Some thoughts:
-I really thought the Americans wouldn't put up much of a fight especially if the Hitmen held them at bay early. Seeing them score first, for the first time you saw a different Tri-City team, one that I didn't know existed. Once they had the second one there was no stopping them.
-Hitmen got a lot of shots but not so many quality ones. Pechurskiy saw just about everything and the Hitmen made life easy on him by missing the net a lot on great chances. Schultz had three 2 on 1s and couldn't get a shot on goal - thats unacceptable.
-The penalty kill needs to learn to watch the back door play. The Americans only have six goals in this entire series and three have come off this play.
-The Hitmen played like individuals in periods 2 and 3, reminded me of Washington against Halak, once he got in their heads they all tried to do too much. They need to keep it simpler.
-Tri-City had way too much enthusiasm and it showed in their speed and confidence - their style of play is an easy one to beat all you have to do is hit the you-know-what out of them, finish each check and make them not go dancing up the ice in transition and busting outside. The Americans have no will to go to the tough spots to score garbage goals so as long as the Hitmen force them to work for every single scoring chance they will be fine. Slow the game down a bit and limit the transition, make them cycle.
-Getting the late goal was huge I think as the Pechurskiy was getting in the Hitmen's heads.
I am a bit worried about game 5 as the Americans have new life, look like a new team and will be full of confidence. Then again Mike Williamson and the coaching staff seem to be among the best at making adjustments and hopefully that's the case again. The Hitmen NEED to get the first goal on Friday, it will be huge. And they need to play with urgency and desperation as if THEY were on the brink of elimination.
I will be in attendance, hoping for a sellout, and hopefully for a magical night I'll never forget! Go Hitmen Go
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