This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
I think a better argument could be made that they were the deepest throughout their entire lineup - no glaring weaknesses. But they were clearly lacking the prolific scorers (talent on offense) they've had previously...
If a team does what it has been doing all season long, only this time it doesn't result in a win, I consider that to be the game of hockey, not a choke. UW never led in either game, so to say it choked disrespects what the winning teams accomplished as well.
The penalty kill did do many things well. Colgate scored: a) as a 5-on-3 became a 5-on-4, and teams do score on 5-on-3 PPs; b) on a PP rush where Eldridge got a decent shot at the net, but one that you'd expect that your goalie would be able to stop; c) on another transition opportunity after an otherwise very nice PK by UW. The key on the final goal was that Wilson-Bennett was coming off the bench and had as much energy as you're going to have at that stage of the game. Teams don't spend a lot of time working on the PK after having played almost five periods, so Wilson-Bennett was able to exploit a seam. I don't know what adjustment Johnson was going to have made to the PK to prevent that final goal. On the previous couple, maybe you could sit Roque down and tell her to quit bowling people over in the first place, but that would be after the damage was already done.Meanwhile I'll make no adjustments and I'll keep telling you how well you're playing especially on our penalty kill."
Well at least you're not "bitter much?!" from choking two years in a row. Lol. If you listened to his remarks he said they knew they were going to have to weather the storm at certain times throughout the game and wait for their opportunities and hope to take advantage of those opportinities. They did exactly that. They displayed great poise and patience because that's what they were prepared for, and they definitely took advantage of their opportunities. Being opportunistic is critical in winning games no matter how good your team is or how many shots you get compared to your opponents.
Perhaps MJ's in-game comments to his players were, "Ok, keep shooting it high and missing the net. Those attempts look really nice even though they're not hitting the target and not giving us rebounds or wearing down their goalie. We'll just keep hoping one of those shots eventually goes in. Meanwhile I'll make no adjustments and I'll keep telling you how well you're playing especially on our penalty kill."
Face it, he was out-coached. Did you see his face when they did close-ups on him as the game wore on? He looked stressed and perplexed. Fargo looked relaxed and like he was having fun.
Well there was that one time when you thought you were wrong...The only fact you missed is that I'm never wrong.
