Mikko was raised by the Avs and was already getting pissed about the absence of calls. He may come around yet.

But there's gonna be no replacing the sheer audacity, and we may never get over that loss.

Yes, but what would it take to replace that mustache?

I just want my highly prized purebred to show out at the big events and stop losing the group to the loveable lab. We know they never win best in show anyway.

Played all of his meaningful adolescent hockey in the Stars system, from 12 until he joined the NTDP, but clearly his elementary school seasons in Denver are the only things that matter.

I wonder if the fact Jake was so good the first two rounds, unlike the last couple years, earned him more rope before the potential confidence torpedo.

This was clearly, for better or worse, a desperation move. Desperate doesn't usually end up being a good look, no matter how justified it is.

Agree. It's risky as hell and didn't work. But it didn't come out of nowhere and pretending it was just for momentum is ignoring the elephant in the room.

I would have been annoyed if he said "Goaltending alone dug us that hole." But that wasn't my read - just that Jake was and had been struggling.

I didn't read it as a throw under the bus, just a statement of fact. They all underperformed this series, Jake included.

(I also want Jake to be secure enough in his talent to get mad about it and play better in these moments in an "I'll show you" revenge tour.)

For me it lies all around. The goalie was out-goalied by an inferior goalie, the forwards were outsniped by a shallower but top-heavier forward group, the D was exhausted and couldnt contribute offense. I won't defend coaching as a strength here, but execution was quite poor and that's on players.

But is he wrong?

That was the reason for the pull. Jake isn't the only reason they lost this series, but he certainly wasn't helping them win it, and he does struggle against Edmonton in the playoffs (worse this year than last).

He pulled Jake. He was gonna get asked about it and say why.

He didn't say they were the better team overall, just in this series. The evidence is pretty clear with that.

But if you are paid to be your team's backbone you can't give up 2 goals on the first 2 shots no matter the quality of the chances. The very reason you're paid so much is to bail your team out in exactly that circumstance.

It's a weird island for goalies. And a very Hellebuyck performance from him.