SLUperDave
Fear the North Country
Re: SLU 2009-2010 Season
I'll add my two cents about the game at Q then we can hopefully forget about it and focus on the upcoming series with Union and RPI.
I arrived at the break between the first and second periods and we were down 1-0. SOG read 4 for Q and 11 for SLU. That pretty much sums it up. I guess there was a major misconduct that put SLU on the power play for most of the first period. Too bad we couldn't cash in on the opportunity.
We had 12 power plays overall and only converted on 1. Q was quicker and played better D. Their scoring chances were much better set up then ours. When they broke down the ice, they had our D beat all the way in a flash which was unsettling, then walked in on Robby Moss and had little trouble finding the back of the net. To be fair, there was only one shot, from the left wing circle, where Moss had a clear, unobstructed view. That drew many groans from the Saints fans. On the rest, I didn't think he had a chance. They executed too well with 2 or 3 players swarming the net with little D to stop them.
SLU actually controlled the play for much of the game, but in an oddly ineffective way. And there were some amazing shots by our guys that I could not believe Clarke stoned, especially in the third period. Our guys moved the puck around the perimeter effectively, but there were always 2 Q defenders and a crowd in front of Clarke and there was no way the puck was going to penetrate that many people. As a consequence, the slappers went nowhere, and our game in the crease was not enough of a presence. Contrast that to our D, who was lured away from the goal allowing somebody to sneak in behind Moss.
What bothered me was that any one of Q's offensive players could bring the puck down the ice on the left or right, one on one with our defenders, and literally push our D into the center of the ice and get shots off right in front of Robby. Nobody would have pushed Lammens, McGeogh or Hurlbut around like that! They would have stood them up and eaten them for a snack or forced them wide around the goal.
The third period was our best. Tisi came in and didn't allow a goal, but there were only 4 shots to test him.
Our guys were looking slow and sluggish, and I know they can do better because I saw flashes of better energy in the third where they looked great. I wouldn't really say Q "beat them to the puck" as much as their reactions were with pinpoint precision when it counted. Lampe's goal was, unfortunately, a thing of beauty. A split second reaction, and he knew precisely where to tuck the puck behind a sprawling Moss without even looking.
I will say our guys are the more talented group when it comes to passing and bringing the puck up the ice. Q's game is fast break all the way, hitting the streaking guy beating our D which they seemed to be able to do at will.
Overall impression - SLU can play with this team and is probably capable of beating them if they keep mistakes to a minimum and bring more intensity.
I'll add my two cents about the game at Q then we can hopefully forget about it and focus on the upcoming series with Union and RPI.I arrived at the break between the first and second periods and we were down 1-0. SOG read 4 for Q and 11 for SLU. That pretty much sums it up. I guess there was a major misconduct that put SLU on the power play for most of the first period. Too bad we couldn't cash in on the opportunity.
We had 12 power plays overall and only converted on 1. Q was quicker and played better D. Their scoring chances were much better set up then ours. When they broke down the ice, they had our D beat all the way in a flash which was unsettling, then walked in on Robby Moss and had little trouble finding the back of the net. To be fair, there was only one shot, from the left wing circle, where Moss had a clear, unobstructed view. That drew many groans from the Saints fans. On the rest, I didn't think he had a chance. They executed too well with 2 or 3 players swarming the net with little D to stop them.
SLU actually controlled the play for much of the game, but in an oddly ineffective way. And there were some amazing shots by our guys that I could not believe Clarke stoned, especially in the third period. Our guys moved the puck around the perimeter effectively, but there were always 2 Q defenders and a crowd in front of Clarke and there was no way the puck was going to penetrate that many people. As a consequence, the slappers went nowhere, and our game in the crease was not enough of a presence. Contrast that to our D, who was lured away from the goal allowing somebody to sneak in behind Moss.
What bothered me was that any one of Q's offensive players could bring the puck down the ice on the left or right, one on one with our defenders, and literally push our D into the center of the ice and get shots off right in front of Robby. Nobody would have pushed Lammens, McGeogh or Hurlbut around like that! They would have stood them up and eaten them for a snack or forced them wide around the goal.
The third period was our best. Tisi came in and didn't allow a goal, but there were only 4 shots to test him.
Our guys were looking slow and sluggish, and I know they can do better because I saw flashes of better energy in the third where they looked great. I wouldn't really say Q "beat them to the puck" as much as their reactions were with pinpoint precision when it counted. Lampe's goal was, unfortunately, a thing of beauty. A split second reaction, and he knew precisely where to tuck the puck behind a sprawling Moss without even looking.
I will say our guys are the more talented group when it comes to passing and bringing the puck up the ice. Q's game is fast break all the way, hitting the streaking guy beating our D which they seemed to be able to do at will.
Overall impression - SLU can play with this team and is probably capable of beating them if they keep mistakes to a minimum and bring more intensity.
