This week in review will be a little differently than the one's I've done over the past several weeks. We are almost twenty games into the season. So I will not be doing game reviews but rather going a little more in depth into what I have seen with this team so far. Bare with me, it's something new.
Who knew that one night a team could play so poorly and then two nights later play one of the best comeback games of the year? Who knew!? Thunder fans were given a roller coaster ride this week with games at home against Evansville and Tulsa. Evansville came to town being the top team in the Turner Conference, after the game Friday night I can see why. Sure the Thunder was sloppy, poor passing, and flat footed at times. But when those times arose the Icemen pounced. When the Thunder were caught flat footed at the end of the second period the Icemen took advantage, not once, but twice. These are the games that the Thunder need to come out of the gate flying for. Sunday night was a game that could allow a slow start. No disrespect to Tulsa, but Evansville is just a hot team right now. When teams like Evansville, Allen, and Missouri come to town. Those are not games the Thunder should expect to win. Those wins are earned.
I was speaking with a friend during training camp and we were talking about the amount of talent, on paper, this team seemed to have. I made the comment that the little games won and lost during the year always seem to make the difference in the standings. For example, Wichita finished ten points out of first place last season, or five wins. Last season we were 4-7-1 against Tulsa. Again for example if we would have won five more of those games, we end up in first place in the conference. So during this highly intellectual conversation, I talked about the importance of being prepared for every game. As a coach, you have to have your team ready for battle no matter if your playing the defending champions or a "B-team" squad. Now I am not saying Mac doesn't try and do this, just pointing out my conversation. Zach, what is the point of all this? When you have the best team statistically from the Turner Conference coming to town, you need to be ready for anything.
Anything would include someone scoring two goals who didn't score two goals in the all of last season. Mike Sgroi dropped the gloves with Erick Lizon just two seconds into the game, and then proceeded to throw a knockout punch to the Thunder defense. Scoring on a breakaway and a goal out in front of Adam Russo. Needless to say this was a lackluster performance for Wichita and one they hope to forget.
Now enter the upside of this roller coaster ride. Usually Sunday afternoon games are slower paced games. It's the end of the week for teams and guys tend to be tired. It also tends to be a smaller crowd. Why? I don't know, but I can't remember the last "big" Sunday crowd in Wichita. How that assumption was completely wrong about the game against Tulsa. In what proved to be one of the most entertaining game and lively crowds of the year, Wichita was able to pull off a three goal third period and salvage a split for the week. A loud crowd of 6,141 were on hand to watch a great comeback game. I promised no game recap, but how good was Thomas Beauregard's goal? But in order to appreciate the goal, you have to start out with Alex Bourret's hit on Marty Standish. Bourret came across the neutral zone and laid a bone crushing hit on Standish. The puck bounced free and in one motion Bourret passed the puck towards a streaking Beauregard, who on the breakaway deked forehand and pushed the puck passed Ian Keserich's right skate for the game winning goal. One of the prettiest breakaway goals I've seen in person.
This week for the Thunder does not get any easier. They have seven games in ten days, three against Texas, two against Fort Wayne, and one against Allen. This is where preparing for games comes into play. Take this long stretch one game at a time, and only play for the night. If you lose one, move on and go to the next one. Don't dwell on rough games. And if you win or get on a streak, act like you lost. Come out just as ready for the next game as if you got beat 0-9 the night before. A long stretch like this can either give your team a huge amount of momentum and confidence, or tear you apart and make you start doubting. This stretch will test the character of this team, and show us all what kind of team we really have. Is this team championship caliber? We are about to find out.
Until next time.
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