Oh boy if I had time to do the research! When was the last time you saw a penalty shot and an Aeros shutout in a game at Toyota Center. Oh, wait ... I don't have to do any research at all. The answer is never. From start to finish, the Aeros were the better team tonight and Hackett kept the Aeros alive when they got into some penalty trouble in the first half of the game. JM Daoust was clutch with a big penalty shot, and Chad Rau scored a very pretty goal after taking a nice feed from Robbie Earl. Hard to complain about anything tonight, so I won't.
Yeo said that was the best he's seen Hackett, and that tonight's shutout was not exactly a coincidence. Wild goalie coach Bob Mason has been in town all week to work with the goalies, and the timing could not have been better. With Anton on the way up, and Josh Tordjman coming in, the Aeros are going to need Hackett to step things up a bit, at least short term.
My players of the game are Hackett, obviously, Robbie Earl, who again was tremendous ... and maybe the best overall line tonight was Peters, Ortmeyer and Gillies. Just tons and tons and tons of energy out of those three, and two of those guys teamed up with Earl on the power play goal.
John will have more later with comments from Yeo and Hackett, but for now, I hope you enjoy the picture of the post game congratulations for Hackett.
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5 comments:
Andrew, I have a question. In the replay of the Earl goal, it appeared to me one of the Monsters actually hit the puck into the goal. Was I seeing things?
Big congratulations to Matt on his first pro shut-out (of which the on-ice announcer seemed unaware).
Glad Anton (or “Antoine” in arena announcer-ese) isn’t hurt. I was worried when I saw a generic goalie mask take the ice for warm-ups. Hopefully Tordjman caught the red-eye to SA or Houston .
I thought Bacashihua was a veteran goalie with 8 or so seasons under his belt. He looked more like a nervous rookie, flirting with disaster much of the night. Could have easily finished 5-0.
Rau’s goal was a beaut, as was the pass from Robbie. Picture Jason Bacashihua’s skates hanging on the top of the screen behind the Lake Erie goal (as in stick figure).
Koharski is a horrible ref, regardless of first name. Adding an accomplice didn’t help any.
Ortmeyer = Keeper. I could say he can supply some needed on-ice (and maybe off-ice) leadership, but see the next bullet.
After watching Lake Erie play tonight, I might have to tone down the comments about the Aeros having little on-ice leadership or playing unmotivated hockey. Except for a little 7-8 minute run, the Monsters looked just like a team on a streak of losing hockey.
I assume Saturday’s game will be a war and an ugly one at that with the survivors playing Sunday. To say that the Rampage are ticked is likely an understatement.
It was very hard to tell from my point of view. I will be honest, though; I didn't think it was Earl's until the announcer said so. But again, we have a very poor angle looking that way during the second period.
But the goal was looked at, and they never changed it on the scoresheet.
@Anon - I think it was quite possible that it "went off" a Lake Erie player and into the net.
I'll check tomorrow when "AHLdead" posts the game though the resolution might not be good enough to tell.
Right on.
But do give Rau some more credit, the guy was very much in evidence.
Gillies got away with a few 'boardings, chargings' as did Mc Millan.
But then so did the Monsters.. thanks to the Ref.
On the other hand the boarding call on Daoust ..well, I always get the giggles-The Scrapper up to his games!
And he came back in spades-ahem penalty shot goal!
Anyway, it shows what 'sticking to the puck' can accomplished.
Contrary to popular opinions :-), I thought Bacashihua had some big saves... using everything he got, glove, blocker, pads, stick AND full body!
So maybe Tordjman tonite in SA?
What a night that will be, an Aeros hot off a shutout, a Rampage off a big win over the Stars AND Opera, plus perhaps a battle between Tordjman and Climie?
Artandhockey will post a few simple point'n shoot :-) snaps for sure...go visit there tomorrow (late, please) morning!
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