Advantage Shockers

Last night was, for lack of a better term, humbling. The Red Army expected to skate to an easy win and take a 1-0 series lead. Instead, the Shockers, with only four skaters and a goalie, not only beat the Comrades, they gave them an old fashioned beat down in front of a sold out Plex. By the score of 7-2, this series became an entirely different animal-- an animal the Comrades thought was extinct.

Here are ten notes from the ugliness that was last night:

• Andy Schram did not have his best game. Yes, there were plenty of defensive let downs, yes there were plenty of chances for Loges in tight, and yes there were plenty of odd man rushes. But, in the past he has made some of those saves. He'll need to be better next game if the Comrades want to extend this series.
• Paging Mark Hendricks, paging Mark Hendricks... The leading scorer of the team has still yet to register a goal in the playoffs and has been a minus rating in each game. He's forcing things, passing when he should shoot, and shooting when he should pass. He's picking a terrible time of year to start slumping. How about a slump busting performance? Or just a... non-terrible performance?
• Having five defensemen is tough. The lines are scrambled, players don't get as much playing time, and chemistry doesn't always exist. Still, on paper, the five defensemen are all solid and there is nary a weak link in the group. Something has got to change for that corps.
• The lone positive of the night though may have come courtesy of the defense as both goals the Comrades scored came off of defensive player's sticks. Ben Breiterman scored on a nice in tight move and Scott Hoefer on a high wrist shot. Oh, and Brian "Beege" Hendricks absolutely leveled Loges near center. That was a good hit; penalty. Cathartic really.
  
• Going to the net and cycling. Pat King and Steve Hand are the two Soviets who do the most net crashing, and last night, it was a combination of things that went wrong. For one, when the Comrades did have possession in the Shockers zone, the front of the net was vacant. Then, when there was a guy in front of the net, the Soviets lost possession. Square peg in a round hole.
• Let's talk about possession, or lack thereof. If the opposition only has four skaters, there is absolutely no reason a team shouldn't be able to have their way with the puck. Instead, it seemed like every time the Soviets got the puck it was a one man effort and they would play into the Shockers plan. Slow things down, set things up, and work from there.
• Neal Hendricks better pick up his game this series. There is no explanation really, no in depth analysis of his game, and he didn't really play poorly, but when Breiterman only has one goal, Mark has zero, the next guy you look to is Neal. A goose egg doesn't help when the big guns aren't scoring.
• All shots are good shots, but better shots are better shots. We preach shots, and in no sport other than hockey is the saying more true than "any shot is a good shot." Still, when you are playing a stingy defense and a hot goalie, sometimes your shots need to be labeled. There were plenty of great scoring chances, but most of the Soviets shots came without traffic in front and right into Celenski's catching glove. The Comrades need to get him moving post to post, make him feel uncomfortable, and maybe open things up with a few odd man rushes of their own. It's a lot to order, but I'll take it all.
• It was a bit of a physical game, but I think the Comrades can up it a few more notches. It's a series, a series they are now losing. Play like it next game. Every lose puck needs to be fought for, every battle in front of the net should be heated, and every time there is a chance to play the body, they should play the body. I'm not advocating cheap shots and penalties, but there is a way to play in the confines of the rules while still making it tough for the opponents. Get there.
• Finally, and this is the most important note of the night, the Comrades lost game one, but they didn't lose the series. The sun still rose today and we're still here. They know they have to adjust and there is no reason to think they won't. It's another game where the Comrades are facing elimination, and their record in the last three seasons is pretty good when facing elimination (8-0). They've been here before, they can do it again.

Article about tomorrow's game to come later tonight or tomorrow morning. It will be of the pump-up variety.