Hockey Challenge 2014
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Showing posts with label Game Threads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Game Threads. Show all posts
4.09.2014
4.08.2014
4.05.2014
Seattle at Kelowna - Game 2
I was indisposed Thursday night so I can't really give you a fully intelligent recap (like usual?). It appeared to me that I really didn't miss much and the game result was quite simple. Seattle gave Kelowna 6 Power Play chances and they converted 3 of them.
I'm not any kind of genius but if they are going to be hard pressed to win games with that formula.
No matter... what Seattle wants out of the weekend is still available. A split in Kelowna is what they are looking for before returning to Seattle for a 2 for Tuesday night tile and they can get it tonight with a strong performance.
I mentioned in the preview that I expected Kelowna to come out strong and they did just that. Now, Seattle has to start inflicting punishment. They have to wear these guys down with every check and do it while staying out of the box.
I will be indisposed again tonight (sorry) so Jon will have his thoughts and recap sometime Sunday or Monday.
I'm not any kind of genius but if they are going to be hard pressed to win games with that formula.
No matter... what Seattle wants out of the weekend is still available. A split in Kelowna is what they are looking for before returning to Seattle for a 2 for Tuesday night tile and they can get it tonight with a strong performance.
I mentioned in the preview that I expected Kelowna to come out strong and they did just that. Now, Seattle has to start inflicting punishment. They have to wear these guys down with every check and do it while staying out of the box.
I will be indisposed again tonight (sorry) so Jon will have his thoughts and recap sometime Sunday or Monday.
3.29.2014
Everett at Seattle - Game 5
Well, I was a little bit afraid of that result. A better crowd in Everett, with their backs against the wall and the Tips played like their season was on the line. Seattle, did not.
Seattle's intensity from the start of the game was poor. I couldn't tell whether the first goal was deflected in but the shooter should have never been able to walk around the net off the wall and get a shot off in the way that he did. Then... they surrendered an awful shorthanded goal where nobody bothered to pick up a streaking Josh Winquist who was feed with a nice open ice pass from Manraj Hayer who promptly placed a snap shot over the shoulder of Taran Kozun and the game was effectively over. Sure, there was still more than 57 minutes left in the game but Seattle's margin of error isn't large enough to just punt away stretches of the game that badly and recover. You can't put all of the blame on Kozun but he certainly wasn't as sharp as he had been in the first 3 games of the series. I would have to imagine he'll get things straightened out again tonight.
Oh well. All's well that ends well for Seattle IF they can finish off the Tips tonight at home. I don't normally think of myself as being a very negative guy but I have to admit that I couldn't help but think about the possibility of losing 4 straight games like they did last year. Hopefully, the team doesn't tighten with that thought and it energizes them for Game 5 tonight. With a very short period of time to sell tickets the crowd tonight is going to likely be fairly weak. A strong walk-up crown may improve the numbers slightly but this is going to be far from a full house.
Jaimen Yakubowski returns and hopefully that gets the lines back in order. Everett is a little more banged up and Seattle must get back to punishing them physically if they want to end this thing.
Seattle's intensity from the start of the game was poor. I couldn't tell whether the first goal was deflected in but the shooter should have never been able to walk around the net off the wall and get a shot off in the way that he did. Then... they surrendered an awful shorthanded goal where nobody bothered to pick up a streaking Josh Winquist who was feed with a nice open ice pass from Manraj Hayer who promptly placed a snap shot over the shoulder of Taran Kozun and the game was effectively over. Sure, there was still more than 57 minutes left in the game but Seattle's margin of error isn't large enough to just punt away stretches of the game that badly and recover. You can't put all of the blame on Kozun but he certainly wasn't as sharp as he had been in the first 3 games of the series. I would have to imagine he'll get things straightened out again tonight.
Oh well. All's well that ends well for Seattle IF they can finish off the Tips tonight at home. I don't normally think of myself as being a very negative guy but I have to admit that I couldn't help but think about the possibility of losing 4 straight games like they did last year. Hopefully, the team doesn't tighten with that thought and it energizes them for Game 5 tonight. With a very short period of time to sell tickets the crowd tonight is going to likely be fairly weak. A strong walk-up crown may improve the numbers slightly but this is going to be far from a full house.
Jaimen Yakubowski returns and hopefully that gets the lines back in order. Everett is a little more banged up and Seattle must get back to punishing them physically if they want to end this thing.
3.28.2014
Seattle at Everett - Game 4
I didn't have a chance to get my thoughts out on Game 4 for a variety of reasons so I'll just include some here in the Game 4 thread.
Seattle did a remarkable job of staying composed and coming back from being down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 to eventually tie the game on a goal by Scott Eansor before getting a trickling change-up GWG that was eventually credited to Justin Hickman.
What a fantastic game by Scott Eansor. This is a different team with him in the lineup.
Of course, we've been here and done this before. Seattle took the first 3 games of the series last year against Kelowna and eventually wound up losing Game 7 in overtime to the Rockets. This doesn't quite feel the same though. Kelowna was a vastly superior team to Seattle and finally was able to show it over the course of the final four games of the series.
Everett and Seattle are awfully close as far as talent goes and I have to imagine the Tips are feeling pretty dejected after coughing up three leads in Game 3 and losing in Overtime. They have to especially be discouraged about the fact that they could have easily won each game in this series and yet find themselves in a 3-0 hole.
This is a dangerous game for Seattle based on what happened last year. Lose and you run the risk of bad thoughts creeping into the minds of the players who were here. However, most of the players weren't here last year and that may have no impact at all. I think you will see some push-back from Everett tonight but if they aren't able to build a lead of more than a goal and Seattle is able to gain the upper hand... it could be lights out for the Tips.
Seattle will be without Jaimen Yakubowski who was suspended for one game for his CFB double minor from Game 3. I'm not too upset by that ruling. It didn't look like Yak had any horrible intent but it was definitely a penalty and Noah Juulsen left the game and isn't expected to play tonight.
Seattle did a remarkable job of staying composed and coming back from being down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 to eventually tie the game on a goal by Scott Eansor before getting a trickling change-up GWG that was eventually credited to Justin Hickman.
What a fantastic game by Scott Eansor. This is a different team with him in the lineup.
Of course, we've been here and done this before. Seattle took the first 3 games of the series last year against Kelowna and eventually wound up losing Game 7 in overtime to the Rockets. This doesn't quite feel the same though. Kelowna was a vastly superior team to Seattle and finally was able to show it over the course of the final four games of the series.
Everett and Seattle are awfully close as far as talent goes and I have to imagine the Tips are feeling pretty dejected after coughing up three leads in Game 3 and losing in Overtime. They have to especially be discouraged about the fact that they could have easily won each game in this series and yet find themselves in a 3-0 hole.
This is a dangerous game for Seattle based on what happened last year. Lose and you run the risk of bad thoughts creeping into the minds of the players who were here. However, most of the players weren't here last year and that may have no impact at all. I think you will see some push-back from Everett tonight but if they aren't able to build a lead of more than a goal and Seattle is able to gain the upper hand... it could be lights out for the Tips.
Seattle will be without Jaimen Yakubowski who was suspended for one game for his CFB double minor from Game 3. I'm not too upset by that ruling. It didn't look like Yak had any horrible intent but it was definitely a penalty and Noah Juulsen left the game and isn't expected to play tonight.
3.25.2014
Everett at Seattle - Game 3
I forgot to post this earlier... so this will be a celebration of Game 3 VICTORY thread!
3.23.2014
Seattle at Everett, Game 2
Seattle held serve last night and will have a chance to really take hold if they can win in Everett this evening afternoon Sunday.
4:05 puck drop. Still time to get tickets and head up to Everett.
4:05 puck drop. Still time to get tickets and head up to Everett.
3.22.2014
Everett at Seattle, Game 1
Game 1 and Seattle should probably win this one since they will head to Everett tomorrow.
I sure hope I'm wrong...
I sure hope I'm wrong...
12.13.2013
Seattle vs. Portland - Game Thread
Seattle will put their 7 game win streak on the line tonight at home against what will be a depleted Portland Winterhawks team. Portland will be without several of their players who are away playing for their respective countries. Team Canada players Taylor Leier, Nic Petan and Derrick Pouliot are away and I'm pretty sure they will be without Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark) and Layne Viveiros (Austria) as well.
Seattle has a golden opportunity here to take advantage of a depleted Winterhawks lineup and extend the winning streak to 8.
Seattle has a golden opportunity here to take advantage of a depleted Winterhawks lineup and extend the winning streak to 8.
12.10.2013
Seattle at Tri-City - Game Thread
Seattle rides a 6 game winning streak into Kennewick tonight to face the Americans. The Thunderbirds are 7-1-2 over their last 10 games and have climbed into 5th place in the conference while effectively erasing the 6 game losing streak they suffered through in November.
The biggest difference?
In my mind, it has been the consistent dedication to playing with physicality. Forwards have been more dedicated to the fore-check and even guys like Jared Hauf have noticeably stepped up their checking game.
It also helps when your offense is clicking.
Seattle has now scored 33 goals during the 6 game winnings streak (5.5 per contest) and guys like Branden Troock have been on fire. Troock has taken some flack from me over the past year (when he's been healthy) because I think he tries to do too much at time instead of playing a sound, solid passing game while going hard to the net to use his strength and size to his advantage. During the winning streak, Troock has registered a point in each game tallying 7 goals and 12 points with a +7 rating. Hopefully he realizes that this is the blueprint for success and things continue to "click" because he can be a really high level player playing this style of game.
Alexander Delnov has been excellent and Shea Theodore has 10 assists during the win streak.
Tri-City is banged up right now with a handful of guys out due to injuries. This is a game they can win if we ignore the fact that Seattle has not had a lot of success in Kennewick.
The biggest difference?
In my mind, it has been the consistent dedication to playing with physicality. Forwards have been more dedicated to the fore-check and even guys like Jared Hauf have noticeably stepped up their checking game.
It also helps when your offense is clicking.
Seattle has now scored 33 goals during the 6 game winnings streak (5.5 per contest) and guys like Branden Troock have been on fire. Troock has taken some flack from me over the past year (when he's been healthy) because I think he tries to do too much at time instead of playing a sound, solid passing game while going hard to the net to use his strength and size to his advantage. During the winning streak, Troock has registered a point in each game tallying 7 goals and 12 points with a +7 rating. Hopefully he realizes that this is the blueprint for success and things continue to "click" because he can be a really high level player playing this style of game.
Alexander Delnov has been excellent and Shea Theodore has 10 assists during the win streak.
Tri-City is banged up right now with a handful of guys out due to injuries. This is a game they can win if we ignore the fact that Seattle has not had a lot of success in Kennewick.
12.07.2013
Seattle vs. Spokane - Game Thread (Home Edition)
You know the drill... we're playing Spokane again. Tough to beat teams 3 times in a row.
Lot of fights last night, especially towards the end of the game. We'll have to see if it carries over to tonight. I actually think Seattle plays better when they mix it up and get other teams frustrated.
Lot of fights last night, especially towards the end of the game. We'll have to see if it carries over to tonight. I actually think Seattle plays better when they mix it up and get other teams frustrated.
12.06.2013
Seattle at Spokane - Game Thread
We just did this! Thanks a lot computer schedule maker... oh, we play them tomorrow as well? Back at home? Geez...
Anyways... the only news this week was the departure of Michal Holub.
Holub made his way into 50 games last year as a 16 year old but had only played in 16 game so far this season. The overall talent level of the Seattle forwards has improved quite a bit from last season and Holub just wasn't able to find minutes.
I wasn't convinced that Holub was ever going to be able to carve out much of a WHL career and this will give him the opportunity to either find some playing time in Junior A or get traded to a team that might have some ice time to let him development. Probably the best move for him at this time, we wish him well.
Anyways... the only news this week was the departure of Michal Holub.
Holub made his way into 50 games last year as a 16 year old but had only played in 16 game so far this season. The overall talent level of the Seattle forwards has improved quite a bit from last season and Holub just wasn't able to find minutes.
I wasn't convinced that Holub was ever going to be able to carve out much of a WHL career and this will give him the opportunity to either find some playing time in Junior A or get traded to a team that might have some ice time to let him development. Probably the best move for him at this time, we wish him well.
12.01.2013
Seattle at Spokane - Game Thread
Seattle visits Spokane tonight for the first meeting of the season and the first of three straight games against the Chiefs.
After a really nice pair of games at home, I'm expecting a bit of a tired team tonight in the 3rd game in 3 nights.
After a really nice pair of games at home, I'm expecting a bit of a tired team tonight in the 3rd game in 3 nights.
11.30.2013
Seattle vs. Victoria - Game Thread
Seattle is coming off a nice 6-2 win over Saskatoon last night and Victoria comes in red hot. The Thunderbirds will try to cool off the Royals and their goaltenders.
11.29.2013
Seattle vs. Saskatoon - Game Thread
Sorry for the late post up here... Nice win for the boys tonight. Delnov with a huge 5 point night.
11.23.2013
11.22.2013
Seattle at Vancouver - Game Thread
Seattle heads to Vancouver tonight. This is the type of game they have to get if they want to stick around the top 4 in the West.
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