ICE game was fun, tough loss though.
Unfortunately, I think Seattle wins the league this year. This is a concerning loss for the ICE. At home, Seattle played yesterday, they’re missing Lambert and Dach, and one of their best players (Ciona) was thrown out five minutes in.
Unbelievably, it looks like management made the same mistake two years in a row. Last year I lamented them for doing basically nothing while Edmonton loaded up. This year, they did more, which is nice, but I still think they let Seattle win the arms race. They brought in a couple of decent upgrades in Armstrong and Lattimer, and overpaid significantly for Ostapchuk who is a good player and a welcome addition, but not enough. They blew their load on him when they could’ve used at least another upgrade or two.
Maybe I’ll think differently tomorrow when the loss isn’t as fresh, but it’s frustrating to see them get outmanoeuvred at the deadline twice now.
Still, they played a tight game that could’ve gone either way, so I’m not writing them off. I just think when you have everything going your way like they did today that you have to make a statement game and they decidedly did not do that.
Great synopsis of the game.
It was a heartbreaker of a loss for sure. It wasn't the best game that the ICE have played this season, but they played well enough to win, and they got a point so at least there's that in terms of looking on the bright side.
With regard to the trade deadline, yes, it's hard to shake the feeling that despite emptying the cupboards, the team still got outgunned at the GM table. Ostapchuk provides some size and grit to go with his finesse, but as with last year it feels like the ICE are still a bit vulnerable on the back end. They have two very offensive-minded players anchoring their defensive corps (Lambos and Zloty) but they lack a prototypical big, tough stay at home D man. Prosofsky brings a bit of toughness but his skill set is a bit limited. Woo has amazing potential but he's still learning and growing. Graham Sward on his own just isn't enough of an addition, but maybe Wyatt Wilson will shore things up whenever he actually recovers and gets into the lineup.
I thought the ICE made a good move at the deadline in 2020 when they got Dawson Barteaux. He is exactly what they needed in 2022 and 2023 but that big, rugged defenceman never came those seasons... meanwhile last season Edmonton landed Guhle and Prokop... either of those two would have made a massive difference for the ICE. And now Seattle has Prokop. Anyway, like I said, hopefully Wilson can be that guy but I'm afraid that it won't be enough.
Looking at the bigger picture though, is it foolish to play the deadline game? After all, the ICE got a solid top six forward in Ty Nash for a third rounder back in September. To get a player of that calibre in January probably would have cost at least one roster player, a prospect and a couple of picks. The Winnipegger in me likes the deal that the ICE got back in the fall.
Anyway, as to the game last night, even though the ICE were behind at various points in the game, it never felt like they were in way over their heads the way it sometimes did when they played the Oil Kings last season, so that was reassuring. Like I said, the game was winnable, although I concede that this was without Lambert and Dach, and with Ciona out of the game early. Either way, the ICE didn't help themselves with a lot of penalties in the first half of the game resulting in a lot of penalty kill action (they did kill an early 5 on 3 situation so there's that, at least) and then giving up a SHG. So special teams were a bit of an issue.
And the winning goal was a bit painful as the ICE's golden boy this season, Zach Benson, who must have been absolutely gassed by that point, turned the puck over to Seattle on the rush leading to a 2 on 1 the other way. Adding to that, Benson just couldn't get back to the ICE end fast enough to give the D-man a hand (I think it was Zloty?). It was a bitter way for the game to end, for sure. I'm sure he was pissed off, he didn't even come out for his third star honours which is unusual for a guy like him who is almost always smiling and affable.
Even though the home team lost, it was a fun night at the ICE Cave and there was definitely a playoff vibe in the building. There was a good crowd with people really into the game. It's just too bad that, as with their games vs. Edmonton last season, they couldn't deliver the big win over the top contender in front of the home crowd.
(defender broke Savoies stick in half)
