The Sharks Aren't The Only Team To Lay an Egg This Weekend

There is definitely a Jeckle & Hyde thing going on here with the Dragons. They are 9-7 and we have beaten them once relatively easily. The other two times we have played them they have beaten the pants off us both times. There was not much we could have done Saturday afternoon to stave off the onslaught of goals. The people the Dragons had playing for them were all their stronger players and as a team they were clearly sandbagging in this league. It is kind of like only posting your high scores at golf and going in to a tournament with a bloated handicap. You know it is done and there is probably not much the league can or will do about it. I say that if a a bunch of "D" level guys get off on being on the roster of a "E" league just so they can win a flippin' trophy by not having the rest of the weaker players on the team show up during playoffs then let them have it.

Actually, if you consider all things, we played better as a team Saturday than we did the previous 2 games. I am not saying this so I can say that my previous rant was an effective motivation piece or that Michael Lachtanski's pregame speech was anymore valid that it was..... I am saying it because there was a distinct difference in our play regardless of why. They were definitely a stronger, faster more skilled team than we are used to playing and it did force us to play a more conservative game, but we also did some of the little things a lot better.

The score was a little more lopsided than the play of the game. We had our chances throughout the game to put a few in and some of our best chances didn't even result in shots on goal. Joe had a couple of semi-breakaways (no relationship to a demi-faux-Pekarek) and the RAT Line (Ross, Arsenault & Terry) had a handful of chances that could have changed the score, but not likely the outcome. I think Vince played a smart and effective game. He played within himself for pretty much the whole game and it showed. Good game Vince!! The line changes were better as far as time on the ice but they still need work on the timing of them and where people come off and on the ice. We got held up a couple of times and there was a time when the puck hit one of our departing players while we had a full contingent on the ice. Should have been a penalty but I think the refs didn't want to rub salt on the wounds at that point in the game.

Notable Notes: Nice belly flop Bryan!! Bryan had the puck trapped against the side of the net with his stick with 3 Dragons banging at at it like they were laying rail road tracks, with everyone on our team was anticipating a whistle from the ref and nobody was clearing out the their players. Bryan took it upon himself to clear the crease and cover the puck by doing a spread eagle belly flop that sent everyone scurrying for cover. Very Effective!!

Good to have Roy back!! Shake that rust off Roy, we are going to need you during the playoffs. I thought he was Joe for half the game with his left handed stick and WebTV sweater.

No Goals, No Assists, No PIM's, no nothing!! If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there.....?

Overall, not really a bad job as a team. We passed a little better, we defended a little better and we played as a team a little better. Now, hopefully when we play a team of lesser skill that we don't forget those parts of the game. We have 2 games remaining and we trail the 1st place team by 2 points. We have to bury the Stingrays (read: "a team of lessor skill") next Saturday and one more with the Dragons. Here's hoping for Mr. Hyde.....!!

And can you believe it, James had no assists tonight.