dondo
10-30-2011, 06:36 PM
Cougars Nip Giants
Vancouver 1 Prince George 2
Jackson Whistle was solid in his second start of the season, but Drew Owsley was better. Owsley turned away 28 of 29 shots to give his team a one goal victory. The GIants took game one of two in Prince George, but could not find the net enough for the sweep. The G's end their 4 game winning streak on a hard fought battle, in which for the most part they out-played their oppoenents, but could not solve a hot goaltender.
The teams played to a scoreless first. Greg Fraser stripped a fairly lackidaisical Marek Tvrdon, coming back in his own zone, of the puck while the Giants were on the PP. Fraser took the puck to the net, beating Whistle and opening the scoring with a short-handed tally. James Henry got that one back on the PP late in the first. Tvrdon and Neil Manning with the assists. David Musil who had been solid on the back-end took a 2 for instigating, 5 and 10 challenging Jesse Forsberg who leveled a player in neutral ice. Forsberg got 5 for fighting, yet not tagged for the questionable hit. The two teams played a very cautious 3rd period getting minimal shots on goal and playing mainly not to lose as opposed to trying to win. This did not play into the Giants favour as they did not press trying to get multiple shots on Owsley forcing him to make harder saves. In fact they only had 4 total shots on Owsley in the third and that could have been their downfall as they got caught passing too much and not just getting the puck through and crashing the net. The Cougars scored a late PP marker to get a lead they would not relinquish. The win ended the Cougars 8 game lossing streak and was a game that the Giants could have taken. The GIants went 1 for 7 on the PP, almost polar opposite to the way the exact same referees called the game the night before.
Rookie Watch: Kulak (17) on the back-end, some solid shifts. Vettrl (17), had a primo scoring chance in which he fanned on the puck, also had a tough time settling down the puck at times. Sward (17) played a decent game on the second PP, with Burns and Makin (at times). Bews (17) minimal shifts. Bellerive (17) was scratched, for what reason I know not. Houck (16) suspended for at least one game
Fight Night: Musil v. J Forsberg, a mighty bout, which saw both combatants get their shots in and Musil with the take-down.
Zebra Cage: same officiating crew with opposite lop-sided calling. Either the Cougars were getting tagged for things that were missed the night before, or the refs only saw the home squad's sweaters tonight. Not that it should be even, but the story from one night to the next seems a tad odd to me.
The Giants out-shot the Cougars 29-18, getting the majority of their shots in the second period. They went 1 for 7 on the PP and frequently squandered their chances with some sloppy play and over-passing. They coughed up a shorthanded marker off of some casual puckhandling in their own end of the ice and it put them behind the eight ball from then on. The Cougars went 1 for 3, similar to the Giants the night before and Whistle was forced to make several tough saves to keep his team in the mix. The G's often had a hard time clearing the puck from their zone.
I was disappointed by their lack of push in the third period and felt they should have been pressing a lot harder and trying to get Owsley out of his comfort zone. It's curious to me that a bunch of the young guys who have been the reason for their recent surge were sat in favour of veterans who did less. Neil Manning was back in the line-up and got an assist, but as usual was suspect on the defensive side of the puck. Matt Bellerive was scratched. Blake Orban did not play, but it's possible he did not make the trip. Kiefer McNaugton played as a forward, so the Giants went with 10 forwards and six D, one playing up front, instead of playing Orban as well and moving McNaughton to forward. Jackson Houck was suspended for at least one and game possibly more for his check to the head penalty in game 1 in PG. It was important to get Whistle the start though as he should be starting at least 25% of the games if he hopes to be the guy next season.
The Giants have a day off before heading down to Kent to take on the Thunderbirds on Tuesday. Seattle edged out Vancouver in their first meeting, badly out shooting the G's in their own building and handing them their only regulation loss at home this season. The Giants hope to get back to road winning ways, when they take on the Thunderbirds and then go to Victoria for two back to back games this coming weekend. The boys have been playing much better as of late and have used thier young line-up to great advantage. It concernes me when Hay brings in mostly ineffectual vets instead of playing the young kids and allowing them to accelerate their development by playing in all situations as they have done for the past several games in which they had a comfortable winning streak going. Puck drops in Kent at 7:05pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Drew Owsley
2) James Henry
3) Greg Fraser
Dondo's Hardhat: I'm giving it to Whistle, who didn't face a ton of shots, but did have to face some tough ones and was pretty good in his second start. I'm hoping he starts one of the games in Victoria. It would be a shame if he didn't.
Vancouver 1 Prince George 2
Jackson Whistle was solid in his second start of the season, but Drew Owsley was better. Owsley turned away 28 of 29 shots to give his team a one goal victory. The GIants took game one of two in Prince George, but could not find the net enough for the sweep. The G's end their 4 game winning streak on a hard fought battle, in which for the most part they out-played their oppoenents, but could not solve a hot goaltender.
The teams played to a scoreless first. Greg Fraser stripped a fairly lackidaisical Marek Tvrdon, coming back in his own zone, of the puck while the Giants were on the PP. Fraser took the puck to the net, beating Whistle and opening the scoring with a short-handed tally. James Henry got that one back on the PP late in the first. Tvrdon and Neil Manning with the assists. David Musil who had been solid on the back-end took a 2 for instigating, 5 and 10 challenging Jesse Forsberg who leveled a player in neutral ice. Forsberg got 5 for fighting, yet not tagged for the questionable hit. The two teams played a very cautious 3rd period getting minimal shots on goal and playing mainly not to lose as opposed to trying to win. This did not play into the Giants favour as they did not press trying to get multiple shots on Owsley forcing him to make harder saves. In fact they only had 4 total shots on Owsley in the third and that could have been their downfall as they got caught passing too much and not just getting the puck through and crashing the net. The Cougars scored a late PP marker to get a lead they would not relinquish. The win ended the Cougars 8 game lossing streak and was a game that the Giants could have taken. The GIants went 1 for 7 on the PP, almost polar opposite to the way the exact same referees called the game the night before.
Rookie Watch: Kulak (17) on the back-end, some solid shifts. Vettrl (17), had a primo scoring chance in which he fanned on the puck, also had a tough time settling down the puck at times. Sward (17) played a decent game on the second PP, with Burns and Makin (at times). Bews (17) minimal shifts. Bellerive (17) was scratched, for what reason I know not. Houck (16) suspended for at least one game
Fight Night: Musil v. J Forsberg, a mighty bout, which saw both combatants get their shots in and Musil with the take-down.
Zebra Cage: same officiating crew with opposite lop-sided calling. Either the Cougars were getting tagged for things that were missed the night before, or the refs only saw the home squad's sweaters tonight. Not that it should be even, but the story from one night to the next seems a tad odd to me.
The Giants out-shot the Cougars 29-18, getting the majority of their shots in the second period. They went 1 for 7 on the PP and frequently squandered their chances with some sloppy play and over-passing. They coughed up a shorthanded marker off of some casual puckhandling in their own end of the ice and it put them behind the eight ball from then on. The Cougars went 1 for 3, similar to the Giants the night before and Whistle was forced to make several tough saves to keep his team in the mix. The G's often had a hard time clearing the puck from their zone.
I was disappointed by their lack of push in the third period and felt they should have been pressing a lot harder and trying to get Owsley out of his comfort zone. It's curious to me that a bunch of the young guys who have been the reason for their recent surge were sat in favour of veterans who did less. Neil Manning was back in the line-up and got an assist, but as usual was suspect on the defensive side of the puck. Matt Bellerive was scratched. Blake Orban did not play, but it's possible he did not make the trip. Kiefer McNaugton played as a forward, so the Giants went with 10 forwards and six D, one playing up front, instead of playing Orban as well and moving McNaughton to forward. Jackson Houck was suspended for at least one and game possibly more for his check to the head penalty in game 1 in PG. It was important to get Whistle the start though as he should be starting at least 25% of the games if he hopes to be the guy next season.
The Giants have a day off before heading down to Kent to take on the Thunderbirds on Tuesday. Seattle edged out Vancouver in their first meeting, badly out shooting the G's in their own building and handing them their only regulation loss at home this season. The Giants hope to get back to road winning ways, when they take on the Thunderbirds and then go to Victoria for two back to back games this coming weekend. The boys have been playing much better as of late and have used thier young line-up to great advantage. It concernes me when Hay brings in mostly ineffectual vets instead of playing the young kids and allowing them to accelerate their development by playing in all situations as they have done for the past several games in which they had a comfortable winning streak going. Puck drops in Kent at 7:05pm PDT.
Three Stars
1) Drew Owsley
2) James Henry
3) Greg Fraser
Dondo's Hardhat: I'm giving it to Whistle, who didn't face a ton of shots, but did have to face some tough ones and was pretty good in his second start. I'm hoping he starts one of the games in Victoria. It would be a shame if he didn't.