Login

reid · 02-06-2020, 06:29 PM

Colorado Raptors vs Detroit Falcons Falcons

Preview:

Coming into tonight’s match up, the two teams both profiled as strong teams. Detroit came in 1-4 in their last 5 (10-6-3 overall), after rattling off a 9-game win streak earlier in the season. Despite this, their offence remained potent, averaging 3.2 goals per game, and scoring 2 or fewer goals only 5 times in the seasons first 17 games. Colorado boasted a 3-2 record (8-6-3 overall) and won their games with a more defensive style, averaging 2.7 goals per game, with half of their wins coming in overtime or shootout. The game promised to be exciting, as Detroit looked for a victory to kick start the team, and Colorado looked to make up some points in the standings and continue their winning ways.

First Period:
The first period started out with some boo’s being thrown at the officials from the home crowd, as Captain Henrik Lekberg Osterman was whistled for a slashing minor 23 seconds into the game. Detroit failed to take advantage of the early power play, only mustering 2 shots. Colorado had two key shot blocks to neutralize the early opportunity. An uneventful period followed, with Detroit getting another opportunity on the PP and failing to capitalize. Colorado got their first man advantage opportunity late in the first but did not convert.

Shots: COL: 5 DET: 8
Score: COL: 0 DET: 0

Second Period:
This time it was Colorado’s chance to run the power play early, as top line center Luke McMaster took a roughing penalty one minute into the second. Colorado’s Hariken Urawa scored his 8th of the season, opening the scoring for the game. Only 29 seconds later, third year winger Kaarlo Kekkonen deflected a shot by Cal Labovitch past the goalie to tie the game. Almost three minutes later, rookie defenseman Jack Kanoff scored his first goal of his SMJHL career to put the Falcons up by one. Despite a double minor penalty by Luke McMaster to give the Raptors a 4-minute PP, they were unable to convert, as the teams battled for the rest of the second.

Shots: COL: 13 DET: 19
Score: COL: 1 DET: 2

Third Period:

After offsetting penalties early in the third, Reid Sutherland won a face off and carried the puck into the offensive zone. He put it past the Colorado goalie to make it 3-1 for the Falcons for his third goal of the season, and second in the last two games. Detroit had two more power play opportunities but failed to convert. Jobin and the Detroit defense shut the door to close off the game. Kaarlo Kekkonen scored an empty net goal with less than a second left in the game. The goal had to be reviewed to ensure that it crossed the goal line in time, but after a short look, referees confirmed that he had tallied his 7th of the season.

Shots: COL: 19 DET: 32
Final Score: COL:1 DET: 4

Three Stars:
1-     Kaarlo Kekkonen (2G 1A)
2-     Cal Labovitch (3A)
3-     Jack Kanoff (1G, +2, 2 SB)

*leviadan* · 02-07-2020, 03:27 PM

Digging Into the Details:

I think something that could easily be overlooked here is the Falcons' work on the PK. In an undisciplined game, they let the Raptors have 12 minutes of PP time which could be enough to sink a team on any given night. Who knows how the complexion of the game changes if the Raptors are able to bag a PP goal early on? Major kudos to guys like Kaarlo Kekkonen, Toki Wartooth, Magnus Liljestrom, and Jack Kanoff who played nearly four minutes of PK time apiece. While they did concede one goal in the second, you could make a strong argument that everyone PK'ing for the Falcons had a huge hand in this game turning out the way it did. It's often said that the best PK player you can have is a goaltender, so an honourable mention goes to A Jobin for some stellar work holding down the fort.

[Image: pin1_1.gif?ex=661a1734&is=6607a234&hm=b8...1bf5caed8&]

*roastpuff* · 02-07-2020, 05:16 PM

Unsung Hero of the Game

While the three stars of this game were selected by the broadcasters as Kaarlo Kekkonen, Cal Labovitch and Jack Kanoff, third-line center Reid Sutherland also deserves recognition for the pivotal role he played in keeping this game in the favour of the Falcons with one goal and one assist, and going 11-for-23 in the faceoff circle which is the best win rate for any of Detroit's centers for this game. Sutherland also played 3:11 on the penalty kill (the Detroit Falcons gave up a shocking 5 penalties), and was effective in taking away pucks from the Raptors and creating offensive chances for his fellow players. Working behind the shadow of the offensively-loaded first line, and the second line centered by fellow rookie sensation Edward Williams, Reid has quietly shown that he has the work ethic of a top-rate two-way player who can be relied on to keep his line above water and turn the tide the other way.

Turning Point of the Game

The turning point of this game came in the 8th minute of the 2nd period, as A Jobin stops the pressure from the Colorado Raptors by freezing the puck after a shot by Henrik Lundqvist Jr. In the ensuing face-off, Luke McMaster wins the draw and gets the puck out of the zone and on the stick of Cal Labovitch who directs a shot on the Raptors net. The other members of the first line had changed by then and the Falcons' third line came on the ice with possession in the Raptors zone. The third line would continue to pressure the Raptors for almost a full minute, with 11 shot attempts during that period of time. The reeling Raptors would end up icing the puck, and the pressure would only be abated after Luke McMaster took an ill-advised double minor for high-sticking.

Could Use Some Improvement

The Detroit Falcons' face-off skills could use some work. Perhaps the centers and those wingers that take draws in place of their centers could take an extra practice or two, because the Falcons were out-matched by the Raptors to the tune of 48 Raptor face-off wins to 29 Falcon face-off wins. Luke McMaster, their first-line center, did a not-great 8 out of 24 for a 33% win rate, Edward Williams (who to be fair was double-shifted as 2nd and 4th line center) did a 6 out of 21 for a 28.5% win rate, and Reid Sutherland put in the best showing of the team's centers with a 11 out of 23 for 47.8% win rate.

Paq · 02-07-2020, 07:32 PM

It's unusual to see a player with as many highs and lows as Detroit's Luke McMaster had in this one. The Falcons' first-line center picked up an assist and a +/- of 3 in this one. Those numbers were indicative of a solid night that more attentive viewers might recognize is not the case. McMaster was tagged for three penalties in this one, including a double minor for high-sticking in the 2nd. The real MVPs in this one were Detroit's penalty kill lines, who only surrendered one goal on five Colorado power plays, allowing the Falcons to separate from the Raptors by three goals in the end. (111)

**Lime** · 02-07-2020, 07:58 PM

Ghost of the Game

Who is Jordan Biffis?

That's a serious question, because that dude apparently appeared in the game for just 3 seconds in a penalty kill for Detroit. Alongside James Manzi, the two defended the net for about as long as it took for the coach to realize he had no idea who he just sent out onto the ice. This was somehow enough time for the Raptors to get the puck, make a pass, and then ice the puck. Luke McMaster and Kaarlo Kekkonen quickly replaced the two randoms that don't even feature on the line sheet.

Colorado PK

The Falcons' PK was previously brought up as a highlight, but the Raptors managed 5 PKs with 12 minutes just as Detroit did. And they did this without letting in a goal. But while this is very impressive, it does bring up the fact that all of their goals were conceded at even strength. They need to somehow translate that stellar defense into the bulk of the game. Its clear that the talent is there. Somehow I feel this game would have been even more one sided if they had taken less penalties. Colorado currently has the lowest goal differential in the league, and its easy to see why from this game.

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us