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Nikishin turning heads.
Here's my take on some players that played today:
Corey Perry-What more can I say than Unreal Skill? I'll say a bit more...He scored a one-handed, wrap-around goal by using a toe drag (one-handed remember). He also scored a awe-inspiring player v tender goal. Add a goalmouth scramble top-shelfer and you have the makings of a solid hat trick. Expect him to be right up there in points this holiday season. The only problem I had with Perry was this: although he was responsible enough to cover his D-man when U of M had possession, he never went past the hash marks to truly help out the team defensive cause. So he's a bit of a floater.
Dave Bolland-Very Mike Richards-esque today. Scored. Made a hit that made the crowd stand up. All over the defensive end. He also showed some tricky one-on-one skills and solid vision. Crisp passes. It seemed as if Sutter was allocating ice time for some of the bubble forwards in a way that saw them all sit for long stretches in order to see how they would respond to cold legs. Honestly, I think that Bolland might be too good for the 10th forward spot (!?). If he makes the team, its not because Sutter's brother coaches the Blackhawks.
Dustin Boyd- Similarly, if Boyd makes it, its not because his brother coaches the Flames. Boyd was relentless. He showed a water-bug ability to get around U of M defensemen literally every time. Mainly though, he was visible because he displayed an uncannily controled the puck in the deep offensive end. This was due to a combination of body angling proficiency and good peripheral vision.
Andrew Ladd-everybody join me in the chant...."Carolina wasted their pick". Seemed excruciatingly slow. Made constant mental errors in his own end. Couldn't generate anything more than your classic dump-and-chase offensive strategy. And to boot....he was hogging the puck. If only Getzlaf was dressed today....
Jeff Shantz- by far the best goalie out there. He was dressed for the 2nd half of the game for U of M. This may have aided him in getting into the game seeing as though Canada outshot the Bisons 40-13. Took no chances...covered the puck whenever it was near. Never got embarassed on any goal (it was Beauchemin who was in for both of Perry's pretty goals). Based on this game, Shantz is on the team. Great lateral movement.
Devan Dubnyk - played solid, yet unspectacular. I don't think it helped him to be on Team Canada because he saw minimal action. Jacobsen scored a goal that made him look akward - but it was all Braydon Coburns fault by over-compensating coverage on the 2nd forward on a 2-on-2, thereby making Dubnyk susceptible. I think Dubnyk was expecting Couburn to attend to his responsibility on that one.
Jeff Glass - Only let in one. Did not see many pucks. Will this help him or hurt him?
Braydon Coburn - besides the aformentioned gaffe, he looked good. Had two assists (one on Perry's first, and another on Bolland's). Large wingspan allowed him to poke check the puck back into the opposition's end before U of M could create a transition attack a few times.
Clarke MaCarthur - pretty much invisible. Same for Dixon.
Mike Green - I'll give him this: he has good vision. Looked like he was a little outmatched with hard-checking forecheckers, but overall played a smart and composed game. Not spectacular by any means...but he is positionally sound enough. Darkhorse 7th D-man?
Shawn Belle - Fast, but I don't see why he would be considered a guarantee to make the club this time around. However, no D-men really seperating themselves from the pack bodes well for Belle. It seems to me that Belle is overanxious to join the rush at times. Twice I saw Dave Bolland playing D in the offensive end while Belle was meandering back to his defensive post. That being said, Belle received the least amount of icetime out of all D-men today.
Anthony Stewart - REALLY took over in the 3rd period when U of M was wearing down. Created lots of energy with Boyd on the cycle. Made a fantastic seeing-eye pass off a draw to a wide-open Ladd (who prompty "logo'd" Nastiuk). Brought the puck to the net with reckless abandon. Not simply and up-and-down winger. He's more creative than that. Bear in mind this opinion is all based on a 3rd period that was considerally disproportionate in comparison to his performance in the first two - where I thought he was floating.
Danny Syvret - He's too quick to simply ring the puck around the boards on the stagnant breakout. Doesn't give his wingers much of a chance. On top of that, he never creates active breakouts by looping the net on dump-ins to quickly find his wingers...he's much more apt to drop the puck for his trailing D-partner. In this game, its slowed the play up to the detriment of Team Canada. Two big hits, though.
Cam Barker - Again, no D-men really stood out too much. But Barker made smart, low shots when he had PP time and he probably had 3 shots on net himself. Add a couple of nice thirty-foot saucer passes to spring forwards and we're dealing with an above average performance.
Eric Fehr - looked frustrated.
Ryan Stone - looked frustrated.
MIA: Crosby, Seabrook, Phaneuf, Weber, Richards, Carter, Dawes, Getzlaf. Also: huge crowd.
Corey Perry-What more can I say than Unreal Skill? I'll say a bit more...He scored a one-handed, wrap-around goal by using a toe drag (one-handed remember). He also scored a awe-inspiring player v tender goal. Add a goalmouth scramble top-shelfer and you have the makings of a solid hat trick. Expect him to be right up there in points this holiday season. The only problem I had with Perry was this: although he was responsible enough to cover his D-man when U of M had possession, he never went past the hash marks to truly help out the team defensive cause. So he's a bit of a floater.
Dave Bolland-Very Mike Richards-esque today. Scored. Made a hit that made the crowd stand up. All over the defensive end. He also showed some tricky one-on-one skills and solid vision. Crisp passes. It seemed as if Sutter was allocating ice time for some of the bubble forwards in a way that saw them all sit for long stretches in order to see how they would respond to cold legs. Honestly, I think that Bolland might be too good for the 10th forward spot (!?). If he makes the team, its not because Sutter's brother coaches the Blackhawks.
Dustin Boyd- Similarly, if Boyd makes it, its not because his brother coaches the Flames. Boyd was relentless. He showed a water-bug ability to get around U of M defensemen literally every time. Mainly though, he was visible because he displayed an uncannily controled the puck in the deep offensive end. This was due to a combination of body angling proficiency and good peripheral vision.
Andrew Ladd-everybody join me in the chant...."Carolina wasted their pick". Seemed excruciatingly slow. Made constant mental errors in his own end. Couldn't generate anything more than your classic dump-and-chase offensive strategy. And to boot....he was hogging the puck. If only Getzlaf was dressed today....
Jeff Shantz- by far the best goalie out there. He was dressed for the 2nd half of the game for U of M. This may have aided him in getting into the game seeing as though Canada outshot the Bisons 40-13. Took no chances...covered the puck whenever it was near. Never got embarassed on any goal (it was Beauchemin who was in for both of Perry's pretty goals). Based on this game, Shantz is on the team. Great lateral movement.
Devan Dubnyk - played solid, yet unspectacular. I don't think it helped him to be on Team Canada because he saw minimal action. Jacobsen scored a goal that made him look akward - but it was all Braydon Coburns fault by over-compensating coverage on the 2nd forward on a 2-on-2, thereby making Dubnyk susceptible. I think Dubnyk was expecting Couburn to attend to his responsibility on that one.
Jeff Glass - Only let in one. Did not see many pucks. Will this help him or hurt him?
Braydon Coburn - besides the aformentioned gaffe, he looked good. Had two assists (one on Perry's first, and another on Bolland's). Large wingspan allowed him to poke check the puck back into the opposition's end before U of M could create a transition attack a few times.
Clarke MaCarthur - pretty much invisible. Same for Dixon.
Mike Green - I'll give him this: he has good vision. Looked like he was a little outmatched with hard-checking forecheckers, but overall played a smart and composed game. Not spectacular by any means...but he is positionally sound enough. Darkhorse 7th D-man?
Shawn Belle - Fast, but I don't see why he would be considered a guarantee to make the club this time around. However, no D-men really seperating themselves from the pack bodes well for Belle. It seems to me that Belle is overanxious to join the rush at times. Twice I saw Dave Bolland playing D in the offensive end while Belle was meandering back to his defensive post. That being said, Belle received the least amount of icetime out of all D-men today.
Anthony Stewart - REALLY took over in the 3rd period when U of M was wearing down. Created lots of energy with Boyd on the cycle. Made a fantastic seeing-eye pass off a draw to a wide-open Ladd (who prompty "logo'd" Nastiuk). Brought the puck to the net with reckless abandon. Not simply and up-and-down winger. He's more creative than that. Bear in mind this opinion is all based on a 3rd period that was considerally disproportionate in comparison to his performance in the first two - where I thought he was floating.
Danny Syvret - He's too quick to simply ring the puck around the boards on the stagnant breakout. Doesn't give his wingers much of a chance. On top of that, he never creates active breakouts by looping the net on dump-ins to quickly find his wingers...he's much more apt to drop the puck for his trailing D-partner. In this game, its slowed the play up to the detriment of Team Canada. Two big hits, though.
Cam Barker - Again, no D-men really stood out too much. But Barker made smart, low shots when he had PP time and he probably had 3 shots on net himself. Add a couple of nice thirty-foot saucer passes to spring forwards and we're dealing with an above average performance.
Eric Fehr - looked frustrated.
Ryan Stone - looked frustrated.
MIA: Crosby, Seabrook, Phaneuf, Weber, Richards, Carter, Dawes, Getzlaf. Also: huge crowd.
. There has to be a spot for this guy on the top line alongside Crosby and Bergeron, that line will be boiling over with skill. Great to hear that Boyd had a good game as well, I really belive this kid is underrated offensively. Was wondering if you could elaborate on how Stone and Fehr played and if they played together?
