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Post by wgray on Mar 2, 2022 20:21:53 GMT
Good start for the Panthers.
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Post by wgray on Mar 2, 2022 15:00:14 GMT
I agree, we should have at least brought 1 player in to try and improve the team and I’m disappointed that we haven’t. We’ve not been in any sort of title challenge at all this season, we’ve not even managed to do our usual trick of doing well until December and then imploding.
I’m not sure what I was expecting though, we didn’t try and improve the team before our Cup semi final so why would we improve it before the end of the deadline, with the focus being on the playoffs?
I’m fed up of talking about and questioning the reasons why our recruitment has panned out the way it has this season, it’s been a complete mess.
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Post by wgray on Feb 28, 2022 17:24:16 GMT
You wait for ages for Norrish to score, then he does it in successive games... I’m glad he’s managed to get a couple, hopefully that’ll spur him on and he’ll get a few more. We’ve been desperate for goals this season, I think a lack of scoring from defence has been a big negative. It says a lot when Tetlow is our joint top goal scorer amongst our dmen in the league.
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Post by wgray on Feb 27, 2022 20:42:53 GMT
Good result that, I didn’t go but it looks like it was another close fought game but it’s great that we’ve bounced back from yesterday. We’ve done really well against the Flames this season, 4 league games played and 4 wins, plus we beat them on aggregate in the cup.
Nice to see Boivin get a couple of goals and Norrish sealed it with the empty net. Personally they are two players that I would like back next season.
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Post by wgray on Feb 27, 2022 15:29:58 GMT
No complaints at all and at the end of the day despite spending two more periods playing well above anything we had any right to and the far better team won. All four on-ice officials missed or left loads of calls both ways and when the final buzzer went I was just pleased to be leaving (just in time for a major bust-up next to us in the Indian to cap off a great night). Really can't complain about the player's effort as I have never ever seen any Panthers team work so hard to the point of exhaustion. Just makes you realize what we could have done in past years with even half the effort this team puts in. At the end of the day, I think we have four players that if upgraded on then this team would be transformed. Carozza, Hedberg, Baillargeon, and Tousignant. Carozza and Hedberg would struggle to get into any other EIHL team without being gassed in weeks, Baillargeon is either scoring goals or completely missing (MASSIVE as in seismic downgrade on Guptill who was a far better one-trick pony) and although Tousignant is entertaining and willing to have teeth knocked out on any given night he adds nothing else to the squad at all. I would also move Kelsall on and give Jack Hopkins his ice time now too. Top of the list though would have to be Doucet. He bought into the Wallace boring one-on-one style of play and must have the worst contacts in the entire league. Cut him loose and burn the boat. I’ve been thinking the exact same thing about Baillargeon. He’s a poor man’s Alex Guptill! More often than not he’s anonymous, every so often though he’ll have a game where he’s firing and that tops his points total up. I wouldn’t have him back next season.
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Post by wgray on Feb 27, 2022 15:24:49 GMT
I think we all felt a bit disappointed leaving the arena yesterday but as others have said, the score line didn’t reflect the closeness of the game.
The performance of the referees always seems to be questioned whenever we play Sheffield, I have to agree though that some of the decisions yesterday were bewildering, especially the roughing call on Tousignant in the 1st and charging call on him in the 3rd.
5 on 5, we matched Sheffield, it was the special teams where we lost the game. We had over a minute of 5 on 3, plus 3 more pp’s yet we didn’t score a single goal on it. Sheffield had 5 pp’s and scored 3 goals. With regards to our pp the biggest issue we have is that the 2nd unit produce absolutely nothing, every time they go on the ice it looks as though they never played together and the worrying thing is that’s the unit with Matheson on.
It was pleasing to see the team fight back level after going 0-2 and 2-3 down, the poor call and resulting Sheffield pp goal just seemed to knock us off our stride.
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Post by wgray on Feb 26, 2022 15:25:01 GMT
Just had a look at the gamesheet, no Vallerand or Sointu for Sheffield, Brust starts in net.
Our lines have been tweaked slightly as well, be interesting to see how they do. Come on Panthers.
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Post by wgray on Feb 25, 2022 23:56:35 GMT
Must say I’m really looking forward to this game. Hopefully we can play with the same energy/ intensity as recently and continue to finish hits, hopefully it could be a Panthers Steelers game of yesteryear with a bit of needle! They’ve been boring for too long! Only 8 single seats left in the bowl, so virtually a sellout, hopefully it’s a good atmosphere. I don’t think it will be a classic though. In the recent times we’ve played them at the NIC it’s never felt like we’ve gone for it, almost as though we’ve been too concerned about losing. Then Sheffield have played solid defensive games whilst taking their chances and that’s been enough for them to beat us. A stat I thought I’d look up today, the last we beat them in a LEAGUE game at the NIC was 13/10/18!!! A win would be very welcome!
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Post by wgray on Feb 25, 2022 22:43:33 GMT
I'm guessing that's why Panther Season Ticket Holders aren't getting first dibs, I'm sure they can't find a way to separate the Season Ticket Holders from the non season ticket holders online. This is correct, they can't. They lost the means two seasons ago. Is that because there aren’t there any staff working at the box office to see people or take calls? If so, why?
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Post by wgray on Feb 25, 2022 20:50:01 GMT
I keep saying today and is the day he’s going to score, he desperately needs a goal. As said he’s doing most things okay but last weekend in both matches sat and sun he missed two absolutely clear cut chances to score right in front of net, it’s almost as if he got there and forgot what to do, I could have happily smacked him. Tomorrow is the game.... No better time than tomorrow for him to step up!
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Post by wgray on Feb 25, 2022 19:53:07 GMT
What an absolute joke those prices are, to not even put reduced prices in place for concessions is just pure greed and stupidity.
Myself and three others aren’t buying any tickets unless the prices come down. I hope others do the same.
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Post by wgray on Feb 24, 2022 23:50:26 GMT
Panther’s inactivity would have suggested so!
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Post by wgray on Feb 23, 2022 21:35:48 GMT
Always an uphill struggle but we tried and result was better than expected - At least Squeelers will not get the triple -We just need to rub it in on Saturday with a win I think Belfast will do the treble.
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Post by wgray on Feb 23, 2022 21:26:38 GMT
Battled hard and they deserve credit. It was always going to take a miracle to win this game though I’m afraid.
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Post by wgray on Feb 23, 2022 21:00:37 GMT
Domingue not played in the 3rd period so far, all the lines have altered to suit. Injured again?🙄
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Post by wgray on Feb 23, 2022 17:03:19 GMT
It could change but it looks like Whistle is going to be starting in net for the Giants, he’s listed as GK1 on the gamesheet which normally indicates who is starting. At least I’m hoping he’s starting! Looks like Hedberg is going to be the healthy scratch for us as well, he’s got ‘TS’ listed next to his name on the gamesheet which has been indicator of who sits out. I thought it might have been a good idea to play him tonight for his speed and to give us an outlet on the break, especially if he’s going to be playing on the 4th line. At least they must have finally realised he’s producing nothing ! Anyway how come Dundee signed a guy today if the deadline has passed ? I saw someone on THF state that the IIHF deadline is March 1st, which is due to it being a Winter Olympics year.
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Post by wgray on Feb 23, 2022 16:53:01 GMT
It could change but it looks like Whistle is going to be starting in net for the Giants, he’s listed as GK1 on the gamesheet which normally indicates who is starting. At least I’m hoping he’s starting!
Looks like Hedberg is going to be the healthy scratch for us as well, he’s got ‘TS’ listed next to his name on the gamesheet which has been indicator of who sits out. I thought it might have been a good idea to play him tonight for his speed and to give us an outlet on the break, especially if he’s going to be playing on the 4th line.
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Post by wgray on Feb 21, 2022 22:34:01 GMT
Should be Hedberg at the minute. Although Welsh has dropped off significantly. I wonder if he isn't 100% fit. I've wondered that too. 3 points in the last 10 league games. Hedberg has been playing mostly with Welsh, to be fair, and Boivin. Maybe they just don't suit each other? Boivin at least has a smattering of points in that timeframe, but a fair few are on the PP. Hedberg isn’t clicking with Welsh or Boivin at all, but like you say Welsh looks to be struggling. I’d put Domingue back with them, keep Lane’s line the same, put Hedberg with Myers and Ollie, then have Richards and Kelsall as part of the 4th line.
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Post by wgray on Feb 21, 2022 22:28:44 GMT
He’s had ok goal scoring totals in better leagues than ours, last season 8 goals in 23 Allsvenskan games, the season before that 9 goals in 24 Liiga games. My concern when we signed him was how little he had produced at the start of this season in the Swedish 3rd division. The thing I find frustrating with him as he’s got speed, he carries the puck well, he’s even found him else in some good goal scoring positions, but he just doesn’t seem to have the confidence in his finishing. With Domingue returning, plus the other two lines playing well and looking settled, it’s going to be interesting to see who sits out. Should be Hedberg at the minute. Although Welsh has dropped off significantly. I wonder if he isn't 100% fit. For me it’s a decision between him and Tousignant. Not a single point for Tousi in his last 14 games… Personally I’d rather let Hedberg play and utilise his speed on the bigger ice surface. I agree about Welsh though, he’s not been as influential of late, we need a big performance from him on Wednesday.
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Post by wgray on Feb 21, 2022 20:00:07 GMT
Based on his past CV but his current EIHL points output. This season.....Absolute rubbish ! Not being funny but what were we expecting from him? We are a terrible terrible team. Possibly the worst ever. Did we think he was going to do a Herr? He’s had ok goal scoring totals in better leagues than ours, last season 8 goals in 23 Allsvenskan games, the season before that 9 goals in 24 Liiga games. My concern when we signed him was how little he had produced at the start of this season in the Swedish 3rd division. The thing I find frustrating with him as he’s got speed, he carries the puck well, he’s even found him else in some good goal scoring positions, but he just doesn’t seem to have the confidence in his finishing. With Domingue returning, plus the other two lines playing well and looking settled, it’s going to be interesting to see who sits out.
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Post by wgray on Feb 20, 2022 21:40:00 GMT
It says a lot that we’re pleased about a point against Belfast at home, but Keefe has built an excellent team, they’re easily the best in the league.
I thought it was foolish to put Baillargeon out there at the end (maybe looking to get his hat trick?) as I don’t think he’s the best defensively and he didn’t give the best coverage on their equalising goal, but despite that, the team did us proud.
I think it’s visible that Whistle has made an impact on the team, they’re playing with more energy and physicality, everybody’s battling and finishing their checks. We look to be a much harder team to play against. We’re still struggling to convert our chances still but we’re certainly taking care of our own end a lot better.
Baillargeon has scored 5 goals in the last 3 games, if he could have been more consistent with his scoring we might have been a bit higher up the table, he’s just a bit too streaky. I thought Norrish has been immense all weekend, blocked no end of shots, battled hard and got stuck in, he’s one player I’d like to see us keep hold of. The same with Richards, he’s very raw, plays with an edge, but his speed is frightening, it puts teams on the back foot.
I’m glad Carr got the motm award as well, he’s been solid all weekend, his stick save in the first was unbelievable as well.
If we see the same level of performance on Wednesday I’ll be happy.
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Post by wgray on Feb 20, 2022 11:45:34 GMT
We are waiting for the Cup match to beat them. I’ll take that!
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Post by wgray on Feb 20, 2022 1:02:40 GMT
I’ll be happy if we don’t concede in the first 5 minutes😂
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Post by wgray on Feb 19, 2022 23:47:53 GMT
Are Panthers playing with an 18+2 bench tonight? That’s one more than allowed? Domingue didn’t play. Also, strangely, Welsh didn’t take part in the pre-game warm up, didn’t play any of the 1st period, but appeared on the ice for the start of the 2nd period. Not sure what happened there.
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Post by wgray on Feb 17, 2022 18:08:50 GMT
Very strange that our first visit to the Skydome comes in February, only be our 2nd game against them at all this season. Blaze really hurt us on the powerplay last time, hopefully the team can play smart and get us the result.
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