London Knights 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 5)

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

 

[zman77]

 

[dmead]

There is no way thats all Kitchener's got. Those penalties sucked the wind from their sails.

I fully expect a different team tonight. Instead of the stickwork, they will take the body to slow the Knights down.

I noticed in the 3rd period last night a quick forecheck that gave the Knights some difficulties. Expect that throughout the game.

And the Knights D have to stop those soft clearing passes. Send it out of our end with force. If it goes to icing, ok. Better than the Rangers getting posession inside our zone while our forwards are heading the wrong direction.

Brochi, please stay in your net a bit more. Not sure what the hell happened on that play in the second period, but Ive already had one cardiac event, don't need another thank you.

Rangers size is going to be a factor later in the series.

From the Heart of a warrior" department, Barkey nailing Motew and the boards bttles against the skating tree (Schmit) were epic.

 

[Fastpace]

Honestly their PP didn’t need huge adjustments once set up. That’s how they scored their PP goals when they did score. Where they really struggled this year was once the puck was cleared. They used a slow approach usually with a predictable drop pass and wasted over a minute just trying to get back in the zone. The first power play goal last night that wasn’t an issue as Kitchener never touched the puck. However the 2nd power play they recovered the clear and reestablished zone presence quickly and it paid off.

You are partly right, yes: Coaching staffs sets special power plays that has been at the centre of their formation all year causing them to slowing down their execution, while in search of perfection as demanding of them.

The slow motion came by trying to make set-plays error free, it caused them to overthinking it and make extra passes while searching for perfect plays set by coaching staffs. In playoffs hockey their leading mindset on PPs is no longer at the centre of perfect plays it has change to lets go get that goal. They have chased perfection of plays from their minds and replaced it with "must score no matter how". Set-plays are very much still part of their platform but it is taking less of a meaningful place on their minds, overthinking it is no longer part of it. Plays seems to come naturally to them now, in a team surrounding the mind game is as important as your team talent. You're bound to have more success as a team by removing the congestion obstructing the minds and by executing learned plays more simple. IMHO

 

[TheOrangePylon]

There is no way thats all Kitchener's got. Those penalties sucked the wind from their sails.

I fully expect a different team tonight. Instead of the stickwork, they will take the body to slow the Knights down.

I noticed in the 3rd period last night a quick forecheck that gave the Knights some difficulties. Expect that throughout the game.

And the Knights D have to stop those soft clearing passes. Send it out of our end with force. If it goes to icing, ok. Better than the Rangers getting posession inside our zone while our forwards are heading the wrong direction.

Brochi, please stay in your net a bit more. Not sure what the hell happened on that play in the second period, but Ive already had one cardiac event, don't need another thank you.

Rangers size is going to be a factor later in the series.

From the Heart of a warrior" department, Barkey nailibg Motew and the boards bttles against the skating tree (Schmit) were epic.

I will take the odd gaff from Brochu playing the puck. 95% of the time he does a great job, he helps the D a ton setting up pucks or clearing it himself. Very good trait that often goes unnoticed in a game.

But you are correct, no idea what he was doing on that play in the 2nd lol. Almost like he didn't see the ranger skating right at him.

 

[Otto]

Tonight's game will be more about coaching. Dale900 needs to ensure the boys are not over-confident and approach tonight with exactly the same mind-set as last night.

Same game plan, stay out of the box, get physical, but have a plan B and plan C if adjustments need to be made. Focus on the marathon

 

[Knights Watcher]

Sean McGurn?! You mean, the guy we should've dumped at the beginning of the season?

Perhaps we can get Knights Watcher to weigh in.

I will weigh in. McGurn had elevated his game in the playoffs no doubt. But that's not to say he didn't have his struggles late in the season where he virtually disappeared for stretches. But if this is the McGurn we are going to get for the playoffs I'll take it for sure.

 

[Maxxim1]

So here is our situation…
Ryan Humphrey has pretty much bounced around since the trade deadline, never having the same line mates from one game to the next. Max McCue gets sick, Humphrey moves up to the top line and as of this morning Ryan is tied with Sean McGurn for the most playoff goals on the team.
When McCue comes back do we shuffle the deck or go back to our original lines?
No matter what they do, when McCue does come back his first mission should be to hammer Simon Motew. Just because.

 

[Fastpace]

There is no way thats all Kitchener's got. Those penalties sucked the wind from their sails.

I fully expect a different team tonight. Instead of the stickwork, they will take the body to slow the Knights down.

I noticed in the 3rd period last night a quick forecheck that gave the Knights some difficulties. Expect that throughout the game.

And the Knights D have to stop those soft clearing passes. Send it out of our end with force. If it goes to icing, ok. Better than the Rangers getting posession inside our zone while our forwards are heading the wrong direction.

Brochi, please stay in your net a bit more. Not sure what the hell happened on that play in the second period, but Ive already had one cardiac event, don't need another thank you.

Rangers size is going to be a factor later in the series.

From the Heart of a warrior" department, Barkey nailing Motew and the boards bttles against the skating tree (Schmit) were epic.

You are right!

The Rangers have a lot more in their package, one of them is the absent of Francisco Pinelli and that's huge for them, Kitchener offense pass through Pinelli. And I too noticed soft passing from some Knights Ds but mosly coming out of their zone, I think they are trying to eliminate icing in hope London forwards can get to the puck first in Kitchener zone

Brochu is much better when he's involved, keeps him in the game, beside he is the third defenseman on the ice and it's very helpful to the team.

Size may be less of a factor if the Knights don't fall for the Kitchener trap, try to stay away from the boards and use speed as much as possible, if they can't catch them they can't slow them down.

 

[BobHockey]

There is no way thats all Kitchener's got. Those penalties sucked the wind from their sails.

I fully expect a different team tonight. Instead of the stickwork, they will take the body to slow the Knights down.

I noticed in the 3rd period last night a quick forecheck that gave the Knights some difficulties. Expect that throughout the game.

And the Knights D have to stop those soft clearing passes. Send it out of our end with force. If it goes to icing, ok. Better than the Rangers getting posession inside our zone while our forwards are heading the wrong direction.

Brochi, please stay in your net a bit more. Not sure what the hell happened on that play in the second period, but Ive already had one cardiac event, don't need another thank you.

Rangers size is going to be a factor later in the series.

From the Heart of a warrior" department, Barkey nailing Motew and the boards bttles against the skating tree (Schmit) were epic.

Wow, by those comments you would think we lost 5-1 LOL

 

[nelli27]

I keep forgetting to mention this...not terribly important, but have you guys noticed the play that Julien has done several times throughout the season? He skates up ice with the puck, crosses centre, and then fires the puck the length of the ice, skates hard after it, hoping to beat the defender to the puck, and get the rebound off the backboards for a shot on goal. Sort of unique to Julien, seems to be 'his thing'.

 

[LDN]

I keep forgetting to mention this...not terribly important, but have you guys noticed the play that Julien has done several times throughout the season? He skates up ice with the puck, crosses centre, and then fires the puck the length of the ice, skates hard after it, hoping to beat the defender to the puck, and get the rebound off the backboards for a shot on goal. Sort of unique to Julien, seems to be 'his thing'.

I do like his play, size and grit

 

[horner]

Jacob julien really like him as a player

It's his draft yr
Where does he get dafted

 

[LDN]

Jacob julien really like him as a player

It's his draft yr
Where does he get dafted

He’s an 04 so it was last year.

 

[dmead]

Wow, by those comments you would think we lost 5-1 LOL

Not at all. Knights played a solid game. Keep playing like that and we take the series. Just be aware the opposition, if worthy, will adjust.

If thats your take on my observations, I would love to hear your opinion on the Windsor board.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

I keep forgetting to mention this...not terribly important, but have you guys noticed the play that Julien has done several times throughout the season? He skates up ice with the puck, crosses centre, and then fires the puck the length of the ice, skates hard after it, hoping to beat the defender to the puck, and get the rebound off the backboards for a shot on goal. Sort of unique to Julien, seems to be 'his thing'.

He did one last night and just missed a between the legs "one time" attempt off the boards. If he nailed it, would have been on every highlight reel.

But yes, I haven noticed this. Seems to work well for him at times.

 

[horner]

He’s an 04 so it was last year.

Where will he be drafted this yr

 

[BobHockey]

Not at all. Knights played a solid game. Keep playing like that and we take the series. Just be aware the opposition, if worthy, will adjust.

If thats your take on my observations, I would love to hear your opinion on the Windsor board.

Yes, my comment was mostly tongue in cheek. Knights were solid last night and I agree they need to keep playing that way with adjustments as needed. They have been playing more like they were during that winning streak early this year.

The Windsor board is entertaining. I usually bring popcorn.

 

[Blairwitch58]

Kitchener will come out much stronger tonight. We need to stay out of box. 3-2 London in regulation.

 

[LDN]

Kitchener will come out much stronger tonight. We need to stay out of box. 3-2 London in regulation.

Agreed it’ll be tougher. Gotta ply them right me use our speed again

 

[Fergus31]

He did one last night and just missed a between the legs "one time" attempt off the boards. If he nailed it, would have been on every highlight reel.

But yes, I haven noticed this. Seems to work well for him at times.

He’s developing nicely and every time I hear his name, I think of Jacob and Julian:

 

[Buttsy]

If we can squeeze out another victory tonite I think it will be interesting to see how Kitchener reacts. Have to be riding high after sweeping Windsor and believing all the “well they aren’t a typical 8th seed stuff”. BUT if we can stick another W on the board do they start to think it was more Windsor then themselves responsible for the sweep? Go Knights Go …..

 

[dmead]

If we can squeeze out another victory tonite I think it will be interesting to see how Kitchener reacts. Have to be riding high after sweeping Windsor and believing all the “well they aren’t a typical 8th seed stuff”. BUT if we can stick another W on the board do they start to think it was more Windsor then themselves responsible for the sweep? Go Knights Go …..

I agree, If we win tonight we get in their heads.

But seeding doesnt really mean anything past home ice advantage in 2nd round. You only get to round 2 because you earned it.

...and yeah, Windsor sucks.

 

[KnightWatch]

I will weigh in. McGurn had elevated his game in the playoffs no doubt. But that's not to say he didn't have his struggles late in the season where he virtually disappeared for stretches. But if this is the McGurn we are going to get for the playoffs I'll take it for sure.

I think McGurn's struggles late in the season were more of a reflection of the rest of the team's efforts. He is not a "do-it-himself" kind of player a la Evangelista, he is the kind of player who works his butt off and thrives when his linemates are out-working their opponents, which the Knights rarely did over the last month of the season.

All I know, is the Hunters take a lot of abuse over the course of the season, but we have to admit, they got this team ready to play when it mattered most. We have been spoiled since they took over this franchise, and rather than question them after every loss, we need to be thankful, and trust in their ability to get the job done!

I know I've given you a hard time lately (all tongue in cheek) KW, but thanks for being a good sport about it! Cheers!