Watching biznasty in the Ranger's dressing room pumping the team up you would of thought it caught on. It's just a puzzle how this team goes flat for some reason and sits back in their end in the third period. Why doesn't Jussi call a time out and put a burr under their saddles? We always say it's junior hockey which is true but we have seen this happen in a few games this season. Ottawa has to get some credit also. They have real some talented players on that roster. Not an easy win on most occasions.
Ottawa is a bit of a wildcard right now. They really didn’t have centres capable of playing OHL hockey at a high enough level to feed their strength on the wings pre-deadline. They had solid goal suppression but the offence struggled. Adding Kressler and Maillot is a game changer. It pushes wingers back to the wing instead of rotating unsuccessfully into the centre position. That has allowed them to play the game they are more accustomed to playing, heavy forecheck, quick sticks and feet, forcing turnovers at the offensive blueline picking pockets from behind etc. That is the type of game they played last year. Yesterday was the first game this year that reminded me a lot of last year. The tenacious way they play pressures the puck and forces the opposition to play it quick.
Ottawa struggles against heavier teams that can also skate with them. They will struggle with battling size. If a team can skate and is willing to play the body instead of the puck, Ottawa can be humbled.
In light of the team dynamics changing post-deadline, I don’t think you can look at yesterday’s game with heads hung low. Ottawa pressures teams when they are on their game and yesterday they were on their game. IF Ottawa continues to play that style and Kressler isn’t out long term with concussion issues, they will rise up the Eastern Conference standings.
It is too bad you saw NB earlier this season. They have changed as well. Oshawa will be a fun team to play at the end of your schedule. Jury is still out on Sudbury though.
