That's 4 In A Row

If you watched or attended the game last night in Hershey you were probably pretty excited after the first 5 minutes of the game. I know I was feeling good about it. And if you were listening to John Walton and his guest announcer Frank Schoenfield you would know they were pretty confident about it too.

But it was just a mirage. And it shouldn't have surprised anyone want followed with the way this team has been playing.

Hershey jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 3 power play goals in the first 5 minutes and carried that lead into the second period. But by the time the second 20 minutes had ticked off the Bears were trailing 4-3.

And while they did do a much better job and showed some urgency in the third they ended up losing to the Norfolk Admirals 5-4.

I think many complaints could be made about last nights performance. Kris Mayotte made his Hershey debut and definitely let in some goals that he would like to have back. But the defense definitely didn't do everything the could have either.

When you have a rookie/young/new goalie in net behind you, you need to step up your game and do more than usual to help him. Oh you never heard of that theory....go ask the Caps how that works. The rookie goaltenders Simeon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth have played a combined 3 games for the Caps this season. What's their record? 3-0. With a combined 4 goals allowed.

That's because when they are in the net the leadership on the Capitals roster makes everyone aware that they have to do more to protect and help build the confidence of the young netminders.

Hershey's young goalies this season, Kris Mayotte and Bobby Goepfert, have played in 4 games and started 3. They are 1-1-0-1 in those games. And you know how many goals they have allowed? 11. And after watching last nights game I would say the defense isn't doing much to help.

Goal 1 - This is again on Tyler Sloan. You can't just let guys skate up to the net untouched. If you do that's what happens.

Goal 2 - This was on the power play so I understand that every player can't be covered but if you are going to leave one open then it better be the guy at the point. NOT THE GUY STANDING IN THE MIDDLE. This one is on Dean Arsene as he didn't come to help. He just stood on the far post and watched the Admirals pass it to an open player.

Goal 3 - This one I think Mayotte would like to have back. It was actually pretty well covered by the defense and backchecking forwards. It was a weak shot that kinda surprised Kris but he needs to come up with that one.

Goal 4 - Mayotte probably should have had this one too but he wasn't completely helped here. I thought Sloan did a good job on this play cause he had his man tied up. Radek Smolenak slipped in and fired a shot high. Deano and Alexandre Giroux could have helped more but it happened pretty quick.

Goal 5 - This is on Deano. And how is it that John Walton and most people on the forum will tear Sami Lepisto to bits for a FLUKE TRIP the night before but when the beloved Dean Arsene gives the puck to Brandon Segal and then falls down no one says anything. The game was tied at this point.

Walton said that Sami's trip the night before just shouldn't happen at this time of the season. But let me tell you this....Dean's pass to Segal shouldn't happen ANYTIME!! What happened to Sami can happen to anyone...it was a fluke play. What happened with Dean SHOULDN'T happen to ANY defensive player. That was a terrible pass that probably cost the Bears the game! Now that being said you also have to hope your goalie can stop a shot that he can absolutely see. But it was a pretty good shot so I wouldn't say Mayotte deserves all the blame but definitely some of it.


My Three Stars of the Night:

1. Brandon Segal - scored Norfolk's first goal and the last goal
2. Craig Kowalski - the stat guys gave him 46 saves so he deserves a mention
3. Keith Aucoin - he and Giroux played well and he had 2 goals and an assist

Grading the Performance:

• Offense - B - 46 shots is impressive but this grade will not go higher until the team starts getting some players in front of the goalie. I don't know if they are scared or just don't want to but to win late in the season and in the playoffs you have to EARN your goals and get the cheap ones. You do that by banging with the defense down low and getting in the goalies vision.
• Defense - D - Not an F because I actually think the guys did better than Friday night. But still a ways off of good. If Deano and Sloan are in the lineup on Monday than something is wrong. Neither of them has looked good this weekend. Sami made one slip and he sat for a game. Sloan has made multiple errors and he is still playing.
• Goaltending - C - It was his first game with Hershey so it is understandable that he would be nervous. But you have to make some big saves. This team NEEDS goalies to make big saves.
• Power Play - C+ - Sure it looked great with a 2 man advantage. But where was it after that? Maybe I am being overly harsh but I thought this unit was no better than average after those early goals.
• Penalty Kill - D - Some good things out there but not enough. They allowed 2 goals on 6 chances and the 2 allowed were pretty pathetic from my view.
• Overall - D - The only reason this isn't an F is because they did score 4 goals. But you can't give up 5. Tighten the belts up and play some better defense. There is no excuse for giving up 4 goals in the 2nd period. Quit trying to score 10 and work on defending 3!!!!

LET'S GO BEARS!!!!