I can't remember much about our game against the Stampede last month, except that I felt good about the way I played (aside from one incident, which I'll describe in a minute). Here's what I do remember:
Mattias paired me up with Gerry, mainly because I like Left Wing, and Gerry likes Right. (Up until this game, Gerry'd been stuck playing D.) Gerry and I have very different skating styles, but I think if we were to race, we'd be about the same speed. We also have one other thing in common: we both tend to look for the pass when we get the puck rather than skating with it ourselves. I'm not sure that's the best trait to have in common with a linemate, but at least we weren't running into each other most of the time. :) I honestly can't remember who our Center was; I think I remember being on the ice with Murph a couple times, but I could be getting this game mixed up with the next one (when I also played with Gerry).
It struck me in this game that our offense and defense seemed to be somewhat reversed—and not just because one of the guys who usually plays forward was playing D. (Though he did tend to play it the way I did in Vancouver: namely, by poke-checking at the blueline and often getting beat.) There was one play where either (a) I had forgotten that this usually-forward was playing D, (b) I wasn't paying quite enough attention to the whole play, or (c) both. As I entered the defensive zone I looked down by the net and saw two blue jerseys scuffling with two Stampede players, figured the D had the situation well in hand, and turned toward the high slot to cover the third man in. It turned out that (a) the second blue jersey wasn't a defenseman, it was our goalie (who'd stood up at the side of the net), (b) the "third guy in" wasn't a Stampede player, but the usually-forward playing D, (c) we got scored on about a second later, and (d) I got screamed at by that usually-forward for not getting back.
Other than that, everything was great!
Posted by Lori in Galaxy ~ Summer 2005 | August 4, 2005·06:56 PM