This Forum has a number of thoughtful and observant fans so occasionally when I don't have an answer, I will throw out a question to get the input of the people here.

It's been a while since the CBJ have had a solid and dependable defense, so most of us are pretty pumped about the way the team D has played this year. Both goalies have played better and are looking most nights like the tandem we hoped they would be. The top four D (Z/Fabbro and Mateychuk/Provorov) looks as set as it has been since 2019. (Z/Jones and Murray/Savard). Many of us (me included) are hoping the team can sign Fabbro and even Provorov to extensions. 

Yet, I look at the NHL stats and the CBJ are 26th in goals allowed at 3.28/game. That kind of bottom third performance isn't going to get us very far this time of year. Are we as fans getting ahead of ourselves this year? Have our hometown boys just been so bad for so long that working our way back to "almost middle of the pack" is cause for celebration? Were I just to look at the stats, and hadn't seen a game all year, I would just say a pretty good offense is masking problems on D.

Thoughts?