@ New York

It took exactly thirteen seconds for Matias Maccelli to score and convince me that this team was finally different. William Nylander picked up a primary assist and the dream was alive. Naturally, Maccelli celebrated this achievement by taking a slashing penalty twenty-five seconds later because heaven forbid we enjoy a lead for a full minute. We outshot New York nine to three in the opening frame yet still went into the room tied after Will Cuylle reminded us that defensive coverage is merely a suggestion for this roster.

Easton Cowan gave us another glimmer of hope in the second period with a goal assisted by John Tavares and Matthew Knies. That hope lasted just long enough for Morgan Rielly to head to the box for hooking. Vladislav Gavrikov tied it on the power play and set the stage for a third period collapse that felt like a warm, familiar blanket of sadness. We actually outshot New York in every single period but still managed to lose by four goals. Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first of the season because we are nothing if not a charitable organization dedicated to helping opposing players reach their career milestones.

Joseph Woll ended the night with a save percentage under eighty percent which is a bold strategy in a professional hockey game. While Auston Matthews was busy winning seventy-seven percent of his faceoffs, Dakota Joshua and Nick Robertson were busy finishing the game as minus-three players. Giving up four goals in the final frame including an empty netter to Cuylle was the perfect way to cap off a game where we had more shots but significantly less competence. It is truly impressive to lose 6-2 while controlling the shot clock. This team has a unique gift for making statistical dominance look like a tragic comedy.