We looked slow, however not because our players are slower, but because Calgary's execution and transition game was much more effective. You also have to give the other team some credit sometimes, for example on the first goal, Calgary capitalized on a simple turnover in the offensive, with a couple quick passes Tkachuk was already entering the offensive zone, instead of dumping the puck he deked, pivoted, opened some space for Giardano who got a great shooting opportunity.
While the Flames are playing with great confidence, meanwhile our players are still adjusting not not dumping the puck every time they can, and trailing last night this was evident as we reverted back to dump and chasing. Our forwards have lost the confidence to do what Tkachuk did on on the first goal, in the same situation without the great easy opening we would have shot the puck on Elliott, or sent it behind the net to chase it. We can see some improvements since Julien took over, especially on defense, but our players are still not programmed to keep control of the puck. Julien said it best when he took over, this team has no self-confidence...
If we played with more confidence, guys like Pacioretty, Radulov, Galchenyuk, Gallagher, Danault, Byron, Mitchell, Shaw, etc would be circling around in the offensive zone, like they did in the first 10-12 games of the season. Every game earlier we were saying how Montreal was just too fast for the other teams, all four lines were fore-checking and just circling around in the offensive zone. Our players didn't get slower...