dondo
10-24-2013, 01:51 AM
Nice to see the boys avoid the complete collapse, but they have got to figure out how to hold onto to leads.
Giants Elude Hitmen
Vancouver 4 Calgary 3 OT
I was concerned that the Giants would collapse after such a strong first period, but credit them for holding on versus a very good team. In the end they allowed the Hitmen to get a point by clawing their way back into the game, but it’s the fact they had to work for it that gives me hope. My biggest problem with the losses on the Eastern road swing was the fragility of a team which held on and then suffered a complete collapse at the least sign of adversity. They were competitive in all three periods and that’s good to see. Pulling it out in OT is some much needed cake icing as well. Good to see Alec (not “Alex”, Don Hay) Baer’s coming out party proving he can do in a game what he had flashes of in camp and preseason. The Hitmen played a pretty ugly first period and the Giants sat back too much in the second and third for my liking, but a positive step and building block for the young squad’s confidence.
Blake Orban opened the scoring early in the game with his first of the season. Travis McEvoy and Alec Baer got the assists. Baer scored one of his own a couple of minutes later. A highlight reel goal undressing the D-man and putting it home. Tyler Morrison got the lone assist. Cain Franson finally found twine. Scoring his first of the season by ripping it short side with time ticking down. Baer capped off his three point period with the only assist. Calgary scored an unassisted goal off of some poor Giants play in the second. They added two more in the third to tie the game and force OT. OT started out 3 on 3 for some reason, as players were given coincidental minors at the end of regulation, but I thought it was four on four regardless especially for coincidentals – I think the very precious refs we had tonight should look at their rule books. 4 seconds into 4 on 4 the Giants get the game winner. Travis McEvoy who played a very edgy game tonight was rewarded going to the net. Carter Popoff and Arvin Atwal got the helpers.
Team Notes: Jared Rathjen was out of the line-up and I haven’t heard any deals, so I have to assume he is injured. Jake Morrissey was the back-up for this tilt. Leone, Osipov, Dosanjh, Zalitach scratched.
Rookie Watch: Baer had a three point period and looked mighty fine doing it too. Nice to see the 16 yr old having some jump. 1G 2A.
Fight Night: nada
Zebra Cage: Ryan Benbow and Steve Papp. Kinda crap actually. Badly timed questionable calls that could have affected the game very poorly for little or nothing. Soft calls and a couple of very thin-skinned calls threatened to over-shadow the game.
The Giants were out shot 35-33. Both teams were 0 for 4 as the refs seemed more interested in evening things up than calling a good game. I am still disappointed in Houck who should be not only an impact player, but a clutch player who gets the goals the team really needs. Sadly he has not been, seems to be late to the party frequently and whiffing on easy loose pucks. It’s time for him to bear down and make a difference. Good to see Franson finally find twine, but much more is needed from him as well. The veterans have to be the ones making a difference if the Giants hope to come out of their next 8 in 11 days on top.
At least one goal Lee will want back, but he faced more shots than he has in a game this season and made some timely clutch stops late when the Giants got scrambling in their own end, allowing too much dangerous traffic right on the doorstep. Brett Kulak who has looked so good as of late was a bit of an ugly –2 in this game, maybe trying to do too much and force some pucks through with lower percentage plays. I need to see McEvoy continue his style of play. Those two back to back “high-sticks” in the third were more refs perception than real penalties in my estimation – esp the second one. The PK is one of the best parts of the Giants game these days.
The Giants have a chance for some revenge versus the Silvertips who embarrassed the boys last time in the Coliseum, on Friday. Hopefully the boys have gotten past that tentative fragility and are ready to put together a game like they did tonight. Allowing those leads to slip not-withstanding. I accept the speed bumps, but not the surrenders. Puck drops at the usual 7:30pm PDT.
Three Stars
1. Alec Baer
2. Blake Orban
3. Jake Virtanen
Dondo’s Doghouse: Houck with a very beige game, zeros across the board is frankly irritating the crap outta me. He’s much better than that and capable of so much more. He stays in the doghouse until I see something - a fight, a couple of assists, a power-forward type of goal, sticking up for teammates. Stop Floating it’s not your game!
Dondo’s Hardhat: Honourable mention to Travis McEvoy, but the hardhat has to go to Baer who put together an almost perfect period, 1G 2A and a +2 .. he looked very dangerous and was willing to go to the hard areas of the ice.
Giants Elude Hitmen
Vancouver 4 Calgary 3 OT
I was concerned that the Giants would collapse after such a strong first period, but credit them for holding on versus a very good team. In the end they allowed the Hitmen to get a point by clawing their way back into the game, but it’s the fact they had to work for it that gives me hope. My biggest problem with the losses on the Eastern road swing was the fragility of a team which held on and then suffered a complete collapse at the least sign of adversity. They were competitive in all three periods and that’s good to see. Pulling it out in OT is some much needed cake icing as well. Good to see Alec (not “Alex”, Don Hay) Baer’s coming out party proving he can do in a game what he had flashes of in camp and preseason. The Hitmen played a pretty ugly first period and the Giants sat back too much in the second and third for my liking, but a positive step and building block for the young squad’s confidence.
Blake Orban opened the scoring early in the game with his first of the season. Travis McEvoy and Alec Baer got the assists. Baer scored one of his own a couple of minutes later. A highlight reel goal undressing the D-man and putting it home. Tyler Morrison got the lone assist. Cain Franson finally found twine. Scoring his first of the season by ripping it short side with time ticking down. Baer capped off his three point period with the only assist. Calgary scored an unassisted goal off of some poor Giants play in the second. They added two more in the third to tie the game and force OT. OT started out 3 on 3 for some reason, as players were given coincidental minors at the end of regulation, but I thought it was four on four regardless especially for coincidentals – I think the very precious refs we had tonight should look at their rule books. 4 seconds into 4 on 4 the Giants get the game winner. Travis McEvoy who played a very edgy game tonight was rewarded going to the net. Carter Popoff and Arvin Atwal got the helpers.
Team Notes: Jared Rathjen was out of the line-up and I haven’t heard any deals, so I have to assume he is injured. Jake Morrissey was the back-up for this tilt. Leone, Osipov, Dosanjh, Zalitach scratched.
Rookie Watch: Baer had a three point period and looked mighty fine doing it too. Nice to see the 16 yr old having some jump. 1G 2A.
Fight Night: nada
Zebra Cage: Ryan Benbow and Steve Papp. Kinda crap actually. Badly timed questionable calls that could have affected the game very poorly for little or nothing. Soft calls and a couple of very thin-skinned calls threatened to over-shadow the game.
The Giants were out shot 35-33. Both teams were 0 for 4 as the refs seemed more interested in evening things up than calling a good game. I am still disappointed in Houck who should be not only an impact player, but a clutch player who gets the goals the team really needs. Sadly he has not been, seems to be late to the party frequently and whiffing on easy loose pucks. It’s time for him to bear down and make a difference. Good to see Franson finally find twine, but much more is needed from him as well. The veterans have to be the ones making a difference if the Giants hope to come out of their next 8 in 11 days on top.
At least one goal Lee will want back, but he faced more shots than he has in a game this season and made some timely clutch stops late when the Giants got scrambling in their own end, allowing too much dangerous traffic right on the doorstep. Brett Kulak who has looked so good as of late was a bit of an ugly –2 in this game, maybe trying to do too much and force some pucks through with lower percentage plays. I need to see McEvoy continue his style of play. Those two back to back “high-sticks” in the third were more refs perception than real penalties in my estimation – esp the second one. The PK is one of the best parts of the Giants game these days.
The Giants have a chance for some revenge versus the Silvertips who embarrassed the boys last time in the Coliseum, on Friday. Hopefully the boys have gotten past that tentative fragility and are ready to put together a game like they did tonight. Allowing those leads to slip not-withstanding. I accept the speed bumps, but not the surrenders. Puck drops at the usual 7:30pm PDT.
Three Stars
1. Alec Baer
2. Blake Orban
3. Jake Virtanen
Dondo’s Doghouse: Houck with a very beige game, zeros across the board is frankly irritating the crap outta me. He’s much better than that and capable of so much more. He stays in the doghouse until I see something - a fight, a couple of assists, a power-forward type of goal, sticking up for teammates. Stop Floating it’s not your game!
Dondo’s Hardhat: Honourable mention to Travis McEvoy, but the hardhat has to go to Baer who put together an almost perfect period, 1G 2A and a +2 .. he looked very dangerous and was willing to go to the hard areas of the ice.