Re-Cap: Everblades vs. Wings (1/28/11)

Sorry for the unannounced break. I figured I needed an all-star break of my own. Also, I was a lazy pants all week and opening my laptop was too much effort. I'm back though, so you don't have to cry yourselves to sleep anymore (I guess I'm delusional as well as lazy, huh?).

The Everblades play their first game back from the all-star break on the road against a struggling Kalamazoo team. With the ECHL handing down several fines and suspensions from the wild game with the Royals today the Blades have to play without some key players and coach Poss. The question is, can they overcome the missing pieces and beat the K-Wings?


(This never gets old)

Starting line: Graham, Paquet, Beca, Imbeault, Lemieux, Goepfert

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Both teams started out strong, with a lot of back and forth play. Eventually, the Wings were able to draw the penalty. Thanks to some tremendous saves from goalie Bobby Goepfert, the Blades were able to kill the penalty. A few minutes later, they were able to go on the power play.



Unfortunately, K-Wings goalie Ryan Nie, was able to deny some excellent chances. Thanks to both goalies standing on their heads, the score at the end of the period was 0-0. The Blades led the shots 11-9.

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After such a strong showing in the first period it was obvious the goalies would be deciding which team wins. Unfortunately, the K-Wings were able to draw first blood 6:31 into the first period to take the 1-0 lead. The Blades had a close call minutes later when Nie barely made a save. The Wings put on lots of pressure, but the Blades were able to hold them off.



After failing to convert on the power play, even though the net was wide open, the Blades took a stupid penalty to nullify their power play. After a brief surge from the K-Wings the Blades were able to once again go on the penalty in the closing minutes of the period. Unfortunately, the Blades weren't able to convert in the last few minutes. When the buzzer sounded the Blades still trailed 1-0, but had 46 seconds left on their power play when the third period starts.

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Although the Blades weren't able to convert on the remainder of the power play. They really started to put on major pressure in the opening minutes. Unfortunately, the pressure was cut short by Ross Carlson taking a slashing penalty. The K-Wings were able to get it past Goepfert a few seconds into the period to make it 2-0. Shortly after that, Alex Hutchings took on one of the K-Wings in a fight.



Sadly, instead using the fight to shift momentum, the Blades took a stupid penalty right away. Although they were able to kill off the penalty, they continued to allow the K-Wings to put on pressure. They did get a power play in the closing minutes, and even pulled Goepfert for the 6 on 4, but they couldn't convert. In fact, they gave up an empty net goal thanks to a weak turn-over. The final buzzer sounded and the Blades had lost 3-0. The game sheet is here. Photos are from the 11/29/10 game at Germain and the full set can be found here.

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Some thoughts:
- Ryan Nie was a big reason the K-Wings won, he denied 41 shots!
- It seems the break was good for Bobby Goepfert, despite the loss, he had a really great game.
- They need to start converting on the power play. They can't let the opportunity be wasted anymore.
- What will really solve the problems they're having? Three words- Crash the net.

The Blades will now get right on a bus and drive all night to Toledo where they play again tomorrow night. Hopefully, they can rebound like they always seem to and get some wins.