Re-Cap: Everblades vs. Road Warriors (3/12/11)

It's the same story the Blades have been facing for the last dozen or so games, can they find a way to clinch a good spot in the playoffs, can they find a way to win without their most talented players? Sadly, the answer still seems to be, we'll see.

There has been recent news that coach Poss has decided to put a new, more defensively minded, grinding type, system in place. Unfortunately, I was stuck with only the radio broadcast the last few games so I can't really tell you how well its actually working (anyone at the game want to leave a comment on their impression is more than welcome). I will say that on the stat sheet and in the outcomes it appears to be working.

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The first period was relatively uneventful. The Blades seemed to be dictating play. Both teams were pretty disciplined. Then, in what would be the Road Warriors same problem all night, Greenville took a very poorly timed delay of game penalty. This one came just as they killed off a previous penalty that the Blades couldn't really capitalize on. They didn't make the same mistake twice. Mathieu Roy was able to redirect a shot past the Road Warriors goalie to give the Blades the 1-0 lead. They held on to the lead for the rest of the period and the score remained 1-0 when both teams left the ice. The Blades led the SOG 6-3.

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The Road Warriors were obviously not going to let the Blades continue to dictate play. They came out in the second with adjustments made. They worked and the Road Warriors, over the course of the period, tripled the amount of shots they took in the first. The Blades were able to hold them off for most of the period. Unfortunatley, the Road Warriors were able to score with one minute left in the period to make it a 1-1 tie. The score remained that way at the end of the period. The Blades trailed 9 -12 in SOG.

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The play was a bit more balanced in the third. The teams remained tied until after the halfway mark of the period. The Blades took the lead for the second time in the game with a short-handed goal from Alex Hutchings. Greenville responded right away with a power play goal of their own to tie it up 2-2. The Blades took the lead yet again with an even strength tally from Matt Beca about eight minutes later. Unfortunately a weird one was able to get past goalie Bobby Gopefert to tie it up again. Neither team was able to steal the game in the remaining minutes. The score was tied up 3-3 at the end of regulation. The Blades trailed once again in SOG 10-12.

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In a repeat of earlier in the game, the Road Warriors took a poorly timed penalty less than a minute into the game. Perhaps it wasn't the worst time to take it, Hutching had a juicy opportunity that he could easily have cashed in on. It still cost the Road Warriors in the end when Beca was able to cash in with a mere four seconds left on the penalty to earn the win. The final score was 4-3 and the Blades led SOG 5-0.

The three stars: Hutchings, Carlson, Beca

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Some thoughts:

- How great has Matt Beca been lately?! Good lord, the kids quickly become my favorite forward.

- I'm also loving Alex Hutchings stepping up.

- One of the Road Warriors got called for what sounded like a nasty boarding on (I think) Mike McKenzie. I would hope that the league hands down a one game suspension at least.

- 2 for 7 on the power play? I will gladly take that.

- At least we know the best strategy to beat Greenville if we face them in the playoffs. Let them commit the stupid, poorly timed, penalties they've been taking all season and make them pay.

- Has anyone seen Alex Imbeault? He's on the game rosters, but he hasn't been showing up lately. Perhaps being a healthy scratch for a game will make him appear.

- I have a hunch that Goepfert starts tonight rather than Janus. It's a better idea to play the goalie that's been winning consistently, especially against a divisional rival like Greenville.