Last night's game was not my favorite. The Wranglers had hustle otherwise the score would have been higher, but I'm still trying to figure out the game played. Too many mistakes, too many penalties, too many missed opportunities, too too many...whatever. The Wranglers had more penalties (20 min. to 18 min.) than River City, less than half as many shots (17 vs. 40), and probably half as many hits. The Wranglers tried to set up an offense but the few shots made were aimed at the goalie than the back of the net. My simple analysis, it was an ugly game and River City just outplayed the Wranglers. As was said, "Hockey is a game of mistakes, and those who take advantage of mistakes win."Several Wrangler players could not catch a pass or make a pass. I watched as passes again either went beyond reach in front of or behind players. When a pass was made to a Wrangler a few Wrangler players seemed to just let it bounce off their stick rather than control it. Not sure if they were afraid of getting hit, or lacked the confidence to control it, or knew what to do with it. At times the Wrangler's play seemed confusing - I couldn't see the plays develop in the neutral zone to go into the Jags zone. It seemed that River City controlled the game, and the Wranglers could not wrestle it from them. The Wranglers played the Jaguars game. Sure some may say that the refs influenced the game but not the whole game. Although I'm still not sure why that one goal was waved off, although it makes no difference.
I watched Jaguar player Niklas (#13) routinely camp in front of the Wrangler net and no one would move him out. When "CKJ" made the save #13 was right there and even then no-one moved him away from the Wrangler goalie. Then routinely while a Jag player was in front of the Wrangler net, the Jaguars effectively passed it around the zone probing for the Wrangler weakness and when the opportunity presented itself made the shot. "CKJ" played a good game and kept the Wranglers out of being embarrassed stopping 36 out of 40 shots. Additionally, I noticed that many more times Wrangler players were taking the brunt of the hits. I bet a few Wranglers are sore this morning. Whereas on Saturday morning I bet it was Jaguar players who were sore from Friday night's Wrangler hits.
In the past few games one period could be counted as the loss for the Wranglers with several periods really looking good for the Wranglers. Saturday night's game there was no good period for the Wranglers, shots were 5 for the 1st, 5 for the 2nd, and 7 for the 3rd. The Jags were consistent on shots per each period too, with 12-13-15. The Jaguars adjusted themselves from Friday night's play by putting focus on Riermersma to keep him neutralized as well as Blase, Purslow and other Wrangler forwards. They knew that Friday's game was just too close for them, so they adjusted and the Wranglers didn't. Again, I thought the game was too confused, it reminded me of a game of street hockey which I used to call "rat ball." No coordination, little team work, and confused. C'mon Wranglers you can do better than that.
The Wranglers need to remember that the Coeur d'Alene Lakers are coming this weekend and they want revenge for the lone Wrangler wins from last year. The CDA Lakers are small and fast and beat the Jags TWICE. So, Wranglers adjust your game or it's more of the same.
