Last night the Wranglers got shut out by the Tri-City Titans 0-8. It seemed that the game was being played in only one half of the ice, whatever end the Wranglers were defending the goal. The shot count defends that assessment since it was almost 3-1, that is the Titans shot almost three times as much as the Wranglers. The Titans had 59 shots (17-15-27) to the Wranglers 21 shots (5-11-5). The Titans worked out this game plan by getting their forwards behind the Wrangler forwards and in close to the net and even behind the Wrangler "D." The passing was close in, crisp, and varied. The Wranglers just didn't have the chance to defend against the shot, because the Titans effectively moved the puck around. Also the Wrangler forwards didn't come back to help the "D". This gave the Titans free reign of the Wrangler zone from center circle on down past the goal line. This also meant that the Wrangler "D" had to work harder to get the puck out of the Wrangler zone to create some "rare" offense.As I said previously, the Titans need the win to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. While currently the Titans are in 4th place this spot will only be held if the Titans keep winning. The 3rd & 4th place race is so tight that one or two losses will have an effect on who's in what place. The only strategy for the Titans is to keep on winning every game, and hope that the T-Hawks and Jags lose a few.
Aaron Riemersma had a good game last night, although he didn't score. He played the puck quite a bit and was able to get it out of the Wranglers zone. He also had quite a few shots on goal. Once again the Wrangler "D" significantly helped the Wranglers, Long and Losey had a good game. Plenty of hits, a few shots, and working hard to keep the puck from getting inside the net. Chase had a couple of nice hits and had a nice break-away but failed to score. The Titans goalie Romeike is their #1 goalie and is #9 out of all NorPac goalies.
Christian Kramer made 27 saves from 32 shots in the 1st and 2nd period (game: 2.5 GAA, 0.843 save %). Then Blanton came in to finish the 3rd period and made 24 saves from 27 shots (game: 4.5 GAA, 0.889 save %). Again, both Wrangler goalies are working hard to keep some Wrangler pride alive. If not for them the score would definitely be much higher. Some of the Titans goals were definitely "fluky" that went the way of the Titans versus the Wranglers. Heard a couple of goals were because they richocheted off of a Wrangler skate. Unfortunately a goal is a goal no matter how it found its way across the goal line.
About the only unusual thing about last nights game was that there were only 9 penalties for 18 minutes. 3 penalties by the Titans and 6 penalties by the Wranglers. Unfortunately this resulted in two power play goals by the Titans.
The only way the Wranglers can affect tonights game is if they start making some BIG hits that take the Titans off their game plan. The Wranglers just don't have the talent to affect the game any other way. The second suggestion is to stay out of the penalty box. Out of 5 Wrangler penalties, the Titans scored on two of them. C'mon Wranglers play tough, and make the Titan's earn their win.
Player notes: As I said earlier, Guzman, McCormack, Vaitaitas are off the team. It seems that so too are forwards Abera and Mee. They too will be out for the rest of the season. Former T-Hawks players Korenovsiy and Waterbury are playing as forwards to help out. The Wranglers line up is "thin" with only 15 players, 5 defensemen, and 10 forwards. The Wranglers line is young too, with 5 players 16 or younger and 10 players 17 or older - with more being 18 or younger than than older. I do not believe any Wranglers are 20 years old.
