Last night the defensive roster looked like this, Johann Kroll (previous AHL experience = 4 games), Patrick Wellar (49 games), Josh Godfrey (9 games), Sasha Pokulok (49 games), Patrick McNeill (64 games), and Greg Amadio (231 games). Missing from the defensive lineup is Tyler Sloan, Bryan Helmer, Sami Lepisto, Karl Alzner, Sean Collins, and Dean Arsene is out with injury. Combined those 5 players and they have 1687 games on AHL experience under their belts. That is 1687 to 406 games of AHL experience between last nights roster compared to the opening night roster. That's a lot of games.
The defense did have some problems last night. A couple players had trouble getting the puck out their end and there were some missed assignments and missed passes. But all in all considering the patchwork defense that was put together they played very well.
They got some help from goaltender Simeon Varlamov who made 26 saves, many of them of the spectacular variety. The young Russian goalie covered up for any defensive miscues to win his 10th game of the season and 7th in a row.
The offense also stepped up a bit and managed to score 4 times against a solid effort from goalie Matt Zaba of Hartford. Maxime Lacroix (1st of the year), Francois Bouchard (8th), Patrick McNeill (1st), and Alexandre Giroux (18th) all scored for Hershey in their 4-2 win over the Wolf Pack last night in Hershey.
It was a full team effort. No one group out played another last night and it showed that this team is a team and they don't need their best players on the ice to beat anyone.
My Three Stars of the Game:
- Andrew Gordon - 2 assists and exceptional defensive zone play
- Simeon Varlamov - 26 great saves to save his young inexperienced defense
- Chris Bourque - filled in well for Aucoin and played well in his role at a position he hasn't played at recently
Grading the Performance:
- Offense - B - There were plenty of chances for the offense to score and they converted on 4 of them. But there were lots of chances left on the ice too. The Bears seemed to have trouble setting up in the zone regularly and needed breakaways to score 3 of the 4 goals.
- Defense - C + - Many miscues almost cost the team some goals but didn't. A solid performance from the unit as a whole but some almost costly mistakes from some individuals. Patty McNeill might have had his worst game this season in his own end with multiple turnovers.
- Goaltending - A - An excellent game from the young Russian in net. He saved his defensemen on multiple occasions. He continues to impress and prove that he is the number 1 goaltender on this team.
- Power Play - C+ - 7 chances, no goals. The units had trouble getting pucks on net while on the power play. They managed to get set up but couldn't get much on goal.
- Penalty Kill - A - A great game from this unit. 4 opportunities including a major and a 5 on 3 and they didn't allow a goal. Excellent job by the forwards on the PK units.
- Overall - B - A win is a win and that is all that matters but they better improve their play in their own zone if they want to extend this streak past 10 games.
News and Notes:
- Eric Fehr was injured in last night's Capitals game and is listed as day to day. He may not play tonight which means a right wing, likely Minker, will be called up today.
- Amadio took a puck to the head while blocking a shot last night but did not miss much time on the ice.
- Karl Alzner scored his first NHL goal last night in Toronto.
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