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Downie, by the way, has been playing hurt for about three weeks with a shoulder injury. He might...

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Downie, by the way, has been playing hurt for about three weeks with a shoulder injury. He might have a slight separation in fact. And Duchene has also been playing hurt. His ankle/knee are not 100 percent.

In a recent mailbag, Dater confirmed what some, including me, have posited regarding Downie's lack of production. It is also worth stating that Duchene is in the same boat as Downie, so any leeway we give Downie, should also be given to Duchene, who, as stated before, is not the same player as in the beginning of the season. I think it's fair to call him out for his performance pre-injury, but expecting an 80-point player after it is just unfair. I realise expectations are higher with him, but that doesn't give one the right to criticise excessively.