Thursday, April 23, 2009

Desperate Measures=Dominant Performance

  • Shoot first, ask questions second. It wouldn't be the motto the RCMP tell their recruits before sending them out into the force, but it was the Rockets only option in a 3-0 victory Thursday night. The Rockets shot from every angle and every area, with the greasy effort producing favorable results. With as skilled a team as the Rockets have, playoff hockey is all about will, not skill.
  • Cody Almond was trigger happy, and against an elite team like the Giants, delivering the puck at the net every chance you get is never a bad option. I find it frustrating when the Rockets attempt to make the picture perfect passing play, only to turn the puck over without getting a shot on goal. That rarely happened Thursday night, and the credit has to go to the coaching staff for pointing that out to the players.
  • Olivia Newton-John would have been proud. Let's get physical! The Rockets let their body do the talking Thursday night by initiating contact. It was the first time in this series that the home team upped the play in the physical department.
  • The best 'greasy goal ' of the night came from Jamie Benn! What? How can Jamie Benn score a greasy goal? Colin Long did all the dirty work in the corner by getting the puck to the front of the net where Benn grabbed it, coddled it, before going to the backhand and beating Sexsmith to make it 3-0. That goal sealed the deal for the home team, tying the series at two wins apiece.
  • Mark Guggenberger was as great as his name sounds. Guggenberger was especially sharp in the first period when the Giants fired 8 shots his way. Guggenberger's best save came on a Craig Cunningham shot on the power play that Gugg's snagged with a solid glove hand save.
  • Rockets forward Ian Duval's tremendous speed was the difference in breaking away from a Giants defender to open the scoring. Duval, who would like nothing more than a trip to Calgary late next week, picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated hard to the net before beating Sexsmith between the legs.
  • Did Colin Long know that the assistant general manager of the Phoenix Coyotes was at Thursday's game? It infact was pointed out to him before the game, and it showed in his best effort of the playoffs. Long was solid, picking up two assists, and was arguably the Rockets hardest working player. But where's the love? Long failed to receive a game star, but we pumped his tires as much as we could in the post game show. I wasn't necessary critical of his play in an earlier posting, but I was wondering what was wrong. Long, as usual, answered the bell with a solid game. Good on him.
  • Did you notice that all three goals were scored by older players? Ian Duval (20), Jamie Benn (19) and Lucas Bloodoff (19) all hit the score sheet. Long (19) had two assists.
  • Curt Gogol has a pretty decent shot. He used it in the third period and let a lazer beam go towards the Giants net. He didn't score, but caught our attention in the broadcast booth.
  • I thought Kyle St. Denis provided some additional jump for the Rockets. In only his second game back from injury, St. Denis used some good outside speed and was another threat that the Giants had to be aware of.
  • Tyler Myers received the games second star for his efforts in shutting down Evander Kane. And what a job he did. Myers was in Kane's face all night long. The two were forced off the ice with coincidental minors after a good collision in the corner late the third period.
  • Kane does not hesitate when bring his hands or stick high when being checked. In what appeared to be a mid-ice collision with Ryley Grantham, Kane got his stick high, hitting 'Granny' either in the throat or chin. Kane got a minor penalty.
  • The officiating in game four was solid. Few questionable calls were made, or borderline penalties that drive you crazy. Emotions were high yet the game was under control. Both Pat Smith and Devin Klein read the game correctly. Nice work.
  • The Rockets second period not only resulted in two goals, but 18 shots on net. In the final two periods the home team would allowed just 6 shots on goal. The defensive effort was as good as the offensive upside.
  • The 3-0 shutout was the Rockets first playoff shutout since May 6, 2005. Kristofer Westblom and Derek Yeomans shared the shutout in a 3-0 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings in game one of the Western Hockey League final.
  • It marked the second time the Giants have been shutout in the playoffs. The Giants suffered a 1-0 loss to Spokane in game four of their Western Conference semi final series.
  • The biggest crowd of the playoffs took in Thursday's game. Six thousand 268 were on hand for the 3-0 victory. Let's hope even more show up for game six Monday night.

13 comments:

Jared Comeau said...

Regan...s/peaking about the glove save in the first....can you say.........Leather Larceny? HAHA!! amazing effort tonight!

Regan Bartel said...

Well said. Gugg's with his first career playoff shutout. Nice bounce back game. I thought Bowman was good too. After struggling in game three, he played well.

Jared Comeau said...

Bowman played very well tonight...along with the entire back-end. the passes were quick, on the tap, and the break out was almost flawless...Lets hope they keep that effort up in Vancouver. Prospera will be rocking when they come home up 3-2

Regan Bartel said...

I thought Granny was good, Evan had good energy and McMillan made some nice plays including a sliding play in the first period to break up a passing play. Few passengers in this game from a Rockets perspective.

3stuges said...

Too bad the Rockets won't be going up against the # 1 pick this yr...........

Windsor eliminated London last night (thus ending the junior career of John Tavares, who will be on Long Island next year as a 19 year old), winning the series 4-1 with all five games going to overtime.

Rocketfan said...

Every Rocket boy was a star last night. When they check-in and play with urgency they are fabulous. I thought the defence was great and they all had a very strong game. I thought Brandon McMillan had a strong game and is getting better on "D" every game. Colin looked strong again and having Kyle St.D. back only adds to our strength. So happy for Kyle. PLAY WITH GREATNESS BOYS. GO ROCKETS GO!!!

grinder said...

Great game Rockets!!!!!! Keep it up.

GiantsMemCup09 said...

Much as it pains me to say, that was an excellent game by the Rockets. Complete superiority in all aspects of the game, except maybe in goal. Since Guggenberger had no work Sexsmith gets best goalie by default. Just kidding... sorta.
As to Kane, since he's about 5'11" and Myers is about 8'6"(slight exaggeration) if Kane wants to hit him anywhere north of his elbow he has to bring his gloves up. But I know what you mean. And if he wants to get anywhere he'll have to quit complaining so much. I don't think he gets much benefit of the doubt because of it. Then again he could be fed up with the liberties taken with him, probably through his whole hockey life. I cut him a little slack 'cause he's still only 17. He still needs to mature a little.
I'm looking for a better effort on Saturday from Vancouver. So far they haven't had two stinkers in a row. Rockets beware! GO GIANTS!

Regan Bartel said...

Thanks for the visit and the comments. Kane is a beauty..no doubt there. As you said, the guy is amazing for 17. That's why it grinds my gears when people are critical of Tyson Barrie and Collin Bowman on the Rockets defencive core. They are the same age as Kane, and are playing huge minutes. My gut is the team that wins game five will win the series. If the Rockets lose, that theory will no longer apply! lol.

george said...

Keep playing like last night and we'll be saying farewell to the Giants on Monday.............Wow that was exciting!!!!!!!!
I think Long was #1 star, he played hard all night. Keep it up Guys

"Go Rockets"

StolzHockey said...

"Kane does not hesitate when bring his hands or stick high when being checked. In what appeared to be a mid-ice collision with Ryley Grantham, Kane got his stick high, hitting 'Granny' either in the throat or chin. Kane got a minor penalty."

That play really shows the sheer strength Grantham has. Grantham didn't even see Kane coming, took that stick to the head and Kane bounced off of him like a kid hitting a brick wall.

Grantham didn't even seem to know what happened until he looked over and saw Kane laying on the ice. Didn't even phase him, he just kept playing.

Grantham is Kelowna's Bob Probert. It's extremely obvious how afraid the Giants are of him. When he ran Sexsmith in Game 3, none of the players came to "Sexy's" defense.

We need Grantham to start throwing some more big hits as long as no one is willing to step up and call him on it.

misterwah said...

Some good comments posted here Regan, I like your blog. My only real question today is, how can Grimybooger (or whatever his name is) possibly get 1st star for turning away - what was it - 14 shots? Sure, on the scoresheet he has a shutout but big deal. He didn't actually do anything. There were many more deserving players - the ones who really earned the shutout.

Regan Bartel said...

Hey Dan. Gugg's was 3rd star. Should Colin Long have been in the top three? Probably.