Hello folks! It's been a while!
I think we're all pretty aware of the crazy events of the last week or so but I've waited a short while before blogging again to see how things have panned out in the wake of some big changes.
I'll start with Marc LeFebvre leaving the club, followed by Doug Christiansen's sacking, then go onto last nights performance (if you can even call it that...) and then finish with how things turned out tonight.
It's gonna be a long one, so make sure the kettle is boiled and prop your feet up with a nice cuppa.
So, to open, the departure of Marc Lefebvre. I'd been wondering what it was that he actually did at times. That's not meant to be disrespectful in any way shape or form, I've never had an issue with Marc as a person or professional, it's just as time progressed I was starting to wonder if he was contributing all that much to the cause. I'd even heard an argument of "how can an average forward be in charge of team defense?"...it's a fair point and not one I could argue with in all honesty. What's happened has happened though, and I thank him for his time with the club (again) and I wish him all the best in Coventry. Just not against us of course.
Then, days later, came the big shock move by Tony Smith. The abrupt sacking of Doug Christiansen after the 1st leg loss in the CC semi-final to the Nottingham Panthers.
In all honesty, it had been a long time coming. Continual sub-par performances riddled with inconsistency were always going to cost Doug in the end. The trouble is, it took Tony Smith too long to make the move. The season was long lost before Doug was told to pack his belongings. However, at least it has finally happened. Well done Tony.
Some fans were questioning the timing of the decision, and I can see where they are coming from. It was a strange time to do it, considering we'd just let Marc LeFebvre go to Coventry, but to be fair to Tony his patience had finally run out (as well as many of the fans) and also, who could predict that interim player/coach Steven Goertzen would pick up a nasty concussion in Cardiff just days later? No-one. Cut Tony some slack folks. He's done this for the bigger picture of the club and with his ownership it WILL come good. Trust me.
Dougs sacking and Goertzen's concussion unfortunately added fuel to the fire for the upcoming 2nd leg of the CC semi-final against Nottingham last night. With Neil Abel having to stand in as bench coach for the night, looking like a deer in headlights for pretty much the whole game, the Steelers looked completely lost. Void of any ideas, any direction, any commitment, any communication, any heart, any passion, any physicality, any character, any leadership...do you see the familiar trend yet? 5-0 to Nottingham on the night inside 30 minutes tells the story really.
Jeff Legue was so low on confidence he was hesitating on pulling the trigger and trying to pull moves from 3 feet in front of the net rather than get off a lethal snap shot.
Jason Hewitt's level of physicality in the game resembled that of a nun in the bedroom. It didn't exist.
The defense in general was parting quicker than a randy man does with his money when he picks up a prostitute.
Frank Doyle once again found himself swinging in the winter breeze with the rest of the washing.
How or why Doyle wasn't pulled is beyond me. It infuriates me that a number one goalie can be exposed like that. You risk denting his confidence. Luckily, on many occasions this season, Frank has been able to bounce back. We're lucky that he is made of pretty stern stuff.
It was all the hallmarks of the over-coaching by Doug Christiansen. The players were simply not fully realising that they had the freedom to go out there and do what they do best. Play the game they love. Play on their natural instincts. Have each others backs. Battle for themselves and one another and the logo on the front of the jersey.
The final scoreline flattered the Steelers, because at 5-0 up, the Panthers simply shutdown. They'd won the game, they'd won the tie. They sat back and just let the Steelers in.
What a difference 24 hours makes though...
Tonight, we saw what can only be described as some of the REAL talent and abilities of the majority of the players. Especially the forwards. Max LaCroix being the big stand out performer.
The main difference tonight, compared to last night, was that despite going a goal down the players heads didn't drop. They stayed a bit more calm. They talked among themselves between breaks in play. They were doing one of the fundamental things together. They were communicating. They were encouraging each other. There wasn't individual leadership, there was team leadership. There was character. There was a unit, operating as one.
Then the second period happened. Cardiff simply didn't know what had hit them. As soon as the Steelers went 2-1 in front, the bulb above the team bench suddenly lit up for the first time in what has felt like weeks and months.
Jeff Legue's goal suddenly gave him a much needed rocket up his backside. Evidence of that was in the powerplay to end the 2nd period. He was banging his stick on the ice demanding the puck. He was looking to let the one timers go. He even did one in the third period while majorly off balance! That's the REAL Jeff Legue right there folks.
Other players got stuck in tonight as well.
Chris Blight's first goal as a Steeler seemingly got the monkey off his back as he started looking more threatening every time he went forward with the puck.
Max LaCroix had a standout night with multiple goals and assists and a deserved MoM award.
The Legue, Blight, LaCroix line was simply outstanding out there tonight.
Tim Spencer didn't look out of place back on D where he started the night and after Dowd's ejection in the 1st period, he found himself up front on a line with DiCasmirro and Meyer, which gave him a kick up the backside too. He bagged a nice goal for himself tonight. I've said for a while that Spencer can be an effective forward if you play him with the imports, not with Hewitt and Phillips.
Again, partially thanks to Dowd's ejection, we then saw a British line of Hewitt, Phillips and Hill that became a real workhorse line and caused all sorts of problems for Cardiff. Hill was using his size and speed once again, driving the net all night. Phillips was using his speed to run circles round the Devils D. Hewitt was hovering in the right places at the right time and took his goal nicely as well. His 100th EIHL goal in fact. Well done Jason. I've admittedly not been your biggest fan in the past couple of seasons, but 100 goals is still a great achievement.
As for the Steelers D, Kohn was looking to turn defence into attack. His transitional play was a lot better tonight. Langlais was his usual self, working his backside off. Fata was MUCH more vocal, bellowing orders out, telling his D partners or the forwards when to wheel. Baldwin carried on being his revolutionary self. Bambi hasn't existed for weeks! When was the last time he ended up on his backside?! Danny Meyers had a solid game but did take a rather iffy hit from Lord at one point in the 2nd period.
The key thing was, once the boys got a lead, they didn't take the foot off the gas. They didn't sit back. They kept it going for the rest of the period.
The powerplay looked much more deadly as well. The passing of the puck was faster. There was movement off the puck. There was player rotation. There were one timers being let off. There were even moments of rushing the net after shots were being let off on the chance of a sniff at a rebound or two.
The boys were finally playing hockey using their naturals talent and instincts, but even much more importantly, they were clearly enjoying playing the game they love. Not because they were winning and winning well, but because they were all contributing. They were enjoying being able to showcase the players that they really are. The character of the boys came out in absolute spades tonight, as did their abilities, and dya know what...
IT WAS A DAMN PLEASURE TO WATCH!
Thank you boys. Thank you.
You know the drill folks.
@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge
@FrozenSteelBlog
Until next time...
Alan
@AwkwardGinge
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