Sarnia Sting 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 3)

[StingUpdates]

Remember, Vilmanis is only one of 4 forwards on this team born 2004 or later. When you see what that extra year (or 2, particularly in the case of Burke) does for a player, I still think he will be a beast next year. Just work on the shot…

He'll be the teams best F by a country mile next year. Probably be the biggest fish they can trade to get assets. Unfortunate he's an import which will lesson the return.

I think he'll be a pro & a good one. Has all the tools/traits. Just has to refine them & hit the net more often lol

 

[dirty12]

I haven’t seen enough of DBB to make that call, but from my seat, Vilmanis is one of the best passers on the team, after Voit and probably Pastujov. He has tremendous ice vision. Unfortunately he hasn’t spent much time on a line with a finisher so he’s not logging a bunch of primary assists. And, for sure, he needs to work on shot accuracy and quicker release as we move forward.
DBB may be able to beat him out for his current role but he will have to earn it. And maybe in a couple weeks he will have done so.

I'd like to see them on a line together honestly. Feel for Vilmanis because I fully believe he'd be a 70+ Point guy if he played T6 with this group. He's spent so little time this year playing with any of the best Fs on the team.

Tells u how highly they think of him that he's the one they put on a line to carry it offensively, but I feel it's limiting him. Hopefully, he & Filak can get something going this weekend.

I can’t say I’ve seen Vilmanis much, but I’ve watched DBB plenty. Your new centre has excellent defensive awareness that results in longer periods of time inside the opposition’s blue line. That should make DBB a mainstay on the top two lines imo.

 

[Ferda11]

I can’t say I’ve seen Vilmanis much, but I’ve watched DBB plenty. Your new centre has excellent defensive awareness that results in longer periods of time inside the opposition’s blue line. That should make DBB a mainstay on the top two lines imo.

No doubt about that. I don't think anyone is hinting at DBB not being in the top 6, rather the lack of opportunities Vilmanis has been given in the top 6 with the right players. Would like to see DBB start potting some goals but as you said, he does so much more that doesn't exactly show up on the stat sheet. I think DBB defensive awareness is rubbing off on the rest of the team as well. Certainly helps having two new top tier defensemen in Kyrou and Del Mastro in the line up too.

One of my biggest and long-standing frustrations with this team has always been their inability to get out of our own end. It's refreshing to have the boot on the other foot for once and we are now the team giving others that problem. It's nice lol.

 

[StingUpdates]

No doubt about that. I don't think anyone is hinting at DBB not being in the top 6, rather the lack of opportunities Vilmanis has been given in the top 6 with the right players. Would like to see DBB start potting some goals but as you said, he does so much more that doesn't exactly show up on the stat sheet. I think DBB defensive awareness is rubbing off on the rest of the team as well. Certainly helps having two new top tier defensemen in Kyrou and Del Mastro in the line up too.

One of my biggest and long-standing frustrations with this team has always been their inability to get out of our own end. It's refreshing to have the boot on the other foot for once and we are now the team giving others that problem. It's nice lol.

Kyrou has gotta be the best transition/zone exit Dman we've had in years. Like maybe since DeAngelo. We haven't had many lol. Though, Ritchie is quite good at it too just not quite that level. Been so impressed by Kyrou's awareness & elusiveness. I said I was unsure of adding both he & Del Mastro but I see what they were thinking now. Completely changed our backend & it's puck moving ability..

Have a feeling DBB finds the net a few times this weekend. I do hope we give Surzycia, Young, MacDonald a chance. They played well in tough circumstances & deserve some minutes.

 

[Flyers 1st]

Kyrou has gotta be the best transition/zone exit Dman we've had in years. Like maybe since DeAngelo. We haven't had many lol. Though, Ritchie is quite good at it too just not quite that level. Been so impressed by Kyrou's awareness & elusiveness. I said I was unsure of adding both he & Del Mastro but I see what they were thinking now. Completely changed our backend & it's puck moving ability..

Have a feeling DBB finds the net a few times this weekend. I do hope we give Surzycia, Young, MacDonald a chance. They played well in tough circumstances & deserve some minutes.

Hey , you forgot about a local , Jeff King. Finished 3rd in points 2016-17 under the tutelage of Coach Hatcher

 

[StingUpdates]

Hey , you forgot about a local , Jeff King. Finished 3rd in points 2016-17 under the tutelage of Coach Hatcher

I did like King quite a bit. Much like Burke but on D he went from a depth guy to a true leader on the team as a 19 & 20 yr old.

Man did I like that team. So god damn unfortunate Konecny got hurt. Really thought they were gonna have a shot. Those games with LDN, ER post-deadline was some of the highest level Jr hockey games I've seen in Sarnia. Especially vs LDN. So many truly elite players & the team's hated each other. That 2nd Round would've been epic. But alas, Sarnia did Sarnia things & we didn't get to see it. Same thing in 2012 with Yakupov's team. Would've played LDN RD2 in what Would've been an incredible series.

I obviously want Sarnia to win first & foremost but I'm a hockey purest & I love watching high-end hockey. It's what makes it even more frustrating our chokes. We get robbed of epic, intense, series/games that would probably still end in disappointment but at least it would be terrific hockey.

 

[StingUpdates]

These 2 game weekends makes it feel like we never play lol. Hopefully was a smooth drive up to the Soo if they left today.

Need a comfortable weekend. While a win is a win, be nice to win comfortably & not sweat out games. Especially vs the bottom tier teams.

Gotta see two solid efforts. Can't keep playing to the level of our opponents. If we bring it we could be sitting 3rd when the weekend closes.

 

[Ferda11]

These 2 game weekends makes it feel like we never play lol. Hopefully was a smooth drive up to the Soo if they left today.

Need a comfortable weekend. While a win is a win, be nice to win comfortably & not sweat out games. Especially vs the bottom tier teams.

Gotta see two solid efforts. Can't keep playing to the level of our opponents. If we bring it we could be sitting 3rd when the weekend closes.

Owen Sound is playing some great hockey lately (despite that blow out in London) and they have two winnable games themselves this weekend. Going to be a battle for that 3rd spot between us and them. Guelph gaining some traction the last 10 games as well.

Still waiting for this team to play to their full potential. We have yet to see it imo.

 

[StingUpdates]

Owen Sound is playing some great hockey lately (despite that blow out in London) and they have two winnable games themselves this weekend. Going to be a battle for that 3rd spot between us and them. Guelph gaining some traction the last 10 games as well.

Still waiting for this team to play to their full potential. We have yet to see it imo.

Think the PBO game is the closest we've seen to them fully clicking. Was an impressive performance.

Been a quiet couple weeks for Voit. L2 is buzzing but not converting like they can. Need L3 to figure it out. L4 seems to have really found a groove. D has been superb & Ben has been solid since returning.

 

[StingUpdates]

Same lines, pairs, Gaudreau as last weekend. Seems like they have found their 18 & are gonna stick to it.

Feel for the extras who deserve some minutes IMO. Hopefully, they play their game & win comfortably.

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Not a ton of changes to the Sting lineup tonight. Doucette-Way-Anderson is the third line and Wainwright-Filak-Vilmanis is listed as the fourth line. Seems like the coaching staff are trying to send a message to the fourth line

 

[StingUpdates]

Gaudreau plays infinitely better when he's under siege. It's crazy lmao. He was superb in PD1.

Outside of that yuck. Sluggish & slow start. Vilmanis best pd since returning. Still up 2 so hopefully we wake up & put it out of reach.

 

[Texcanuck]

Well… that’s 4 of the last 4 goals against the sting have been shorties… look it up.
WTF??

 

[StingUpdates]

Can somebody just show some damn FINISH on this team. Jesus christ man. Could've had 6 goals that period & come away with 0 & it's a tie game going into the 3rd.. Dude has an .880 & we r making him look like Patrick Roy.

So. Fricken. Annoying.

 

[Texcanuck]

… not anymore….

 

[Ferda11]

Can somebody just show some damn FINISH on this team. Jesus christ man. Could've had 6 goals that period & come away with 0 & it's a tie game going into the 3rd. Shots 20-7 in that pd.

So. Fricken. Annoying.

Jesus Christ himself could be on this team and still wouldn’t be able to finish. You’d think this roster wouldn’t have an issue scoring goals but yet here we are.

 

[StingUpdates]

I have never in my life seen a team be so BAD at hitting open nets. I mean seriously.

 

[StingUpdates]

Have a game Del Mastro. Fantastic play by Mast on that Way goal.

 

[Texcanuck]

4 wins… 18 to go.

 

[StingUpdates]

Gotta love this 4th line. Another strong game from them. I am in shock Anderson had 2 points in HAM. He's been buzzing every game. Way's pickup flew under the radar but what a savvy pickup that's been. Great 4C.

Need Pastujov & DBB to start finishing their chances. theyve been prolific scorers their whole careers so im not too worried but they gotta start finishing. Burke was flying tonight I thought. Voit's best game in a bit, too.

Thought Mast was a stud tonight. Been a really strong couple weeks for him. Gaudreau was really good which makes it 5of6 for him. Looking better & better as each games goes by.

Onto Saginaw where we need to finish our looks & we'll be in good shape.

 

[Millpond]

Owen Sound is playing some great hockey lately (despite that blow out in London) and they have two winnable games themselves this weekend. Going to be a battle for that 3rd spot between us and them. Guelph gaining some traction the last 10 games as well.

Still waiting for this team to play to their full potential. We have yet to see it imo.

Attack beat Guelph handily tonight 6-3

 

[SarniaStingFan]

Gotta love this 4th line. Another strong game from them. I am in shock Anderson had 2 points in HAM. He's been buzzing every game. Way's pickup flew under the radar but what a savvy pickup that's been. Great 4C.

Need Pastujov & DBB to start finishing their chances. theyve been prolific scorers their whole careers so im not too worried but they gotta start finishing. Burke was flying tonight I thought. Voit's best game in a bit, too.

Thought Mast was a stud tonight. Been a really strong couple weeks for him. Gaudreau was really good which makes it 5of6 for him. Looking better & better as each games goes by.

Onto Saginaw where we need to finish our looks & we'll be in good shape.

Gaudreau made a couple of key saves in the 3rd on Watson and Kostov that kept the Sting in it when it was tied 2-2. Nice to see him have one of his better games of the season. He's been better since returning from the World Juniors. Hopefully he can keep up his good play against Saginaw in a big game tonight.

 

[StingUpdates]

Feeling tonight's the night for L2. Both DBB&Pastujov are scoring.

SAGs been sliding so we gotta be ready to go right away.

 

[StingUpdates]

My god is it sad we've only had 6 goalies ever play 100 games for us. Testament to their inability to develop home grown goalies because that's only 25 starts a yr if they played 4 years, 20 if they played as OA.. brutal.

 

[StingUpdates]

Same Lines, pairs but Surzycia starts. Bit odd they'd go Gaudreau vs ssm & him vs Saginaw but whatever I guess..

Hopefully plays well. Been quite a lay off for him.