Unlike game one, the Americans were able to create some pressure in tonight's game and got a fair number of scoring chances as a result. But, they were only able to get one puck past Martin Jones.
Calgary also played well though and outshot the Americans almost 2:1 on the night. For the second straight game Ams starter Drew Owsley got the hook, this time after 3 goals on 15 shots in 24 minutes of play. He was replaced by Alexander Pechurskiy again, and Pechurskiy was solid in stopping 25 of the next 26 Hitmen shots. Owsley is 0-2 with a 12.09 GAA and .708 SV% in two games in this series; I think it's a no-brainer that Pechurskiy should start game 3 on Tuesday. Owsley didn't have a chance on goals #1 and #3 tonight but goal #2 - the eventual game-winner - was a weak one, high short side from a bad angle. (That goal was also the first career WHL goal for Hitmen defenceman Peter Kosterman....tough to top a gamewinner in the Final for your first career goal).
It'll also be interesting to see whether the Americans have to play game three without leading scorer Brendan Shinnimin, who was tossed from the game in the 2nd period for a textbook dirty hit from behind on league scoring champ Brandon Kozun. If this were the regular season, Shinnimin would for sure be getting a game or three for that hit....but it's the WHL Final so maybe cheap shots are punished less severely here when the offender is a star - remember Tyler Myers on Craig Schira last year. I think Shinnimin should get one game. We'll see if the league agrees.
Tri-City needs to get their powerplay working. Prior to the series much was made of the Americans powerplay prowess and how the Hitmen would need to stay out of the box. The Ams had 7 powerplays tonight and while they were able to get some pressure on some of them, they got no goals and are now 0-for-12 in the series with the man advantage. A couple PP goals tonight and it could be a different outcome.
Game 3 on Tuesday will be pivotal. We all know the grim statistics for teams that go down 3-0 in a playoff series so it is an absolute must-win for the Americans. Their rink, their fans, they should be pumped up. We'll see if that makes the difference for them....
14 comments:
Definitely don't agree with Shinnamin getting tossed for the hit on Kozun. I was at the game, and it looked to me like a 2 min board, even during the replays. Not 5 and a game. Especially factoring in the fact that Kozun was on the ice less than 2 minutes later with the Hitmen on the power play, skating like he was no worse for the wear.
Funny, I was at the same game. Sometimes there is room for debate when it is a high speed play and a player turns into a hit. On this play Shinnimin saw Kozun's # 15 from 20 feet away and made no attempt to do anything but hit him head first into the boards. It was a blatant dirty hit.
Shinnimin didn't just hit Kozun either, he gave a little wind-up as he went into the back of him. Calgary is extremely lucky that Kozun wasn't seriously hurt and that after a quick visit from the team doctor (he spent a couple of minutes in the dressing room), yes he was back out there but you could tell that he wasn't 100%.
he was fine, 100% fine...both kozun and shinnimin are players that dive to draw penalties
To anonymous who thinks it was a dive, are you one of those people who thought Shattock also dove to draw a penalty in overtime against Brandon only to miss games 3 and 4 with an injury from the play? Cause it seems like you think it makes total sense to bash your own face on the boards, risk LIFE THREATENING INJURY, just in hopes of getting a 2 or 5 minute power play. Honestly man, that play was the only black mark on what was a pretty exciting game to be at, and one of the better ones in the Dome this post season (and I would know, I've missed one game all year).
I do disagree with one thing Alan said as well, you can't blame Owsley on Kosterman's goal. That shot hit the top corner through 2 or 3 players, he never saw it. His small size took away any chance of it just hitting him like it would 6'4" Jones. It was also nice to see some physical play and emotion in this one, as game one had nothing to it after the first outside of the Beach fight.
Nick
Nick - Kosterman's goal WAS screened. In my view though, almost any time a goalie gets beat over the shoulder short side from that angle, it's his fault whether he was screened or not. Proper positioning would have eliminated that corner whether he could see it coming or not.
As for the Kozun/Shinnimin debate, watch the tape. Slow it down. You can see that when Kozun turns his back to dig for the puck, Shinnimin is 10 feet away and gliding. He has plenty of time to make a safer hit or avoid the hit altogether. But he doesn't, and in fact you can also very clearly see him throw all his weight forward at the moment of impact - he was TRYING to hit Kozun as hard as he possibly could in a situation where players are told (and expected!) to show respect for a vulnerable opponent.
That, to me, is what makes this a definitely suspendable offence compared to just a 5-and-a-game offence.
yes, i did not say it wasn't a dirty hit but he did not need to lay down on the ice. it was a dirty hit but he was clearly fine because he played during that very powerplay
i just don't respect when they embelish and it works
First, Kozun was hurt. If you see his face after the hit, you'll know.
Second, I guess you think when you get your head smashed into the boards you're not allowed to be stunned or winded or anything like that - you're supposed to jump right up and skate away like nothing happened. Taking a second to collect your wits is embellishing and makes one not worthy of respect.
Get a clue.
hahah ya okay, everytime somebody gets hit they are aloud to lay down i guess..sweet stuff
i have seen more people in the whl, nhl, and high level minor hockey get hammered and get right back up than i have seen lay there and "collect their wits"
get a clue
I thought this would be obvious but I guess my anonymous commenter is a little dense.
If you're not hurt, you should get up. Nobody likes people who fake injuries.
If you ARE hurt, you should stay down if you can't get up right away.
It's pretty straightforward....but it sounds like "Anonymous" probably thought Mikael Tam was a wimp for not jumping right up too.
No because Mikael Tam was injured, and was not out on the powerplay created due to the hit on him...big difference
I'm loathe to continue this argument but allow me to see if I have this right....
You're saying that if a player is able to play on the powerplay, then he wasn't hurt. So let's say a player takes a high stick in the face and is cut as a result of that, and the offender is tossed out. The cut player gets a couple quick stitches or even just a bandage and then goes out for the remainder of the powerplay. You're saying he wasn't hurt?
Think about how amazingly stupid that sounds.
Have to agree with Alan. Also anyone who saw the game knows that Kozun was down for a minute and he's usually not that way even though he's gotten run over before. With whistle stoppages and time elapsed, it was at least 5 minutes later that he came back to the bench and the team doctor was quick on the scene, making his way through the crowd to get down to the bench - if it wasn't a 5 min PP, he wouldn't have been back in time to play on the PP. Other than when he got that scar on his face from a high-stick, that's the longest he's been out in his WHL career.
While the anonymous commenter has a rather simplistic view of the issue, and in this particular case Kozun was clearly hurt after a blatant hit from behind, there has been an alarming trend during the recent NHL playoffs to "milk" minor or non-existent infractions. I realize this is primarily a WHL forum (and an excellent one, at that), however what happens in the pros seems to filter down to the next level in a short period. Goofs like Carcillo and Lapierre who have recently attempted to get calls where there are none, are unquestionably hurting the game when they fabricate injuries in plays where they are involved. No different than Claude Lemieux's penchant early in his career for flopping after any hit. It took self-policing from the likes of coaches Larry Robinson who responded by telling the trainer to stay on the bench and embarassing Lemieux publicly to force him to, somewhat, change his ways. What we need are significant suspensions for known "divers". Then when there are significant injuries like the one Kozun experienced (even if it was for only a few minutes), there should be less doubt that the players reaction is legitimate.
Post a Comment