GDT: 1/6/13: Norfolk Admirals@Charlotte Checkers - PNC Arena

tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
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Norfolk's denying the middle of the ice. Most of the Checkers' chances are coming off individual dekes past the defensemen, but as a team they're getting squat for scoring chances down the middle (though they got a couple good ones as I typed this). If they want to beat a big butterflier like Andersen, they need to quit with the wristers from the wing and start getting the puck to the middle. Get him moving his feet and trying to find loose pucks.
 
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MrMariusz

Registered User
Nov 13, 2007
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Belgium
Good comeback win for the Checkers.

Good stuff by both goaltenders too, exciting game, fans got their money's worth.
 

Blueline Bomber

AI Generated Minnesota Wild
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Oct 31, 2007
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Just got back from the game. My notes:

1. Dalpe and Terry looked great out there. Dalpe's much faster than I remember and if Terry could become a little stronger on his skates, he could be a good 3rd/4th liner.
2. On the other hand, Boychuk consistently showed why he hasn't made the big club. He's got the tools to do so. He showed some nice hands, some good rushes up the ice. But his decision making with the puck is awful, especially when picking his shots. Forced a breakaway near the end of the first, but got obviously baited into going 5-hole on Andersen. Smart move by Andersen, terrible decision on Boychuk.
3. Speaking of, I really wish we could have kept Andersen. Guy's HUGE, and has the speed to get across the net easily. All 3 goals weren't really his fault, two odd bounces and a nice play by Dalpe on the 3rd.
4. Ellis showed why he was one of the only goaltenders not to have success in Nashville. He's been playing hockey for how long? And still hasn't learned how to smother a puck or control a rebound.

And on a non-hockey player note, one of the refs was the fattest ref I've ever seen. I'm not sure how he manages to skate 40-60 games in the condition he's in. Even from the stands, noticeably overweight.
 
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Anton Babchuk

Registered User
Nov 3, 2005
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Sat a few rows behind Norfolk's bench. After Andersen got pulled for the extra attacker a few fans were giving it to him for not signing with the 'Canes, and of course an usher had to step in telling them to be quiet :shakehead:shakehead:shakehead
 
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Boom Boom Apathy

I am the Professor. Deal with it!
Sep 6, 2006
48,174
97,101
Just got back from the game. My notes:

1. Dalpe and Terry looked great out there. Dalpe's much faster than I remember and if Terry could become a little stronger on his skates, he could be a good 3rd/4th liner.

I thought Dalpe looked good after his short hander. Before that, he was invisible IMO and wasn't overly effective. After that goal, he seemed to turn it up a notch was very effective and noticeable for the rest of the game. I wasn't as impressed with Terry. I thought Terry was ok and wasn't overly noticeable until his goal. He was OK, but no more so than many of the other guys IMO.

2. On the other hand, Boychuk consistently showed why he hasn't made the big club. He's got the tools to do so. He showed some nice hands, some good rushes up the ice. But his decision making with the puck is awful, especially when picking his shots. Forced a breakaway near the end of the first, but got obviously baited into going 5-hole on Andersen. Smart move by Andersen, terrible decision on Boychuk.

I disagree with this. I'm not a Boychuk fan, but I made a point to watch him and he made a lot of good decisions with the puck, especially in the defensive zone and neutral zone throughout the game. Through the first two periods, Boychuk was without question the most dangerous forward on the ice. Creating chances for himself and others and a threat often. I realize he didn't score, but to me, he created more offense than any other forward and wasn't bad defensively either. Complaining that he made a bad decision on his shot on a breakaway seems like trying to find something to complain about. I can see why he's the Checker's leading scorer.

3. Speaking of, I really wish we could have kept Andersen. Guy's HUGE, and has the speed to get across the net easily. All 3 goals weren't really his fault, two odd bounces and a nice play by Dalpe on the 3rd.

Yeah, guy is very big and I also thought he looked good. Other than Dalpe's SH goal, there wasn't much he could have done on the other 2.

My other comments.

Faulk looks very poised and calm back there. I thought he did last year even, but even more so this year. The other defenseman that had a pretty good game on the defensive side was Jordan. Broke up a lot of plays and handled himself well.

Lastly, The CheckMates are SO much better than the StormSquad.
 
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Anton Babchuk

Registered User
Nov 3, 2005
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Agreed about Boychuk. He probably generated about half the Checkers scoring chances through the first two periods. He was all over the puck and made a number of great passes and could have had at least a few assists if Jerome Samson didn't randomly forget how to play hockey over the offseason. Nobody on the Checkers was even close to being as dangerous as Boychuk today.
 
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Novacane

Registered User
Jan 25, 2012
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Raleigh, NC
Yeah, I thought Boychuk played about as well as you can play without picking up a point. Pretty impressed with his speed and how he skated with the puck.
 
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tarheelhockey

Offside Review Specialist
Feb 12, 2010
84,982
137,355
Bojangles Parking Lot
Boychuk was good, I agree. But a lot of his scoring chances had to do with burning guys like Smaby and Parent (who apparently plays defense with his elbows) on north-south speed rushes. Boychuk has the speed to look really good against those guys. The problem is that NHL defensemen are fast skating backwards and don't make blockheaded pinches.

That said, he was still the best forward on the ice and based on that tiny sample, looks like he deserves another shot.
 
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DaveG

Noted Jerk
Apr 7, 2003
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Winston-Salem NC
Not just this tiny sample as well. Seemingly most of the season (at least whenever I've taken the time to watch him on TV) he's been Charlotte's best player not named Justin Faulk.
 
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