Scouting Report - Blaze v Steelers

[MP]

I watched tonights game at the Skydome - it was entertaining but no classic. The ice condition was poor and the referee was Andy Carson.... ;D Not seen Andy in ages..... I've seen worse performances than tonights.

A long winded game with all the stopages to fix the ice and a couple of fights to sort out. Well the second was more of a ten man brawl after an incident off the play - must have been eleven men I suppose as Calder got ejected for coming off the bench to join in the fun. Christian was ejected for spearing.

Plenty of niggle throughout - would have put money on Payette kicking things off but others beat him to it

The main observation is I'm glad we have Curtis in goal for us! Lehman made some good saves but I'm still not impressed with Platt. He gave up plenty of voluminous rebounds again. Take note Panthers - get those slapshots going and get someone in for the rebounds. Makes you appreciate Curtis' rebound control and ability to play the puck.

Players to watch for?

For Blaze Chris McNamara caught the eye rifling home past a bemused Platt and Neal Martin still looks a class player. Wasn't impressed with Andre Payette - Craighead looks a much better player.

For Sheffield? No one stood out really. Peron showed at times what a dangerous player he can be but nobody grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Andrews is solid enough but the Steelers defence looked a bit ponderous.

If we play the way we have been doing in recent games then we should have the beating of both the Steelers and the Blaze.

I hear the Devils beat the Giants 5-0 tonight, in which case we might be quietly confident going into Tuesdays' game against Belfast

[girdeaux]

MP said:

I watched tonights game at the Skydome - it was entertaining but no classic. The ice condition was poor and the referee was Andy Carson.... ;D Not seen Andy in ages..... I've seen worse performances than tonights.

A long winded game with all the stopages to fix the ice and a couple of fights to sort out. Well the second was more of a ten man brawl after an incident off the play - must have been eleven men I suppose as Calder got ejected for coming off the bench to join in the fun. Christian was ejected for spearing.

Plenty of niggle throughout - would have put money on Payette kicking things off but others beat him to it

The main observation is I'm glad we have Curtis in goal for us! Lehman made some good saves but I'm still not impressed with Platt. He gave up plenty of voluminous rebounds again. Take note Panthers - get those slapshots going and get someone in for the rebounds. Makes you appreciate Curtis' rebound control and ability to play the puck.

Players to watch for?

For Blaze Chris McNamara caught the eye rifling home past a bemused Platt and Neal Martin still looks a class player. Wasn't impressed with Andre Payette - Craighead looks a much better player.

For Sheffield? No one stood out really. Peron showed at times what a dangerous player he can be but nobody grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Andrews is solid enough but the Steelers defence looked a bit ponderous.

If we play the way we have been doing in recent games then we should have the beating of both the Steelers and the Blaze.

I hear the Devils beat the Giants 5-0 tonight, in which case we might be quietly confident going into Tuesdays' game against Belfast

I speak regularly with a Devils' fan who doubles up as a Leaf fan...she's just registered on our great site, and she's insistant that Payette [glow=red,2,300]IS[/glow] nothing mre than a skilled goon

[MP]

anton said:

nothing mre than a skilled goon

Don't you have to be able to play the puck to be classed as skilled?

Perhaps he had an off night...

[girdeaux]

MP said:

Don't you have to be able to play the puck to be classed as skilled?

Perhaps he had an off night...

LOL

Anyway, this fellow Leaf seems to detest Payette. I believe he was suspended for the Panthers game down in Coventry a month or so ago?

[MP]

Yes he was.

I was interested to see him play as I've heard widely differing accounts of his ability as a player/goon.

He certainly wasn't as bad as some people say but he didn't impress tonight.

[girdeaux]

MP said:

He certainly wasn't as bad as some people say but he didn't impress tonight.

A bit like the current Steelers side then

[DoUrden]

MP said:

Well the second was more of a ten man brawl after an incident off the play - must have been eleven men I suppose as Calder got ejected for coming off the bench to join in the fun. Christian was ejected for spearing.

Well it was 12 according to the radio as Peron came off the bench to joinin too but then manage to go back and hid in the bench again so managed to get away with it.

[Heanor Lair]

Agree with most of your comments MP.

I have to say however that Carson was a shambles. His unecessary calling of penalties led to frustration among the players.

He was very lucky not to have another bench clearence on his hands (again!)

He was so poor even the Steelers fans were booing him!!!

Payette, never have I seen so little skill in a player. He skated around the rink just looking for trouble. I for one am not interested in that sort of player, I prefer to see a positive contribution from all players on the rink.

Its worth turning up at the NIC next week to see the Steelers 'teabag' shirts, they are simply awful!

HL

[Helen B]

Can't really comment on the match since I weren't there but when did Carson ref a bench clearance recently because I can't recall one