Rocket vs Val Dor

[coreyapple]

It was a well-coached game last night.

The Rocket came out very strong, seriously outplaying the Drillers in the first 10 minutes of the game, with a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Chouinard used all four lines, all game, and didn't mix up his lines at all - WOW!

He also seemed to have the right players on the ice at the right time, especially during that 2-man disadvantage, and in the last minute of the game.

Chouinard never seems to lose his composure behind the bench, he looks to be very much in control, though there certainly is no lack of intensity on his part.

Lafleur looked confident, he wasn't fighting the puck at all, as he had been.

Main, I thought, had a terrific game, and should have got a star, though it's impossible to argue against the choices that were made.

Best thing of all last night was that the lesser lights were shining.

On an evening where Doyle-Morrison-Walker-Latal didn't do much at all (Doyle had an OK game, the other three didn't), it was great to see the 3rd and 4th lines play so well.

A well-deserved win, gotta build on that Saturday night in Bathurst.

[hockeydog]

for the most part i agree hf99. except for the part where you state val-dor is a weaker team. it is a tough trip for them, played at home tuesday, travel wednesday to cb. the 3 games in 3 nights. but all teams have tough road trips.

[bois]

Can't really disagree with anyone here today.. much better effort, looked like a new team.. time will tell if they can keep it going but a much better showing than the first few post Jean games

lachaine did play terrific last night.. not his biggest fan but kudos when called for

agreed as well on Locke on the second line.. he should have been there all along

highlight of the night tho was Marchand flipping his puck over to regdunlop after he tied the game in the 1st.. cocky but awesome... hope to see more of this "rivalry" after Marchand gets dealt to Hali in January

[wingman]

That was a good game last night and one that they can build on. There were still a few miscues where a couple of them led to scoring chances for Val D'Or, but I thought they weren't as often as in previous games. They played well and did a good job defensively, there is still room for improvement but that game was a step in the right direction.

Team played better defensively....Lafleur had one of his better games....coincidence? I don't think it was, I'm not saying that the only reason Lafleur played well was because of the Rocket defensive effort, but I think it was a help. If the Rocket keep working on their defensive game I think there will also be a difference in the goalies' games as well.

As far as Cliche being in the lineup and for that matter Malouin, if the Rocket are looking to move them, they should be in the lineup. If they can play them enough for other teams to get a look at them but yet not too much to exploit their weaknesses, they will get more in a trade than they would if they were sitting in the stands. If your team has players sitting in the stands game in and game out and they are being shopped around for a trade, hard to shop them around as roster players when they have hardly played for your team. If a player isn't good enough to play for your team, particularly a bottom-tier team, hard to convince opposing GM's these players are good enough to be good roster players for their team. Have to showcase them around a bit and can't do that when the players are in their street clothes.

[reggiedunlop7]

Bois - you never know what you'll see. If he goes to Hali amybe I'll bring a big net for him to throw the puck into.
Actually on a team like Halifax with their offence he might disappear a bit and not be the big fish like he is with VD.

Dec. 4 though is when my all-time fav target FINALLY returns to the CCC....#28 Chris Morehouse with the Wildcats....X-mas comes early for me.

Tonight's game though I thought overall I was fairly happy with the way the team played. McKinley continues to impress me this season and although they didn't get any points I thought Walker set the tone early on with some big hits as did Doyle, but posters are right, we do need these guys scoring.
Not their night, but at the same time nice to see the 4th and 3rd lines come through.
Main on D was definitely a highlight of the game....played his position well and made very few errors. Southorn looked good too and I finally took notice of Mr. MacLean and seen he had some nice shifts out there.

Kudos for Guy earning his 1st one with the team and based on Gallant's comments in the paper you get the sense they want to really play for him.