Junior hockey is a game of opportunities. It just depends who is going to capitalize on the mistake - the home team or the visiting team. Last night the Wranglers made three mistakes and the Jags took advantage of them to score.Mistake #1. Do not skate with the puck in your zone, rather make the pass.
Mistake #2. Somebody is in front of your net, then push them out.
Mistake #3. What's more important, a line change or an on-coming rush?
If the Wranglers would have dealt with the above mistakes, I firmly believe the score would have been 2-0. Sure, there were other mistakes made by both the Wranglers and the Jaguars but neither side were able to seize the opportunity and score. The first Wrangler goal by Abeal Abera came because of a Jaguars mistake - the goalie left the net, the puck came around and Abeal pushed it in. Now the score was a manageable and winnable 1-2 for the Wranglers. A minute later, Purslow caught the pass in front from behind the net by Riemersma and hit nothing but the back of the net. The Jaguars mistake was that they didn't control the puck from deep in their zone and get it out to a waiting forward. The Wranglers seized the opportunity by Robison fighting hard for the puck, passing it to Riemersma, and Riemersma to Purslow. Score now, 2-2. The Jags were scared, the Wranglers optimistic. The rest of the 2nd period was an even fought battle. In the 3rd period for over 12 minutes it was an even battle, although the Jags were winning the battle by having more shots on goal than the Wranglers, but Blanton put up a great effort making 16 saves on 17 shots for the period. (Jag shots on goal were 45, 13-15-17.) Then the mistake by the Wranglers, the Jags were pressing towards the Wranglers blue line, an errant clearing attempt richocheted the wrong way, two Wranglers ran for the bench, leaving the lone defenseman to fight off a 4 on 1 rush. Unfortunately the Jags scored. We then had to endure the "teddy bear toss" which I believe unfairly delayed the game. The Jags then worked hard to defend their lead and the Wranglers couldn't make the comeback. "Missed it by that much."
All in all though it was one of the Wranglers better recent performances. The Wranglers put up 29 shots on the Jags goalie Powell (9-10-10). The passing was not great but good and I'll take good any day over bad. The offensive cycling was not great but good and again I'll take good over bad. The Wranglers had some excellent chances at making some goals but again, "missed it by that much." The Wrangler "D" played good - there were some good hits, battles won in the corners, and kept a body on the Jaguar forwards who played deep around the net. The Wrangler forwards also came back to help the "D" which prevented the Jags from scoring.
What I didn't like is that effort by some players seemed lacking. They didn't hustle to the puck, or hustle to catch the pass, made lame passes, and made no or lame checks. C'mon boys despite what issues you have off the ice, you've got to give 100% on the ice. It's just not fair to your teammates who are putting out the effort. I also saw way too much "puck-hogging" for this level of hockey. You cannot take the puck by yourself and skate through 3 defending players. If you can, you're not in NorPac but at the next level. Instead pass the puck. Another thing I noticed was that all too often the Wrangler forwards were up at the Jags blue line waiting for the puck, when the "D" were deep in the Wrangler zone. That's a lot of ice to cover. The Jags recognized this and had players at the Wranglers blue line and at the red line to intercept these 3/4 ice passes. Finally, I noticed that some Wrangler forwards have this unique manuever in which as they skate and turn their back to the puck. You can't catch a pass when it's behind you.
I was happy with the coaches - Bonnelli for the "D" and McLain for the forwards. They pushed out line combinations that worked well for the game and the Wranglers. They can only do so much, the players have to really make it happen.
I hope tonight the Wranglers players can recognize some of their mistakes and correct them, that is more effort, make the pass, and keep any T-hawk player from camping in front of the Wrangler net. Along with some good play, no great play by the goalie, "D" and forwards the Wranglers have a shot at beating Puget Sound. Remember, the T-hawks are a physical team that will grind and press on and on. Keep Tessin, Belorad, and Kaufman covered and harrassed to keep them from scoring. The T-hawks just like the Jags will try to seize on those mistakes made and turn them into opportunities. I hope the Wranglers do the same, except turn those opportunities into GOALS. GO WRANGLERS.
