Yes, I ditched out of the blog during the third period to go sit with friends in another section. The period seemed to go quite fast. I looked up and it was at the 10 minute mark. I waited for a whistle that didn't come until there were less than 3 minutes left. I had to run back to the box and pack up the laptop.
So what did I see in the third period? I saw a lot of missed opportunities. I watched as either shots were going wide or were hit right at Theordore's chest. I watched Josh Bailey set up some good opportunities, that went unrewarded.
I watched Yann Danis make some really good saves, and one really dumb move that he managed to save by diving on the puck.
I watched Alexander Ovechkin play when he wants to. He sits back and waits for th
e right time. That's probably why he's so damn good. And then I watched the Islanders managed to tie the game with Okposo Nielsen and Streit gaining to their point totals. It was a five on three power play. If they couldn't score that way, they shouldn't be playing the game.
A point. They managed ONE point. I ran back to the blog box and watched the remaining minutes of the game. There was hope. Real hope to win this game. And all that hope disappeared as soon as there was a slashing call on Brendon Witt. Back in the box he went and back to the net went Ovechkin. Say goodnight Yann.
We waited in Press Room 6 for what seemed like forever. There was light snow falling outside and I was wondering if I could get home before it was dark. Stan Fischler was once again at the front of the pack asking the questions, but today Scott seemed somewhat more relaxed. He even told a few stories instead of cutting off his responses.
Perhaps he's getting used to the press corps, perhaps he read somewhere that he had thin skin (an observation I don't agree with), or perhaps he's just getting used to facing the crowd after a loss. This is becoming a habit. But he felt that since they were held to one goal in regulation, it was a good effort.
Interesting that when asked about the play of Yann Danis, Scott hesitated for quite awhile and said he'd have to review the tape. He admitted that he made some good saves but that he does have concerns. "if you're playing against a team that's that good, like a Boston or a Washington, you certainly can't give up the easy ones."
Gordon gave kudos to call ups Kurtis Mclean and Jack Hillen. He was quick to praise the work of Capuano to make sure the Sound Tiger call ups are ready to play on this team. The consistency is key. Finding the back of the net would be a better "key."
Once again, Danis was light hearted in the locker room with the cameras and microphones pressed into his face. "The puck went through me. I have to work on that." was his explanation of the first Power Play goal that #8 put right by him.
"It feels good for the point. There are positives to come out of this game. We're getting shots on net." Twenty-eight to be exact. He was asked if he felt any pressure about his play and he said he didn't put that sort of pressure on himself since he knows he doesn't have a guaranteed spot on the team. And then I wondered; who is chasing him? Mannino?
Kyle, the long goal scorer said they were trying to hard and that's why the shots were going wide. "We're not looking up. So focused on getting to the net. We have to keep working, We've been right in there. Our chances will come."
Mclean then entered the room to be grilled. "Keep it simple, get deep, get to the net." (Sounds simple doesn't it?) "Ovie -- he can shoot the puck. You gotta be right on him. Witter was tough on him."
Yeah, well, Witter was the Zebra's focus since he kept getting the calls. Ovechkin may have sold the last penalty that resulted in the game winner by playing up the broken stick. He contends Witt broke it. Many of us can't be sure.
And then I looked up to the door and noticed that Jon Sim was freshly dressed and leaving.... long before his team mates.
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