Another Lack-luster Game

According to the score sheet the Bears took 31 shots last night in their 5-1 loss to Binghamton. I don't believe that number. And if the number IS right than 30 of the shots were crap.

This team seems to have lost the desire to do the dirty work. The one goal for Hershey came on a rebound put back when Graham Mink was standing right in front of the goalie. That is the way to score goals late in the season and in the playoffs.

How did Hershey win the Cup a few years ago? With players like Eric Fehr, Mink, Brooks Laich, Boyd Kane, Dave Steckel, and Kris Beech getting traffic in front of the opposing goaltenders. That is the way to do it.

Even in Washington they are at their most successful when players like Laich, Steckel, Chris Clark, and Matt Bradley getting in front of the net.

Hershey? Mink is the only player willing to do the dirty work right now. And he is getting the goals. He has 21 this season and has scored in each of the last 5 games. But now the team needs more guys to do the same thing.

Oskar Osala, Darren Reid, Kip Brennan, Quintin Laing, Jay Beagle, Steve Pinizzotto, and even Alexandre Giroux should be joining Mink in getting traffic in the middle. That way when the other (typically smaller) players such as Andrew Gordon, Chris Bourque, Keith Aucoin, and Francois Bouchard take shots the goalies either don't see them and they go in or they leave rebounds and the guys in front get the puck and put it in the net.

Without this FUNDAMENTAL work you will NOT win in the postseason.

Last night was a bad night all around. Daren Machesney allowed 5 goals on 22 shots and the defense was pathetic. I spent the night watching the defense of both teams and the BIGGEST difference between Hershey and Bingo on defense last night ties into the point I made above.

The Bingo defense did NOT allow a single Bear to stand near the goal untouched. If there was a Bear waiting by the goalie there was a Senator pushing on him trying to get him out of the way. At the other end the Senators forwards can basically have a nice drink right in front of Cheese will no fear of spilling it cause they aren't touched most of the time.

Many of the goals the defense typically gives up are right in front. And Bingo had their chances with those goals last night. But they didn't need them to win. No they got great help from the Bears lack of defensive effort. Let's examine those goals.

Goal 1 - I think Cheese would like to have it back but it was a pretty good shot either way. Drew Fata took a perfect shot from the center of the point. I think that is a good goal from Bingo and really no one on the Hershey team is at fault. Maybe another goalie gets it but not necessarily.

Goal 2 - Beautifully deflected shot that left Cheese with no chance. I really don't think Cheese could have gotten this puck even on his best day. I really don't think Martin Brodeur would have gotten that puck. It was deflected a few feet in front of the goal and went over his shoulder to the corner.

Goal 3 - This one in my opinion is all on Tyler Sloan. First of all he turned his body. Why he turned to skate forward is beyond me but he did. THEN he left his position in the middle. He was the only man back and he just bailed on his goalie to chase the puck. He went to the boards and Denis Hamel made a beautiful pass to Greg Mauldin who beat Cheese.

Goal 4 - This was the goal everyone is talking about. Sami Lepisto had the puck at the top of the offensive zone and was skating backwards looking to make a pass when he tripped and Josh Hennessy took it and beat Cheese 1 on 1. You can't not blame Sami but it wasn't as bad a play as John Walton made it out to be. He acted like Sami just killed the team and the season. It was ridiculous how he was selling Sami out. And yet he didn't say anything about Sloans complete misstep on the earlier goal.

Goal 5 - This one here was a power play goal and another defensive letdown. Hennessy was able to skate in right in front of Cheese to tip in the pass. Guess who the defense was. Sloan and Bryan Helmer.

Could Cheese be blamed for any of the goals? Probably. I think a goaltender has to step up and play great when his team is falling apart but in the last few games neither Machesney nor Michal Neuvirth has done anything that can resemble anything close to stepping up.

But at the same time he was put in tough situations. The 3rd and 4th goals were both basically breakaways where Cheese was 1 on 1 with the Senator. Could he have stopped them? Sure but lots of goalies would have allowed those goals.

But that doesn't mean that some of this shouldn't fall on Machesney's shoulders. It is time for Daren to either shine or fall. Simeon Varlamov is, in my opinion, the best goalie on the Hershey roster. When he gets back, and assuming he doesn't go to Washington to ride the bench, he will be the number 1 again in Hershey unless someone else steps up.

Daren, now is your chance. If you step up and make some big saves you will be the hero this season. But so far all you have shown is that you can't win a game for this team.



If you want the 3 stars or grades they are easy. The 3 stars are all Senators and the grades are all Fs.

COME ON BEARS!!! GET BACK ON TRACK!!