Last nights game we started out really good, didn't capitalize on our 5 on 3. That is what cost us the game. We NEED to make sure we score on 5 on 3's.. we have to get them moving and find open players, point shots are okay but we can do way better on a 5 on 3..
After we failed to score, Vancouver slowly gained momentum to the point where we constantly got hemmed in our own zone.. struggled to breakout, and could not maintain any possession in their zone. We had a few lucky breaks that lead to our goals. Vancouver got a few bounces and calls their way but they created these chances by outplaying us.
Ref's were extremely impressive.. they made calls, but actually made the correct calls. It was frustrating to watch as a flames fan to not have one go our way but they were the right calls to make.
We managed to find our game in the final half of the 3rd, but by that time it was too late, and it may have been because Vancouver took their foot off the pedal to try and defend their lead. Gaudreau and Backlund keep looking like they could make a good line. They both drive puck possession.
Raymond seems to be in Vancouver form.. hopefully its only because he missed out on preseason. He can gain the offensive zone with speed but then the play dies off of his stick.
Wideman needs to make sure his defensive zone passes are tape to tape, the chip off the boards killed far too many rushes and got us hemmed in our own zone several times.
Glencross is starting to look a little bit too parameter. Far too many times it looked like he was sitting around waiting for a pass to one time it. Needs to get back into it and get to the dirty areas. Gets a pass as he may just be adjusting from a disastrous injury ridden season.
Backlund started very rough but as the game went on he became our best forward. Driving puck possession and generating chances.
Colborne struggled the entire game with the puck, looked like he got caught thinking of what to do instead of just passing it. He did however create two good scoring chances for Byron (who scored) and Gaudreau (Didn't) by using his body to pull a Vancouver player out of the play.
Monahan looked as if his sickness was affecting his cardio, he would go hard but quickly slow down every shift. He had a few good chances and a neat little pass to Hudler lead to a goal.
Hudler cherry picked and tried to create some goals however we were stuck in our zone most of the game so it was ineffective. He looks like he is trying to get back into mid season form, Hudler was okay.
Byron was fast and made Vancouver cough up the puck several times, I am not sure he should be with Gaudreau and Colborne. Should be on a balls to the wall line to create energy.
Gaudreau had some flashes of brilliance. Some really nice passes.. had one really bad shift but was caught on the boards with a few bad passes from the defenseman. Should have more PP time to utilize his skill and should have line mates who drive puck possession (Backlund, Hudler.)
Stajan actually looked pretty good, had a small amount of ice time because of a cut but he actually played quite well. I'd like to see him in the 3rd line center role with Bouma moving back to center the fourth.
Bollig was pretty solid for the fourth line, had several chances to score.
Mcgratten was pretty good, took a hit to make a play but the play never really died on his stick.
Bouma didn't look like an offensive forward, he was solid on the PK but not too sure if he should have a scoring role.
Gio was pretty good, he looked like he was working extremely hard out there. May have made some bad passes in his own zone but worked hard to make up for them. Helped with puck possession when we managed to have a breakout.
Brodie was our best puck moving defenseman, he made solid passes, slowed the game down so we could have a breakout. He had a very good game.
Russel had a pretty solid game as well, but did struggle when the Sedins had us pinned, but when they get their cycle game going it's pretty difficult to stop them.
Smid didn't make any terrible mistakes, struggled a bit when we were pinned but other than that he had a decent game.
Engelland looked pretty good, still struggled in our own zone, he looks like he is going to be a pretty good pickup.
Hiller played pretty solid, we are lucky the game wasn't 5-2 as we got hemmed in our zone several times and only managed to get back on track in the third.
I would like to see Setoguchi, Jones, Granlund and Diaz in game to get a good feel on what we currently have. I think Jones might be a player we will need on the right side, Setoguchi needs to come in and drive puck possession and generate chances if he wants to get a role.
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