dondo
03-21-2009, 12:59 AM
The Giants out scored the Cougars 40-11 in the regular season, shutting them out three times in eight games. They continued that dominance tonight putting home 8 goals while allowing two. The problem for me is that the two goals they allowed were short-handed goals. That just shouldn't happen. Lance Bouma and Mike Piluso back in the line-up tonight after both being out for an extended period. They both contributed on the score-sheet and on the ice and imo Piluso should have been the third star not Kane.
The Giants shredded Armstrong and the Cougars in the second for 5 unanswered goals, chasing him from the net. Caliguiri did alright, but eventually allowed two of his own against. Sexy was not really to blame for the two goals against, but he needs to be better regardless. He's still fighting the puck a bit and does not look to be in his usual calm comfortable pocket.
Here's how I saw it from the corner:
Round 1 Game 1:
Giants Crush Cats
Vancouver 8 Prince George 2
Don Robinson
The Giants had Lance Bouma back in their line-up and they were happy to have the intense power-forward back on skates as he brought a nice edge to this game. Before the drop of the puck the look of pure intensity on Bouma’s face was reminiscent of the crazed look Hunt often wore. The Cougars hardest work came on the PK, when they pressed the Giants hard and managed to get two goals while down a man. The Giants were guilty of getting sloppy at times and very lazy on the PP. The Giants opened the scoring late in the first when Brent Regner wired a puck past Armstrong through a screen. The reffing was pretty ridiculous tonight as the zebras ignored some of the dangerous stuff while calling soft as butter penalties early on, but the Cougars didn’t do themselves any favours taking undisciplined penalties late in the game, giving the Giants many opportunities with the man-advantage. Late hits after the whistle, and lazy retaliation penalties were part of the Cougars downfall, but I suppose after scoring two SH goals they figured that they had a better chance getting one to go while down a man, than at even strength.
Kevin Armstrong was fairly solid in the first as the Giants pressured his crease, but after the Cougars tied up the game early in the second the Giants went on a tear, scoring three goals in 1:11 and then adding two more quick ones a couple of minutes later, when they scored a pair in 1:19. The Cougars were very guilty of turning the puck over in the middle frame and it killed them. A minute after the Cougars tied the game the floodgates opened as the Giants shredded the Cougar D and Armstrong for 5 unanswered goals, starting with Lance Bouma taking a Cunningham feed and putting it in the open side. Evander Kane got a measure of revenge back as he was hit from behind a few minutes earlier into the open door of the bench. It was a cheap shot and one which had the Cougars score their first SH’d goal. Not a great message to send. Kane got that one back off of a nice feed by Garry Nunn. Craig Schira rounded out the first scoring outburst, with a soft shot which found the far side of the net. Armstrong was screened, but it was a floater. Still in the second Kudrna put home a Schira rebound with a sweet fore to backhand move. Jonathon Blum found the twine on the PP capping off the Giants five goal assault.
The Giants were sloppy and careless coming out in the third on the PP. Joe Caligiuri replaced Armstrong after the Giants 6th goal and was in net to start the first. The Giants pressed a bit on the PP and the Cougars PK took advantage firing the puck down the ice. The Cougars were the first to hustle down ice as the Giants slogged their way back to their zone, a trait very unlike their usual hustle. Robbie Ciolfi out-raced the Giants defender, got to the loose puck and cut across the crease, eluding a poke check attempt by Sexsmith and putting the puck top shelf with a back-hand to the high corner, stick side. The Giants came out in the third sluggish as hell and maybe a bit cocky as they floated their way through the first 5 minutes. Part of me is actually happy that the Giants paid for it when they got lackadaisical. It will remind them not to squander their chances and to take care of the puck at all ends of the ice. It will hold them in good stead for the rest of this series and beyond if they manage to bury the Cougars in this round.
A massive rough-fest just past the mid-way part of the third finally re-energized the Vancouver squad. The G-Men went on the PP as Hobbs crashed the crease fists flying. Schira got his second of the game picking far-side top corner with a wicked wrister. Mike Berube and Brian Matte dropped the mitts and went toe to toe, with Berube getting in most of the shots, but Matte getting the take-down. Call it a draw. Mischa Fisenko buried a sweet top corner wrister, off of a nice feed from Nick Ross and Mike Piluso. Piluso, Like Bouma, was also back in the line-up after an extended break healing an injury. He contributed well, had two assists and was a +3 on the night playing with Nolan Toigo. Proving how important it is to take care of the puck while on the PP, Blum had a goal and two assists, but was still a -1 and Casey Pierro-Zabotel was also a –1 with two assists on the night. Regner had a goal and was a –2. Plus/minus doesn’t really mean much in the end, but I just find it interesting that when you allow goals when you’re on the PP it can hurt your career numbers.
The Giants went 3 for 12 on PP, while holding the Cougars to 0 for 6. The home team out shot the visitors 53-18. The two refs Derek Herman and Steve Papp had a pretty heavy hand in this game, but instead of calling all that pissy stuff, I would have preferred they call the flying elbows, charges and checks from behind. They got a few of the calls right and managed to keep the emotions in the third from getting out of control, but early in the game I would have preferred to see them a bit less whistle happy. Lots of partial PPs for the two teams. The boys were great on the PK, but needed to keep that same focus for the PP, when they allowed themselves to get out-hustled giving up two unnecessary chances. One a clean breakaway and the other a give and go 2 on 1 which had the D-man floating back and not taking the puck carrier. Tyson Sexsmith had little chance on the two goals, but still did not look his most comfortable out there, bobbling routine shots. He needs to get his focus back and rock solid as he is not playing his best hockey right now. Game 2, takes place tomorrow night at the Coliseum. Puck drops at 7pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Lance Bouma
2) Craig Schira
3) Evander Kane
The Giants shredded Armstrong and the Cougars in the second for 5 unanswered goals, chasing him from the net. Caliguiri did alright, but eventually allowed two of his own against. Sexy was not really to blame for the two goals against, but he needs to be better regardless. He's still fighting the puck a bit and does not look to be in his usual calm comfortable pocket.
Here's how I saw it from the corner:
Round 1 Game 1:
Giants Crush Cats
Vancouver 8 Prince George 2
Don Robinson
The Giants had Lance Bouma back in their line-up and they were happy to have the intense power-forward back on skates as he brought a nice edge to this game. Before the drop of the puck the look of pure intensity on Bouma’s face was reminiscent of the crazed look Hunt often wore. The Cougars hardest work came on the PK, when they pressed the Giants hard and managed to get two goals while down a man. The Giants were guilty of getting sloppy at times and very lazy on the PP. The Giants opened the scoring late in the first when Brent Regner wired a puck past Armstrong through a screen. The reffing was pretty ridiculous tonight as the zebras ignored some of the dangerous stuff while calling soft as butter penalties early on, but the Cougars didn’t do themselves any favours taking undisciplined penalties late in the game, giving the Giants many opportunities with the man-advantage. Late hits after the whistle, and lazy retaliation penalties were part of the Cougars downfall, but I suppose after scoring two SH goals they figured that they had a better chance getting one to go while down a man, than at even strength.
Kevin Armstrong was fairly solid in the first as the Giants pressured his crease, but after the Cougars tied up the game early in the second the Giants went on a tear, scoring three goals in 1:11 and then adding two more quick ones a couple of minutes later, when they scored a pair in 1:19. The Cougars were very guilty of turning the puck over in the middle frame and it killed them. A minute after the Cougars tied the game the floodgates opened as the Giants shredded the Cougar D and Armstrong for 5 unanswered goals, starting with Lance Bouma taking a Cunningham feed and putting it in the open side. Evander Kane got a measure of revenge back as he was hit from behind a few minutes earlier into the open door of the bench. It was a cheap shot and one which had the Cougars score their first SH’d goal. Not a great message to send. Kane got that one back off of a nice feed by Garry Nunn. Craig Schira rounded out the first scoring outburst, with a soft shot which found the far side of the net. Armstrong was screened, but it was a floater. Still in the second Kudrna put home a Schira rebound with a sweet fore to backhand move. Jonathon Blum found the twine on the PP capping off the Giants five goal assault.
The Giants were sloppy and careless coming out in the third on the PP. Joe Caligiuri replaced Armstrong after the Giants 6th goal and was in net to start the first. The Giants pressed a bit on the PP and the Cougars PK took advantage firing the puck down the ice. The Cougars were the first to hustle down ice as the Giants slogged their way back to their zone, a trait very unlike their usual hustle. Robbie Ciolfi out-raced the Giants defender, got to the loose puck and cut across the crease, eluding a poke check attempt by Sexsmith and putting the puck top shelf with a back-hand to the high corner, stick side. The Giants came out in the third sluggish as hell and maybe a bit cocky as they floated their way through the first 5 minutes. Part of me is actually happy that the Giants paid for it when they got lackadaisical. It will remind them not to squander their chances and to take care of the puck at all ends of the ice. It will hold them in good stead for the rest of this series and beyond if they manage to bury the Cougars in this round.
A massive rough-fest just past the mid-way part of the third finally re-energized the Vancouver squad. The G-Men went on the PP as Hobbs crashed the crease fists flying. Schira got his second of the game picking far-side top corner with a wicked wrister. Mike Berube and Brian Matte dropped the mitts and went toe to toe, with Berube getting in most of the shots, but Matte getting the take-down. Call it a draw. Mischa Fisenko buried a sweet top corner wrister, off of a nice feed from Nick Ross and Mike Piluso. Piluso, Like Bouma, was also back in the line-up after an extended break healing an injury. He contributed well, had two assists and was a +3 on the night playing with Nolan Toigo. Proving how important it is to take care of the puck while on the PP, Blum had a goal and two assists, but was still a -1 and Casey Pierro-Zabotel was also a –1 with two assists on the night. Regner had a goal and was a –2. Plus/minus doesn’t really mean much in the end, but I just find it interesting that when you allow goals when you’re on the PP it can hurt your career numbers.
The Giants went 3 for 12 on PP, while holding the Cougars to 0 for 6. The home team out shot the visitors 53-18. The two refs Derek Herman and Steve Papp had a pretty heavy hand in this game, but instead of calling all that pissy stuff, I would have preferred they call the flying elbows, charges and checks from behind. They got a few of the calls right and managed to keep the emotions in the third from getting out of control, but early in the game I would have preferred to see them a bit less whistle happy. Lots of partial PPs for the two teams. The boys were great on the PK, but needed to keep that same focus for the PP, when they allowed themselves to get out-hustled giving up two unnecessary chances. One a clean breakaway and the other a give and go 2 on 1 which had the D-man floating back and not taking the puck carrier. Tyson Sexsmith had little chance on the two goals, but still did not look his most comfortable out there, bobbling routine shots. He needs to get his focus back and rock solid as he is not playing his best hockey right now. Game 2, takes place tomorrow night at the Coliseum. Puck drops at 7pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Lance Bouma
2) Craig Schira
3) Evander Kane