Still Work to Do

We won both our games this weekend 4-1, and I can say that we dominated the other team.  We were relentless the first night, playing pretty close to a complete 60 minute game.  When we play to our systems, teams don't know what to do because we spend the majority of the game in their zone.  They tire out and can't get anything going at all.  Our goal this weekend was to play a 60 minute game because last weekend we really only played well for 10 minutes.  The defense especially played really well on Friday night, and I think that's what allowed us to dominate the game.  I played physically and impacted the game with my passing and ability to keep the puck in the offensive zone.  In fact, my coach said to me during the game that he didn't want me to play so physically because he needs me to stay healthy and these were only preseason games.

On Saturday night, we won again 4-1.  Seattle definitely played a more chippy game, trying to get under our skin because they realized that was the only way they would be able to beat us.  We were a faster, bigger, more skilled team and they started trash talking us, trying to take us off our game.  I felt like they were trash talking me every chance they got, which means they must've thought I was making an impact on the game.  At one point, I was standing in front of their bench before a face off, and one kid waved his stick in front of my face and poked me in the neck.  I just let it go and got back at them later.  I probably could've fought, but I realized it was only a preseason game and we were playing a team that was not nearly as good as us, and that's exactly what they wanted us to do:  play their kind of chippy game.  I didn't think I played particularly well on Saturday night, but I did play very well on penalty kill.  We had a few 5-on-3 penalty kills that we killed off and gave us a lot of momentum in the 3rd period.  I was aggressive and got my stick into passing lanes to break up plays.  Then, when we got on the power play we took advantage.  On a 5-on-3, I scored on a one-timer from the point. I blasted it past the goalie, then skated in front of Seattle's bench, stared them down, and didn't say a word.  I didn't have to.

Overall, we played well this weekend, but I know we can play better.  Good news is it's only preseason and our regular season starts next weekend.  I'm excited to see what we can do in this league.  Here are some photos from this weekend.  One is the view from the house I stayed at in McCall.  It was basically in the Cordillera of McCall, and there were some unbelievable houses back there.  It was very cool to be able to stay there.