Cristall might force their hand if he can keep this up, halfway through the game he’s got the goal and a bunch of good chances. I read recently that he’s AHL-ineligible right now and has to go back to juniors if he doesn’t make the team. That puts him in a different spot where if he’s playing well enough we might see sending him down right away as harmful to his development. They might elect to give him a shot at a few games to see how well he can hang, similar to Lapierre a couple years back.

Obviously I’m getting ahead of myself but he’s flying out there so far, that’s reason for optimism whatever happens next.