dondo
03-29-2012, 12:43 AM
Chiefs Grind Giants
Round 1 – Game 4
Vancouver 2 Spokane 3 OT
Giants lose another 3-2 game, by giving the Chiefs another 2-0 lead for the second consecutive night before deciding to actually play. The G’s had a pitiful 3 shots on net in the first and were not willing to pay the price to get the puck to the net, or even on the net. Credit Spokane’s defensive zone coverage, but the G’s were still missing the net with their rare open looks and making some dumb and sloppy plays with the puck. Adam Morrison made this game a lot closer than it should have been as he alone held his team in the game until they woke up and started to battle. Eric Williams was full money for his squad in the blue-paint, but he only had a few really great chances to turn away. Vancouver played the perimeter a lot. Very minimal penalties called in the game itself means to me players are not working hard enough to get to the front of the net. It took ‘til mid-third for the Giants to solve Williams and then Gallagher gave them a chance to get the win when he forced OT, with 31 seconds left. The G’s came out in OT lack-lustre and clumsy with the puck. You would have hoped they actually learned something from their play in the third frame, but apparently did not. Too many sloppy plays and not enough focused effort found them on the wrong side of the score-sheet, making it now a 3 game series beginning Friday in Vancouver.
Kramer opens the scoring in the first, putting home a nice pass on a 2 on 1 rush. Wes Vannieuwenhuizen made a horrific pinch and it finally cost his team. Morrison after standing on his head deserved better from his teammates. He had no chance on that shot and even then he almost got across to the puck to make the save. The G’s left him high and dry far too often. Stewart increases the lead to 2, mid-second period. Austin Fyten scores his second of the series going hard to the net and potting the rebound off of the post. Jackson Houck won the puck battle off of the draw and fired the puck off of the iron. In the dying seconds and with the goalie pulled the Giants finally got some consistent pressure in the Chiefs end of the ice. Jordan Martinook and Austin Fyten worked the puck to Brendan Gallagher who scored his fourth of the series, tying the game and forcing OT. Holmberg found the back of the net 6:43 into OT, tying the series at 2s. Real hockey. Full OT. No loser point, just a big fat ‘L’ on the official scoresheet and one they honestly deserved.
Team Notes: Ast scratched, Kuvaev back in (and a minus), Popoff still in and Cooke out. They could have seriously used Cooke’s energy and drive in this one as it seemed only Fyten showed up to play. Kuvaev had a great chance on a 2 on 1 rush and golfed the puck wide. He doesn’t hit, he doesn’t back-check, he’s an okay skater and is supposed to be a goal scorer yet can’t even seem to do that. Put the grit back in the line-up Hayzer and sit the fluffy euro.
Zebra Cage: Brett Iverson and Pat Smith. They didn’t call anything really, created a bunch of 4 on 4s by sending two a few times. I think the Chiefs have been going a bit overboard with late hits and punches after the whistle which should be called, but at least it was consistent. This game did not get out of hand as they had a few scrums, but nothing really dangerous.
The Chiefs out shot the Giants 26-23, but the majority of the Giants shots and chances came in the third period. Imagine what they could have done with three periods of that effort instead of just 10 minutes. The G’s were 0 for 1 on the PP, while the Chiefs went 0 for 2. Now the G’s have their back against the wall. I realize it’s tied, but their play in Spokane was not acceptable. Credit Spokane for their close-checking and well-played shut-down hockey, but really more effort trying to drag the puck to the net gives a team several benefits. It leads to better scoring chances, it draws penalty calls and it improves your luck with some fortunate bounces, plus the added bonus of rattling the defenders and the goalie if you do it consistently enough. The Chiefs were quick with their sticks and blocked a ton of shots, but the Giants did not work hard enough to get through the checks. Vancouver were also guilty of soft passes and poor puck possession. Also their third and fourth liners, which usually find a way to eat minutes by keeping the opposing players in their end of the ice, found themselves scrambling in their own zone far too much to earn a win. Hey boys if you play that way and the effort of a few players actually get you to a place where you can win the game with a goal, do me a favour and actually show-up in OT.
Game 5 is back in Vancouver, Game 6 in Spokane on Sunday and Game 7 if necessary will be on Wednesday back in Vancouver. Let’s hope the Giants decide they are going to play the full 60+ at both ends of the ice when they come back home and gut it out as they did in games 1 and 2. They can beat this team, but they have to stop playing the Chiefs’ game and instead impose their own game back on the landscape of this series. Going back to Spokane down 1 is not an option. The boys need to decide to a man to battle through the rush-hour traffic the Chiefs bring and if they can’t get to the net, at least draw penalties trying. And no whining. Hard clean hungry hockey and greasy goals are just fine. Tri-City is already through to the second round after eliminating Everett in 4 with a broom and they will be rested waiting for whoever comes out of this series. The boys will need to earn it, but it is well within their skill-set and abilities to do so. They have got to want it more. The puck on Friday drops at 7:30 PDT.
Three Stars
1. Mitch Holmberg
2. Eric Williams
3. Adam Morrison
Dondo’s Hardhat: goes to … Austin Fyten. Great to see this guy bounce back after what could have been season ending surgery. Good pick up for our 20 yr old spot at the deadline. It was a risk, but one which could pay off as he looks better every game and could lead the others by his example. 1G and 1A in this one and both earned with effort and focus.
Round 1 – Game 4
Vancouver 2 Spokane 3 OT
Giants lose another 3-2 game, by giving the Chiefs another 2-0 lead for the second consecutive night before deciding to actually play. The G’s had a pitiful 3 shots on net in the first and were not willing to pay the price to get the puck to the net, or even on the net. Credit Spokane’s defensive zone coverage, but the G’s were still missing the net with their rare open looks and making some dumb and sloppy plays with the puck. Adam Morrison made this game a lot closer than it should have been as he alone held his team in the game until they woke up and started to battle. Eric Williams was full money for his squad in the blue-paint, but he only had a few really great chances to turn away. Vancouver played the perimeter a lot. Very minimal penalties called in the game itself means to me players are not working hard enough to get to the front of the net. It took ‘til mid-third for the Giants to solve Williams and then Gallagher gave them a chance to get the win when he forced OT, with 31 seconds left. The G’s came out in OT lack-lustre and clumsy with the puck. You would have hoped they actually learned something from their play in the third frame, but apparently did not. Too many sloppy plays and not enough focused effort found them on the wrong side of the score-sheet, making it now a 3 game series beginning Friday in Vancouver.
Kramer opens the scoring in the first, putting home a nice pass on a 2 on 1 rush. Wes Vannieuwenhuizen made a horrific pinch and it finally cost his team. Morrison after standing on his head deserved better from his teammates. He had no chance on that shot and even then he almost got across to the puck to make the save. The G’s left him high and dry far too often. Stewart increases the lead to 2, mid-second period. Austin Fyten scores his second of the series going hard to the net and potting the rebound off of the post. Jackson Houck won the puck battle off of the draw and fired the puck off of the iron. In the dying seconds and with the goalie pulled the Giants finally got some consistent pressure in the Chiefs end of the ice. Jordan Martinook and Austin Fyten worked the puck to Brendan Gallagher who scored his fourth of the series, tying the game and forcing OT. Holmberg found the back of the net 6:43 into OT, tying the series at 2s. Real hockey. Full OT. No loser point, just a big fat ‘L’ on the official scoresheet and one they honestly deserved.
Team Notes: Ast scratched, Kuvaev back in (and a minus), Popoff still in and Cooke out. They could have seriously used Cooke’s energy and drive in this one as it seemed only Fyten showed up to play. Kuvaev had a great chance on a 2 on 1 rush and golfed the puck wide. He doesn’t hit, he doesn’t back-check, he’s an okay skater and is supposed to be a goal scorer yet can’t even seem to do that. Put the grit back in the line-up Hayzer and sit the fluffy euro.
Zebra Cage: Brett Iverson and Pat Smith. They didn’t call anything really, created a bunch of 4 on 4s by sending two a few times. I think the Chiefs have been going a bit overboard with late hits and punches after the whistle which should be called, but at least it was consistent. This game did not get out of hand as they had a few scrums, but nothing really dangerous.
The Chiefs out shot the Giants 26-23, but the majority of the Giants shots and chances came in the third period. Imagine what they could have done with three periods of that effort instead of just 10 minutes. The G’s were 0 for 1 on the PP, while the Chiefs went 0 for 2. Now the G’s have their back against the wall. I realize it’s tied, but their play in Spokane was not acceptable. Credit Spokane for their close-checking and well-played shut-down hockey, but really more effort trying to drag the puck to the net gives a team several benefits. It leads to better scoring chances, it draws penalty calls and it improves your luck with some fortunate bounces, plus the added bonus of rattling the defenders and the goalie if you do it consistently enough. The Chiefs were quick with their sticks and blocked a ton of shots, but the Giants did not work hard enough to get through the checks. Vancouver were also guilty of soft passes and poor puck possession. Also their third and fourth liners, which usually find a way to eat minutes by keeping the opposing players in their end of the ice, found themselves scrambling in their own zone far too much to earn a win. Hey boys if you play that way and the effort of a few players actually get you to a place where you can win the game with a goal, do me a favour and actually show-up in OT.
Game 5 is back in Vancouver, Game 6 in Spokane on Sunday and Game 7 if necessary will be on Wednesday back in Vancouver. Let’s hope the Giants decide they are going to play the full 60+ at both ends of the ice when they come back home and gut it out as they did in games 1 and 2. They can beat this team, but they have to stop playing the Chiefs’ game and instead impose their own game back on the landscape of this series. Going back to Spokane down 1 is not an option. The boys need to decide to a man to battle through the rush-hour traffic the Chiefs bring and if they can’t get to the net, at least draw penalties trying. And no whining. Hard clean hungry hockey and greasy goals are just fine. Tri-City is already through to the second round after eliminating Everett in 4 with a broom and they will be rested waiting for whoever comes out of this series. The boys will need to earn it, but it is well within their skill-set and abilities to do so. They have got to want it more. The puck on Friday drops at 7:30 PDT.
Three Stars
1. Mitch Holmberg
2. Eric Williams
3. Adam Morrison
Dondo’s Hardhat: goes to … Austin Fyten. Great to see this guy bounce back after what could have been season ending surgery. Good pick up for our 20 yr old spot at the deadline. It was a risk, but one which could pay off as he looks better every game and could lead the others by his example. 1G and 1A in this one and both earned with effort and focus.