This game was certainly one that had me asking that question. It wasn’t so much a game as one professional team turning up and applying themselves to the task at hand while the other mailed it in and bailed on its new head coach and its goaltenders.
The eventual 8-2 loss could easily have been far worse — a new franchise record defeat might have been set if not for some desperation goaltending and Syracuse taking their foot off the gas in the final period.
The loss of Sheldon Keefe has been deeply felt, as has the current absences of Rasmus Sandin, Adam Brooks, Mason Marchment and Pierre Engvall.