Some musings about the Comets in January
Subtitled.......... "Don't mess with success"
Comets started January with 2 losses, then went on a streak of 5 wins in 6 games. Climbed up the standings, and everyone was feeling the rush.
Then. .... 3 losses in a row. What happened?
The major difference between the winning run and this losing streak is the line combinations. The line of Bailey-Jasek-Lind was dominating the opposition, and on their heels came Goldy-Camper-Boucher, who were also producing.
Then the lines were shuffled to accommodate returning players - MacEwen from the Canucks and Baertschi and Stevens from injury. Jasek was demoted to the 3rd line to let Steven's center the big line (and he did score a shorty yesterday as well as assisting on Baileys goal) but they were never the threat over the last 3 games that the Bailey-Jasek-Lind line was that delivered the 3 hat tricks in 4 games.
Big Mac slotted into the 3rd line that had seen Baertschi as the playmaker with Pope or Hamilton centering and Stevenson or Perron on the other wing, and got Jasek as the center. Frankly, Mac has looked rusty, and there wasn't any evident chemistry with Baer or Jasek. (Baertschi gets a pass from criticism as he was an integral part of the 5 in 6 win streak)
I am aware that personnel decisions are often governed by the veteran/exempt veteran rules, but the basic question is "why mess with success?"