This was as good as a loss as a loss could be....if that makes sense.
The Rebels Patrik Bartosak stood on his head and stopped 37 of 38 Tiger shots.
Even though this was a loss I thought the Tigers played very well, and 9 times out of 10 would have won that game and deserved a much better fate. They controlled large periods of play and were overall the better team.
I saw some little things on the ice that I really liked. The forwards were more poised entering the offensive blue-line and created some high quality chances.
The Tigers won a lot of the one on one battles and their powerplay was A LOT BETTER. They had way better puck movement and created a bundle of chances with it. I like how Shinkaruk and Valk were split up and both guys were creating chances making it harder to defend against.Shinkaruk was getting double shifted even though it was his 3rd game in 3 nights playing with Team WHL in the Russia super series.
I hope the Tigers can continue to play the way they played tonight because they started to look like a team that should be on top of the league. And not just an above average team taking advantage of a mediocre conference.
22 comments:
Don't agree with you on both goals being weak. The second one for sure but the first was a clean loss on the draw and a hard one timer that would beat most goaltenders.
Probably a game we could have won but I think it also highlited this teams biggest weakness, that being our inability to get traffic to the net to make it difficult for the other teams goaltender. As you said the Tigers had lots of zone time but were usually one shot and done. The few rebounds that Bartosak let out there were no Tigers around to get second and third chances.
I didn't see the first goal due to crowd interference...edited post.
Can believe the coach dresses 7 dman and double shifts a forward, i personally think Allan would benefit from 4th line shift as forward then one shift at D a period, and then with the "Captain" of this team having a hissy fit that actually hurts the team and he doesn't even bench him is insane and embarrassing for this organization that the "leader" of this team acts like that
Good on scoot allen on crashing the net. time for doty to give up his celbrity status and stir the pot and create some mayhem in front of the net lets go tigers!
Adding to anon 3:14 am's comment I've been curious for a while why Scott Allan and Alex Mowbray are still on the roster. What kind of development can they get out of them sitting in the stands night after night. In Mowbrays case what kind of message are they sending to him by dressing seven d men and playing a forward short. To be honest what the Tigers are doing to these two young men is sad.
What evidence was there of a "hissy fit"?!?! Don't know where people get this from. I really liked Shinkaruks game. I liked he was getting a lot of ice time, thought he was buzzing around the net all night and the tigers need him to get going again and one way to do it is get him a lot of ice time to get a lot of shots.
I don't think we should play a dman on forward just to give him some ice time. We have forwards who deserve the ice time on forward. Allen played will and will earn more dman time.
Have to admit, I find it depressing that some people are so negative and angry when it comes to their comments on our captain. It is obvious he is going through a rough patch but that has occurred with Valk this year too and he does not see to get s*%t on like Shinkaruk. Wish some fans would show a bit of class.
I think Hunter looks so frustrated right now. It's not for lack of effort, he just seems snakebitten right now. I agree with Darren Kruger's comments that if he can just score a goal or two his confidence will come back and he will be fine.
When Etem was sent back from Anahiem when he was 19 he went out of his way to prove it was the wrong decision. He not only played for himself but also made those around him better. The one that got the biggest benefit was #9. I don't see that same resolve from Hunter
All I hear is how he wants to play in the World Juniors and personal success. The word team seems to be the last thing he is concerned with.
I think the reason they chose both Mowbray and Allan is because they are both 17. A 16 year old is required to play in 40 games unless injuries take place.
When the Tigers kept both those players they were basically stating that unless injuries occur they may not dress for 40 games....over guys like Hobbs, and Bradley.
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Regarding Shinkaruk I'm going to wait until the Christmas piece I'm doing which will talk about everyone including him. To say everything properly will take a couple of paragraphs and I want to make sure what I say doesn't get misconstrued.
I like seeing Allan mix it up. I wouldn't mind seeing him out there for a couple more forward shifts.
I have to admit, I just do not think Hunter is going anywhere. The team will keep him. Sitting in first place they are not going to send him away.
I think he will pick up again. Valk will get going more too. Calgary was a tough game because we are just not scoring. Not sure why, but I hope they figure it out. 40 shots on net should not result in a 4-1 loss.
I know Wapple let in 4, but I still prefer him to Langhammer. I just feel he handles the puck so much better and he does not consistently let in those weak shots. I thought the one last night off the back of his legs is one he would like back but those weak goals are much more rare with him compared to Langhammer.
I'm sure TigerTurf would confirm that since Hunter has been back he has hurt the team more than help he takes a lot of stupid penalties for getting his hands high, to slashing players behind the net, diving and on friday when a call didn't go his way he freaked out and got a penalty with under 5 minutes left and the Tigers were down by 1……great captain, Valk didn't take penalties at least and hurt the team when things weren't going his way
I think that is frustration from a young kid. I still think Hunter has all the talent in the world and is just struggling right now. He will turn it around. He is a first round pick for a reason and like it or not, Valk continues to be passed over.
If one wanted to trade Hunter, who would you get? Can not think of what the Tigers could get in return. They don't want a pick as they are in first, they would want someone to produce now.
Frustration and bad penalties usually go hand in hand with a player going through a rough patch. Also, they guy gets mugged multiple times a period, I am glad he is starting to push back and stand up for himself, Doty is not doing it for him.
Shinkaruk is a very interesting prospect.
If I'm a scout and trying to judge what his future potential would be I'd say He encompasses traits that give off big warning flags, but also has traits that are common in can't miss prospects.
I'll get more into this later in the month but I do like in big game scenario's when the money is on the line their is no nerves factor with him, that is a trait that you cannot teach. It can lessen with experience, but it is not teachable.
I do think that Shinkaruk hasn't improved as much as I thought he was capable of from his rookie season. In order to improve you have to be able to have an open mind, accept positive criticism, practice and work on your faults.
Looking at his conduct on the ice about what happens when he fails I question the ability to improve to another level, mind you I have never met the guy and don't know what he is like.
The defensive game and lateral offensive game which I think is not as strong as other parts of his game tie together. That is something that a guy like Curtis Valk understands, and Etem learned during his last season here. It is something that Darren Helm and Linden Vey knew at age 16. It's what makes them more of a complete 2 way player than a one-dimensional player.
If he understands this his game will reach an elite level, but to reach that he has gotta accept that their is room to improve and he will fail a few times before succeeding. The more time that goes by the harder the competition and the harder it will be to learn as what he knows know becomes ingrained into his playstyle.
Shinkaruk is already a good player, I want to see him become a first line star in the NHL.
There is a reason Hunter dropped in the draft and trade wise you could easily pick up a mean Dman, big hitting power forward and a prospect for Hunter something the Tigers always need and no one stands up for Hunter because he is the one who gets himself in trouble he yaps at players all game and then when they get physical he turns to the ref, Hunter could easily be the most hated player inthe league from how I've heard other teams look at him and if it wasn't for Doty, Hunter would be getting ran and cheap shotted every game that being said development is everything in the next step look at guys like Brule, Dupont, Kozun, Connolly, Howden they all dominated in the whl regardless of what Dman they played against and then you look at Hunter he plays a top Dman and he gets completely shut down he simply will never stay in the NHL unless he completely turns his game around
I agree.
The Czech Team's Preliminary roster was announced yesterday and Marek Langhamer is on the List.
The US released their preliminary roster. Tommy Vannelli is not on the list.
http://worldjuniors.usahockey.com/page/show/1056416-2014-training-camp-roster
Very good post TigerTurf.
This just in...Fan appreciation give away 1 of a kind tiger shirts to 10 year plus season ticket holders Dec 14 vs Victoria..plus many other draws and giveaways!!
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