5 Key Take Aways vs Panthers

Final; 1-2 (SO)

CARDIFF, WALES – Visiting Panthers take game one of the Aladdin Cup in a shootout, capping off an entertaining clash of two well drilled teams. Here are five key takeaways from the final home pres-eason game at the Vindico Arena.

1. Net Battle for the Ages

Both goalies put in a performance to inspire others that want to be net minders in a night of big saves, excellent positioning and steely determination, keeping top players such as Didrik Henbrant, Hugo Roy, Hunter Shinkaruk and Zach O’Brien at bay.

The performances in both nets earned them extra hockey and then a shootout where the game was decided by a Kontos goal, from a hard drive toward the lower blocker side of Bowns, where the puck was rifled through to seal the win for the road team.

Despite the loss in the shootout, Bowns was named Man of the Match, deservedly so. Ryan Bednard would have been my top Man of the Match, due to his stout defiance the entire game, saving all of the shots against him in the shootout.

Both goals were also scored on the power play, highlighting it was a night for the goalies, not so much the goal scorers.

2. Good Structure, Dominant Performance

You might think a low scoring shootout loss would mean a boring game without anything to remember. This would be the hockey equivalent to footballs 1-1 draws.

This wasn’t exactly the case. The return of the GB players and full coaching staff definitely lifted the team, with all lines skating hard and looking to grind the road team down.

The way they forechecked, recovered loose pucks, set up in the offensive zones and quickly tidied up the defensive zones. They knew what to do. If not for an excellent goalie on the night, this would have been a rout mid way through.

Puck retention, shot generation, sublime movement and excellent man marking, seemed to stifle their opponents at times, who only had short spells of true puck possession. The home team never flinched.

3. Solid Team Defence

This follows on from the way the side was set up. Blueliners Gourley, MacWilliam and Donaghey were excellent in the shutdown, fierce with the hits, industrious in turn overs and eagerly mopped up any zone entries from the visitors.

This forced panicked and rushed pucks up the boards, as the forwards steered the play wide and the likes of Mosey, Fournier and Richardson were able to gather, reset, find a key pass, and set up another phase of attack.

They weren’t alone. MacDonald, Olichefski, Barrow, Davies, Perlini, Shinkaruk, Duke. All back checked hard, got into the right areas to free up space, receive a pass and frustrate the visitors. This was the relentless hockey the coach wants the fans to see.

4. Physicality

As mentioned, MacWilliam, Gourley and Barrow all played hard, even the captain got aggressive for a pre-season game. The hits were constant. Barrow lead the way, as Duke absolutely aimed to eject some Panthers players from their skates.

This is a sign of things to come. The previous season there was a reliance on Brandt to do the greasy work. In fact, the physicality stepped up last night, yet he was still missed. Only Riley Brandt can cause the chaos we need.

Having said that, it was great to see each line taking responsibility for what was needed in order to wear down their opponents. We know we have skill and pace. Adding physicality across the deck and now having true shut down defenders, makes the anticipation of what is to come, all the sweeter.

5. The Duke Reigns Supreme

I mentioned his desire to create some sparks in the game, however he did gift his team their only goal of the night on the power play.

His best ability is execution on net. Let alone his skating, awareness, puck control and ability to really drive the play hard with finesse and strength. We look at players such as Zach O’Brien and Hunter Shinkaruk, Gleason Fournier, Mac Carruth.

The real gem so far has been Reid Duke. Long may his reign continue.

Pre-season Overview

The teams face off again this afternoon, where some may comment that as water is wet, the Devils lose in Nottingham. It is still pre-season after all.

However, despite a promise by the owners it won’t be as long as last seasons, it sure felt like it. The mixing of Team GB duties with a scattered fixture list has been hard to build momentum, as a fan, let alone for a an entirely new team.

Yes, the arena might be packed. No one can fault that. But there is a growing sense of underwhelming complacency already. The ticket value being a saving grace for a disjointed start of the hockey season.

Question marks are already afoot for players health (Carruth and Brandt), Perlini after 6 games of pre-season, finally dressed and iced for his new team.

The main sticking point is that with this being the final weekend of prep, the league has already got underway with Challenge Cup action. Only in the EIHL would the season start while pre-season is still ongoing.

Not to mention, these fixtures for both clubs could have been part of the Challenge Cup campaign as well. Instead, after a Continental Cup run, the Devils will have to wait till the end of December to conclude their group stage, against, let’s check these notes. The Nottingham Panthers.

Make it make sense.

Tonights game should be flipped to a Challenge Cup game, with the date for the original one given back for the likes of a playoff game at the end of the season (without coming across as arrogant).

Rarely is there severe criticism aimed at anyone or organisation, but hopefully next season, 4 pre-season games, done and dusted.

Last Nights Three Stars

Third Star; Reid Duke

Second Star; Ben Bowns

First Star; Ryan Berdnard