dondo
01-29-2011, 01:54 AM
Giants Douse Blazers
Vancouver 3 Kamloops 1
The top line got it done for the Giants tonight as the team dominated the Blazers for the majority of the game, keeping the Kamloops boys to the outside and limiting their shots. The Giants now have 10 wins in their last 12 games. January was kind to the team, when they were at risk of sliding back with their season becoming more or less a write-off, after a dismal December. Bonner made some savvy deals before the deadline though getting some players from winning teams and infusing the dressing room with positive vibes. The Giants have already lost 250 man games to injury, which has been a big part of their woes this season.
Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring in the first as the Giants brought a tenacious game to bear. The only knock could have been that there seemed to be a lot of individual efforts early on and less team unity. Brendan Rowinski got the puck to Gallagher in Blazer’s zone and Gally cut through the slot, making a slick toe drag and snapping the puck far-side on Jeff Bosch. Despite taking the loss, Bosch played a strong game and kept his team in it for longer than they should have been. One doorstep robbery on Andrej Stastny was particularly excellent. The Giants out-shot and out-played the Blazers in the first, but could not get more than one past Bosch. The Blazers tied it up on probably the only true defensive breakdown the Giants had all game. Missing their assignments left a player open in the slot to feed Dylan Willick for a tap-in goal on the open side. In the second Spencer Bennett held onto possession of the puck in the Blazers zone for an extended period of time until he had a clear lane. Throwing the puck toward the net from a bad angle he cut around the net to capitalize on a rebound off of a Gallagher shot, Brendan Rowinski got the other helper. The Giants continued to create chances, but were having a tough time beating Bosch. Finally on the PP in the third, Bennett got his second of the night on a nice wraparound finish from behind the net.
Rookie Watch: Franson had some good shifts playing with Redmond and Bellerive. Sward was a –1, but laid a few good body checks. Hart was a +1 and was solid at both ends of the ice.
Fight Night: None to speak of. There were a few scrums, but the linesmen did not allow it to go any further.
Zebra Cage: Kirk and Montsion missed a bunch, but for them it was actually a decently called game, which is saying something as they both have a tendency to get their egos involved, but tonight was mostly benign.
The Giants out shot the Blazers badly 38-17 and looked to be almost like the Giants of old. The hometown boys went 1 for 4 on the PP, while holding the Blazers to 0 for 3. Getting some gamers like Bennett and now Stastny has given them two very dangerous scoring lines and their depth players are able to play more of a role and do not seem to be over-whelmed or out of their element as they were earlier in the season. They need to get some more production from their depth players and a there are few who need to step it up a notch game in and game out. With healthy bodies though, the Giants have the luxury of being able to sit players and have the players who do play earn their spots. That makes the whole team hungrier and more accountable when they have to play hard to keep their place in the line-up.
The Giants are away from the Coliseum until mid-February as they go on a six game road trip. Four of which happen in five days as they run through the Central division. The teams they face should not be a huge challenge, but as usual they will need to stay focused and ready to bring their type of game to the fore. The only thing missing from their current game is the more physical aspect. They are holding their own and mostly not getting pushed around, but they now have some bodies who can do some pushing and if they hope to compete come playoff time that is an element of their game they will need to discover.
Three Stars
1. Spencer Bennett
2. Brendan Gallagher
3. Brendan Rowinski
Dondo’s Doghouse: No real bonafide doghouse denizens, but I would like to see a lot more from Jordan Martinook, who is a player who has the abilities, but lacks a bit of drive from shift to shift at times. Teal Burns who lit it up in his first games here, could be a bit more effective as well. Other than that the team is gelling and finding some chemistry.
Vancouver 3 Kamloops 1
The top line got it done for the Giants tonight as the team dominated the Blazers for the majority of the game, keeping the Kamloops boys to the outside and limiting their shots. The Giants now have 10 wins in their last 12 games. January was kind to the team, when they were at risk of sliding back with their season becoming more or less a write-off, after a dismal December. Bonner made some savvy deals before the deadline though getting some players from winning teams and infusing the dressing room with positive vibes. The Giants have already lost 250 man games to injury, which has been a big part of their woes this season.
Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring in the first as the Giants brought a tenacious game to bear. The only knock could have been that there seemed to be a lot of individual efforts early on and less team unity. Brendan Rowinski got the puck to Gallagher in Blazer’s zone and Gally cut through the slot, making a slick toe drag and snapping the puck far-side on Jeff Bosch. Despite taking the loss, Bosch played a strong game and kept his team in it for longer than they should have been. One doorstep robbery on Andrej Stastny was particularly excellent. The Giants out-shot and out-played the Blazers in the first, but could not get more than one past Bosch. The Blazers tied it up on probably the only true defensive breakdown the Giants had all game. Missing their assignments left a player open in the slot to feed Dylan Willick for a tap-in goal on the open side. In the second Spencer Bennett held onto possession of the puck in the Blazers zone for an extended period of time until he had a clear lane. Throwing the puck toward the net from a bad angle he cut around the net to capitalize on a rebound off of a Gallagher shot, Brendan Rowinski got the other helper. The Giants continued to create chances, but were having a tough time beating Bosch. Finally on the PP in the third, Bennett got his second of the night on a nice wraparound finish from behind the net.
Rookie Watch: Franson had some good shifts playing with Redmond and Bellerive. Sward was a –1, but laid a few good body checks. Hart was a +1 and was solid at both ends of the ice.
Fight Night: None to speak of. There were a few scrums, but the linesmen did not allow it to go any further.
Zebra Cage: Kirk and Montsion missed a bunch, but for them it was actually a decently called game, which is saying something as they both have a tendency to get their egos involved, but tonight was mostly benign.
The Giants out shot the Blazers badly 38-17 and looked to be almost like the Giants of old. The hometown boys went 1 for 4 on the PP, while holding the Blazers to 0 for 3. Getting some gamers like Bennett and now Stastny has given them two very dangerous scoring lines and their depth players are able to play more of a role and do not seem to be over-whelmed or out of their element as they were earlier in the season. They need to get some more production from their depth players and a there are few who need to step it up a notch game in and game out. With healthy bodies though, the Giants have the luxury of being able to sit players and have the players who do play earn their spots. That makes the whole team hungrier and more accountable when they have to play hard to keep their place in the line-up.
The Giants are away from the Coliseum until mid-February as they go on a six game road trip. Four of which happen in five days as they run through the Central division. The teams they face should not be a huge challenge, but as usual they will need to stay focused and ready to bring their type of game to the fore. The only thing missing from their current game is the more physical aspect. They are holding their own and mostly not getting pushed around, but they now have some bodies who can do some pushing and if they hope to compete come playoff time that is an element of their game they will need to discover.
Three Stars
1. Spencer Bennett
2. Brendan Gallagher
3. Brendan Rowinski
Dondo’s Doghouse: No real bonafide doghouse denizens, but I would like to see a lot more from Jordan Martinook, who is a player who has the abilities, but lacks a bit of drive from shift to shift at times. Teal Burns who lit it up in his first games here, could be a bit more effective as well. Other than that the team is gelling and finding some chemistry.