Game Thread: Storm v Steelers. CUP: SAT 14th October

[mark]

A trip to the Altrincham shed dwellers for another game in the Cup.

[smbmetal]

Pleased to hear that Morrone will get the game.

The Manchester 'goonery' of old seems to have all but disappeared from this team, so it will be interesting to see how well they fair at home without the potential intimidation factor.

4-2 Steelers.

[mark]

Result. 3-6 Steelers

[ginger]

Not watched so no idea how they played, but will always take a win there whilst playing our backup

[fortescuejohnp]

Home from the game.

My thoughts were that we controlled the 1st pretty well and could easily gone in 2 or 3 up.

We were in cruise control until we gave them the 5 on 3 which they capitalised on then panic set in and had it not been for 2 poor Storm powerplays and a top drawer finish from Vallerand short handed then we could easily have lost.

Saw the game out well from there and didn't offer any Grade A chances from being 4-3.

It was strange the comeback, would it have happened with Greenfield in net? No it wouldn't.

It felt like the nervousness of Morrone spread through the defence.

Morrone looked nervy but to be expected, hopefully he comes on from this ice time as he doesn't look like he'll be giving Greener much rest as it stands.

Positives - Vallerand needed that goal and got it, Nicholls looked good as did Juusola.

The forecheck and workrate were superb.

Oh and again the PP looked good.

[paul johnston]

I know a lot of people don't rate +/- as an player assessment tool but was interesting to see that their big name recent ex NHL signing was -3 on the night, the worst of any player icing on each team.

[Doom]

Talking of stats, my mate brought a few out last night combining League and Challenge Cup.

Yet again Petgrave tops our +/- with Tansey and Vally just behind.

Of the guys with regular ice time, the lowest on the +/- are Jones, Nevalainen, Nicholls and Ciampini, although I hasten to add nobody is minus.

Shots to goals ratio is interesting.

Dowd is top with 21% followed by Simpson with 17%.

The worst are Vally (3%) and Juusola (4%).

Faceoffs are generally very positive with Allen top 65%, followed by Simpson (63%) and Watling (61%).

The only one struggling is Dowd with 45%. Balmas is actually 85%, although he's only had 13 so I've not included him.

Time on ice is topped by Saucerman with 21:59.

There's plenty of others, but those are the highlights.

They don't include last nights game.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

I know a lot of people don't rate +/- as an player assessment tool but was interesting to see that their big name recent ex NHL signing was -3 on the night, the worst of any player icing on each team.

Will be interesting to watch the highlights - in that rink chances happen without players really making errors, or one player turns the puck over and it can be a grade A chance with no chance of recovery. He might just have had a stinker but that's the inherent problem with plus minus - it's not always a reflection on the individual player

[ginger]

Talking of stats, my mate brought a few out last night combining League and Challenge Cup.

Yet again Petgrave tops our +/- with Tansey and Vally just behind.

Of the guys with regular ice time, the lowest on the +/- are Jones, Nevalainen, Nicholls and Ciampini, although I hasten to add nobody is minus.

Shots to goals ratio is interesting.

Dowd is top with 21% followed by Simpson with 17%.

The worst are Vally (3%) and Juusola (4%).

Faceoffs are generally very positive with Allen top 65%, followed by Simpson (63%) and Watling (61%).

The only one struggling is Dowd with 45%. Balmas is actually 85%, although he's only had 13 so I've not included him.

Time on ice is topped by Saucerman with 21:59.

There's plenty of others, but those are the highlights.

They don't include last nights game.

Regards

Doom

Interesting stats - I think it's clear we are not looking like we'll ship many goals this year, so would expect good plus/minus generally. I think it would be interesting to see (sure it's possible but doubt we'd get to) % of time on ice spent in each zone for players, and that split between time in possession and not.

Just going on sight, Petgrave looks so comfortable with Tansey - and being helped by a general feeling that he doesn't need to drive play as much. He's making much better decisions on when to pinch, and when to carry the puck in to the zone. He's always been good defensively but he's been exceptional so far on board battles and retrievals.

[mark]

Highlights https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np5gFm7jqaI