Obviously respect your opinion and all that jazz DC, I think your on the money a lot of the time. But I do think you can't not be proud of our group at this point. Vegas had a pretty mean forecheck coming into this series and while structurally we have neutered it, we've always owned up and starting playing a grittier physical team brand of hockey that has to earn this team some favor.
Yes, for sure, overconfidence can kill us, it's always been a killer for us. The moment the narrative shifts to our favor we start to believe the hype too much. I totally agree with you on that. But ignoring all that, we've still been a heck of a hockey team these playoffs and I think there is a lot of guys on our roster who had much needed gut check moments who are now playing way more to their, not skill, size and determination. More people saw what Beagle and Oshie were doing out there and realized that it's that type of hard work above all that has to be there. I have to respect that myself. Even more so when I see Reaves and that 4th line forechecking and watching Kempny not get out manned on the puck or Nisky drop Reaves on a counter hit and stare at him. The frustration we saw out of Vegas at the end of last nights game was just as much about their inability to dicate the 5v5 play of this series. Even in a world where the bounces in the first 10 minutes of the game go in, the rest of that hockey game Vegas was still far too streaky. They aren't playing the way to they are expecting and it's because we are frustrating them and not letting them dictate, even when they get physical.
Obviously still lots of hockey to be played. But I feel like your just ignoring the grit our boys have showed at some point is all. Like nobody could take Engelland, Smith, Sbias Mcnabb etc? Come on. What even etc. are you talking about if Vegas fights with Reaves or McNabb they lose two key players. That is huge for them. Their fourth line and top shutdown pair have literally been the only good things for them on the ice most of this series. But regardless, Orpik has fought and won these playoffs and he's had a return to form playoffs that for me is likely signalling near the end of his career in terms of peak. You see that sometimes. But I'd easily say Orpik could hold his ground or take any of the players not named Reaves you just mentioned. Ovie has fought before, although once but with his leadership he hasn't backed down during scrums. Oshie too. Nisky too, who has fought and delivered big hits on star players in the past. Let's not get wild here. We aren't a bunch of small babies. We have shown that this series. Vegas is smaller than us on the whole, that is just facts. Ryan Reaves for all his grit and size is still only 6'1. Lars Eller is 6'2 at that rate. Wilson towers of Reaves, and the only reason for the big loss during that fight and in general is because Reaves literally trains fighting. But in terms of top fighters left in the NHL Wilson is probably top 3 to Reaves 1 lets be real here. He'd have a chance if he stood his ground.
