Erik Haula admits that it's been a frustrating start to his first season in Black & Gold. Despite a number of golden scoring chances through the first 11 games, the veteran centerman has just one assist to his name. But the lack of production on the scoresheet is not deterring Haula, who believes that if he continues getting opportunities, the goals will follow.
"Chances-wise, numbers are up there," said Haula. "Puck's not going in, that's obviously the worst feeling for a player. It's frustrating. But come to the rink today, try to smile a little bit and work hard, go to the next game and keep on going…ultimately, I believe if I keep getting those looks that it's gonna start going in and things are going to turn around."
In an effort to spark his middle six, Cassidy flipped right wingers for Thursday night's tilt against the Oilers, bumping Craig Smith down to play with Haula and Jake DeBrusk and shifting Nick Foligno - who was returning from an eight-game, injury-related absence - up to skate with Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle.
"Try not to think of it like that," Haula said of adjusting his game depending on who his wingers are. "I think right now it's important that we focus on ourselves a little bit and make sure that we're at our best. That's all we can do. We may be struggling a little bit in certain areas, so getting the best out of yourself is the best way to help your line. That's certainly what I've been trying to focus on."
Smith, meanwhile, remains without a point through eight games, which Cassidy attributed in part to the winger's early-season injury that kept him out for three games last month.
"Craig Smith, for example, is a guy that typically will put up his numbers," said Cassidy. "He's been playing through some injuries, he's off net a little bit with his shot. I think he's pressing. He wants to score a goal so bad he's trying to squeeze it through there instead of just, 'Hey, force the goalie to stop it.' There's a little bit of that."
Overall, Cassidy said that part of the middle six's scoring troubles is the lack of familiarity with some new faces in the mix, while still acknowledging that over a month into the season that should be starting to fade.
"We are in mid-November so I can't use that as a crutch all the time and neither should they," said Cassidy. "We've practiced together for a while, but it is a reality. It's not like our top line that's been together for years. I certainly believe those guys will come around.
"How they come around is kind of our job now and that's what we're trying to do is encourage them to put it on net, go for 2-on-1s, create a round goal situation when they're not going in otherwise with plays. Maybe that will snowball and give them some confidence."
