Great score and positive night for me. I must admit, my head nearly went down after first couple of minutes and Cardiff goal lol. Great and quick reply and no such wobble from the team, which was great to see.
Flashes of the old Watling I thought too which was also nice to see. Didn’t feel we got completely trashed at the face off tally, and fab to see Ritchie net a brace - so many clever touches from him and seems to have great positioning etc - looking like a good acquisition to me. Southorn, other than one slip-up, looked great today I thought.
Worrying Tansey looks like he left after first period down the tunnel… and quite disappointed tbh that no “policing” carried out after an obvious knee-on-knee to Watling… which could have resulted in far worse, thankfully he was back out following attention.
Surprised McAdam didn’t get a look in this weekend at all… I would imagine he’d be feeling equally surprised(/disappointed…).
Lots to be happy about though - still feel this could be a strong playoff team.
GAME THREAD: Steelers v Devils: Sun 25th Jan
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Bryan
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I completely agree. A thoroughly enjoyable evening. Our forwards are back on song and Watling and Ritchie look as if they are both up to speed. I hope Watling’s injury isn’t too bad. A dreadful hit. Our D still seems to go missing at times. Positioning doesn’t look spot on and we get taken apart too often. Often Greenfield saves us but not always. Balmas seems to be an absolute miracle this season.
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MLL79
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Good results around the league also - Belfast and Nott both losing, although Belfast picked up a point with the OT loss.
I know we shouldn’t rely/hope/etc on others results but, as they say in Tesco….
I know we shouldn’t rely/hope/etc on others results but, as they say in Tesco….
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bladerunner
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Credit where credit is due that was an enjoyable game to watch. I hope the team can build on this weekends games. Well done its all I ask that the effort is there and the hockey is good to watch.
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paul johnston
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Nice weekend of effort and performance. Much much more like a Steelers team!
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Doom
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Forget the league title, that is long gone.
I'm going along to enjoy the hockey and hope we can build some momentum to challenge for the remaining two trophies.
A good effort this weekend and good to see both Watling and Ritchie get on the board. If those two get going and Balmas maintains his form we will have a chance of silverware.
Regards
Doom
I'm going along to enjoy the hockey and hope we can build some momentum to challenge for the remaining two trophies.
A good effort this weekend and good to see both Watling and Ritchie get on the board. If those two get going and Balmas maintains his form we will have a chance of silverware.
Regards
Doom
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lovedenisvial
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You might be right about Huttula not having his best season but I think Dougherty and Southorn have been very poor defensively all season! They can both play! and have been excellent performers over their careers but its one season too many in my view, and this is backed up with Fox's selection! they rarely both play together and in both games of a weekend!
Southorn especially goes missing too often in our D zone! To me that's the main reason we haven't performed regularly enough to win the close games you need when under pressure and under par, we have relied too much on Greenfield to bail us out!
Southorn especially goes missing too often in our D zone! To me that's the main reason we haven't performed regularly enough to win the close games you need when under pressure and under par, we have relied too much on Greenfield to bail us out!
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ginger
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I thought Southorn had a really good weekend generally. A couple of turnovers but that was about it. Other than that I thought he was very tidy in his own zone and much better offensively.
Dougherty seemingly struggling with confidence. There's times when he makes absolutely brilliant little plays in the D zone, creating easy zone exits and plays the body effectively, and then others where he gets turned around too easily. He was unlucky on the bobbling puck at the blue line for Cardiff's second - just one of those things, but you can see the knock his confidence took after. Certainly not a terrible weekend though, and hopefully can build off it. He's not that old (30 I think?) so I don't think it's age with him, more just form/confidence and possibly injury (never know what players are carrying sometimes)
Dougherty seemingly struggling with confidence. There's times when he makes absolutely brilliant little plays in the D zone, creating easy zone exits and plays the body effectively, and then others where he gets turned around too easily. He was unlucky on the bobbling puck at the blue line for Cardiff's second - just one of those things, but you can see the knock his confidence took after. Certainly not a terrible weekend though, and hopefully can build off it. He's not that old (30 I think?) so I don't think it's age with him, more just form/confidence and possibly injury (never know what players are carrying sometimes)