Saturday, March 07, 2009

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.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!!! I was seriously sitting on my floor listening to the last 6 minutes of the game wishing they could pull it off! And they did!
Yes Yes Yes!
I'm so happy, good job boys! You rock, keep it going into the playoffs!

Anonymous said...

we have two hot goalies now, two scoring lines, and lots of confidence. Greeat win guys, bring on Denver. Don't stay out to late.
The parents, the fans, and the town of anchorage is proud.
Great finish to the regualar season. All the best in the playoffs.

Fan

Anonymous said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!! I missed the game due to a committment which kept me away from even a radio. But I got to hear Kurt's voice with 2.2 secs left in the game. I am still smiling from ear to ear...........guys, you rock!!!

Doubly wonderful win in that it was THEIR senior night!

GO SEAWOLVES!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well done Seawolves! Great way to end the regular season and head into the playoffs. Don't forget the work ethic it takes to win!

Donald, Haider said the team was off to Minneaplolis before they head out to Denver on Thursday. I don't think they are coming back to Anchorage.

Olthuis should get WCHA defensive POTW, and Clark the offensive POTW.

Anonymous said...

Don't think they're coming home but rather spending the week in lovely Minnesota. -30-

Anonymous said...

A sweep to end the regular season. We couldn't ask for anything better from the guys. Enjoy the wins guys but know that we are looking forward to you all playing next week in Denver.

A big well done Seawolve!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Doyle Woody can't even get the win loss against UMD right. Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Johnny OOOooohhhh!!!

Awesome game... Nice to see the guys putting some points on the board and getting support on the back-end to get the W.

Anonymous said...

That's because D.W. is a douche..

Always has been, always will be...

UAA Fan in Florida(Back in AK since '05)

Anonymous said...

WHOOOO! i'm so proud to be a seawolf right now!!

Anonymous said...

Listened to an exciting hockey game while watching a women's basketball win. And then capped the night with a men's basketball win. A great night for a Seawolf hat trick in athletics.

Anonymous said...

To all the Seawolf haters, non-believers and bandwagon jumpers....... Screw you!!

The true fans stuck with the team through thick and thin, through hard times and good times, through the bad and the good....everything is paying off just like we knew it would.

Now's the time to show everyone else that you ARE a team to be reckoned with. The true fans knew it all along and never gave up on you. What an ending to your regular season and what a way to enter the playoffs.

GO UAA SEAWOLVES!!!! BEAT DENVER!!

Anonymous said...

I have gone to every UAA hockey home games since I went to my first hockey game in the 1997-1998 and I was hooked. I have always BELIEVED in this team! Make some noise in the playoffs!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
WHOOOO! i'm so proud to be a seawolf right now!!

March 7, 2009 10:56 PM

This comment gave me chills. I watched the game on my big screen and listened to Duluth announcers say things like "what a shame" after the loss. Did anyone watching the broadcast on the B2 Network notice when the camera guy lost his concentration and dropped the camera while the play was still live? That broadcast was not worth $7.00.

Anonymous said...

Great for Johnny O to have a good game. Bryce might have an knee issue or Mcl sprain so it couldnt have come at a better time. Great finish wolves!!!

Anonymous said...

Great job Johnny O. Good to see that you weren't going to settle for #2 position! Great job Seawolves!

Anonymous said...

Johnny O has always been very good positionally and good at making the initial save. His weakness has been rebound control and stopping the second and third shot. He's not as quick as Bryce so making quick ajustments to make the second save is not his forte. Last night (from Kurts call) it sounded like he did a great job of covering the puck and not allowing rebounds. Great to see him elevate his game...

Nice to see the team hit its stride after all the suspensions are finally behind us...

Anonymous said...

So, what's the next step in the program? Is winning one game in hostile territory going to be enough to quiet the critics back home in the lonely Sully? I think one win is realistic--and wins will only come about if our goal-tending is a mile-high above theirs. Will Coach Shyiak out-wit his overblown counter-part? He's shown many times this season he's up to the task. Will he be able to get his third line out against their first? That will be key in my mind. Look for goaltending and the checking line to carry the day for Anchorage. Clark and Crowder will take care of the score-board. This team is on the verge of turning some heads. -30-

Donald Dunlop said...

And "on the verge" being the key word you used. Something special can happen. We'll see ...

Anonymous said...

"That's because D.W. is a douche..

Always has been, always will be...

UAA Fan in Florida(Back in AK since '05)"

finally another believer

Anonymous said...

Great weekend for the Seawolves!!! I was there at the DECC on Saturday. The wolves played really great, and Olthuis was just amazing.

A UMD fan next to me did say at one point, "UAA is really improved this year, they're definitely a good team." GO SEAWOLVES!! Good luck in the playoffs!

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