Grand Rapids got the 5-1 win tonight, and they didn't even sweat doing so. They essentially did what they wanted to do, when they wanted to, and nobody on the Aeros had the ability to stop them.
Darcy Kuemper was pulled midway through the second period after giving up three goals within four minutes. But the goals weren't all on Kuemper, with the second and third goals coming off of turnovers in the Aeros zone and poor defensive play after the turnover.
The Aeros played the game flat. And it's becoming a common occurrence. When a team's in a playoff fight, the team shouldn't be playing flat.
"We
were flat," head coach John Torchetti said. "It was our fourth straight game flat. We’ve got to find a way to get
out of this. We’ve got to work. We don’t have one nick, cut, or anything in
four games. We’re not even working. Our identity is pretty much nothing right
now. We’ve got to work."
But more troubling than the flat play was what we heard after the game regarding the attitude in the locker room. And that attitude is one a team really shouldn't have this time of year. But it appears that this afternoon's call-up of Johan Larsson had a bad reaction on the team that spilled out onto the ice.
"We had someone called up, and it seemed like
everyone was jealous that someone got called up today," Torchetti said. "That’s what I thought."
Torchetti promised to work the team hard at practice tomorrow, but it really seems this shouldn't be an issue. Not with time on the season running out. Not with a shot for the playoffs on the line.
The Aeros are nearly midway through a 10-game homestand, and they're 0-2-1-1 in that stretch. There are six games left on the homestand, then they finish up the regular season on the road. And one would think a team that had been firing on all cylinders heading into the homestand would use this stand to solidify the playoffs. But it appears the Aeros have gone into sulk mode. And if this is the team's last stand ever at Toyota Center, it's a pretty pathetic way to end it.
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9 comments:
Terrible performance tonight. That's all I am going to say about that.
Let's face it, all these players want to make it to the Wild, or NHL at least. So from that stand point they should be happy to see a teammate who's earned it get a call up. They should understand how hard one another has worked for their goal and therefore be happy. I can see where this jealousy could be coming from though, its when players (not mentioning names) get called up who others might see as not deserving. I am not implying Larsson, he works hard. I imagine its frustrating though when one works so hard and does not get rewarded. I bet some of these players feel they do out perform others on the team though and are not being recognized for it. I relate from work life, when someone gets a raise or promotion when I know I work harder and do more than them. It is frustrating and lots of times will effect my work for a day or so. Let's face it, hockey is just like work to these guys and I bet they feel the same. Here's to hoping for a win next game!
Go Aero's!!
By far the worse overall team performance of the year. With the exception of a very few players the tone of the game had very little effect opn their attitude.After the road trip yes the fate of the Aeros was in their hands. Doubt not many of us expected the events to turn as they have thus far. From what I've seen thus far I'm place my bet that for the Aeros last stand in Houston they will be watching the playoffs rather than partcipating.
NEWS FLASH - MASS ARREST AT TOYOTA CENTER
Houston (AP/UPI/Pravda) – In a daring post-game locker room raid, elements of the HPD special tactics teams stormed a locker room at the Toyota Center and arrested a group of amateur hockey enthusiasts on charges of impersonating a professional hockey team.
“We received numerous 9-1-1 calls half-way through the game about a suspected fraud in progress or even a possible mass kidnapping at the Toyota Center,” a police spokeswoman said. “People felt like they had been cheated out of their money. Others were concerned about the safety of the real Aeros.”
“We contacted the captain of the HPD hockey team and inserted him into the venue via a ventilation shaft. He was quickly able to determine that the team in white was not playing like the professionals who normally wear those uniforms. We decided to wait until the end of the game so we could be sure they would all be together.”
“It was awful,” said a fan through a paper grocery sack he was now donning over his head. “Even when they approached hustling, they couldn’t execute. It was like they just showed up off the streets after some all-night party that lasted to 9 AM.”
The spokeswoman said interrogations are in progress but are being hampered by they accents of many of the individuals involved, believed to be Yankees and possibly Canadian or even European in some instances. “Their accents are only marginally intelligible to many Houston officers, particularly the Aggies. In addition, they are using strange jargon like ‘five hole,’ ’off the post,’ and ‘coach giving us Herbies’ which we don’t understand,” she continued. “We need an interpreter, bad.”
Officials say they are worried about the location of the real Aeros, which is currently undetermined. Acting on internet tips, officials fear they are on the road somewhere between Houston and Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Duluth, or possibly Minneapolis.
“We want to find them real bad,” a detective said. “Right now we think their playoff hopes and NHL Prospect statuses are in danger.”
Anyone with knowledge of the real Aeros’ whereabouts is urged to log on to AHLlive.com.
@Forecheck
This is your absolute best critique all those years you've commented!
Too funny - sadly!
Bad night. Horrible attendance, wimpy fights, just flat embarrassing.
I was glad my family couldn't make the game.
have to add my 5 cents worth here..
Sure seems to me they 'boys' are pouting a bit too much.
Mature guys grit their teeth and give as much as possible.
Do recall some like that..Di Salvatore, Ortmeyer come to mind!
After all they do get paid handsomely for playing! Not for throwing tantrums like 'children'!
Sorry, but I don't think coach should shoulder the blame as much he appears willing to do. If those 'boys' think they know it all already and are not willing, the best coach's hands are tied!
Glad I was ill and couldn't make the game if it was as bad as reported.
Looks like Hack or Kuemps on the trading block today so no worries about the post season. Mara was giving away up to 2 thousand tickets to last nights game just for following him on twitter and still no interest from the houston sports fans. But it was a bad game, whooped on the scoreboard and off, I didn't feel Kuemp should have been pulled but perhaps they were guarding his GAA? Anyway Go Aeros I'll be there 4 more games to keep cheering you on!
Sounds just like the big club so its up and down the organization
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