dondo
03-26-2011, 12:08 AM
Americans Outlast Giants
Vancouver 1 Tri-City 2 OT
A tightly played game and some stellar goaltending at both ends of the ice was the story tonight. The Giants held onto a 1-0 lead well into the third period, but could not hold the home team off the score-sheet as an odd carom put the puck out into the open. Mark Segal was in the zone and it was unfortunate for him to take the loss after putting together an almost perfect outing. The boys went to OT, where the Ams scored on their second PP chance of the extra frame. Drew Owsley robbed several Giants with great chances as the visitors played a pretty tenacious game, but it was the Americans who elevated their games in the third and in OT.
Brendan Rowinski tickled the twine in the first on the PP with a tip-in off a David Musil point shot. Greg Lamoureux got the other assist. Rowinski had a nice chance on the doorstep earlier in the PP, but was denied by Owsley. Owsley got into the boys’ heads as they were trying to make that perfect snipe, frequently missing the net on some good chances that could have given them some insurance early. Segal was very solid and the Giants good at clearing the rebounds and holding the front of their net. David Conrad found the net off an odd bounce, which completely fooled Segal and had him out of position, tying the game at about the 8 minute mark of the third. The Ams were badly out shooting the Giants in the final frame and Segal had to be good to keep his team in the mix. You cannot have 2 shots in the third period and expect to be able to get some insurance or the win. The Giants got good chances for the first two periods, but were outplayed in the third and OT. Carter Ashton was denied by Segal, but he was able to get it past a sprawling Segal off of a PP goalmouth scramble for the win, with a mere three seconds left in the extra frame.
Rookie Watch: Hart was back and even. Neilsen was in, even – robbed on a decent chance by Owsley. Scott Cooke was in, even. Bellerive was a healthy scratch, for what reason I know not. Franson was out. Sward still injured.
Fight Night: No fights
Zebra Cage: Inconsistent. They let the boys play, but then would call penalties out of the blue when they allowed similar infractions to go uncalled. They missed a fair amount that actually affected play and in OT they ignored a few only to call some they let go on the other side of the puck. Although I prefer the refs let them play in the playoffs, allow goalmouth battles and only call real infractions, their inconsistency tonight was poor.
The Ams out shot the Giants 46-26, out shooting them 11-2 in the third and 16-7 in OT. Segal had a great night, it’s a shame the team couldn’t solve Owsley. The G’s did a decent job of getting to the net and getting some traffic, but they did not use their other minimal PP chances to best advantage after moving the puck well and getting one to go from the point in their first PP chance. The Giants got the goaltending they needed, but did not elevate in the final frame and keep the pressure on Owsley. It wasn’t a bad game as they kept a lot of the Ams chances to the outside taking away excellent scoring chances, but they needed to keep their intensity for the whole game and they didn’t. They also took two poor offensive zone penalties, the kind they just cannot afford against what is a very dangerous Tri-City PP. Game 2 tomorrow night in Kennewick. Puck drops at 7pm PDT. Boys really need to win one in Tri to have a hope in this series and Segal will have to be as good or better for a second game running. He also should have had first star honours.
Three Stars
1. Carter Ashton
2. Mark Segal
3. Drew Owsley
Dondo’s Hardhat: goes to – Mark Segal.
Vancouver 1 Tri-City 2 OT
A tightly played game and some stellar goaltending at both ends of the ice was the story tonight. The Giants held onto a 1-0 lead well into the third period, but could not hold the home team off the score-sheet as an odd carom put the puck out into the open. Mark Segal was in the zone and it was unfortunate for him to take the loss after putting together an almost perfect outing. The boys went to OT, where the Ams scored on their second PP chance of the extra frame. Drew Owsley robbed several Giants with great chances as the visitors played a pretty tenacious game, but it was the Americans who elevated their games in the third and in OT.
Brendan Rowinski tickled the twine in the first on the PP with a tip-in off a David Musil point shot. Greg Lamoureux got the other assist. Rowinski had a nice chance on the doorstep earlier in the PP, but was denied by Owsley. Owsley got into the boys’ heads as they were trying to make that perfect snipe, frequently missing the net on some good chances that could have given them some insurance early. Segal was very solid and the Giants good at clearing the rebounds and holding the front of their net. David Conrad found the net off an odd bounce, which completely fooled Segal and had him out of position, tying the game at about the 8 minute mark of the third. The Ams were badly out shooting the Giants in the final frame and Segal had to be good to keep his team in the mix. You cannot have 2 shots in the third period and expect to be able to get some insurance or the win. The Giants got good chances for the first two periods, but were outplayed in the third and OT. Carter Ashton was denied by Segal, but he was able to get it past a sprawling Segal off of a PP goalmouth scramble for the win, with a mere three seconds left in the extra frame.
Rookie Watch: Hart was back and even. Neilsen was in, even – robbed on a decent chance by Owsley. Scott Cooke was in, even. Bellerive was a healthy scratch, for what reason I know not. Franson was out. Sward still injured.
Fight Night: No fights
Zebra Cage: Inconsistent. They let the boys play, but then would call penalties out of the blue when they allowed similar infractions to go uncalled. They missed a fair amount that actually affected play and in OT they ignored a few only to call some they let go on the other side of the puck. Although I prefer the refs let them play in the playoffs, allow goalmouth battles and only call real infractions, their inconsistency tonight was poor.
The Ams out shot the Giants 46-26, out shooting them 11-2 in the third and 16-7 in OT. Segal had a great night, it’s a shame the team couldn’t solve Owsley. The G’s did a decent job of getting to the net and getting some traffic, but they did not use their other minimal PP chances to best advantage after moving the puck well and getting one to go from the point in their first PP chance. The Giants got the goaltending they needed, but did not elevate in the final frame and keep the pressure on Owsley. It wasn’t a bad game as they kept a lot of the Ams chances to the outside taking away excellent scoring chances, but they needed to keep their intensity for the whole game and they didn’t. They also took two poor offensive zone penalties, the kind they just cannot afford against what is a very dangerous Tri-City PP. Game 2 tomorrow night in Kennewick. Puck drops at 7pm PDT. Boys really need to win one in Tri to have a hope in this series and Segal will have to be as good or better for a second game running. He also should have had first star honours.
Three Stars
1. Carter Ashton
2. Mark Segal
3. Drew Owsley
Dondo’s Hardhat: goes to – Mark Segal.