Round 1, Game 1: So... somebody should probably say something

Is it time to hit this yet?

Nah. Not yet. Maybe if Friday looks like tonight. If it becomes clear that the Aeros will have to score 7 or 8 goals to counteract their problems in net. Then the button is getting the shit beat out of it.

I didn't feel like the boys played that badly, they just got out-played. And I wholeheartedly disagree with KC's decision to sit both Love and Kassian. I think that fourth line was not only valuable for peace keeping, but they were also terrific at getting the puck deep and wearing down the defense and putting mostly harmless shots on goal. If you noticed, none of these traits was exactly a strong suit tonight.

The Rivermen did a great job keeping the Aeros players to the outside when they did manage to get in offensive zone, much like how the Wild play, so shots weren't coming from places where they were all that difficult to stop. Though Legace did have some really amazing saves and it's clear that he's playing a level above everyone else. (Also, did you notice that they introduce the team as "Manny Legace and your Peoria Rivermen"? Wow. It's like how Heather Locklear was always listed as a "Special Guest Star" on Melrose Place.)

Anyway, Anton was clearly just in over his head a little bit and is feeling the pressure, and perhaps that's causing the team to be a little jumpy in front of him and less effective defensively. I don't know. But he's got work to do with a good goalie coach this summer. Here's hoping the Wild arrange for that and he's agreeable to it.

The boys need to settle down and put the kibosh on these penalties, too. When both your captain and your 42-year-old veteran are in the box together early in the game, it sets the wrong tone for the team.

Oh well. Back at it on Friday.

Here's the article from the Chronicle with the blow-by-blow. And here's another report from the game with Matt Beaudoin's name misspelled (grr). Scroll to the bottom.

And here's my report for PHN.