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Post by bd on May 15, 2022 17:03:15 GMT -4
Good game by the Islanders! Seemed to be a lot of "missed" calls both ways, maybe the refs just letting things go in the playoffs.
Gallant leaving was concerning. He's super important to the team and it would not be good for him to be out.
Wondering if the checking to the head by Laaouan will be reviewed for a possible suspension? Not exactly sure how that works.
So close to a shutout, what an unfortunate play there.
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Post by dutchinc on May 15, 2022 17:12:30 GMT -4
Good game by the Islanders! Seemed to be a lot of "missed" calls both ways, maybe the refs just letting things go in the playoffs. Gallant leaving was concerning. He's super important to the team and it would not be good for him to be out. Wondering if the checking to the head by Laaouan will be reviewed for a possible suspension? Not exactly sure how that works. So close to a shutout, what an unfortunate play there. I doubt there will be a suspension. Whoever he hit crouched just before the hit. Woulda been fine if he didn’t to that. |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2022 11:01:47 GMT -4
Observations:
Game 1 - May 15: Islanders 4 Titan 1
Index: CI 188; AB 170
SOG: CI 30; AB 19
Scoring Chances (Home Plate) CI 20; AB 8
This was the difference in the game. The Islanders had 7 PP chances to the Titan's 3 - and a prolonged 5 on 3 advantage that gave them a way to get out to a comfortable lead. IMO - that was the difference in the game.
Puck Battles Won: CI 83; AB 89
Hits: CI 29; AB 11
That's the way to beat a tired team - take the body and slow them down. Great job - and great effort by the Islanders.
Faceoff wins: CI 28 AB 23
SBL: CI 19 AB 7
In the attempt at a series preview - it almost rang out that it could be a series punctuated by team D vs. team D - with the lowest common denominator being Cormier vs. Tourigny - but this game within the game in Game 1 was clearly in the Islanders' favour.
I'm a firm believer in defence beats offence in the playoffs. The Islanders' team as a whole played textbook defence. It's only one game - but the Islanders have the best group of D-men in the league from what I've seen in the few months I've been following.
The Titan have a solid group of forwards with size and speed. It isn't as easy as it looked to shut them down. That was a dominant performance by the Islanders.
O Zone Puck Possession: CI 14:56; AB 8:21.
Again - the discrepancy in PP minutes was a clear factor.
Player Index CI: 208 Budgell; 205 Kieran Gallant (The Islanders had 4 players over 200).
Player Index AB: 183 Larkin; 181 LaFrance.
TOI CI: D Cormier 24:22; F Simoneau 22:48
TOI AB: D Gaudet 21:49; F LaFrance 20:46.
Both teams went mostly with three lines - spotting their 4th lines, and I think most people realize that was going to happen. The 4th lines played - but all of Boyd, Saye, Todd, Forster, MacLean and Henneberry played fewer than 10 minutes TOI. Boyd looked pretty good for somebody out for as long as he was.
+/-: CI +2 Biakabutuka; AB +1 Larkin and Brants. Special teams scoring made for low overall totals.
SOG: CI 7 Budgell; AB 5 Tourigny.
Dangerous Scoring Chances: CI 5 Budgell; AB 3 MacArthur.
Faceoffs: CI Brabenec 8/11; AB Belgarde 12/20.
Hits: CI Elliott 8; AB Higgins 5.
With Hockey InStat - simply trying to line players up and slamming into the boards a split second after a player dodges contact isn't considered a hit. You need to actually make contact with the player. Having said that - Drew Elliott was still a hitting machine.
The Islanders' video scorer (or whoever does it) doesn't seem to know exactly what a hit is - and what isn't. For example - Noah Laaouan got a CTH penalty for a huge hit on Melanson - but he is credited with a grand total of 0 hits in the game summary on the league website. Not implying that this only happens in Charlottetown.
Just an observation - but I thought that Kidney was significantly neutralized by the Islanders' physicality. I likely only saw the Titan play 10 games or so this season - but it was the first time I saw Kidney shut down in that manner.
SBL: CI 3 Laaouan and Stairs; AB 2 Tourigny and Chisholm.
Takeaways: CI 11 Laaouan; AB 10 Higgins.
So far, there is no suspension showing for the BTH on Melanson by Laaouan - but I think there probably should be. Duck - or not - Laaouan made clear and hard contact to the head that would have left most opponents laid out on the ice. I'm not lobbying for a suspension or calling for one - I just think that the league's clear mandate is to remove hits to the head from the game at every opportunity. Laaouan had a wicked game.
3 STARS (IMO):
1. Brett Budgell - He has been impressive in every single game I've seen him play this season. When he comes over the boards - there's no coasting. He must go to the gym a lot because he's 100 percent effort - 100 percent of the time on the ice. There are no analytics for that - but it's what I see. He's like an assistant coach on the ice. He's a draught horse.
2. Noah Laaouan - He has tremendous poise and presence on the ice and especially in his own zone. He has it down to an art form on how to tie players up - hold them down - rub them out long after 1-2-3 Mississippi - box players out - and not take penalties. The CTH was an exception - not the rule. He's already a pro caliber defenceman.
3. Marc-Andre Gaudet - Somebody mentioned that he might be the most improved player in the league this season. I haven't seen enough of the league to make that claim - but I still agree with it. The Titan team is tired and a lot of it is being mentally tired - but Gaudet wasn't buying that excuse.
Those are just my observations - and we all see things differently. Agree - disagree - it doesn't really matter. Just don't let it bother you or ruin your day. I try to be neutral and give credit to both teams - but I know that I have limitations.
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Post by bois on May 16, 2022 11:16:31 GMT -4
Good game by the Islanders! Seemed to be a lot of "missed" calls both ways, maybe the refs just letting things go in the playoffs. Gallant leaving was concerning. He's super important to the team and it would not be good for him to be out. Wondering if the checking to the head by Laaouan will be reviewed for a possible suspension? Not exactly sure how that works. So close to a shutout, what an unfortunate play there. I doubt there will be a suspension. Whoever he hit crouched just before the hit. Woulda been fine if he didn’t to that. he was fine he continued playing the rest of the game it was Melanson great performance by the Isles.... lets take game 2 tonight as well |
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