To be fair the
officials were on both teams last night as far indiscretions go. It was one of
those games where it was fairly obviously that in order to have a fighting chance,
we needed to stay out of the box. We
didn’t.
Read the official recap here.
Now before we get started. I know this is only pre season. I
know half of these kids won’t make the team. I know our biggest offensive
players weren’t on the ice last night.
That being said, to watch these two teams go at it last night, it felt
like the post season and some of those penalties I think were more than
justified. What? Were there preseason
boarding workshops added to the Flyer’s camp this season? Much respect goes to
Dman Stu Bickel, who looked more like Travis Bickel, when he went Taxi driver
on the player that blind sided and boarded his teammate, Devaux, with a late
hit. Bickel wasted no time in tearing in Sestito and that’s what Ranger fans
had been looking for in years past when guys not versed in fisticuffs, were
left to fend for themselves against knuckle dragging meatheads. That one
incident, set off a melee and gloves and helmets flew.. and rangers and flyers
fans alike drooled at the thought of the winter classic and seeing similar
carnage on an outdoor rink.
We came from behind 3 times, which was a symbol of our
resiliency but also evidence than we didn’t seem to grasp that we needed to
stay out of the box. Errant sticks and guys trying to set picks put us at a
deficit of defensive players while, new flyers and roaming cannon for hire
Jagr, just circled looking for vacancy where they could set up and unload on
one timers. His free wheeling days over, a player like Jagr is happy to be
forgotten about on the ice so he can net some easy goal without having to shake
off half a team first. This was recipe for disaster on our penalty kill. I’ll go out on a limb and say in a game like
last nights, it probably showed the coaching staff more when a young guy
managed to stay out of the box when everyone is getting called, rather than getting
over excited and committing that crucial penalty.
As it was, after the last goal was scored against us, the
team finally became conscious of penalties and then became snake bitten as they
coasted for the last few minutes hoping to catch a break or a gift goal. It was a little backwards. Maybe in the back
of their minds, some of the kids mulled over that they might not be making the
trip overseas and their prospects of making the team as guys like Prust and Staal
looked closer to suiting up, would be dwindling. The exception for the new
guys was Jon Mitchell who didn’t seem at
all gun shy and was aware of the fact you’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
As for the vets, Brian Boyle continues to impress and be the
bridging influence between the majors and minors for some of the prospects.
Avery showed he still has the ability under the opponent’s skin, Dubinsky still
plays with attitude and Christiansen still plays like the team needs him rather
than the other way around. The team caught a plane to Europe
after the game last night.
Till Next Time Ranger Fans,
J_Undisputed
P.S. – Does anyone else think that the next time Dale Weise
gets the urge to fight, he should just pull his own jersey over his head and
flail till he gets punched/and or taken down? It would save a lot of time.
I loved Bickels play, not just the way he pulled Sesito through the air and hit him repeatedly, but I thought he played decent defense also. I think he should stay. Del Zotto and Erixon need time in the minors I think and Bickel a tough presence who does look overwhelmed by the NHL. Totally agree about Weise. I looked over at my wife when they squared off and said he's gonna get killed...sure enough. Its embarrasing, almost as bad as my spelling
ReplyDeleteGreat seeing posts from you again Dark. Always a read I look forward to.
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