Rocket vs Bathurst (Part 2)

[reggiedunlop7]

Well you can't say the team wasn't given their chances yesterday with the number of powerplays including a 5-on-3 and another with a 5 minute major.
Second period on two of those goals it was a defensive collapse. Titan player down the wing and he's allowed to skate right in and score. Looks bad when you are right beside him and don't even use the stick to try and throw him off.

Walks looked a little off to start. Lot of hanging around the redline waiting for a pass instead of going in to make things happen. Picked up his play a bit in the third.
I think the intial line of Latal, Lachaine and Gallant was meant to light a fire under Marty. As the game progressed he was back with Kana and Locke and Gallant and Lachaine were back with McKinley.

Yes the team shouldn't have put themsleves down 5-1, but like someone else posted they didn't fold the tent and even if one of the goals was a gift, I'll take it if it meant we have a chance to win.

For their short-lived time on the ice I really liked the work ethic that Paynter, DesRoches and Coon-Come showed especially DesRoches and his battle along the boards deep in the Titan end. Nice work from Nathan.

First time I can remember Cliche getting scratched.
Credit a bit to Champion he made saves when he had too especially late in third when the Rocket were throwing everything at the net.

Baie-Commeau playing very well this season and with a 17-6-0 record so far they sit 5th overall in the Q. Will be a big test for the team to earn a victory on Saturday night.
Does Lafleur get a chance to climb back onto the saddle? I guess see how the practices this week go.

[rockon]

hockeyfan99 said:

Well I thought this morning’s Guardian portrayed the game pretty well which was an awful first two periods and one good period is not enough to win a game.

One thing that really disappointed me was that Chouinard barely used our 4th line and Malouin barely played. Especially in game where everyone was playing so poorly why not give them an opportunity. I just found it weird especially when CoonCome & DesRoches got their few shifts late second and in the third when it was a close game again. Don’t understand why Malouin or Paynter got about a shift or 2 total.

Individually Lessard was great tonight and he has really been playing some great hockey of late and starting to really put some points up on the board. But he did a lot more than that last night he was also pretty solid in our end which is where he was really struggling early on.

Southorn also had a tremendous game last night. He is very smooth with the puck and I love that he is finally getting top PP time which he should have been getting from day 1. His fight also surprised me and I was a little worried about his hand because he was throwing a lot of big shots many of which were connecting with helmet but he seemed fine. Great game for him.

I thought Walker had a good game last night and really controlled the play. Also Doyle seemed to have a lot more jump in his step and although I don’t he played great the effort was there. Likely the recent CSB rankings have given him some added motivation.

Lachaine had another solid game and I would like to see him get regular time between Latal and Kana.

I also thought Deighan played a solid game last night and am noticing improvements in his allaround game. He is earning his ice time which is nice to see.


On the negatives side.

Way too many bad giveaways last night. Doyle made quite a few, Gervais and Latal made some bad ones as well.

Latal had a horrible game last night and I really didn’t like how he dropped down with Gallant. Maybe the coach sending a message but the line had no chemistry.

Locke seemed to have the effort but didn’t play a great game or make much happen. Might be a better idea to put him with McKinely & Gallant.

Gervais had a rough game. Seemed out of place a couple of times and as mentioned made some bad giveaways.

Lafleur was horrible. Svoboda’s was a great shot but Lafleur went down for no reason and gave Svoboda time to look around and then decide to pick the top shelf. Perreault made a great pass to Couture and it was a one timer but Lafleur should could have had it. And Faille’s goal was weak. Critchlow put a weak shot on net from just inside the blueline and Lafleur directed the rebound right out front. Exactly the right time to pull him.

On the reverse Gelinas played pretty good. Neither goal was his fault and he gave the team a chance to win it is just too bad that he takes the loss.


Anyway not a great game but I at least appreciated the effort in the third and felt like the Rocket game themselves a chance to win despite putting themselves in a hole. Hopefully the come out with a better effort next game and get back in the win column.

You were either at the wrong game or you missed most of it. Some of your view points, like Southhorn and Lafleur may be accurate, while others like "Latal had a horrible game last night "
were completely wrong. Other then one particular give away, I thought Latal and a good game. The Lachaine-Latal- Kana line looked really good in the third period. The coach must have thought so as well, because he was getting more ice time and he put him out on the ice for that last 15 seconds.

[masonw12]

this team is in bad need of a solid 19 or 20 year old D-Man to get the team deffence under control
the rocket seem to havew the coach that can get a system in place for this team but with out the Deffence the rocket are going no were fast.

[IslandersHKY]

rockon said:

You were either at the wrong game or you missed most of it. Some of your view points, like Southhorn and Lafleur may be accurate, while others like "Latal had a horrible game last night "
were completely wrong. Other then one particular give away, I thought Latal and a good game. The Lachaine-Latal- Kana line looked really good in the third period. The coach must have thought so as well, because he was getting more ice time and he put him out on the ice for that last 15 seconds.

Let me get this straight. You are suggesting that my post game comments are way off base so much so I either missed the whole game or was talking about something else.

Yet the only thing you disagree with is that you thought Latal had a good game despite being a -2, with a bad penalty, no shots on goal and no real offense generated.

I like Latal but he has struggled a little lately and I think he can play a lot better than he did yesterday.

[stang07]

Honest to god, I thought it was a terrible game by the Rocket...I would say Lassard was right on when he said it was "like a nightmare". I'm sorry but the Walker, Doyle, Morrison line were not that good out there. There was no get up and go with these guys. Walker looked VERY slow and was waiting for the pass instead of working to get the puck. The D were so BAD! the give aways were abit much. I said it before and I'll say it again, Deighan looked out of place and on one goal he just stood and watched. He couldn't keep up with the Titan. I don't know, maybe I'm expecting too much but these guys either have ego problems or something. Doyle has to start picking up his game. To me he was just there. Its funny but everyone has there own view of what the game was like and at times they are so different, like they were watching different games.

[nolman29]

stang07 said:

Honest to god, I thought it was a terrible game by the Rocket...I would say Lassard was right on when he said it was "like a nightmare". I'm sorry but the Walker, Doyle, Morrison line were not that good out there. There was no get up and go with these guys. Walker looked VERY slow and was waiting for the pass instead of working to get the puck. The D were so BAD! the give aways were abit much. I said it before and I'll say it again, Deighan looked out of place and on one goal he just stood and watched. He couldn't keep up with the Titan. I don't know, maybe I'm expecting too much but these guys either have ego problems or something. Doyle has to start picking up his game. To me he was just there. Its funny but everyone has there own view of what the game was like and at times they are so different, like they were watching different games.

Walker is always slow.

[countryboy]

Have Walker, Morrison and Doyle become our whipping boys?

Every we lose a game we get threads about how Walker is slow, Morrison looks to be floating and Doyle isn't bringing his A game..... cheap cliches like that.

Walker had a goal, Doyle had three assists, Morrison had two assists and was 17/25 on the draw.

If you're ripping into them about one bad shift you saw, say it was a bad shift, don't day they're slow.... or floating.... or not bringing his A game.


Once you look beyond the shoddy, inconsistent goaltending and the size and experience inadequacies on defence, we've got a major problem where our offense drops off after our top 5 forwards. Lachaine is 19 and is on pace for 43 points and has done little offensive outside of the hot streak when playing with McKinley and Gallant. Coon-Come has yet to score in 13 games with ample ice time. Locke, who we've been waiting for to break out offensively since he was dealt here for a TOP EURO pick two years ago as a paltry 2 points in 16 games. If you ignore his injury, that still only works out to 9 points on the season! Cliche has been in an abyss.

Secondary scoring has been a major problem in each of the last 4 seasons and is no better this year.

Where were we when Picard-Hooper was available?

cb

[wingman]

countryboy said:

Where were we when Picard-Hooper was available?

cb

We were waiting for Swit to break out as a 20 yr old player..... ;D

[stang07]

Even though the top line came out with those numbers they still didn't look right..... These guys are supposed to be top players in this league. I have only seen these guys play twice at the civic centre and the occasional online game. I guess my expectations are too high, but some of these guys are draft picks and I feel they have to bring their A game every game. These guys are not the new whipping boys either, it was an observation that I made from yesterdays game.

[thedarcy]

If Hockey games were based on 2 periods we'd be in great shape...its the full 60 minute performance that seems to be lacking...i actually thought that the lackluster performance through the first 30 mins were erased by one hell of horserace to the end...GElinas made some key saves on our behalf and Champion did a great job to keep them in the game, and it will be a serious blow to Woodstock (Jr. A) if he grabs a spot on the roster (if he already hasn't)...it was unfortunate to see the game start off the way it did because that was one heck of a 3rd period...i think i said "there's your TSN turning point 8 times"

[bois]

Good post CB.. secondary scoring has always been a major problem for the Rocket.. not sure why some fans continue to harp on Morrison and Walker after a subpar game... I thought Morrison was excellent Sunday.. Walker didn't play his best but all season I think he's been our most consistent player.. and Doyle started out slow but has improved steadily

We need better support from the rest of our veteran forwards... Lachaine is playing well now but he's never been a reliable scorer.. very streaky.. Locke has been a huge disappointment tho I still think he's never been given a solid sceond line role for long to see what he can do.. Gallant is playing above my expectations thus far.. Latal is the guy who has fallen hard IMO lately.. not sure what is up with him but we need the start of the year Marty back in a hurry

Coon Come simply isn't ready to provide offense here.. kid has not got his shot release up to major junior levels.. everytime he gets the puck in a scoring position his shot is blocked because he has a slow release

[hockeydog]

reading the gaurdian yesterday, something struck me. i always thought doyle stays on for too long of a shift. walker and morrison are off the ice way before he comes off, on a regular basis. looking at the plus/minus of each player yesterday, walker and morrison are both on the plus side while doyle is -6. it kind of confirms what i have thought, to myself anyway. he is out there tired, and getting caught.

[Stuck in a Loop...]

Could this be our next big thing trying to do too much by himself?

[hockeydog]

i call it selfish

[ClapperGirl]

No one mentioned Jordan's fight except that article. Didn't know he could fight like that.

But yah. Our second period was lack luster.. and the first of the third. We killed our own 5 minute powerplay, looking like it was them on it. Though, we did get two goals in it, it took us a while.

Our last five minutes in the third tho, were great. Felt like the team were ready to pick'er up and tie for sure. Lots of pressure from where I could see, and hopefully if they keep that going next game we'll kick some ass.

As for goalies, Laffy looks like he's trying to pick himself up again. Missed his playing, and I hope he gets back on top of things as we progress. Tho I heard everyone was down watching Mosher play, dunno how that will turn out. I will admit I cheered when they brought Gel to nets, tho he didnt do too great first little while he was out. That one goal they got on us tho seriously hurt. Biig open net. But hopefully within the next little while they'll both get sturdy.