Well Games one and Two were pretty similar, but exactly opposites with how they played out. In game One it was Kootenay tieing the game and winning the third period. In Game two it was the Tigers tieing it up, and winning the third period.
It was a pretty tight affair. Kootenay started the game very quickly scoring 1:50 into the game. The Tigers were able to take the lead with 2 goals by the top line with Cox and Sanford scoring on the powerplay. After that the Tigers offensive chances really dried up, and it was a big battle to get out of their end. By the time they had the puck they were often gassed. Kootenay's Rinat Valiev would score the game winner with just under 7 minutes to play.
Jake Doty was suspended one game for his instigator and fight at the end of the game. It started when Tyler Lewington ran over a kootenay player at the end of the game fairly soon after a faceoff. Their were 3 Tigers right overtop of him and Ice player Austin Vetterl came to his rescue pushing into the scrum. Vetterl kinda took on the wrong guy though as it was Doty and Labelle pushing back..... Doty dropped the gloves threw a couple punches and Vetterl dropped his gloves as well, but quickly turtled after Doty was feeding him shots.
Even in the Swift series the Refs were watching Doty closely. Doty is one to step in and defend his teammates, or get on someones case after they become a nuisance and the refs are really pinpointing and cracking down on him for the 3rd man in.
Game Two
Was pretty similar to game one, except the Tigers started adjusting to some of the stuff Kootenay was doing to lock them in their own end. I thought it was a game changer and opened up the Tigers offensive chances..
Kootenay sends that first forward in their as fast as possible, and his sole job is to lay a hit, and get the Dman to make a rushed pass. IF the kootenay attacker is successful the Tigers start their breakout from near or behind the net and Kootenay's "offensive trap" locks them in their own zone with guys in passing lanes, and the second attacker coming in puts strong pressure on the winger to turn the puck over. It resulted in a lot of grind them out board battles, and some Kootenay Chances in the slot area. Marek Langhamer has been playing phenomenal hockey to keep the Tigers in it. In Game Two in the third period we saw the Tigers able to breakout from this offensive trap.
I think the winner of the series will be whoever is able to outmaneuver the other team in this chess match. Kootenay gets quite a few offensive chances off of this, and if the Tigers can minimize that kind of damage it wouldn't hurt their chances. You can bet both teams will be working on these areas during the 2 days they have off.
A positive note is that the Tigers were able to hold Reinhart, and Descheneau to 0 points in the first two games.
Up Next: The Tigers visit Cranbrook Wednesday and Thursday for Games 3 and 4.
34 comments:
Puck ya tigers! Good to see the fight back. Am disappointed that Doty got a suspension as it did not seem like he was the only third man in. In fact, everyone was in on the rough stuff so seems wrong to target one guy.
Does seem unfair that Doty was the only one with the suspension. Reviewed the fights and the lead up on dropyourgloves.com. It was Becker who annihilated the Kootenay player off the face-off. After that the dances got under way, and there were certainly a few who could have been considered "instigators".
this team makes me wonder what it would have been like had they kept Leier and McVeigh, could have been a true contender.
McVeigh? Not sure why he would make a difference. Leier yes. McVeigh was under performing and his numbers with highly unconvincing of a 19 year old. Ast is a much better addition compared to McVeigh BUT tough when he is in the stands due to injury. But I guess we could wonder what it would have been like if Hunter was still on the team.
Doty, Penner, Koules, Owre and Lewington on the ice for Kootenays game Winning shorthanded goal with only a couple minutes left...
I watched on the Webcast and thought the Tigers deserved a better fate. I thought they outplayed the ice.
Actually, if you watched the game, Doty, Penner, Owre and Koules were not out for the short handed goal
For the go ahead goal it looked like Cox, Vanelli, Bredo, Sanford, Valk was on the ice.
looks like the gamesheet is wrong.
Doesn't matter who was on the ice, it shouldnt have happened at that time of the game. To me that's a mistake by the coaching staff not having two dmen out in a tie game with 3-4 minutes left, power play or not.
LOL at tonights game.
When they were up 4-2 their defenceman started thinking rush up the ice at every opportunity, and the forwards weren't covering them. Complete breakdown at the worst time possible.
The gamesheet is wrong a lot. Especially +/- highlight reels show completely different players on the ice than those who are given credit for being there. Happened again tonight.
Please dont let us lose in the Hat. It is tough losing such close games.
TSN Turning Point in the series with a 9-2 Victory.
WoW what a game!! The Tigers should have won this series 4-0....but give props to Kootenay for sticking around.
The Tigers still have a lot of work to do. I want to see a Game 7!!
Wow, momentum swing. I am looking forward to the game in Kootenay. The guys gotta keep the same plan, keep hitting the Ice in waves, they could not handle the speed.
Likely to see Skapski next game, we chased him the game before, I think the tigers need to keep up with tons of shots. The Ice goalies are struggling right now, gotta keep taking advantage of that!
Heart and soul on the ice tonight. Was nice to see. Every guy left it all out there. Lets do it for 2 more games!
Go tigers go!
I think injuries are maybe starting to take its toll on the Ice. They had no answer last night and have been outplayed in 4 of the 5 games of the series. Gotta wonder if it doesn't get old for the Ice players having coach Magill screaming in your ear all night long. If not for some good play by Hoflin the Tigers could have reached the 15 goal mark.
Funny how the Kootenay guys are saying the Tigers are in the drivers seat when they are still up 3-2.
IMO the Tigers have outplayed Kootenay in every game of this series...
They outplayed Kootenay in both games on the road, but the Tigers shot themselves in the foot. The Tigers can't let up for even a second, because the moment they do it is in the back of their net. Now they have to do the impossible to get to a game 7, of beating Kootenay in their backyard.
Kootenay hangs in there, and hangs in there....Their offense relies on heavy pressure along the boards, turnovers. They often have guys back away and float into open space.
It's going to be a nailbiting game 6. Kootenay has started every game out really strong, and usually that has been the Tigers strongpoint.
!!Go Tigers Go!!
Tigers dropped 17 yr old tendy Keelan Williams and the Ice have him on their protected list.
GAME SEVEN!!!!!!!
OMG how am I going to be able to sit through a Game 7??? The playoffs this year have been amazing!!!!
The Comeback Kids.....The Arena is gonna be rocking Wednesday!!
Getting tired of reading about how the Tigers are doing all this without their star Hunter Shinkaruk. Fact is they instantly became a better team after he bailed on them. Congrats to Curtis on last nights goal and his great career. Go finish it off on Wednesday boys.
Game 7 baby!!!
If this is indeed the last game go out with a bang!!
I guess Jake Doty went down in the third period and didn't return to the game...unknown what type of injury it was.
From Bob Ridley's Twitter
-Tigers had bus egged by idiot Kootenay ice fans last nite. Not classy at all.
nyDoty played a couple of shifts after going down behind the Ice net late in the game.Don't think he has a injury.
ah Ok I didn't watch the game, and took it from a Kootenay blog.
PAINT THE TOWN ORANGE!!!
I hope the Tigers don't come out with too many nerves, or get over-excited, and take dumb penalties.
Kootenay is good at taking advantage of even the smallest mistakes.
Tigers will show Kootenay Fans what an egg-citing team they are! Go Tigers Go!
Hi TT can you put mareks twitter on page please?
Post a Comment