Few game thoughts the morning after:
- Fun little game to watch considering it was the two lowest-scoring teams in the league! Looked for a while like it would be a 7-6 type scoring fest, then things settled down.
- A wise man told me a couple of times before he thought JS Fournier would make a nice forward. As much as I agreed with him, I have to admit that when I heard on the pregame show that we were so depleted we had a defenceman on our first line, my general feeling was
, but the goal/assist/first star kind of says it all. Except it doesn't say the part where he played what seemed like 35-40 minutes of that game.
On the topic of FOurnier, did anyone else think that third goal - credited to Dion - was clearly shot by our shifty little right-shot defenceman with the quick hands? Looked clear to me, I thought he had 2 goals!
- Speaking of little guys who looked good, anyone else find Kyle Farrell looked great last night? Little ball of energy, bouncing off guys all around the offensive zone, made smart and confident decisions with the puck, and I just loved when he went right after Gabe O'Connor (20 years old vs Kyle's 16, and also at least 50 lbs heavier) and gave him a shot after taking a tough hit!
In training camp I hardly noticed Farrell, but last night I found he looked like he totally belonged at the major junior level... just a matter of time till he's a permanent callup IMO. Last night I saw a lot of his offseason training mentor, Chris Culligan, in him.
- Lacerte didn't have his best night, but he can be excused since he's almost singlehandedly won us our three other W's and has kept us in a few other games. And he bounced back confidently in the shootout. Mario's apparent reluctance to use Verroneau worries me for next year though.
- Refereeing was pretty bizarre... 5 straight PPs for RN to start the game, then something like 7 straight for CB to finish it. Bodychecks were being called as penalties. Makeup calls galore. It was a bit of a gongshow.
- For RN, they don't look as bad as I expected for a team that lost no less than its top 13 scorers from last season.
I like their two Toronto pickups, #26 Robbie DeFivuliis (sp?) up front and #16 Kelly on defence. Two shifty, speedyish guys. And obviously Jerome Raymond #24 had a good night with two goals, both from the slot. The aforementioned Gabe O'Connor seems like he's on his 11th or 12th QMJHL season.
- What a nice bounce we got off the glass on the shorthanded goal by Shaw. Soon as Ellis's clear riveted off the partition and gave the two "Bay Boys" the two-on-one, you had the feeling we'd see our first home "shorty" of the season. Nothing ignites a crowd quite like a shorthanded goal for the home team!
- Guys like Plouffe and Jodoin just need to get that first goal monkey off their backs, then we should start seeing their confidence levels start rising closer to what they were when they dominated in training camp. Plouffe came so close at least twice, soon as those guys get that first goal they'll stop squeezing the sticks.
Speaking of squeezing the stick, I still find Hertzberg is doing it even though he's scored a couple in our last few games. He's gotta be feeling the pressure of being the go-to veteran offensive guy with Horyl and macDougall out... it's only natural. That'll go away in time and once it does he should lead our team in scoring easily.
- Much, much-needed two points given the 0-3 road trip, Halifax left us in the basement for only 24 hours. Nice rebound by the guys after giving up a goal on the first shift. A lot more offense created than other home games, lots of odd-man rushes, and the guys were getting more to the net instead of just being limited to shooting from the perimeter. A few real nice passing plays went unfinished just because it's a young, inexperienced team that's a bit snakebitten. Come December you'll see those start getting finished into goals.
Hopefully it's a good night tonight against an Oceanic team that should be hungry after dropping their first two games of their Maritime road swing.
, but the goal/assist/first star kind of says it all. Except it doesn't say the part where he played what seemed like 35-40 minutes of that game. 
