If you were not at the AJL last night, once again you missed out on an outstanding game. For the statistical details, please go here. I'm not going to talk about that. I'm going to talk about what I saw from my perch that doesn't show up on the score sheet.
The story lines heading into this game have already been discussed on here. A Summerside team that could beat a handful of major junior teams looking for it's 13th straight win facing an up and coming Dieppe team that has for the most part played the Caps pretty close all year. A Caps team, of course, that currently holds claim to the Commandos former leading scorer (who also happens to be the league's leading scorer), making his first appearance against his old team since requesting - and receiving- a trade. Oh, and the Commandos are still missing their number one defenseman. Now, sometimes a game rife with background to this degree winds up being a dud. In fact, the last time I played up a battle between these two clubs, the Caps were dominant in a 5-1 Summerside win.
There were no such issues this time.
First things first, the Western Capitals are good. Extremely good. When you have a goalie with one of the highest winning percentages in the OHL this season on your bench, you're good. When, as a Jr.A team, roughly half your roster on any given night has major junior experience, you're good. When you're the third best team in the country at your level - out of 127 clubs - you're a rarely talented squad. A team of which it takes another special kind of team to even stay competitive with, let alone beat.
That Caps faced that team last night.
Early on, Summerside was very successful at getting the numbers down low, usually throwing all three forwards below the hash marks in an attempt to put the full court press on the home team. The Caps were in particular thriving on the quick pass from behind the net and collapsing for any loose pucks that may be available (a play that led to their first goal). The comment was made in the booth after the first - with Summerside ahead 2-0 - that the Commandos would have to cut off that lane in order to find some measure of success against the Caps. As well, they needed to turn up the pressure. Of course, such a thing is easy to discuss on air... but actually going out and doing it - and doing it against a team like that from Western PEI this season - is a formidable challenge. It was a challenge Dieppe rose up to in the second.
The Commandos team that skated out for the second was a notch above the team that skated off at the first intermission. They were more systematic, more aggressive in the offensive zone, angling off the onrushing Caps in their own zone and successfully taking away those lanes down low. Even when the Caps found an unlikely source in Wes Herrett to increase the visitor's lead to 3-0, you got the sense that the Commandos - who went right back to the game plan in spite of the increased deficit - would break through if they continued to keep the compete level at the same elevated level. They were rewarded. It wasn't pretty, but they earned what they got.
Long story short, by the midway point of the third, the game was tied at three on a shot from behind the goal line, a giveway from Caps goalie Jacob Riley from behind the net and yet another shot from behind the goal line. Noone said they had to be pretty... they just have to count. And make it count the Commandos did. Thank god goals are not rewarded on the basis of artistic merit.
Of course, the Caps were not to be denied on this night and a goal two minutes after Dieppe's equalizer from the stick of Jonathan Aubertin proved to be the winner. Great teams simply find a way to get the job done. However, teams that are teams will always make you earn every last point. I've seen enough in the last few weeks to say without conviction that the Dieppe Commandos of this season are one of those teams.
After the comeback game against Woodstock last week, combined with the strong, steady play the team has exhibited as of late, I'm not the least bit surprised at what this team accomplished last night. Adjusting the game plan, showing determination without (usually) crossing the line, finding a way to make the game interesting and, finally, displaying enough emotion at game's end to make it obvious to all in attendance that they were upset over the loss but not whiny about it. This team carries itself like a team that is experienced beyond it's years.
I always say that this Dieppe club could surprise almost any given opponent as the stretch drive and playoffs reach full swing... and although it does have something to do with the wealth of developing talent on the ice, the character displayed within this team gives me every reason to believe that as the season moves along and continues into next year, all bets will be off when opponents eyes a date with the Commandos on the calendar. If you aren't there to witness it, that truly is your loss.
Oh, and if you're wondering if things get any easier for Dieppe this week... the fact they play Fred Page Cup hosts Truro on the road Saturday night answers that question rather nicely.
The Cats are in Bathurst tonight, the first game of a three in three weekend. It's 1-0 Moncton as of this writing. Christophe Lalonde's powerplay goal (btw, could anyone imagine saying those words a year ago?) is the difference so far. In a season all about little battles along the way, this game in Bathurst represents yet another one for Danny Flynn and co. The last two game up in Bathurst have been rather disheartening affairs for the Cats. Much like earlier games against the Sea Dogs and Rocket, the prospect of earning two points off the backs of their neighbors from the north will be yet another important hurdle to clear for an ever improving Wildcats squad.
Oh and in the time in took me to write that paragraph, Dimitrij Jaskin was Dimitrij Jaskin... twice. And he's a 30 goal scorer as of now to boot. Can the Cats please get this guy an altered birth certificate... preferable one that reads "1995"? I mean, if Grigorenko can do it...
Finally, you want to know what's baffling about sports media today? The Yakupov goal and celebration (go youtube it for yourself but I can bet you've already seen it) was the lead story on Sportscenter tonight... and took up the first eight minutes of tonight's 7PM broadcast... the first of four times it was referenced (seven if you include the discussions on That's Hockey immediately afterwards). My thoughts? He's 18... he from another culture... kids are very different nowadays... and the NHL needs positive promotion more than ever right now. Also, it gets Theo Fleury on camera for another two or three minutes. Tell me again why this is not a good thing?
No comments:
Post a Comment