not worried about him. He played way more defensively responsible tonight, had some huge hits, even laid down to block a shot in the 1st, and he keeps passing to Todd White no matter how futile it is. Not Kovy’s best game ever, but he was fine out there.
When it is all said and done, I think it showed a lot of character for this team, on this losing streak, to battle back from a 3 goal deficit to sneak a point (especially since Carolina lost). We know there are things with this team that are broken, since they’ve been this way all season (i.e. puck possession and shot differential). But tonight, we showed that heart that has been missing since New Jersey.
I’ll take the point.
As always, this is only my two cents. I could be wrong.
