Feb 01, 2014 | Mike Dombek | 354 views
Playoff Nerves Gone
The Ice Dogs first playoff game was against the hottest team in the league.
The Ice Dogs knew they were in a tough spot opening the playoffs against the hottest team in the division who owned a five game winning streak going into this contest. They understood that this was an important team to beat to keep their playoff hopes strong. The Ice Dogs were on a two game win streak of their own and felt up to the task.
They were playing against the Novice White's "Sidney Crosby" and they needed to come together as a team to stop him, all the while not discounting the other good scorers on the team. This meant the wingers had to step up in order to ensure the puck was deep in the other team's end and it stayed there as long as possible. The centers were to ensure the leading scorer had no room to move. The defence had to ensure they kept the opposition out of the slot. The Ice Dogs were masterful at accomplishing their tasks and they won as a team. The final score was 3-0 with one empty net goal.
The defence also chipped in offensively in this one with the D-men assisting on two of the three goals. The Ice Dogs goalie, although not extremely busy, made some fantastic saves when called upon. One in particular in the final minutes of the game to preserve the 2-0 lead at the time.
The Ice Dogs keep getting better as we go along. It is fantastic to watch and the players are understanding their roles and what their roles mean to the team. There are not individuals trying to be the team, and that is tough to beat.