You are absolutely right. Since the Christmas break, this team has gone back to the basics, and you can clearly see that the message from Blashill has landed. They’re competing harder, finishing checks, and taking it to the opponent shift after shift.
Aside from Knight having a rough night against the Pens, this group has been trending in the right direction. Learning how to compete and win without Nazar and Bedard is huge for their development and confidence as a team.
And thank you, I really appreciate the kind words. I don’t claim to be an expert — I just love the game and enjoy writing and talking hockey. The discussions we have here on HHS are what make it special. This forum is one of the best on the site because of passionate hockey people like you, my friend.