It's been a weird couple weeks. I fully expected them to go 1-7, maybe 2-6 on this trip & they will no matter the result tomorrow. They've also kept it closer than I anticipated in OSH, LDN, NIA, ER. I give them credit for that & for not just accepting defeat in those games. Our goaltending especially has been awesome & that's great to see.
But man oh man do they have some very frustrating issues. #1 being The PP finally got going a bit on the northern trip then when everyone left it not only fell back to what it was it's gotten even worse.. Tonight was truly maybe as bad as a power play can look. Like wtf are the coaches telling these kids???
It isn't rocket science. Guys all have designated "spots/areas" to stay/support. You should have 2or3 zone entree plays. Tonight looked like 10 guys who have genuinely never even seen each other play hockey before let alone been on the same team for a couple months + had a week of practice. I mean good fricken god that looked like beer league hockey. Worst in the OHL & not even sure they've scored a PPG on the damn road trip.
#2 is how they start. Tonight was a change with them scoring first, but then the next 25ish minutes were a gong show. Couldn't pass, couldn't defend, couldn't do anything outside get saves from Surzycia. When your shorthanded, on the road & young playing from behind is never good & this team always finds itself playing from behind.
#3 & the final one is just team cohesion. I cut them some slack here for the obvious. Injuries, U17s, Wainwright suspension. But that doesn't mean you forget how to play, where to be etc. As
@SarniaStingFan echoed way to often 2 guys chase 1 & leave someone open net front. Happening way too much.
I think this team will be fine ultimately. As I said they actually played fairly tight games with Oshawa, London, Niagara, Brampton while missing so many big players. This month has been a perfect recipe for what we've seen, but some of this stuff has been preventable & to see it keep happening is very frustrating. Self inflicted mistakes have cost them way too many points for only being 20 games in.
I don't like their odds for beating KIT at the end of a 3in3 while they are off tomorrow so todays game in Saginaw is a big one. Assuming someone isn't hurt from tonight (can never assume with this team) everyone is back except Fischer. No more excuses for being shorthanded, down this & that. Hopefully Maillet can have a big game & 12 can bring a big boost.
. It's a 20-man team, their efforts just be viewed as such, win or lose. All critics, regardless who made errors, should be directed to the whole team in general. Fans can help all players, by not publicly humiliating them on social forums. This post above is very nicely done, bringing to the front the frustration of team errors and not naming one player causing them. The point across is made, leave the management and coaching staff dealing with individual players
