The Thunder finished the week 1-1-0. Friday's much anticipated and much hyped game against Missouri turned into disappointment for Wichita. Going 0-5 on the power play is a defining digit for me. When you have special teams opportunities against top tier team's like Missouri you have to take advantage. During the second period, Wichita had three power play opportunities and out shot Missouri 21 to 5. One goal was scored during that frame, and it was on Thomas Beauregard's blast from the high circle just :57 seconds into the period. The team has plenty of talent no one is denying that, but bodies need to be down low. Several juicy rebounds left by Missouri starter Gerry Festa were left unanswered. On a side note about this game, I have loved Wichita trying to rekindle an Oklahoma City type rivalry. The Squid Ink opening video was pretty cool, personalized for the game, and Erick Lizon thrilled the crowd with a clear win over an under-matched Carlyle Lewis. From a business standpoint I fully understand the Thunder's need for a good rivalry. Game's against the Blazers would easily bring in 7,000 if not fill the Kansas Coliseum. But rivalries are not built by nice video's and radio ad's. They are built on the ice. And after this weekend's games I think that if there wasn't a true "Rivalry" between Wichita and Missouri, there is now. For the record, please don't misread my statements. I'm thrilled that the video's and ad's are being done, I am simply stating no one person can create on ice rivalries but rather the players dictate that. Hopefully after a great ad campaign and two good games, this will blow up into a true hated rivalry.
Saturday a packed Independence Event's Center was let down in Missouri's home opener by a hungry Thunder team. Andrew Marten's started the scoring out with a power play goal to tie the game at one in the first period. Less than a minute later Matt Summers was sent off for an illegal check to the head, the Thunder's second call this year. Down 2 to 1 in the third period Wichita scored back to back power play goals both within :44 seconds of each other to take the lead. A lead that would be eliminated by a Sebastien Thinel power play goal for Missouri. The difference between Friday's game and Saturday's game? The Thunder power play on Friday was 0 for 5 on the man advantage, Saturday 3 for 6. The game eventually went to a shootout where for the second time on the year Brett Hemingway scored the game winner.
While I will gladly take a home and home split with Missouri, this weekend could have very easily ended up 2-0 for the Thunder. Special teams will be a key stat with a team as offensively explosive as Wichita is this year. Right now the Thunder are 10th in the 14 team CHL in power play percentage. They are 8th in the penalty kill. This team needs to be a top 5 power play/penalty kill team. When given free opportunities to score, they must take advantage. If games are lost due to a lackluster power play, when it comes down to the end of the season five losses would be ten points. Last year ten points would have earned Wichita the number one seed in the Turner conference. My point? Don't let a lackluster power play be the reason this highly talented team is not a number one seed in a four team per conference playoff format.
A suspension will surely follow on Monday by the league, the penalty carries an automatic one game minimum suspension. From the small view on CHLtv I would't be surprised if this is not another 2 or more game suspension. While I am glad the league is cracking down on head shots, as they should. I hope that early suspension are not used as "examples" for teams. My view on Bourret's hit from earlier this year was that the league could have given more if they wanted to make an example. I thought two games were fair. Hopefully this one is fair as well.
The Thunder face a crazy week, having home dates on Wednesday and Friday against Rapid City and Quad City, and road games on Saturday and Sunday against Missouri and Tulsa. Four games in five days will be a large test. Eight points are at stake and with those points the Thunder could establish themselves as the clear front runner in the Berry Conference. I will be attending all four games, and am sure there will be plenty to write about come next Sunday evening.
Until next time.
"Eight points are at steak..."
ReplyDeleteFriend, I appreciate your efforts and think you do a fine job with your commentary, but you would do well to brush up on the English language and not use idioms you don't fully understand.
Get a copy of Strunk and White's "Elements of Style". It has helped writers for decades.
Looking forward to you next post.
I like food, what can I say, thank you for pointing that out, the post has been edited.
ReplyDeletePoint of order: steaks are worth eight points, chicken is worth 4, seafood 2. Z is right on this one.
ReplyDeleteGood blog Z.
Al?
RLR