I agree that Stars played well but we were consistent with the lasts couple of weeks. I could count on one hand the amount of times we exited our zone and set something up in the Stars zone. We played like we were playing a superior team. We were so eager to cross the red line and dump the puck. We had no decent possession really. On the 58th and 59th minute we had great zone time but that was it.
Crawford, for all his wonderful offensive abiities is just a disaster at the back. The third period was a great example, we win the draw in our zone, he ices the puck and hits the scoreboard, back under pressure we go with another face off. We win that face off and he fires it the length of the ice for another icing, back under pressure. The third face off the Stars win and build zone time. These are just basic plays. To not be able to pick a pass and exit our zone in a controlled way just kills all of our momentum and places us under unnecessary pressure. A few of our goals tonight came from broken plays as opposed to well worked moves. We just don't seem to be playing to a level that will threaten a championship.
Great to have Busch back. For someone lacking game time, he was relentless and got his rewards. Another solid game by Batch and Ritchie put his body on the line, again. Pleased to see Duggan notch one. A goal from that line always makes me happy.