SAN JOSE – A big part of the reason Tomas Hertl had a disappointing sophomore season was that his confidence was shot. He admitted as much a few months in, when he wasn’t producing at an acceptable rate while still likely suffering from the effects of right knee surgery.
That sure doesn’t seem to be an issue now. Take, for example, his play in the first period on Saturday against Carolina, when he charged ahead on Noah Hanifin, chipped the puck around the rookie defenseman, sidestepped him, corralled it again and put a backhand on net from close range.