|
|
Post by ricardo on Nov 26, 2023 14:56:42 GMT -5
The Spirit team on the ice last night against Sarnia looked like a completely different team with the addition of the new players from the trade with Windsor. They looked faster and kept possession of the puck for extended periods of time. I think it’s going to be exciting from here through the rest of the season.
|
|
|
|
Post by donjohnson on Nov 26, 2023 15:56:41 GMT -5
Totally agree but Sarnia is not a very good team this year. I still think they need to add some physicality...I know Hache is suspended through tonight but we need a bigger physical presence so our skill players can do their thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by bpfox on Nov 26, 2023 16:10:42 GMT -5
In all fairness DJ, if the Spirit had every tough guy in the league on the roster you would think they could use one more.  |
|
|
|
Post by donjohnson on Nov 27, 2023 9:38:26 GMT -5
Hahahaha...touche...I sure did appreciate Dionocio's toughness last night and the way that Glavin stuck up for the bad knee on Willis! Watching all the cheap stuff that Flint would do in the playoffs in front of the net last year just irked me so much and they did it because they had bigger guys. The Spirit survived that series because Flint had no goaltending but to last in the playoffs, you can't be getting pushed around every night so I'm glad the team has made some moves (Hache, Dionocio) to shore up that area.
|
|
|
|
Post by aj0512 on Nov 27, 2023 9:38:33 GMT -5
Love the way the team has played, especially since the Windsor trade. Offensively we are pretty balanced and have good depth right now. Seems like every night it's someone else who is having a multi-point night. Oke has played incredibly well but I still think we could use a top-4 defenseman as we get closer to the trade deadline. Drinkill has said he isn't done adding, obviously, so I'm looking forward to seeing what else he has up his sleeve.
All that being said, the schedule is about to get a LOT tougher. Upcoming home-and-home series with the Soo and London. Should be fun.
|
|
|
|
Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Nov 30, 2023 19:45:20 GMT -5
A hot Soo goaltender, too many penalties, and giving up too many odd man rushes results in a 4-3 loss to the Hounds at home last night.
|
|
|
|
Post by ricardo on Nov 30, 2023 21:11:10 GMT -5
A hot Soo goaltender, too many penalties, and giving up too many odd man rushes results in a 4-3 loss to the Hounds at home last night. There was quite a discussion on Facebook in the "Spirit Fan Nation" page about Andrew Oke with the poster claiming he isn't any good and the team needs a better goalie. It has since been removed because you're not allowed to talk negative about the players in that page. There were a couple people that said Oke was the reason the Spirit lost night, despite the fact the Spirit just won 10 games in a row, but after one loss they seem to be in panic mode. I'll have to admit I was concerned about the goaltending at the start of the season, but Oke has played much better that I was expecting and has made numerous highlight reel saves. He's now ranked among the league leaders in GAA and save percentage. If anything, the defense needs to tighten up and stop giving up odd man rushes which is what Coach Lazary mentioned in his postgame interview. |
|
|
|
Post by donjohnson on Dec 1, 2023 6:48:27 GMT -5
Oke made a lot of great saves Wed night but I didn't think it was his strongest game. I don't know enough about goaltending but when you're squared up to the shooter it seems like you should save it but maybe they were in a perfect spot so who knows. The first goal was a flukey bounce (which stunk because we dominated the period) and the breakaway was a great move but the other 2 I felt like maybe he should have saved. I think they may have still been odd man chances so maybe he's leaning towards a pass or something (again, I know nothing about goaltending) but Oke played well enough to win. As Ricardo mentioned, lazary talked about the defense after the game and if they tighten that up, we're going to be unstoppable.
As for the Facebook group... That place is a cesspool... I belong to it but I don't follow or get anything in my feed... There's no organization to the threads and you there's zero constructive discussion. Everything doesn't need to be positive and if someone thinks oke played bad, they should be able to post it... Like I said, I don't think he played great but it was his first loss in what like 7 or 8 games so it's no big deal... If his gaa starts to head towards 4,we've got a problem but he's at 2.66 which is really strong in this league. Lennox was 3.15 and he's a fantastic goalie.
|
|
|
|
Post by aj0512 on Dec 1, 2023 8:13:15 GMT -5
I thought the fourth goal he probably should have saved (also should have been a penalty on the Soo right before it happened if we're going by some of the other calls that happened in the 3rd period) but it is what it is. The Soo goaltender stole that game. Time to bounce back tonight.
|
|
|
|
Post by donjohnson on Dec 1, 2023 10:25:25 GMT -5
I thought the fourth goal he probably should have saved (also should have been a penalty on the Soo right before it happened if we're going by some of the other calls that happened in the 3rd period) but it is what it is. The Soo goaltender stole that game. Time to bounce back tonight. Felt the same way...it was like a double whammy, should have had a penalty and then give up the game winner. Lazary said what I felt after the game...we were the better team and IMO, it wasn't even close. Just a hot goalie. |
|
|
|
Post by eric8199 on Dec 1, 2023 11:17:57 GMT -5
We have to stay out of the box. Period. That is this team's biggest problem. Fortunately our penalty kill is excellent, but if you spend half the game shorthanded, you can't generate scoring chances and you've giving the other team the advantage. And I don't think the league is being tough on us, I think we take silly penalties at the wrong time. Stay out of the box, tighten up the defense, and we'll be the best team in the league.
Speaking of defense, has anyone noticed that Zayne is rarely pushing up on the play anymore? Heard Dillon say something on the broadcast the other night and I'm wondering if he had the reins put on him. He's been playing his position a lot more, and I think it's been effective, though he's also not scoring as much as he was. But we've got scorers, we need him to play defense.
|
|
|
|
Post by donjohnson on Dec 1, 2023 13:41:02 GMT -5
Agreed Eric, it's not the refs, we're just taking penalties... That said Brennan was brutal the other night but she only messed up a few which is right on pace with Hutchinson 🙂
|
|
|
|
Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Dec 2, 2023 8:36:16 GMT -5
Nice bounce back 3-1 win at Sault Ste Marie on Friday night. Still too many penalties. Only listened to the game on the radio so can’t comment on whether or not the penalties were good calls or ticky tack. The PK did its job again going 7 for 7 just like it did on Wednesday. The problem, as some have alluded to earlier in this thread, is that all of the penalties take away from their own scoring chances. It also messes up the lines and takes away ice time from the 3rd and 4th lines. An ornery London Knights team comes to town for Super Hero Night tonight. The Knights were spanked at home last night 5-1 by the Mississauga Steelheads. Leading the way for the Steelheads was Michael Misa’s brother Luke, who had a hat trick against the Knights.
On a side note, the Soo Greyhounds Facebook fan pages were awfully quiet during and immediately after the game. The only post of note was one where a fan was lamenting a lack of noise in the building and fans leaving early. Kinda funny since the same group were talking crap about the low attendance and lack of fan support by us on Wednesday night. It’s obvious they are still pissed and still can’t get over the fact that Saginaw was awarded the Memorial Cup tournament and they weren’t.
|
|
|
|
Post by ricardo on Dec 2, 2023 23:22:58 GMT -5
Very good week against two excellent teams, taking 4 out of 6 points. Is it just me or do wins against London feel great! I was worried after that first period, but the boys came out and turned on the jets and played great, except for more penalties. The only downfall was the penalty kill which was ranked number 1 going into the game.
|
|
|
|
Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Dec 2, 2023 23:49:35 GMT -5
London was 3/3 on the power play. Have to believe Lazary was pulling his hair out after they tied it 2-2 and the proceded to fall behind 4-2. Then bang bang bang they took a 6-4 lead. And then oopsee Doopsee they fall asleep at the wheel and it’s 6-5. Fortunately they clamped it down and got the open net goal to seal the deal 7-5. Ugly win but a win nonetheless.
|
|
