Seawolves 4 - UMD 3

After the 1st Period:
About two thirds through the 1st period I was relatively happy at how things were going. The Seawolves had some good play deep in UMD's zone more than a couple of times. I was going to compliment the team for bottling UMD up with aggressive forechecking at times. And on the other end mention that I thought the guys were doing a good job moving the puck out of their own zone. They did look better than the 1st period last night.

But somewhere in the last 6 or 7 minutes they lost the momentum badly. Let's hope the penalty called at the end of the period doesn't cost the team. They've got a few minutes at least to rest up and focus on the penalty kill. A goal at the beginning of the 2nd wouldn't be good. The Seawolves have to find a way to get the momentum back.

After the 2nd Period:
One good penalty kill then 3 big saves for Olthuis (really big saves) then a power play goal for them. First six minutes of the 2nd sure seemed the same as the last six minutes of the 1st. There was no really big momentum switch but the Seawolves did manafacture a couple of small chances and the game opened up a bit. And after a close chance for UMD; Clark, Crowder and Grant rushed up the ice and Clarkie buried it to tie the game with a nice tip in. Then OMG again ... Shane Lovdahl is my favortie player ever.

I think the two quick goals hurt the Bulldogs feelings. The next time the Seawolves were in the zone a little fracas erupted after the whistle. The Seawolves should have been on the bench feeling pretty good about themselves. And then Clarkie gets the gift of the year. Nice boards there at the DECC. I hope they move those to the new arena. This has definitely been a game of momentum changes.

Going into the 3rd period with a 3-1 lead is always a good thing. The Seawolves will probably look to continue pressuring the puck deep into the UMD end. Make em go 180ft. And be ultra-responsible in your own end. They're facing another power play so once again they have to focus on the penalty kill first. Keeping the shifts short and having legs as fresh as possible is important. The fewer penalties the guys commit the better too.

Post Game Thoughts:
The Bulldogs looked dangerous to me in the first half of the last period. And with a 2nd power play chance they got the job done around 8 minutes in and turned it into a hockey game. And then they continued to look dangerous time after time after time. But Jonny O was a wall. Nobody in Green and Gold gave up even though there was long shift after long shift defending against a relentless attack. And as I writing that sentence nobody on UMD gave up either making it 4 to 3. Thank god Nick Haddad hustled and buried the empy netter after he'd missed.

Ok back to recapping ... the Seawolves stole this game. Larceny. Jonny O was the main offender. There are warrants out for his arrest in Duluth tonight. End of story.

Hey Shyiak ... 4am curfew ok? Let em enjoy themselves if you're overnighting before coming home.