Round 2, Game 2: Shut Down

Well... that was more like it. That kind of dominant shutting down of the Aeros offense and the blossoming of the Admirals powerful scoring is why I predicted Milwaukee in 5.

I don't blame Dimples for the loss, and while I would have liked to see him stop a couple of those that he didn't: a) it wouldn't have mattered anyway because the Aeros couldn't score and b) he did have several highlight-reel saves that could have easily put the Ads up by more than 3 by the end of things. It's a wash, in my mind. He played fine.

The real story of this game, however, was how effective the Ads were at keeping the Aeros scorers at bay. Locke had a fat goose egg for shots on goal. Kolanos only had two.

I'm not gonna go back and check this stat, but when Kolanos has more PIM than Shots on the scoresheet, that's a guaranteed loss for the Aeros. Not good.

Here's the thing: Unlike Milwaukee, most of our skilled forwards are not strong physical players who can power to the net. We have a bunch of danglers and dekers who tend to over-complicate their own paths to the net and get lots of turnovers.

The Aeros pretty well got bitch-slapped anytime they got in the slot or around the net and that kept MacIntyre's job really, really easy. I'm not sure it would take a full hand to count quality scoring chances for the Aeros.

So, the only way the boys are gonna stand up to the way the Ads are playing is to be willing to pay the price to go to the net. I saw Hrkac in the low-slot several times trying to create opportunities for his wingers and that was terrific. In fact, that's what ultimately worked on the Earl goal. The rest of the game, the slot was devoid of green sweaters.

The defensive pairing of Stoner and Rogers just got their lovely asses kicked tonight, both being on the ice for the first three Admirals goals. I know they're being paired against the best the Ads had to offer but they both need to be better.

Justin Falk, on the other hand, couldn't have been better. I know I rave about him all the time, but man, to think where he started the season, looking scared out of his mind when he had the puck, to now where he's consistently reading plays like a wily veteran and getting his stick in there, blocking shots, playing a simple but extremely effective game. It kinda blows my mind. Kid's got the goods. He and Lundbohm were the only + players on the night, and with that goal differential, I'm amazed anybody was above 0.

Pouliot's lucky he's so good on the PK or I'd have sat him by now if I were Constantine. He's incredibly unfocused and lazy with the puck. Ugly, thoughtless passes, that breakaway shot was a joke--he's got better moves than that, turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Brutal stuff and he's back to playing in a way that, outside of the PK, is disruptive to the flow of the Aeros offensive efforts.

Meanwhile, I like Climie in goal. I'm not saying start him. I'm just saying, he's big and calm and right where he's supposed to be. Look out because he's likely the Texas Stars goalie next season. You figure he's learning the Aeros shooters like the back of his hand right now in practice, eh?

Alright, that's enough from me. Come on home, boys. Prove me wrong.