Thunder Talk: March 2nd

You've probably noticed by now that I don't post much here when we lose. I guess that's because I really hate losing.

Friday nights loss in Game 1 of our Best of 7 was probably the most disappointing game of hockey I have ever been involved with. We had 5 days to rest and prepare and focus for are biggest game of this season and then we didn't show up. It was a half-hearted effort from start to finish and the results were predictable. Saturday we returned to the ice in the afternoon for practice and it was decided to alter the game plan from the week before. We made this change with the understanding that all the different strategies in the world would not make a difference if we didn't commit ourselves to executing the game plan. I was assured that this would not be a problem and that everyone felt more comfortable with this new/ old strategy and therefore would execute.

Unfortunately yesterday was, for the most part, more of the same. Our first period was a carbon copy of Friday nights game and subsequently we dug ourselves a 3 goal hole to climb out of. We talked about the promises we had made to ourselves in the intermission and how, as their coach, I was waiting to see who was going to come through. The 2nd period saw a change in momentum when we capitalized on some undisciplined Royals play and scored on 2 consecutive 5 on 3 powerplays. We carried this momentum into the 3rd and eventually took the lead late, only to give it up with 32 seconds remaining in the game. The OT goal was a great play by the Royals playing to bat the puck out of mid air and off the back of Jay Hudon. Unfortunately we allowed it to happen by not being committed to our DZone execution in the final minute of the hockey game.

We are not a defensive minded hockey club. The majority of us are offensive minded players and subsequently we have to play intense, focused, team defense in all areas of the playing surface. Over the final month of the regular season we have become less and less focused on this as a team and it is hurting us at the moment. I'm afraid that some of our go to guys are playing with their own agendas at the moment and not committed to the team concept.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played and we have proven how dominant a hockey team we can be when everyone is on board. Playoffs success is less about haircuts and all about commitment and sacrifice. I hope we can prove that this week.

Game time is 7:30 in Carrot River on Tuesday night and 9:00 in Saskatoon on Thursday at the Harold Latrace.

Keep Your Stick On The Ice
Coach Kingwell