Wowza

Bob Tory Quote of the Day:

"And will you succeed?  Yes indeed!  Yes indeed!  Ninety-eight and three quarters percent guaranteed!" --Dr Seuss

So how about that game, eh?  It was definitely nervous time as the clock was winding down towards the end of overtime.  I was fearful for a second overtime, the boys looked tired.  Which is always odd after a week off, but at the same time I get it, you can practice all you want but it never matches the intensity of a real game, especially a playoff game.

I noticed that in the overtime there were really only 2 lines being played, only 4 D.  I get the need to not be vulnerable in the extra time and believe me, the Sohor-Grist combo leaves some vulnerability, but had it gone to another other OT?  Schmidt, Yuen, Mac, and Suds would have been totally gassed--also leading to vulnerability.  The flip side is that the Giants would have been as gassed, maybe that's when coach would bring out the secret weapon--Max Moline.  HA!  I think Sam's been playing better, but both of them are not as defensively sound as the other D and neither one is skilled enough to compensate for the shortcomings of the other.  I see the potential Sam has.  Hell, I see the potential Paul has.  But the difference is that Sam is 17 and Paul is 19.

Personally, I thought they played well, it was pretty evenly matched for most of the game, but the Ams turned in on in the third and actually dominated that OT as well.  Shots were pretty even going into the 3rd then the boys turned on the firepower, firing 11 shots in the 3rd compared to the Giants' 2.  Firing 46 shots on goal is never a bad thing (unless the opposing team fires a gazillion more).

Quotes from the Herald:

"I got lucky," Ashton said. "I spun quickly, I think the goalie tried to slide into position and it went in the net."

"It was exciting, wasn't it?" Tri-City coach Jim Hiller said. "Both teams had some solid chances to win in the third and overtime. I don't think we were at our best, but we pushed more in the second half of the game."

"In that overtime, we had plenty of chances," Ashton said. "Anytime you can contribute and be a key part of the game is nice. Winning the first game is huge. We knew they would come out strong and we were prepared for a close game."

"For a guy like me who doesn't score often, to score a clutch goal is awesome," Conrad said. I could feel the guys build off that the rest of the game."

"It's the playoffs and there isn't a lot of room out there," Hiller said. "We have a lot of guys who can create chances, but the opportunities were far and few between."

"They let me see the puck," Owsley said of his teammates. "That first goal was a nice tip. I made some nice saves in the second and got my confidence up after a shaky first." (Herald)

From the Examiner:

"That was the toughest Game 1 I've ever played in," said Ams goalie Drew Owsley, who made 25 saves. "That was one of the best games I've been part of in my career. We knew this series was obviously going to be a battle. That game showed it tonight."

"I thought we had some big kills in the second," Owsley said. "If they get a goal there, it's a totally different game. We were gripping our sticks a little too tight in the first and second periods, but we started to take over there in the third."

"A home-rink bounce, I guess," Conrad said, smiling. "Goalies don't expect the puck to bounce out like that, but when you play here all year, you know the bounces."

Ashton added, "To have the bounce go our way there was huge. We needed something positive to go our way at that point in the game."

"The part I liked was that we were not at our best tonight, but we kept pushing, and the second half of the game, we spent a lot more time in their offensive zone," said Ams coach Jim Hiller.

"In the playoffs, there's not a lot of room out there on the ice, and we had to get used to that again. Instead of getting four or five chances in a game, you're only going to get one or two. You've got to grind it out and earn your opportunities, because they come few and far between now." (Examiner emphasis mine)

So back at it again tonight, same two teams.  I hope the boys are rested, carbed up, and ready to go.  And hopefully Tyler Schmidt doesn't wear his cement skates tonight.  Personally, like last night, I'd like to see the kids get some ice time, try to rotate 4 lines and all 6 D if possible.  Like Mason said in the interview I posted yesterday, because of the adversity they've had the experience, they know what they're doing.  I know it's risky, but so is wearing out your top guys.  Whatever, I'll leave those decisions to the coaches LOL.

I'll leave you with a clip the boy sent me of our Olie Kolzig and his cat-like reflexes: