OBSERVATIONS:
Game 2 - Thur. May 26
Phenix 4 Islanders 3 (OT)
Team Index: CI 184; SP 178
Let's put it to bed right now that the Islanders didn't show up or give it their best effort - or that any player in particular was a goat. I can understand the frustration when a pass is picked off or whatever - but the Phenix needed this win. I'm not saying it just because of the high Index numbers - but the Islanders played more than well enough to win. The Phenix had to find a way to win and they did - by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins, and full marks to them. Both teams played their guts out.
SOG: CI 33; SP 37
Scoring Chances (Home Plate): CI 16; SP 18
In a 4-3 game that went to OT - that's a lot of big saves by both goalies. I forget who said it several years ago - maybe Bob MacKenzie - but whoever it was said "the best goalies are the ones who stopped every shot they should stop - and some of the ones they shouldn't."
I thought that both goalies were excellent in the game. I mean - there's players crashing into them - two or three guys laying on top of them when the whistle goes - and they have the puck frozen under them laying flat on their backs. Goaltending is better now than it's ever been.
Puck Battles Won: CI 72; SP 117
I don't know how to comment on the differential. It almost implies that the Islanders weren't their usual robust selves - but hits show differently. My thought process seems to interpret the difference as one team playing with a bit of desperation - but I have nothing to back that up with.
Hits: CI 18; SP 11
That's a significant difference - and there were some big hits in the game. Somebody levelled an Islanders' player and another Islanders' player went after the guy who threw the hit - and I don't know if it's fair to say that it led to a breakdown as the Phenix scored on the play seconds later - but you can bet that Hulton will be stressing the need for team discipline leading up to Game 3.
SBL: CI 19; SP 12
Faceoff Wins: CI 32; SP 29
Even Strength Puck Possession: CI 25:58; SP 22:53
O Zone Puck Possession: CI 13:22; SP 11:14
I watch a lot of hockey - but I'm not an expert on analytics or anything else. However - I do look at the numbers and try to interpret what they mean - and the recurring thought is that the Phenix found a way to win - even though they didn't lead in a lot of categories. What a bounce-back game by the Phenix after Game 1.
Somebody mentioned last night in a post about "can't wait for the analytics guy to see how many turnovers there were." I'm not sure if that meant me by 'analytics guy' - but I don't want to pinpoint individual player mistakes or shortcomings in things like giveaways or turnovers - but I will say that the Islanders' team turned over the puck 13 more times than the Phenix did. IMO - it isn't a significant number in a game - but I could be wrong.
Player Index CI: 225 Guay; 214 Cormier and Brabenec
Player Index SP: 233 Joshua Roy; 197 Xavier Parent
TOI CI: D Cormier 29:36; F Simoneau 26:40
TOI SP: D Tyson Hinds 29:05; F Julien Anctil 25:35
The Islanders went for the most part with four D-men with Plandowski getting under 8 minutes as the fifth D-man. The Phenix went mostly with five. Not sure why I'm even mentioning it other than to show that all teams need to shorten their benches and go with their best in a short best of 5 series.
When you get to a 1 goal game in the 3rd period - the benches get even shorter. It's amazing, especially with D-men, how they can change on the fly as often as they do with rarely a too many men call. Great depth coaching. The cardio and short recovery time by the D-men in particular is unbelievable.
+/-: CI +3 Guay and Brabenec; SP +1 x 3 players.
SOG: CI 6 Cormier; SP 9 Joshua Roy
Dangerous Scoring Chances: CI 4 Budgell; SP 4 Joshua Roy
Faceoffs: CI 11/16 Simoneau; SP 12/26 Anctil
The Phenix' best faceoff players percentage-wise both went 4/7, but I try to keep it to players with more than 10 faceoffs in a game.
Hits: CI 4 Simoneau; SP 2 Josh Roy, Huard and Munroe-Boucher
Shot Blocks: CI 7 Cormier (Wow); SP 2 x 3 players
Takeaways: CI 12 Laaouan; SP 25 Hinds (WOW - the most I have ever seen in a game)
3 STARS:
1. Joshua Roy - Ummm - did I read somewhere that he's a Montreal Canadiens' draft pick? Holey Fukk - the Montreal Canadiens might not lose a game next year!
2. Lukas Cormier - 1-2-3, played almost half the game, had the most SOG, the most shot blocks.
3. Tyson Hinds - A couple of us discussed Roelens and Spacek as hard to play against players - but it seems kind of clear by the analytics that Hinds was the hardest Phenix player to play against in this game.
GAME RATING: ***** OT in a playoff game - doesn't get much better.
REFEREE RATING: ***** Hopkins and Langille - nobody hollering on the board after the game - and that's the first sign of sound officiating. PP's were 3-2, and no 5 on 3's. I watched a Bobby Orr interview a year or two ago about the state of the game and he said that they used to see a 5 on 3 once every 3 or 4 months - and now you see it every game. As one of those old-timer, dinosaur fans - there is nothing more cringeworthy in a big game than witnessing an iffy 5 on 3 being awarded. The penalty is almost always more severe than the foul. Good job boys!
ATTENDANCE RATING: ***** 2908 - I remember commenting that anything over 3000 would be good for a Q playoff game - IMO - but 2908 - not a weekend game - just a couple of months coming out of Covid - and the cost of everything at record highs - to me - that's 5 stars.
BROADCAST RATING: ***** Watched on Eastlink and they did a really good job. Kenzie has become a very competent hockey analyst. Watching the game highlight vid - once again - Matthews and Arsenault sounded gold.
Eastlink had a between periods interview with Zach Beauregard of the Mooseheads - and a former Islander. He spoke about first coming to the East Coast - a bit apprehensive - and how it turned into the best move he ever made. He and his girlfriend have bought some land in Cornwall - he'll be playing for UPEI - and he loves spending every minute he can on the Island.
I'm a bit sentimental like that - but it came across as a glowing tribute to the QMJHL - and to the Maritimes in particular. I mean - we're talking about a kid here who I don't think could even speak English yet - and he came here - basically took punches and elbows (and gave them as well) - and played his heart out for the fans - and now he's here to stay. He came across as a nice kid - they all do. He loves being here. Nice job by Eastlink with that.
