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NJBadApple · 10-18-2019, 11:39 AM

vs

Final Score: 3-2

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First Period
Entering this matchup, both teams sat among the top of the SMJHL standings, just about 10 games into the season. The first period started just about as good as it could've gotten for the Knights, as their top power play unit went to work immediately and potted the first goal of the game, coming from center Josef Novotny and assisted by Barbashev and Kaspertommevisnapuu. The remainder of the first stanza went about fairly quietly, with the exception of another early penalty committed by Kelowna's Gylfi Eriksson on a hooking call.

Second Period
The second period started with a flurry as well, as the Raptors looked to even the score rapidly to prevent the game from spiriling out of control. Top pairing defender LeBlanc took a hooking call just under four minutes into the period as Colorado went to work on their first power play of the game. With just 25 seconds remaining on the man advantage, they struck gold on a blast from Hariken Urawa, tying the game up at one. Kelowna was not to be outdone though, when Heat Siecker for the Raptors took a holding call just around the mid-way point of the period. The Knight's top unit struck again, and once more Novotny on a beautiful feed from Kaspertommevisnapuu and Devitt, putting Kelowna up 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Third Period
Feeling a sense of urgency, Colorado entered the 3rd period looking to fight for a chance to stay in the game. Just under 5 minutes into play, Anthony Archer capitalized on the young Kelowna goaltender and managed to tie the game up with 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Kelowna proceeded with a barrage of shots for the next 10 minutes, receiving excellent play from Spector at the other end of the ice and single-handed keeping the Raptors alive. Late in the 3rd, Kelowna captain Ryan Shepard was called for Interference in his defensive zone and the Raptors went searching for blood. It didn't take long, as Denver Wole put one past Del Vecchio just over half way through the power play, giving Colorado their first lead of the game. The Knights fought hard for the remaining 5 minutes of the game but were unable to regain control, as the Colorado Raptors walked away with a 3-2 home victory over the Knights.

Key to Success
Key to the game here was clearly the man advantage and staying out of the box; 4 of the 5 goals scored came on the power play while Colorado and Kelowna went 2-for-3 and 2-for-2 on their respective power plays.

Three Stars:
1. Denver Wolfe (COL)
2. Josef Novotny (KEL)
3. Anthony Archer (COL)

*Zoone16* · 10-18-2019, 12:38 PM

Comment 1
Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star: Anthony Archer Raptors

was all over the ice in his limited usage (14:10 total time on ice). His game tying goal early in the 3rd period game the Raptors the confidence to push for the game winner.

2nd Star: Josef Novotny Knights

had both of his team’s goals tonight, with 6 shots and a big 20 minutes of icetime. Dominated both ends of the ice and kept his team in the game throughout.

1st Star: Denver Wolfe Raptors

- with 2 points for the night, (1g, 1a) including the game winning goal on the power play. Wolfe has been able to capitalize on every opportunity, setting his team up for success by blocking shots and dishing out hits, with a massive 22:41 minutes played.

(126 words)

Comment 2
Between the Pipes

The goalie matchup was an interesting one between veteran Emiko Spector and rookie Luca Del Vecchio was a close affair throughout the game, both netminders facing almost the same amount of shots. Coming into this game, both goalies were tied at 6-2-0 with Spector sporting a slightly better save percentage.

Interestingly, both goaltenders gave up 2 power play goals, attesting both to the strength of their respective teams’ power play units and the deficiency of their penalty killing units. Spector would end the night with a .923 save percentage compared to Del Vecchio’s .889.

Looking at future games between these teams will be interesting from a netminders perspective, as this shows that there isn’t that much difference in talent between the two. This might just end up being a case of who has the better defense in front of them.

(135 words)

Comment 3
The Power of the Power Play

The special teams were put on display tonight, especially the power play with 4 of the 5 goals coming off the man advantage, including the game winner. But why have they been so successful? The answer is actually very similar for both teams. Shoot often at the net and fight for the rebounds. In fact, three of the four goals were off missed shots that rebounded in advantageous positions for the next shooter to pounce upon. The other one was on a rebound off the goaltender.

This also highlights the weaknesses of the penalty kill for both teams. The shooting lanes are not being blocked effectively by either units, which leads to rebound shot attempts instead of deflection attempts. Both the Knights and the Raptors will have to give opposing power play units a less space and time around the perimeter to break up attempts and clear their zones.

(149 words)

FreakinAnime · 10-23-2019, 11:10 AM

Weak Penalty Kill

Both teams penalty kills were very weak and couldn't contain the other team's power plays. That's a bad sign and both coaches will want more out of their defense and goalies. You can't just be walked over on the power play, penalties are bound to happen. Colorado didn't kill a single penalty and Kelowna killed a measly 33%. They need to regroup and have their special teams coach have a long conversation with the penalty killing units, maybe swap some players out. You can't be having defensive breakdowns in the playoffs, so this needs to be worked out right here and right now.

dankoa · 10-24-2019, 04:32 PM

Turning Point

The turning point in this game came when Anthony Archer scored for the Colorado Raptors. The Raptors had been trailing the Knights since the middle of the second period, and it had been 15 minutes of tentative play for Colorado who had gone into the second intermission looking like they might be on a losing path for this game. Archer however was able to cap off a beautiful team move from the Raptors, planting himself in front of the net and managing to get a hold of the puck and force it past Luca del Vecchio to level the score. This goal gave a new lease of life to the Raptors, and from here on out the game was all them. They soon scored another goal to go ahead, and would end up sealing the win in a tough game. A very important moment for the Raptors to get themselves an important win.

Let’s Argue: Kelowna Let del Vecchio down

The Kelowna Knights did not do enough to support their goaltender, and del Vecchio doesn’t deserve to be held in any way responsible for their loss. Okay, he didn’t put up as good numbers as his opposite number, Emiko Specter, but the rookie del Vecchio did put up a damn good effort holding off the Raptors offense until the 3rd period when the pressure eventually became too much after his team failed to relieve the pressure on him. He did everything he could in this game and that’s something that really should be recognised. The Knights allowed the Raptors to run riot on them in the last two periods, and had they been able to keep more of a controlled grasp on the game, things would have been much closer and Kelowna would likely have won the game. Disappointing to see a talented young goalie not get the support he deserves.

adamantium · 10-29-2019, 01:52 PM

GOAL OF THE GAME (Comment 1)

This week's goal of the game is the first goal in the matchup between the Colorado Raptors and the Kelowna Knights, potted by Josef Novotny at 37 seconds into the match. Barbashev wins the faceoff in the defensive zone and the Knights start their push up into the Raptors' end of the rink. Barbashev, still with the puck, throws it towards the net from the dot while in motion--the puck is stopped by Raptors netminder Emiko Spector but Spector doesn't have the time to make a save without rebound and who should be at the ready but Kelowna's Josef Novotny. Novotny, seizing the opportunity presented, jams the puck home through the hole Spector left while making the first save, and the Knights are up 1-0 less than a minute into the game. Though they would ultimately lose, Novotny's showing of determination, presence of mind, and quick reflexes make this our goal of the game.

UNSUNG HERO (Comment 2)

The unsung hero this week is Kelowna Knights netminder Luca del Vecchio. 24 saves on 27 shots and an .889 SV% might not seem like the quality numbers you're looking for in your netminder, but it's hard to say that del Vecchio didn't put together an incredibly solid attempt for a team that ultimately couldn't hold off the opposing offensive pressure coming from the Colorado Raptors. Luca del Vecchio being our unsung hero this week reminds us of one of the classic adages of professional hockey--when it was a one goal loss, the team didn't do enough as a unit to stop the pressure. del Vecchio held on like a madman through nearly two and a half periods of hockey but ultimately, the Knights could not stop the advancing pressure of the Raptors--even still, del Vecchio's performance and ability as a rookie cannot be understated, and we're looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish going forward.

WHAT'S NEXT? (Comment 3)

In their next game, the Kelowna Knights take on a struggling Halifax Raiders team. The Raiders will look to leaders like Finn Rhys to motivate the locker room and their stable of rookies--Kayhall, Villeneuve, Skinner, and the likes. However they face strong competition against a booming Kelowna team and their star rookie goalie Luca del Vecchio. Kelowna needs only to keep playing their game and support each other in weak areas to pull out a win, and Halifax is going to need to rely on the strength of their young group of players to help lead the charge in scoring.

Colorado takes on the Vancouver Whalers in a couple of days. Colorado is far from a bad looking team, but they're going to need to turn up the heat on a Vancouver team that hits the ice and is ready to go before the puck even drops. Vancouver vets like Jan Zacha and Bjorn Leppanen are going to look to the rookie stable led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic Jr. to bolster scoring against a hot Colorado team, and the Colorado locker room merely needs to remain energized and ready to play if they're going to pull another win. We'll see you next week.

sigs by me bitch

MP7 · 11-09-2019, 04:19 PM

Perfect/bad start to the game

There are just a few thing that you didn't want to get happen in the first minutes of a game. Getting a 2 min minor penalty is one of that. You better stay out of the box. And it's gets even more terrible when your opponents can benefit from it. So happened in this game. The game was just 26 seconds old as Derek Bohne Jr. stopped a player with a cross check and got 2 min. The top power play unite of the Knights went out and said thank you just after 9 seconds. That wasn't a great start for them. The coaching team probably wasn't really happy about it.

Code:
111 words

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