Mar 03, 2015 | Todd McIver | 1194 views
Return Date with London Purple!
On Sunday afternoon, Team Blue traveled to London for game 2 of the series. Anticipation was high for a team that desperately wanted and needed a win.
Right off the hop, Blue took it to their opponents. A smart forechecking scheme caused many turnovers by Purple who couldn't seem to get anything going. Much of the first period was spent in the London end and their goalie was busy. Good passing and tough battles won allowed Blue to gain the edge in the period and half way through the frame, Blue was awarded for their efforts when a tough battle won by a Blue forward at the red line sprung another player who marched in and made no mistake! Its battles like this that create success. When the buzzer sounded to end the period, the score was in our favour by 1.
The coaches message was simple. Stick to the game plan and what works. For the first 5 minutes of the second period, Blue did just that and were again awarded for their efforts. Smart puck decisions, good heads up passing, and a slightly altered forecheck lead to more scoring chances and eventually Blue's second goal! A power play marker would be written on the game sheet but it was the play that lead to the PP that was most impressive. With Purple now running around they took a tripping penalty and Blue made them pay. For the next few minutes Blue moved the puck well and the Blue tender turned away any attempts thrown his way. In the late stages of the frame however, Blue again started to play a slower, lazier, more individual brand of hockey and got away from what helped them dominate the first half of the game. It would be Purple who would notch the next goal on the power play when Blue began to get in trouble and took a penalty. To London's credit, they could have folded up when down 2-0 but they began to play smarter, tougher hockey and Blue did not respond. Another goal only minutes later would occur when a half dozen attempts to clear the puck were weakly thrown up the boards to the Purple D and the Blue skaters looked confused. A shot, a rebound, a goal. The frame would end 2-2 and see Team Blue is disarray! All of a sudden, Purple had the momentum and Blue looked like a house league team trying to play with the big boys.
Not much to say about the third period. Despite reminders and quick whiteboard talks from the coaches to return to what has made them successful, most Blue skaters did not respond and played slower, weaker, more individual hockey. 3 more goals for a total of 5 unanswered goals for Purple would seal the fate of Blue again. Now in firm control of the series, London can taste the next round and Blue can taste the next month with no hockey. What are you made of boys? What type of team game can you bring Wednesday? Are you ready to throw in the towel or do you have some fight left? I guess we will see.