Post by dogcatcher on Nov 23, 2007 7:06:42 GMT -4
Sea Dogs adjust penalty kill
Hockey: Saint John looks to rebound at home after getting burned in road loss to Baie-Comeau
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday November 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - For the first 20 minutes of the Saint John Sea Dogs first meeting of the season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, they could do no wrong.
The final 40 minutes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game on Nov. 17 were another story.
Saint John will take on the Drakkar tonight in a 7:30 p.m. start at Harbour Station.
Trailing 3-0 through one period last week, Baie-Comeau began an offensive assault on the Sea Dogs. Off the rush, through the neutral zone and in Saint John's end, Baie-Comeau was making all the right plays.
The power play was also working, connecting on three of four chances in the 5-3 Drakkar win.
Saint John forward Ryan Sparling said the team didn't get the job done on the penalty kill. Their play when down a man has been one of their strengths for most of the season.
"We just weren't executing," he said. "The few games before that, we were doing well blocking shots and getting in passing lanes. Hopefully we get back to that (tonight)."
Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said the problem on the penalty kill was a simple one.
"We missed our assignments all night on the (penalty kill) and we're going to make some adjustments," Beaulieu said.
For Sparling the solution is getting back to the foundation of the special teams unit - puck pressure.
"There's some good players in this league and the guys on the power play know what to do with the puck," the Sydney, Nova Scotia native said. "If you take away time and space they have less time to think and you eliminate scoring chances doing that."
Saint John is hoping to show an overall commitment to defence in tonight's game. In their last meeting, the Drakkar created a lot of offensive opportunities off the rush with speed and accurate passes through the neutral zone. Beaulieu said the Sea Dogs will make adjustments to try and counteract the Baie-Comeau attack.
"Number one, we have to keep a minimum of three guys above the puck," he said.
"If we do turn it over it's three-on-three not a three-on-two.
"We've got to read the rush properly in the neutral zone. We're going to have to play well defensively because we gave up 15 chances and that's too much."
On the offensive side of the puck, the Sea Dogs have been rolling. Four players are on active point streaks of five games or more with Chris Di Domenico one game away from tying the longest streak by any QMJHL player this season at 15.
The power play has also been potent with the team scoring on 45.8 per cent of their chances over the last four games.
"It's definitely working well," Sparling said. "It'll be tough to keep it at 45, but if we can keep it in the top few teams in the league, hopefully it will help us pick up a few wins."
ROAD TRIP: The Sea Dogs will head to Cape Breton on Sunday for a 4 p.m. game with the Screaming Eagles. Cape Breton has lost five-straight games heading into tonight's contest with the first-place Halifax Mooseheads.
Hockey: Saint John looks to rebound at home after getting burned in road loss to Baie-Comeau
Andrew Mcgilligan
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday November 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page B7
SAINT JOHN - For the first 20 minutes of the Saint John Sea Dogs first meeting of the season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, they could do no wrong.
The final 40 minutes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game on Nov. 17 were another story.
Saint John will take on the Drakkar tonight in a 7:30 p.m. start at Harbour Station.
Trailing 3-0 through one period last week, Baie-Comeau began an offensive assault on the Sea Dogs. Off the rush, through the neutral zone and in Saint John's end, Baie-Comeau was making all the right plays.
The power play was also working, connecting on three of four chances in the 5-3 Drakkar win.
Saint John forward Ryan Sparling said the team didn't get the job done on the penalty kill. Their play when down a man has been one of their strengths for most of the season.
"We just weren't executing," he said. "The few games before that, we were doing well blocking shots and getting in passing lanes. Hopefully we get back to that (tonight)."
Head coach and general manager Jacques Beaulieu said the problem on the penalty kill was a simple one.
"We missed our assignments all night on the (penalty kill) and we're going to make some adjustments," Beaulieu said.
For Sparling the solution is getting back to the foundation of the special teams unit - puck pressure.
"There's some good players in this league and the guys on the power play know what to do with the puck," the Sydney, Nova Scotia native said. "If you take away time and space they have less time to think and you eliminate scoring chances doing that."
Saint John is hoping to show an overall commitment to defence in tonight's game. In their last meeting, the Drakkar created a lot of offensive opportunities off the rush with speed and accurate passes through the neutral zone. Beaulieu said the Sea Dogs will make adjustments to try and counteract the Baie-Comeau attack.
"Number one, we have to keep a minimum of three guys above the puck," he said.
"If we do turn it over it's three-on-three not a three-on-two.
"We've got to read the rush properly in the neutral zone. We're going to have to play well defensively because we gave up 15 chances and that's too much."
On the offensive side of the puck, the Sea Dogs have been rolling. Four players are on active point streaks of five games or more with Chris Di Domenico one game away from tying the longest streak by any QMJHL player this season at 15.
The power play has also been potent with the team scoring on 45.8 per cent of their chances over the last four games.
"It's definitely working well," Sparling said. "It'll be tough to keep it at 45, but if we can keep it in the top few teams in the league, hopefully it will help us pick up a few wins."
ROAD TRIP: The Sea Dogs will head to Cape Breton on Sunday for a 4 p.m. game with the Screaming Eagles. Cape Breton has lost five-straight games heading into tonight's contest with the first-place Halifax Mooseheads.
