”Aw, don't worry about that Doc. If it happens I could always come back as a forward.” - Harold SnepstsMiscues are killing the Wranglers. It appeared that for awhile the Wranglers really had a chance. The momentum had swung, the passes were right on an crisp, the puck being moved out of the zone and through the neutral zone, and an offense was starting to form, but it just never fully came together. I personally thought that the Wranglers had a chance. They had just scored two consecutive goals, and the score was only 4-2. The few Wrangler fans could feel it, the Puget Sound fans could feel it, but...
In the first period, the Wranglers looked to be doing okay, but there just were not any shots on goal. Oh, so many times a Wrangler would cross the blue line and instead of putting the puck on net, they would send it into the corner and not follow up on it. As I have said before I don't think the T-Hawk "D" is that good, but the T-Hawk forwards are fast and would come back and help get the puck out. Although the shots don't show it, but the Wranglers did play the game in the T-Hawks end in the 1st period. They just didn't shoot it. Here's the shots, er... shot total for the period "1". The T-Hawks managed 17 shots and had 2 count as goals. Only on one of those did I see Gayet make a miscue. The other 3 T-Hawk goals were the result of Wrangler mistakes. Here's how the second goal went... a Wrangler slaps the puck and it goes off the top of a T-Hawk skate and up and in. Ugh. Gayet made plenty of saves, he had some rebound control issues, but the rebounds were eagerly picked up by T-Hawks for shots and then goals.
Two minutes into the second period a T-Hawk forward cross-checks Chase in the back. A few words are said, then the gloves are off. Chase moves at him while the T-Hawk Vivian backs away, a quick punch, the jersey is over the head, and Chase looks like he's trying to start a lawnmower throwing punches on the hapless T-Hawk. Decision Chase. The Wrangler bench is going wild, the momentum swings, but the Wranglers come up empty with all this energy. Instead through a couple more mistakes the T-Hawks get 2 more goals. Behlorad, Tessin and Kaufman are fast and seem to be everywhere around the front of the net. Again, the T-Hawks post 17 shots, get 2 goals. The Wranglers post 7 shots. 2nd period score 0-4.
Waterbury and Meyer get into a tussle right after the start of the period. Remember this used to be Waterbury's team and so he's wanting to put some hurt on his former teammates. It all happened so fast, and I didn't get a good look at the fight. But again, this seemed to spark the Wranglers because two minutes later, Walsh (assisted by Luzaich and Long) finds Boyd way too far out in front of the goal and finds the back of the net. Goal Wranglers. 0:37 later, Long passes the puck out to Purslow, he evades a T-Hawk at the blue line and goes in for a beautiful goal. Goal Wranglers. Again, the momentum swings, the Wranglers are hard charging, but once again a few mistakes are made and the T-Hawks score, not once, or twice, but 4 times on 31 shots. At times the T-Hawks put on a clinic for the Wranglers on how to keep the puck in the zone, take advantage of rebounds, make shots, and look for opportunities on mistakes. Poor Gayet, he really did play a great game in my estimation. Way to go Glenn.
Of besides defensive mistakes, there were our usual passing mistakes, not skating hard to the puck, and once you cross the blue line, "Uh, what am I supposed to do now?" mistakes. Oh Wranglers you're just such a heartbreak team. Several players played really hard with determination, and a few played, well... If I were dishing out stars? Gayet, Purslow, Walsh & Luzaich. Of course that's my opinion.
The Wranglers get to play the T-Hawks the final two times this coming Friday and Saturday at home. The T-Hawks playoff chances are hanging by a thread. I don't believe they can afford even a single loss, so for the Wranglers... perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
