| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bags |
Posted - 06/07/2014 : 4:42:39 PM
Was worried last night arriving early to find half the crowd Alaskans !!
Thankfully despite a Reds game next door a very good crowd of 4500 showed
up for the game. Before anyone brings up "where were they in the first rounds"
be happy they showed up when we most needed them. I'm guilty myself of seeing
both the Cyclones and the Aces twice this playoff season. Between vacations,
Red's games and grass cutting, I haven't been able to make it to the games.
Looking forward to Saturday and Monday (maybe not Tuesday morning at work).
I'll stand by my opinion Alaska is a lot like Greenville. Stay under control
and don't over react to the pushing and sticking of our goalie every chance they
get. Fear the refs are going to call for Alaska tonight. Refs seem to cater to
road teams in game 2-don't ask me why. |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bags |
Posted - 06/10/2014 : 6:25:58 PM
The play style that impressed me the most of Alaska was their shift
changes. While we were changing 2 and 3 at a time, they did one at a
time keeping 4 men in constant play on the ice. We started the third
period and made a line change just 27 seconds in. Are you trying to tell
me we can't even skate a minute without rest ? I think when we left the ice
after one down 1-0, it seemed like the writing was on the wall. Thanks
for the great season- we never expected to go that far. |
| Reggie Dunlop |
Posted - 06/10/2014 : 10:19:14 AM
While Alaska was clearly the superior team, I was a bit surprised by they play of the Cyclone last night. They appeared to be very lethargic and disjointed. Their passing in the defensive and neutral zones was uncharacteristically poor. At times, they just seemed like they were out of gas and Alaska seemed to have another gear. After the second goal, it looked and felt like the Cyclone had accepted their fate and the fire to win was extinguished.
Nevertheless, they overachieved this season and gave us a lot of excitement. It's really great that Rob Madore won the MVP. He's very deserving. |
| SCUBA |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 10:34:28 PM
No Cloneinator, I didn't take your comment the wrong way at all, I got it. I totally understood and to a certain degree agreed to it bro. See you in the city my friend. |
| cloneinator |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 8:31:55 PM
Please don't anyone take me wrong. I did not mean to imply ownership is upstairs wearing Alaska Aces jerseys. I just meant from an economic standpoint I would not be surprised if it wouldn't hurt their feelings to see it end tonight (which giving up 21 shots on goal in the first period would indicate they are well on their way). The ownership of this team has proved their loyalty to the team, and I have nothing but total respect for them. |
| SCUBA |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 7:14:07 PM
Key word here Don is "Former"......Everything I have heard about Cyclones owners of past have been second hand, I don't either believe them or disbelieve them....I simply have no first hand knowledge. Like I said, I would believe that it has crossed management's minds. If the Clones, and that is a big IF manage to win tonight then I would suspect a game seven loss isn't inevitable, and winable and likely worth the time and effort. If down three games to one...then sure. lastly he wasn't "MY" former Clone owner, simply the former owner. The use of the word MY kinda implies I was somehow a part of the team, simply a fan, nothing more nothing less...entertainment. |
| Donnie Hockey |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 6:15:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SCUBA
Going to work. Cloneinator, I would HOPE that the Cyclone organization has more pride then WANTING the series to end, that seems so Mike Brown.......
Your former Cyclones organization's owner wanted a series to end when Ron Smith was the GM/head coach, telling him he didn't see them winning the series and preferred they went out that night at home so they didn't have to spend the money they didn't have on travel by prolonging the inevitable.
|
| SCUBA |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 5:34:59 PM
Going to work. Cloneinator, I would HOPE that the Cyclone organization has more pride then WANTING the series to end, that seems so Mike Brown.......but I'm not thinking their wallets would do that much crying if The Clones lost tonight. Despite me being down on them Saturday night the series can still be won. There Cannot be three minute Ace offensive cycling down low, 5-6 shot drives by the Aces where the only Clone play is to ice the puck, We have proven we can score, but the defense has to step up and the Clones cannot allow them all the shots they have come to know and love. If nothing else win tonights game to prevent any celebration on OUR ice. Good luck and I will try to stay updated on the game tonight. Go Cyclones |
| cloneinator |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 4:33:15 PM
Unfortunately I am teaching classes tonight so won't be able to make it. Best of luck Cyclones! |
| cMan2KellyCup |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 1:54:19 PM
I wish I could be there tonight... I am stuck here in Chicago on business.... I will be listening with gear on and rooting for two more wins... we can still win the cup, boys!!! |
| elvis77 |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 12:05:32 PM
Alaska is a solid team, made up of quality players but from a systems perspective they're a one trick pony (ok two tricks) but they're really, really good at those 2 tricks. One is the stretch pass which they struggled with initially on the smaller ice surface but found quite a bit of success with it Saturday night. The other is generating offense from behind the goal line. They scored several goals in this manner using on the big ice, where Cyclones defenders would lose track of players in space or get drawn out of position. On the small ice, Alaska hasn't generated much offense from their cycle game but they have controlled the puck for minutes at a time which forces the Cyclones into a dump and change (and sometimes chase) game. Alaska's defensive game transitions well to the small ice and more often than not Cyclones puck carriers are skating into 2 or 3 guys and don't have options other than dumping or drop passes. The later isn't successful since their usually changing behind the play.
There's a lot of talk about how Alaska is forcing the 'Clones to play so much defense but when you stop and think about the way the Cyclones have played much of the season this isn't out of the ordinary. The Cyclones have been a defend and counter team; the times the Cyclones have had long periods of offensive zone possession have been limited this season.
In order to force a game 7 the 'Clones will have to play a near perfect game (no "own" goals off the defense like the Aces 1st goal from Saturday night). They're going to have to have a big games out of Madore and the other go to players like Megan, Shaw and Lewis. Special teams will be key, the 'Clones have done well on the PK vs the Aces but on the PP an 0 for # just won't do.
I'm critical at times but win or lose I'll always back my team. I knew it would be a tough challenge for the 'Clones with the services of MacDonald and Dalhuisen on defense. Alaska is a beatable team but a very good team none the less and there's no shame in losing to them. There's no question this year's Cup will be awarded to a worthy recipient.
On a tangent, win or lose, I could make quite the argument for Madore as MVP. |
| cloneinator |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 07:36:22 AM
Thinking out loud, I really have to wonder if Saturdays loss didn't completely deflate them, and how much they really want to even go back to Alaska. And yes I know they aren't playing, but I wonder if ownership would just as soon see it end tonight and save themselves over $80,000 in travel costs alone.
If it hadn't been for Madore, Friday nights game had all the makings of a loss. From the two games I saw, I also agree Alaska is the superior team, and should the boyz not be able to make a comeback, I don't see any shame in losing to them. I also never expected for them to make it this far into the playoffs. |
| bags |
Posted - 06/09/2014 : 06:12:12 AM
I'll be there tonight. I hope I don't see a Championship presentation
but if so, this team like 2010 went way beyond anyone would have thought.
Just hope tonight we have less shift changes and less "retreating" on
offensive drives. Alaska has no reason to hold back tonight because they
have to go back to Alaska and can afford a loss. To win we have to play
more like Friday and take the game at them. |
| tjpavlik |
Posted - 06/08/2014 : 2:23:10 PM
I have to believe our cupboard is empty. The defense corps have been absolutely decimated by injuries. We have very little grit left with the possible exception of Krogh who is having a hard time controlling his temper. The loss of Shalla may be the nail in the coffin.
All that being said, Madore is absolutely standing on his head and is capable of stealing this series. The offense has been reigned in to help out the defense. When we do get a rush and shots on goal Coleman has appeared very ordinary (for a 9 year pro, that is).
The only change I would make is to put more pucks on net. I understand the passing is to get Coleman moving laterally but we aren't even getting the shot off.
I'm not sure that will be enough to win this series. If you would have asked me 3 months ago I would have said the Cyclones would have won at best a round or two. I couldn't have imagined a Kelly Cup final appearance. They have been amazing and perhaps have a surpise left for me. |
| tjpavlik |
Posted - 06/08/2014 : 2:00:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SCUBA
Not to mention holding on to a lead, NOTHING last night showed me that the Clones want the cup, wouldn't be that surprised to see it end on Monday. I missed the first goal in the elevator but before I could even enjoy the score it was tied up. Not like we had enough chances oin the power play. Awful, and before anyone jumps on and crushes me...name one thing the Clones did well last night?
They picked me to drop the puck. That's about it. At least for me. |
| tjpavlik |
Posted - 06/08/2014 : 1:59:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Reggie Dunlop
I've seen four of the five games thus far (two online and two live), so it's a pretty good sample size. In the end, it appears that Alaska is the superior team. They have way more speed and are exceptional with puck possession. The Ace can possess the puck in the offensive zone for minutes with their cycle game. They also win most of the battles along the boards, not to mention nearly every important face off. If not for Madore, this series would look much more lopsided.
Losing Shalla really hurt the offense. Similarly, not having any tough presence in this series has caused a lot of problems for the Cyclone. The Ace are taking a lot of liberties and Cincinnati can't do anything about it. I can't believe that Connolly hasn't been flattened yet for his sissy antics. And the Cyclone are feckless in rebuffing Curry's constant cheap shots and post-whistle tomfoolery.
I'm rooting for a big win on Monday and hoping for the best on Wednesday four time zones away.
Yep, that about sums it up. |
