Post by Deleted on May 31, 2022 6:39:47 GMT -4
OBSERVATIONS:
Game 4 - Monday May 30
Islanders 4 Phoenix 3
(Islanders win series 3 games to 1)
Team Index: SP 179; CI 181
It wasn't the closest game on paper when the score was 4-1, but it was a nail-biter when it was 4-3. I wanted the Islanders to win the game and the series - but I was glad that the Phoenix made a game of it. I think the team indexes within 2 points showed that both teams played well enough to win - and both left it all on the ice.
SOG: SP 40; CI 21
The 3rd period and the 5 minute PP were the difference - but the Phoenix dominated at even strength as well down the stretch and the Islanders were holding on. You give credit where it's due - and the Phoenix played their hearts out in a losing cause.
Scoring Chances (Home Plate): SP 22; CI 16
It would be easy to say that both goalies came up big with several tough stops on dangerous scoring chances, but it went a bit deeper than that. Both teams had a lot of patience with the puck - passing up shots to pass and look for better scoring chances. The number of big East-West saves and players sprawling in the crease in behind the goalies to keep the pucks out seemed to define the game.
I saw a picture from a game a couple of days ago - I forget where - and it showed a scramble in front of the net with the goalie and all 10 skaters on the ice piled up in the crease - one team trying to score - and the other trying to keep the puck out - and that picture seemed to repeat itself in this game several times. I mean - that's playoff hockey exemplified.
Puck Battles Won: SP 107; CI 117
Whether you're a fan of analytics - or a casual observer - or whatever - I think we're all becoming familiar enough with some of the categories to be able to distinguish between a hard fought battle - and teams just going through the motions. This was a hard fought battle.
I actually compared the number of puck battles and hits between this series and the other series a couple of games back - and there was a significant difference. The Islanders set the tone early and make you play their game. Either of Quebec or Shawinigan is going to have their hands full in the finals when it comes to physicality.
Hits: SP 12; CI 23
See above. . .
SBL: SP 17; CI 15
I think I mighta saw the kitchen sink go sailing harmlessly into the corner after a big block by one Islanders' D-man late in the 3rd. That's a lot of blocks by both teams. . .
Faceoff Wins: SP 25; CI 30
PP Minutes: SP 15:02; CI 4:55
That's a significant difference and the major to Simoneau was the biggest factor. It's always easy to place blame in these situations - especially the Simoneau / Beauregard type, but the coaches stress finishing your checks and I think this one looked much worse than it was with the open bench door.
Having said that, it was a hit from a dangerous angle where the player had a chance to gauge the chance of an injury and enough time to let up - but he didn't - and it ended up being a bit of a dangerous hit. For years - a match penalty meant first and foremost a deliberate attempt to injure that came with a 2 game minimum suspension.
These days, there is a review process and leniency that often sees a minimal 1 game suspension. This is just all my opinion - but I think a 1 game suspension is suitable if for no other reason than as a deterrent. Anything over 1 game would be overkill. I haven't looked it up - but hopefully there isn't a history this season of accumulations with Simoneau.
Even Strength Puck Possession: SP 17:18; CI 17:18
I've never seen a tie before in puck possession. . .
O Zone Puck Possession: SP 14:32; CI 10:59
Again - chalk that up to the discrepancy in PP minutes. . .
Player Index SP: 227 Xavier Parent; 220 Joshua Roy
Player Index CI: 202 Kieran Gallant; 199 Brett Budgell; 191 William Trudeau
IMO - those were the top five players in the game. Lapenna was good as well.
TOI SP: D Tyson Hinds 28:58; F Julien Anctil 26:41
TOI CI: D Lukas Cormier 30:49; F Patrick Guay 26:17.
A few players will be sleeping late this morning. . .
+/-: SP +1 x 4 players; CI +2 Noah Laaouan
SOG: SP 8 Joshua Roy; CI 5 Brett Budgell
Dangerous Scoring Chances: SP 4 x 4 players; CI 3 Budgell and Jakub Brabenec
Faceoffs: SP 9/20 Justin Gill; CI 9/13 Brabenec
Hits: SP 5 Milo Roelens; CI 4 Ben Boyd
Shot Blocks: SP 4 Joshua Roy and Xavier Parent; CI 3 Guay
The offensive players want to win as much as the others.
Takeaways: SP 13 Spacek; CI 13 Trudeau
Good to see the foot soldiers getting some attention here on the forum with mentions lately.
3 STARS:
1. Keiran Gallant - the goal was a beauty. The hustle - work ethic - grit - faceoffs - and helping to minimize the loss of Simoneau all made him my pick as 1st star.
2. Xavier Parent - Like him or hate him - he played his heart out and led the charge for the comeback that fell just short. He's a really nice skater and can play on my team any time.
3. Brett Budgell - 2-0-2 - Clutch scoring in the biggest games. I thought he was the series MVP.
HM: Every player for both teams who left it all on the ice.
GAME RATING: ***** It wasn't the greatest game when it was 4-1. It was a wicked finish when it was 4-3. It was a Showcase game for what Junior hockey is all about - heart - skill and the unexpected. . .
REFEREE RATING: **** St-Jacques and Leduc - I think they did a good job. The fans were loud and howled a bit - but the players decided it. I thought they could have called a few more on both teams - but glad they didn't.
ATTENDANCE RATING: ***** 3333 Anything over 3,000 is awesome for a QMJHL playoff game outside of Quebec, Moncton and Halifax.
BROADCAST RATING: ***** I watched on Eastlink and it was very good under what must be challenging circumstances trying to line up replays and synchronizing everything. I actually thought it was cool for them to basically state on the broadcast that they follow along with what we discuss here on the forum. As minimal as it might sound - it matters.
The forums are so much more than they used to be when all it was - was discussing the fights and dumping on players. It used to be that the forums were places for the whackos to gather. These days - you're not really in the loop unless you follow the boards. The information and coverage has replaced that of the dailies as the most informed sources for information.
These games - with the combined live attendance, Eastlink and CHL TV audiences are very likely amongst the league's most watched games ever. It's a huge combined audience.
BOTTOM LINE: Congratulations to the Islanders on making it to their first QMJHL final! I think I came along at the exact right time. The players and staff gotta be walking on air today. It's the equivalent of going to the Stanley Cup final for them. Congratulations to the staff members who have been the unsung worker bees through two years of Covid.
Congratulations to the Phoenix on a fantastic showing. You don't need to win it all to have a successful season. They got through Covid - got the fans back out - and came within inches of a Game 5. You could tell at the end as they prepared for the handshake line that there was hurt in losing - but pride in the team and making it as far as they did. They played their hearts out.
Looking forward to the league final!
Game 4 - Monday May 30
Islanders 4 Phoenix 3
(Islanders win series 3 games to 1)
Team Index: SP 179; CI 181
It wasn't the closest game on paper when the score was 4-1, but it was a nail-biter when it was 4-3. I wanted the Islanders to win the game and the series - but I was glad that the Phoenix made a game of it. I think the team indexes within 2 points showed that both teams played well enough to win - and both left it all on the ice.
SOG: SP 40; CI 21
The 3rd period and the 5 minute PP were the difference - but the Phoenix dominated at even strength as well down the stretch and the Islanders were holding on. You give credit where it's due - and the Phoenix played their hearts out in a losing cause.
Scoring Chances (Home Plate): SP 22; CI 16
It would be easy to say that both goalies came up big with several tough stops on dangerous scoring chances, but it went a bit deeper than that. Both teams had a lot of patience with the puck - passing up shots to pass and look for better scoring chances. The number of big East-West saves and players sprawling in the crease in behind the goalies to keep the pucks out seemed to define the game.
I saw a picture from a game a couple of days ago - I forget where - and it showed a scramble in front of the net with the goalie and all 10 skaters on the ice piled up in the crease - one team trying to score - and the other trying to keep the puck out - and that picture seemed to repeat itself in this game several times. I mean - that's playoff hockey exemplified.
Puck Battles Won: SP 107; CI 117
Whether you're a fan of analytics - or a casual observer - or whatever - I think we're all becoming familiar enough with some of the categories to be able to distinguish between a hard fought battle - and teams just going through the motions. This was a hard fought battle.
I actually compared the number of puck battles and hits between this series and the other series a couple of games back - and there was a significant difference. The Islanders set the tone early and make you play their game. Either of Quebec or Shawinigan is going to have their hands full in the finals when it comes to physicality.
Hits: SP 12; CI 23
See above. . .
SBL: SP 17; CI 15
I think I mighta saw the kitchen sink go sailing harmlessly into the corner after a big block by one Islanders' D-man late in the 3rd. That's a lot of blocks by both teams. . .
Faceoff Wins: SP 25; CI 30
PP Minutes: SP 15:02; CI 4:55
That's a significant difference and the major to Simoneau was the biggest factor. It's always easy to place blame in these situations - especially the Simoneau / Beauregard type, but the coaches stress finishing your checks and I think this one looked much worse than it was with the open bench door.
Having said that, it was a hit from a dangerous angle where the player had a chance to gauge the chance of an injury and enough time to let up - but he didn't - and it ended up being a bit of a dangerous hit. For years - a match penalty meant first and foremost a deliberate attempt to injure that came with a 2 game minimum suspension.
These days, there is a review process and leniency that often sees a minimal 1 game suspension. This is just all my opinion - but I think a 1 game suspension is suitable if for no other reason than as a deterrent. Anything over 1 game would be overkill. I haven't looked it up - but hopefully there isn't a history this season of accumulations with Simoneau.
Even Strength Puck Possession: SP 17:18; CI 17:18
I've never seen a tie before in puck possession. . .
O Zone Puck Possession: SP 14:32; CI 10:59
Again - chalk that up to the discrepancy in PP minutes. . .
Player Index SP: 227 Xavier Parent; 220 Joshua Roy
Player Index CI: 202 Kieran Gallant; 199 Brett Budgell; 191 William Trudeau
IMO - those were the top five players in the game. Lapenna was good as well.
TOI SP: D Tyson Hinds 28:58; F Julien Anctil 26:41
TOI CI: D Lukas Cormier 30:49; F Patrick Guay 26:17.
A few players will be sleeping late this morning. . .
+/-: SP +1 x 4 players; CI +2 Noah Laaouan
SOG: SP 8 Joshua Roy; CI 5 Brett Budgell
Dangerous Scoring Chances: SP 4 x 4 players; CI 3 Budgell and Jakub Brabenec
Faceoffs: SP 9/20 Justin Gill; CI 9/13 Brabenec
Hits: SP 5 Milo Roelens; CI 4 Ben Boyd
Shot Blocks: SP 4 Joshua Roy and Xavier Parent; CI 3 Guay
The offensive players want to win as much as the others.
Takeaways: SP 13 Spacek; CI 13 Trudeau
Good to see the foot soldiers getting some attention here on the forum with mentions lately.
3 STARS:
1. Keiran Gallant - the goal was a beauty. The hustle - work ethic - grit - faceoffs - and helping to minimize the loss of Simoneau all made him my pick as 1st star.
2. Xavier Parent - Like him or hate him - he played his heart out and led the charge for the comeback that fell just short. He's a really nice skater and can play on my team any time.
3. Brett Budgell - 2-0-2 - Clutch scoring in the biggest games. I thought he was the series MVP.
HM: Every player for both teams who left it all on the ice.
GAME RATING: ***** It wasn't the greatest game when it was 4-1. It was a wicked finish when it was 4-3. It was a Showcase game for what Junior hockey is all about - heart - skill and the unexpected. . .
REFEREE RATING: **** St-Jacques and Leduc - I think they did a good job. The fans were loud and howled a bit - but the players decided it. I thought they could have called a few more on both teams - but glad they didn't.
ATTENDANCE RATING: ***** 3333 Anything over 3,000 is awesome for a QMJHL playoff game outside of Quebec, Moncton and Halifax.
BROADCAST RATING: ***** I watched on Eastlink and it was very good under what must be challenging circumstances trying to line up replays and synchronizing everything. I actually thought it was cool for them to basically state on the broadcast that they follow along with what we discuss here on the forum. As minimal as it might sound - it matters.
The forums are so much more than they used to be when all it was - was discussing the fights and dumping on players. It used to be that the forums were places for the whackos to gather. These days - you're not really in the loop unless you follow the boards. The information and coverage has replaced that of the dailies as the most informed sources for information.
These games - with the combined live attendance, Eastlink and CHL TV audiences are very likely amongst the league's most watched games ever. It's a huge combined audience.
BOTTOM LINE: Congratulations to the Islanders on making it to their first QMJHL final! I think I came along at the exact right time. The players and staff gotta be walking on air today. It's the equivalent of going to the Stanley Cup final for them. Congratulations to the staff members who have been the unsung worker bees through two years of Covid.
Congratulations to the Phoenix on a fantastic showing. You don't need to win it all to have a successful season. They got through Covid - got the fans back out - and came within inches of a Game 5. You could tell at the end as they prepared for the handshake line that there was hurt in losing - but pride in the team and making it as far as they did. They played their hearts out.
Looking forward to the league final!
