Here are some key match-ups to consider:
Colin Chaulk vs. Jason Dale: Dale is the one player for Bloomington who is good enough to take over this series. There was a 20-game stretch around the all-star game where he was the best player in the league. Keeping the puck away from him has a lot to do with winning faceoffs.
Tab Lardner vs. Travis Granbois: Can the PrairieThunder's superpest get under Lardner's skin. You know he's going to try. This won't be about someone else standing up for Lardner, either, but about Lardner avoiding retaliation penalties.
Jon Booras vs. Bobby Phillips: Yes, Phillips is minus-16, but he was minus-9 after the first 11 games when he played with a different blueline partner every night. Over the last 30 games, he's been matched up against the opponents' top line most nights and has done an exceptional job. Booras has had a slow year for him, but he's still extremely talented and dangerous.
Here's another key stat: Bloomington scored first seven times in the 10 games against the Komets and won seven games. That's not a coincidence.
Comments
Goaltending...
Agreed. With two low scoring teams involved, goaltending will be very important. Anyone else notice that the goaltenders were not acknowledged Saturday at the year end awards for posting shutouts this season? They've always acknowledged them in the past. Seemed strange for them not to do it this year. Anyone know why?
I'll go with Klotz :(
Might be because they didn't have the sponsorship for it. They also didn't give the $333 for each hat trick...which I think was only one this year???
If this was the reason, I wish we had our own sponsor that had some extra ad $$$'s he could have given up...does anyone know an advertiser with the team???
No, the reason I didn't read the accomplishments is because I forget. First time in 13 years. Plain and simple. Hoss, Three Rivers FCU did do the $333 donation for hat tricks this season.
Is this board on?
Maybe the bloggers should take up a collection of pop bottles and beer cans and sponsor an award for the biggest blog target of the year.
Thanks pa, wasn't it only one hat trick, or am i mis-remembering?
2 home hat tricks...Patrosso got the latest one and someone else (OC?) got one earlier in the year...Some jerk stole my TinCaps hat after Pats haha
Didnt schrock get the other one?
Yeah it was Schrock with the other hat trick. Only home game I missed all season... grrr.
How bout we take up a collection to give Snuffy the "Best Blogger of the 2nd half of the regular season" award.
JM I will take a roll of toilet paper for all of the crap I get here. lol.
Leo Thomas if the Komets win.
That's because you're always trying to stir up so much crap, Snuff.
Who me? ')
FMM, Patrosso had a hatty too.
Yeah, I was there for Patrosso's. :) It just figures the only game I missed all season would be Schrock's hatty. My sister took my place at that game because I was three states away at the time and she sends me a text reading "I'm supposed to tell you Schrocky got a hat... whatever that means..." Not a hockey fan, that one.