Brantford Bulldogs 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part One)

[HUSH10]

As if Okitundu took the bait there.

Also that dive by Stonehouse leading up to that. Give that guy an Oscar for that dive.

I've always said Stonehouse is the biggest pest in the OHL

 

[Canadian Game]

I've always said Stonehouse is the biggest pest in the OHL

I agree. The kind you don’t like to play against but can be nice to have.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

The break out passes have been pretty terrible. 67s are forechecking much better tonight than they did in game one and certainly better than the reg season match ups.

 

[coolhandluc44]

The PP was a momentum killer especially considering another short handed goal given up. Also did Tsherna play at all? From the broadcast it appeared to me he did not, but maybe someone there could confirm.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

The PP was a momentum killer especially considering another short handed goal given up. Also did Tsherna play at all? From the broadcast it appeared to me he did not, but maybe someone there could confirm.

He had a few shifts (maybe one in the first and one in the second but not sure I saw him in the third)

The PP for game one was a strength but game 2 seemed to look like it did in the reg season. I'd like to see Vanacker get some PP1 time, he's one of the more dangerous options on the team.

 

[Rattler]

Crunch time. Must win tomorrow.
Expected a let down in second game, after hype of first.
They have it in them, just have to execute.
Time to shine Bulldogs.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Still turning the puck over at the worst possible times.

Really need to get it going before it's too late

 

[Rounder8]

Still turning the puck over at the worst possible times.

Really need to get it going before it's too late

Yep, just not good enough in our own end.

 

[Babs716]

Too little, too late.

 

[Rattler]

Another heavy puck pursuit in the O-Zone leads to the turnover and goal….. THAT is their game.

Quote off Ottawa's board tells it all.
Their forwards are very fast, and our D can't match them. Slow and indecisive. If.we can take a puck out of our zone, without turning it over we're winning it.

 

[coolhandluc44]

Turnovers and sloppy plays are killing the Dogs. Lardis has cooled down since that first game which was expected. But that turnover from him was just a killer. Off topic but I liked that Ottawa broadcast. I don't know if it was because I listen to the game with my headphones on, but I was picking up alot of chatter between the the two benches

 

[Rattler]

I mean I truly don't know what to say about these stupid, naive penalties taken by Testa and Roberts. It costed us a goal, just hope it doesn't cost us a game.

 

[Rounder8]

I mean I truly don't know what to say about these stupid, naive penalties taken by Testa and Roberts. It costed us a goal, just hope it doesn't cost us a game.

Roberts has now been benched.

Pretty much playing with 4 D now.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Really can't lose this one.

Not only being down 3-1 but blowing a 3-1 lead can't be good for the confidence

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

3 penalties a mile from your own zone
Cmon boys

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Really unacceptable loss. Gave the game away and possibly the series. If they didn't learn anything from the Protz disaster vs the Fronts, I'm not sure when they will figure it out.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Its going to overtime somehow

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Too many unforced errors.

Down 3-1 heading home. In a very big hole.

 

[Rattler]

Noticed change in defensive strategy in third and fourth. As soon as they had a puck on stick they were shooting it off the glass and out of zone. IMO if they played that way since first game, Ottawa would've had half of the goals they've got. So many goals came of turnovers of our sticks in our zone.
On the other hand Ottawa was so lucky today with bounces, at least three GA came off tips and deflections. Even overtime goal was scored as a deflection of pants.
Series is never lost, until is lost. Heads up. More disciplined play, no penalties, adjustment in back end to clear puck off glass, and I believe this series is still winnable.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Noticed change in defensive strategy in third and fourth. As soon as they had a puck on stick they were shooting it off the glass and out of zone. IMO if they played that way since first game, Ottawa would've had half of the goals they've got. So many goals came of turnovers of our sticks in our zone.
On the other hand Ottawa was so lucky today with bounces, at least three GA came off tips and deflections. Even overtime goal was scored as a deflection of pants.
Series is never lost, until is lost. Heads up. More disciplined play, no penalties, adjustment in back end to clear puck off glass, and I believe this series is still winnable.

I really liked the dogs forecheck tonight. Really made it hard on the 67s.

I don't think this series is over either. They'll be in tough but this is a resilient group of guys. Have to stay out of the box though, at least don't take penalties when you don't have to. I gets it an emotional game but you play right into their hand when you retaliate

 

[coolhandluc44]

3 penalties a mile from your own zone
Cmon boys

I thought the O'brien penalty was week. Form what I remember of the sequence, he was protecting the puck along the boards getting slashed and possibly even cross checked himself. No penalty call on Ottawa which is fine, its playoff hockey after all. Did he cross check the Ottawa player, yes he did but it was not overly aggressive, was not near the face or head area and you see that same play multiple times a game without being called. To see that get called in a game where for the most part you were letting the players play and given the score of the game and being in the third period, to me its a weak call. Again just going of memory so maybe it was worse than what I remember

 

[OMG67]

I thought the O'brien penalty was week. Form what I remember of the sequence, he was protecting the puck along the boards getting slashed and possibly even cross checked himself. No penalty call on Ottawa which is fine, its playoff hockey after all. Did he cross check the Ottawa player, yes he did but it was not overly aggressive, was not near the face or head area and you see that same play multiple times a game without being called. To see that get called in a game where for the most part you were letting the players play and given the score of the game and being in the third period, to me its a weak call. Again just going of memory so maybe it was worse than what I remember

You could say that about most penalties. The officials are “managing” the game. It is hard to make sense of individual calls independent of the actions leading up to it collectively when they are managing games. You could say the same thing about the Mayer penalty with 5 minutes left in the game. A weak call but more than likely a make up call or evening out call for the O’Brien call at the beginning of the period.

So, when discussing officiating, it is unfair to look at one call by itself. You need to judge it on the totality of the officiating over the course of the entire game. Both teams were physical. Both were chippy. The powerplays were 3 each which was a solid representation of the overall play of that game. I think that is acceptable.

I’d rather the officials manage a game that results in a lower total number of penalties rather than a constant parade to the penalty box…provided things don’t start to get out of control.

 

[coolhandluc44]

You could say that about most penalties. The officials are “managing” the game. It is hard to make sense of individual calls independent of the actions leading up to it collectively when they are managing games. You could say the same thing about the Mayer penalty with 5 minutes left in the game. A weak call but more than likely a make up call or evening out call for the O’Brien call at the beginning of the period.

So, when discussing officiating, it is unfair to look at one call by itself. You need to judge it on the totality of the officiating over the course of the entire game. Both teams were physical. Both were chippy. The powerplays were 3 each which was a solid representation of the overall play of that game. I think that is acceptable.

I’d rather the officials manage a game that results in a lower total number of penalties rather than a constant parade to the penalty box…provided things don’t start to get out of control.

I totally agree about your point that you look at the calls in the context of the whole game which is why I thought the O'brien call was weak. It was not overly aggressive , it did not impact a scoring chance. I hate games where it seems like half the game is played on special teams. I honestly cannot remember the Mayer penalty to comment on it. The O'brien one just really stood out to me as being weak considering they seemed to let the players play.

 

[OMG67]

I totally agree about your point that you look at the calls in the context of the whole game which is why I thought the O'brien call was weak. It was not overly aggressive , it did not impact a scoring chance. I hate games where it seems like half the game is played on special teams. I honestly cannot remember the Mayer penalty to comment on it. The O'brien one just really stood out to me as being weak considering they seemed to let the players play.

I only pointed out the Mayer hooking penalty on the neutral zone with five minutes remaining in a game with a ton of that sort of infraction uncalled the entire game as a ‘management’ call. Sort of evening things up. That call resulted in a PP goal to get back within one and then the tying goal late.

Was it a necessary call based on the infraction? No. But it was necessary because of the O’Brien call early resulting in a goal.

When managing a close game, you have to even it out somehow. Sometimes the infractions add up a bit as well. Sort of like, “I let ten of those go so if I don’t call one now, things will continue unchecked.”

 

[PuckStop75]

I totally agree about your point that you look at the calls in the context of the whole game which is why I thought the O'brien call was weak. It was not overly aggressive , it did not impact a scoring chance. I hate games where it seems like half the game is played on special teams. I honestly cannot remember the Mayer penalty to comment on it. The O'brien one just really stood out to me as being weak considering they seemed to let the players play.

It would make a lot more sense if the referees just established a standard and stuck to it. They shouldn't have "manage" the game. Its not about making sure things are even, and both teams get the same number of PP opportunities. Its about making sure when a player commits an infraction which crosses the line, what ever it is for that game, that it gets called.

If they miss a call, they miss a call, too many times its like a coach complains and the referee defaults to accepting he missed something and tries to make up for it. Best referees I've seen over the years were upfront in admitting they didn't see it, and weren't going to call something they didn't see.

The two referee system has complicated things also, as the two may not have the same standard and one only makes a call to offset what they interpreted to be a weak call by the other official.