Another five things I learned this week:
1> Video replays - It seems that each rink can make up its own rules when it comes to showing live and highlight images mid-game, and the White House took full advantage when they showed the waved-off goal on Sunday. Did it put unfair pressure on the referee - yes probably. Did it create a huge atmosphere and get the crowd into the game even more - yes definitely. Should theatre like that take precedence over sporting fairness: home fans say yes and I loved it.
2> 50:50 weekends - It's not just our lottery draw ticket sellers that are stuck with the 50:50 mantra, the team are in a routine of winning at home and losing away at the moment, and even within games, we seem awesome when we have the short change periods, and give up goals in bunches during the long change second period. Feels like the great form coming out of the CHL has been wasted on Challenge Cup group games, and we're back in the pack now the important games are being played.
3> Net-minding - I imagine Brad Day was chuffed with the win in Manchester, tingling with the reception he got on Sunday, and delighted when Dowdy saved him from Penalty Shots with his OT winner. But seeing the speed that Plante was moving early in the game, and a SVS% of third worst in the league, makes me wonder how long he's been playing with that injury, and if we're going to need some extended cover. Looking at Plante's CV before the season we all saw that a full Elite league season would be a step into the unknown, and I hope this isn't the beginning of another N/M injury plagued season. Has anyone got Josh's mobile number to hand?
4> Goal counting at Altrincham - Is it just me or is goal shot counter for the Storm is a little trigger happy? Consecutive games where the Storm have outshot their opposition and had 48 & 55 shots themselves isn't foot of the table stuff.
5> Halloween Howler - Seems we tricked them in the first 30 minutes, and then gave out more treats than we should have at the NIC. I'm sure Corey thinks he made the difference, and Thommo thinks the players switched off, but the momentum of those two goals in 19 seconds to go from behind to in front, in front of a re-energised home crowd, was too much to fight back against. Losses to the Panthers are hard to take, and scoring four but leaving with a loss tells you where the problems are.
1> Video replays - It seems that each rink can make up its own rules when it comes to showing live and highlight images mid-game, and the White House took full advantage when they showed the waved-off goal on Sunday. Did it put unfair pressure on the referee - yes probably. Did it create a huge atmosphere and get the crowd into the game even more - yes definitely. Should theatre like that take precedence over sporting fairness: home fans say yes and I loved it.
2> 50:50 weekends - It's not just our lottery draw ticket sellers that are stuck with the 50:50 mantra, the team are in a routine of winning at home and losing away at the moment, and even within games, we seem awesome when we have the short change periods, and give up goals in bunches during the long change second period. Feels like the great form coming out of the CHL has been wasted on Challenge Cup group games, and we're back in the pack now the important games are being played.
3> Net-minding - I imagine Brad Day was chuffed with the win in Manchester, tingling with the reception he got on Sunday, and delighted when Dowdy saved him from Penalty Shots with his OT winner. But seeing the speed that Plante was moving early in the game, and a SVS% of third worst in the league, makes me wonder how long he's been playing with that injury, and if we're going to need some extended cover. Looking at Plante's CV before the season we all saw that a full Elite league season would be a step into the unknown, and I hope this isn't the beginning of another N/M injury plagued season. Has anyone got Josh's mobile number to hand?
4> Goal counting at Altrincham - Is it just me or is goal shot counter for the Storm is a little trigger happy? Consecutive games where the Storm have outshot their opposition and had 48 & 55 shots themselves isn't foot of the table stuff.
5> Halloween Howler - Seems we tricked them in the first 30 minutes, and then gave out more treats than we should have at the NIC. I'm sure Corey thinks he made the difference, and Thommo thinks the players switched off, but the momentum of those two goals in 19 seconds to go from behind to in front, in front of a re-energised home crowd, was too much to fight back against. Losses to the Panthers are hard to take, and scoring four but leaving with a loss tells you where the problems are.
One final thought, be glad you're not a Blaze fan this year - the first
team knocked out of the Challenge Cup group stages, the first team in
recent years to not progress in the Continental Cup, and bottom of not
only the Erhardt conference but also the entire league at the beginning
of November? I think I had them fifth or sixth in my predictions, and
I'm not sure they will reach that.
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