Post – Game Review; 10 Observations vs Flames

League Record So Far; 15 – 8 – 1, 31pts, 2nd Place

CARDIFF, WALES – Flames run wild in Cardiff and sour the hopes of a season laden with silverware for the home crowd as they dominated and decimated the hosts for a year ending double win.

Here are 10 Key Moments from the game;

1. Flames brought the physicality and over worked their hosts, which set the tone for night. Hit after hit, battle after battle, shot after shot. Recycled pucks, rebounds, loose pucks. Flames came to battle and quickly overwhelmed their opponents for most of the game.

2. Lack of discipline at key times undone any progress that was previously and precariously made by the good guys, allowing a 100% PP night for the visitors. From the leagues best PK%, this was not a good night for the penalty killers.

3. A lot of the discipline was born out of a lacklustre effort, which lead to many turnovers, poor giveaways and terrible positioning in each zone of the ice. This was evident on the shot count, with Flames putting up twice the SOG after the first.

4. Despite some antics going uncalled and some blatant wind up attempts, the flow of the game was due a push back. It never came. This added to the frustration, which allowed Flames to grow more confident each shift and whistle.

5. Jamie Arniel added two more goals to his list this season, 5 during December overall, with 10 points this past month. Both tallies put him over 20 points for the regular season, sitting 5th in the Devils team.

6. Russell tried switching up the D lines throughout the game, however this proved to add to the teams performance, as there was no shape or balance. Rymsha and Richardson took a long sit on the bench, as Batch and Wilde were preferred in mixed tandems with the top pair.

One of Flames’ goals came from a turnover behind the net when Bode Wilde loitered too long with the puck. A difficult one to watch.

7. Turnovers weren’t the only issue on the ice tonight, passing across the whole pad lead to a lot of giveaways and breakaways. This lead opened up the ice for a team that looks to pounce and punish whenever they can.

8. The brand of Pete Russell hockey failed to turn up in the third for back to back nights, with lost battles, feeble physicality and suppressed intensity. In the end, Devils out-shot their opponents, however, overkill to win back the pucks and move the biscuit forward as soon as it went near a Devils stick, quickly fizzled out.

9. The lack of physical presence on net, allowed Flames to set up nicely and move the puck efficiently, play direct and generate quality scoring opportunities. 41 SOG to 31 SOG for Flames highlighted that issue. With more high danger chances, it was a surprise to no one how the game tilted.

10. With Steelers next for them, the leagues most dominant team who recently shut them out is a prospect too soon for a lot of fans, but equally the perfect game to kick back and get into things again. A must win game with a lot riding on it. What a way to start the new year!

Extra Note; Thank you to all who read, engage, like and share these articles, it means the world to me and I hope this continues to build!