Spitfires have lost 3 games in overtime. Fact. Spitfires are first place in the Western Conference with a 2 1/2 game lead on 2nd place 11 games in. Fact.
I'm impressed with this team. It feels like a team. Similar boat here, knowing Cuylle, Damico, Henault would be gone had me a little concerned with offensive production. Hearing Zito moved, concerns grew. Now knowing Wyatt's a highly unlikely return, I feel like my concerns should be higher but I'm feeling good about this club.
Credit due to Bowler & Savard as well. I love it… and hate it because they're proving they deserves jobs at higher levels. I'm going to try and enjoy them here for whatever duration that may be. It seems that Bowler has moved out guys that don't want to be here and is replacing their roster spots with guys that are buying into the "team".
No disrespect to this Spits club, but if I looked at that lineup last June, I'd go… "Oh No…, the run was nice while it lasted."
Maggio's playing up to my expectations, even slightly exceeding based on how last year ended. Abraham is far exceeding mine (although I expected a production increase, not this much, this early), Maillet and Christopolous have been pleasant surprises I didn't expect, and while I've always enjoyed watching Peer, I definitely did not expect him to have 6G/6A in 11 games, unless he had been paired with Wyatt due to being one of the remaining that could keep up with the speed of Johnston.
DeAngelis and Christoforo are guys I expected to be solid on the backend but not to the extent they have. Sobolev is doing what I thought he would, Renwick's put a couple more shots in which help the Offense from the D.
Onuska is about on par where he was last year, which is phenomenal for the Spits between the pipes, and while I still think Downey has potential to excel in this league, Costanzo (05) was an immediate upgrade that also has a year of eligibility on Downey (04).
The picks of Spellacy/Greentree/Christoforo are quite remarkable as well.
Christoforo's got 9 points and a +4 rating through his first 11 games in the league, for a low end 1st round pick, great start.
Spellacy's a big body with 2G4A through 11 games. Holds a -3 right now, but I think the big accomplishment by the management group was getting him to take hockey over football. I think by the end of the season we'll all be impressed.
Greentree's just got a couple goals through 10 games, but same thing. I think by the end of this year he'll hopefully come around, but with both these guys and the current production, if they just chip in here or there this season, they'll hit their mark.
I never expect first year players to be what guides the team to success, and hopefully they're able to contribute in certain areas and end up with a nice stat line by the end of the year, similar to Meidema last season.
I'm sure the negative posters will be back here blowing up the board as soon as we get that first loss, but it sure is exciting to start off this hot. With the 67's loss, we're the only team to not lose in regulation yet. Sure that's a unique stat, but I think that's proof the spits have been in every game they've been apart of.
An OT/Shootout Loss is a loss but according to ontariohockeyleague.com it doesn't break a streak. We're listed as on an 8-0-3-0 winning streak right now
