The Wranglers will play the Coeur d'Alene Lakers for 3 games this weekend - Friday & Saturday nights along with a Sunday afternoon game at 3:35 PM. The Lakers will be looking for some revenge because of last year's only Wrangler wins came against the Lakers. They're going to try to make sure they come away as winners this time.So, what do the Lakers got? They've got 10 players all with 7 or more points. Three of them have 10 points or more. Mitch Fowler (#8) seems to be their leading offensive player with 11 goals and 5 assists in 15 games. Tyler Alos (#19) and Zack Haight (#87) each have 5 goals and plenty assists. Several other players (Webking, Hughes, & Dippolito) have lots of assists along with a few goals to their names too. What it looks like to me is that the Lakers know how to score. The Lakers thoroughly beat teams like Seattle, River City, and Tri-Cities this season. Their record is 5-10, which also tells me that they are inconsistent. In net, their primary goalie is Brandon Amatto with a 4.75 GAA and 0.876 save percentage. Their backup goalie - Baum - has a 4.12 GAA and 0.901% saves, but has only played 4 games.
I've watched the Lakers play this season against Puget Sound and what I saw was that they are a small and very fast team. They rush the zone hard and fast and make lots of fast and furious shots on goal. They always seem to have somebody in front of the net, they spread the ice out, and have good, crisp passing. Their points make lots of shots on goal while left wing Fowler or Alos hover around looking for the rebounds. And on defense, their forwards collapse back to help the "D" out. Puget Sound beat them by being physical, putting somebody in front of the net and powering through them. Remember the Lakers aren't too big, but they are fast. All of the Tomahawks goals came from the top of the circles or the blue line, not from around the crease -too many Lakers would collapse in to defend against the goal.
So what would I recommend for the Wranglers? First of all, shoot from the top of the zone (top of the circles or blue line). Secondly, be physical put a body on a Laker to stop or slow them down. Thirdly, don't bunch up - that is put 2-3 Wranglers on one side or close together. The Lakers have good enough passing and quickness to get out of this. And finally, the Wrangler "D" has got to be ready for their fast zone rushes, and keep and eye on left wing Fowler and the odd Laker hovering on the weak side to get the rebound.
The past few weeks the Wranglers have been starting to really "gel" as a team. Hopefully this week's practices further added to coming together and really putting together an offense. Again, the Wrangler "D" has got to step up by putting a body on anybody who comes into the Wrangler zone. I believe the coaches are trying to get the players to understand a system. And, it's starting to show. So, let's win a home series. I think now is the time for the Wrangler players to turn it around and show NorPac, the Lakers, and the fans that they can do it. Predictions? There'll be some overtime wins and maybe even a shoot-out with the Wranglers coming out on top. GO WRANGLERS!
