A few thoughts on this one...
- I don't know the story behind the goal song but I'm sure it's a dandy.
- Mathurin's injury is one of those that you go game-by-game with. I deal with the same issue and it's not a whole lot of fun at times.
- An impressive crowd tonight for sure. I don't know what the exact number is but they were right into it from the start.
- When you score three fairly quick ones to open the game, very few are going to argue with that.
- Garden's was a beauty, Belchetz's was something out of a video game, and then Morneau's second of the season.
- I was a touch worried when Kitch got the lead to 3-1 but...
- Belchetz late in the first, again, then Outwater with 2s left? I mean, 5-1 after 20... what more do you want?
- Lemieux's first and second in the second. The kid is showing us something new!
- Admittedly, I missed much of the third period because of other commitments. I wound up leaving right after the Lemieux fight.
- Let's talk about those briefly...
- First fight was a hit against a Spitfire and I THINK it was Martin who came into defend. He got four for roughing, which was pretty lucky. I didn't catch how Winegard got into it with Bottineau but a mismatch there.
- Second fight was Hicks giving a shot to a Rangers' player who had given a late shot or something to Costanzo. It looked innocent enough with some misconducts until Hlacar jumps Morneau of all people. Credit to Noah; he can throw when he has to.
- Third fight was Andonovski jumping Belchetz. This was in front of me; looked like Nesbitt (??) went down with a high stick or something. Official was looking right at him and blew the whistle. Andonovski comes around and goes right for Belchetz, gave him no choice. I honestly thought that would start a line brawl, for obvious reasons, but Belchetz very much held his own. I don't know what Andonovski was thinking but that wasn't needed at all.
- Fourth was just a shyteshow - I didn't even see Eichler and Arquette on the ice. I saw everyone jump in then Lemieux throw down and go toe-to-toe with Dirracolo, which was a solid tilt. As Dirracolo exits the fight, he shoves Lemieux, which brings Cristoforo in. He gets shoved and goes down, which brings a Ranger in to drag him to the boards. Winegard joins the party along with Vermeulen and give that one to Winegard, I think. Looks like Lemieux/Winegard get the 5/GM for second fight in that situation.
- Lost in all of this was Costanzo making 35-of-37 saves for a very solid performance, likely one he needed.
- Belchetz six points plus the Gordie Howe. Morneau with four points and the Howe. The only player who didn't record a point was Winegard and he had two fights, which I'm okay with. Cristoforo led the team with a plus-six.
- No matter how you slice this one, it was a total team effort. They got impressive goals, didn't let up, and stood up for each other. It's only game three but that was one of the more exciting games you'll see this season. Defence? Check. Offence? Check. Goaltending? Check. Physical play? Definitely check. I'm trying to find negative things to say - maybe 1/6 on the PP? I mean, you can't go 3/5 every night, I suppose.
- This isn't a game that's going to happen regularly but, man, this team has the potential to do something special. Top to bottom, they're clicking and the defence is finding a way. Once you get Protas, Spellacy, and now Mathurin back, whooooo boy. I said at the start that there will be great games and hiccup games. Friday night was the hiccup, Saturday was the great one. Let's keep this momentum going.
