Game #7 and another one goal game (empty netters are icings on the cake). I think heart medication is of the essence to make it through the whole year.
Another solid performance from our boys. Despite the apparent negativity in the ranks, I feel like this team has played fairly consistently during all our games. We don’t have those highs and lows from last year, which can only lead to further success in the long run.
The officiating was once again as consistent and accurate as a blind man trying to conduct a triple bypass surgery. However, it was nice for a change to have the aggregate of the calls be in our favour, and we made the most of our chances.
Some honourable mentions from last night. How about that guy sporting number 22. Talk about an energy guy! He worked every ounce of energy every lsat second he was on the ice. And what about his fellow “energy” guy Dandoony. I’m trying to figure out if his speed is his best asset, or his work ethic. He has been consistently working hard for us and creating chances for the fourth trio. He is defensively sound and has a good read of the play in the offensive zone…and did I mention he’s fast!
It as been a while sine I’ve been so confident and comfortable with our blue line. Hamrlik educated the hockey world once again on how to be a defenseman in the new NHL. With consistent plays like he did last night, Hamrlik is quickly helping the HABSnation forget about that guy who used to wear #44.
Drum roll please….The skater who caught my attention the most last night was Kyle Chipchura. Talk about making good decisions, playing heads up hockey, skating hard and creating chances. I guess the first few games he was trying to settle into his new skin, but if last night is any indication of what the future brings (and we all know it is) we are looking forward to a top tier checking line (don’t under estimate the power of a league leading checking line…or have we forgotten about the Bonk Johnson tandem early last year?!)
Final thoughts on the game…as I have been reiterating since the beginning of he season, this team is far superior to its predecessor last year. Bob has done a superb job of consistently improving the team over the year. He never made a big move, and will not until the time is right. It could have been this summer, but we’re a better team because of it. By slowly adding the small pieces together, rather than making drastic moves, we have been presented with an overall well balanced team, with a series of minor issues to work on. I don’t believe there is one area that is a MAJOR concern. The most significant item to address right now (perhaps through a trade) would be the lack of scoring 5 on 5. 9/18 goals were scored 5 on 5…this ratio is not as alarming as most would like to believe, and it CAN be dramatically improved with one player. All other problems the team faces is “workable” and this makes us a stronger team who can better deal with adversity and prevail in the long run. I still feel the 2007/2008 HABS are not getting the credit they deserve (although many of the self proclaimed analysts are changing their mind faster than Sydney Crybaby can take a dive). But I never had a problem with being the underdog, and neither does Carbo. Let’s get two more points on Monday, with Price hopefully playing in net for his first home game.
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