Bears and Moose Tied at 1 Game Each

Well Hershey definitely came out firing last night. They played possibly their best 1st period in the past few weeks but it wasn't enough. After firing on all cylinders for the first 20 minutes they struggled to get any shots in the 2nd and then they appeared tired late in the 3rd period.

It ended up biting them when they gave up the winning goal with less then a minute to go in the game. It was a shot from Jason Jaffray that went off of Bryan Helmer's stick that got by Michal Neuvirth with only 46 seconds left to go.

Personally I think this was the 2nd best outcome for the Bears last night. Obviously the best option would be winning but here are my reasons why this could have been worse:

• If they make it to overtime and lose they are just giving a team that has struggled in OT some confidence for the next time,
• If they get blown out they obviously doubt themselves and the Moose then have the confidence and momentum,
• If they trail all game they also allow the Moose to gain confidence and the momentum,
• If they would have given up a bigger lead and lost it would have caused the same as the two above choices.

By losing late in the game on a deflected shot they still have the confidence and neither team has momentum. Sure the Moose gained some confidence but more than anything they are just glad they didn't lose both their home games. Where as Hershey is surely disappointed that they didn't win a very winnable game but they still achieved their main goal...win 1 of the first 2 in Winnipeg.

Some notes and observations from the game last night:

• For the first time in a long time Hershey looked tired at the end of the game. Guys weren't skating hard and while they outshot the Moose in the 3rd they still didn't look their best.
• Someone other than Alexander Giroux better step up and score some goals or it is going to be a long series.
• Guys need to stop slashing opponents. ALL season 2 players have continuously gotten slashing calls called on them for being stupid with their sticks....Keith Aucoin and Chris Bourque. And Aucoin did it again last night. He actually got called twice (the 2nd call was bogus) but still the first penalty was well deserved and a stupid play.
• Surprised to see Patty McNeill in the lineup last night. After getting burned multiple times in game 1 I thought he would be sitting again. I still think he should sit as he got burned a couple more times last night.
• Good to see Greg Amadio in the lineup though. Not sure what happened with Carlson. He made a couple errors in game 1 so maybe it was a way to get his focus back.
• The series appears to be gaining some animosity and physicality as multiple players needed to be separated at the end of the game last night....including Ammo and Arsene.

Game 3 is very important as teams that are tied 1-1 after 2 games the winner of game 3 wins the series 71% of the time. Hershey obviously has an advantage playing at home so hopefully they can take advantage and pull ahead 2 games to 1.


My Three Stars of the Game:

1. Jason Jaffray - scored all 3 goals for the Moose
2. Cory Schneider - not great but good enough with 27 saves
3. Michal Neuvirth - 28 saves in the loss

Grading the Performance:

• Offense - B - Good chances but they couldn't solve Schneider last night. 1 goal is not going to win against this team very often so players not nicknamed Rooster have to start scoring. The 4th line is getting as many chances as any of the other lines and while that is great for the depth it raises questions about the other lines effectiveness.
• Defense - B - Not bad...McNeill got caught a couple times and Helmer shouldn't have tried to block the shot (although I understand why he did it) but other than that the defense was solid but not spectacular.
• Goaltending - B+ - If Helmer doesn't tip that shot I really think Neuvy stops it and the Bears go to overtime. Neuvirth played very good all night and only got beat on a couple bad bounces again.
• Power Play - B - They got a few chances but didn't have as good a game as in game 1. Setting up was a problem and getting shots on goal was a struggle. Could have been better but definitely better than in other games.
• Penalty Kill - B - Technically they gave up 2 power play goals but one was an empty netter late in the game and the first one was a lucky bounce right to Jaffray in front. This unit has played much better so far in this series.
• Overall - B - Not a bad game by any means but obviously not enough to get the win. More players need to step up their game to help Giroux. Mink, Bourque, Gordon, Wilson, and others really need to start scoring more.

LET'S GO BEARS!!! GET A WIN AT HOME!!