Game Review vs Giants; Key Observations

League Record So Far; 21 – 8 – 2, 44pts, 2nd Place

Devils fell last night to a frustrating return of action following a delirious weekend, leaving many searching for answers and taking disappointment out on the wrong areas, and people.

If you read the preview to the game, it became a prophetic manual of how not to play that game, even with some odd calls from the officials, for the most part, had a decent enough night.

From blind back hand passes in both zone, no look passing in the DZ, a tried, tested and bested weave with board play failing each time. Races to the the puck, battling to keep the puck, playing hot potato with the puck.

Agonisingly not the first time during the season, catastrophically at the wrong time.

Here are some key observations to a disappointing night down the bay;

1. Lacklustre performance

It is not often Devils lose whilst being more offensive overall, the details are everything. 48 shot attempts to 41 and 33 SOG to 24. It was a low shooting affair for the scoreline.

Where they faltered was lack of link up play, often trying to force the issue instead of taking time to find better plays, battle for better positions.

It is a coaches nightmare. All the ingredients are there, tried and tested, it works. However on the night, it fails. Despite changing personnel on the lines, the method still falls flat.

Many moments changes could have been made, such as when there was confusion regarding a boarding call, getting more from the delay of game stunt Keefe tried pulling. Shortening the lines even. Call a time out, go to a different tactic for entering the zone.

2. Failed zone entries

I really do wish I could get my hands on the data for zone entries, especially the percentages. This was the main difference for the game and how it tilted against the better team.

The defence were effective to break up plays, turn over the puck and block attempts, it was the initial clearances and counter plays that stuttered.

I lost count after each time a pass to the OZ blue line was made, then the attempt to wheel with the puck up the wing, getting snuffed by 3 Giants players multiple times.

Or a timid dump and chase, to be met with a wall of teal bodies to battle through. At some moments, there was a successful counter battle, but heads ever down during those plays, the blind short side passes to the crease/mid slot, went straight to a waiting opponent.

Counter attack begins.

Giants had a different approach. Clog the wings, then cut through the neutral zone, straight down the middle. Isolating a defender, whilst a line mate skates up alongside them, wait, bait, snap it on net.

Cycle repeat.

The ultimate telling sign, was that as each period wore on, the home team looked worn out, gassed. The visitors just needed two gears.

3. Focus absent when it mattered

Out of nowhere, a counter punch of sorts gifted the visitors a lead during the middle section of the game, from goals that went in from the mid slot. Defensively these could have been dealt with a lot earlier, after all, how does a part timer like Gabe Bast deke and dangle his way to that area and snipe it top shoulder?

Then, another D-man, Galambos from the opposite side, effectively snapped a shot in the same fashion, against the flow of play, cutting through Carruth like butter.

Earlier battles lost, heads down hockey, goalie not equal to a mid danger chance shot. Focus ultimately got left on the bus somewhere in the Midlands, probably from the previous days travel.

There is no excuse, none would be made. A pivotal game that went awry, one that should have been played with a purpose, to defeat an opponent that was lucky to win the previous two meetings, now, undefeated vs the previous leaders, taking a 7 point lead with them and all the confidence going forward.

Focus to prepare that mindset is not on the players. This one, goes to the coaches.

4. MacDonald first to 40 points in regular season

It is not all negative, there was a couple positives. Barrow got his first league goal in a while, with MacDonald through a secondary assist, hitting 40 on the campaign. The road to 50 starts now.

He is typically 7 points in his L5GP, with 5 in his last 3. Since the last game he didn’t score a point, it has been exactly 20 league games since the same, maintaining 28 points in that stretch.

9 of those games were multi-point nights, with 16 of the 21 goals tallied for highest scorer (currently).

He leads the league at 40 points and is due a goal soon. Hopefully his efforts in this last 20 can help to spear head the title charge for the remainder of the season, so how many more can he add with 23 games left, including some Challenge Cup action?

Overall, he is actually 51 points in all EIHL competitions, making him one to watch for the rest of the season.

5. Rising Panthers, sulking Steelers

Up next is what matters and again, key games to focus on, with maximum performances needed. Hopefully by those games, there will be some additional players from the recovery table.

Panthers are roaring up the standings and look unstoppable at times, meanwhile Steelers have been struggling of late, succumbing to a 6:2 defeat in Guildford in their last game.

With these games, there could be a rapid change in the top 4 teams, as 2 points separate 4th to 2nd. Now is not the time for that mid-season blip.

Defeats this weekend, could spell the end of the dreams to win the league title again and with Giants already having the Devils number, the Challenge Cup looks likely to be raised elsewhere too.

Much has been said of big character wins, comeback kings, no quit in this team.

Whoever iced out last game, forgot that memo. Hopefully for the next couple of games, their focus will return.