Re: Maine Hockey '13-14: Are you Red-E?
It was a fun game to watch. Lot of things to like coming away from this one. Two weeks, or a week ago, and they don't win this game. But as was said, they're buying in to Red's message, and they're playing hard. I noticed four or five times the puck carrier getting rubbed out along the boards, but kept his feet moving, broke through the checker, and picked the puck back up on the other side and kept going. That would have been a dead rush under the old regime, as the minute he lost the puck he'd be turning back towards his own zone. Like how these guys battle and scramble to get the puck back if they lose it. Shore's work on the game-winner being a prime example.
And these guys can get the puck out of their own end. Saw lots of times when the player would corral it, he'd pull it back and take a second to see what the smart play with it was, instead of just wildly trying to throw it out of his end. Also, the other team is no longer just standing around in front of our goaltender taking three or four whacks at the puck while the defense just stands around trying to hack at the puck. Puck's cleared into the corner, or out of the zone.
yeah, they still have work to do to erase old habits, as was mentioned on that second goal. I have no idea why someone just didn't level that guy instead of letting him skate right on through. And even the first goal, and several times later in the game, the defense was slow to recognize or get over to that wide winger, who was able to get behind them for good scoring chances several times. And still miss the net way too often. Came out a bit passive for the third, and I had bad feelings about TIMMAY-time, but maybe that's how Red wanted them to come out, stay under control, and don't be flustered.
But on the whole, a lot smarter positionally, and a whole lot more aggressive. I loved seeing the replay of the game-winner, and Leen was just set up right there off the top of the slot, backing up just so slightly, waiting for someone to get the puck to him. Last season, he'd have been behind the net scrambling after it along with Shore and Lomberg. I think in a couple more months, this team might really develop into something, horses or no. They've already come a long way in just a couple of weeks, and they're learning how to win games already, and building a little confidence. Loved when Red called the timeout, and after Jay got done talking to them(imagine that, an assistant coach talking to the players), Red just looked at them and had a huge grin on his face, and I can assume he was saying something like, "having fun yet? You guys wanna win this thing?". And the crowd sounded louder and more excited than I've heard Alfond sound in a long time.
Hope TIMMAY was watching this game.
