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Demolish · 10-07-2020, 10:03 AM

Hello everybody, now at the 18 game mark of season 56 in the smjhl, the Colorado Raptors have hit a knot of sorts. While they came out of the gates flying early in the season going 5-0 and out scoring their counter parts 25 to 10 which included two shut out games by goalies Marcel Laflamme, things have changed a little bit in the next stretch of games played.

After suffering their first loss of the season to the hands of the Nevada Battle Born by the score of 3-2, what may of seemed as just a regular season loss or bump in the road at the time to a top team in the league (NBB record today 13-2-1), it was also the beginning of a terrible stretch of games for the Raptors. Losing the next six games bringing their losing streak total to 7 games and being terribly out scored by their opponents 24 to 11. Jekl and Hyde? Not sure what gives, how can an offense dry up like that or the defense forget how to defend, where has the goaltending gone?

Next stretch of games may give us some answers, now through 13 games played, the Raptors sport a 6 and 7 record going into the next stretch of games with a rather cold offense and clueless goaltending to say the least. Ending that terrible losing streak the Raptors made the call and started Marcel Laflamme, and yes again, Laflamme comes out with his game face on and posts another shut out (3rd of the season) beating the Quebec Citadel 3-0. The beginning of better days? Maybe as they post another win against the Kelowna Knights and thus are on a two game winning streak. Pumped and excited to be back on track in the win column, things quickly deteriorate with the games that follow. Suffering multiple losses once again and find themselves back in a losing streak losing to Anaheim, Nevada and Carolina in convincing manner, out scored 19-10. Yes these are the top teams in the league, but the if the Raptors aspire to having a long playoff run, they will have to beat these teams.

Colorado Raptors currently 8-9-1 and sit in 5th place in the western conference are also ranked 8th in a twelve team league. Seeing that the playoff structure allows all smhjl teams to make the playoffs, it will be interesting to see with the developing young talent on the team how it will factor in more towards the end of the season when the playing field will be on a more even base.
Ranked 10th in goals against (56), the goaltending and defensive core will need to be better going forward. The offense on the other hand with 55 goals for and ranked 4th in the league is satisfactory. With four players in the top 15 scorers of the league is eye popping. Not surprised to see it but very much pleased!

Mack Daddy with  4 goals and 16 points and Asclepius Perseus Flitter with 6 goals and 16 points are tied for 5th in the league scoring race. In thirteenth we find Lord Raiden with 6 goals and 14 points and to round out the top 15 we find defenseman Aumy Jr. with 7 goals and as many assists giving him 14 points and good enough to lead all defenseman in the league. With all this fire power, the specialty teams, the power play more specific has benefited greatly. Both Mack Daddy and Asclepius Perseus Flitter are battling it out as top point getter in this category, but they are not alone, as they are tied and closely followed Armada's Santtu Rasanen and Thorbjorn Gunnarson with 8 power play points and a third Armada pokes his nose in with 7 points by the name of Theo Kondos.

Through 18 games played here are your Colorado Raptors stats leaders:
Goals: Aumy Jr. (7)
Assists: Mack Daddy (12)
Points: Mack Daddy (16) and Asclepius Perseus Flitter(16)
+/- : Jean-Uhtred Ragnarsson-Tr (+4) and Juni Pand (+4)
PIM: Lord Raiden (28)
Power Play Goals: Asclepius Perseus Flitter (3) and Lord Raiden (3)
Power Play Assists: Mack Daddy (7)
Power Play Points: Asclepius Perseus Flitter(8) and Mack Daddy (8)
Short Handed Goals: N/A
Short Handed Assists: N/A
Short Handed Points: N/A
SOG: Mack Daddy (56)
SH% : Bobby Motz (21.43%) *Wally Herman (100%) played only 5 games
Fights Total:Anrijs Asts, Juni Panda and Ruggs McOoooh all dropped the mitts once
FW: The above all lost!
Hits: Juni Panda (68)
Give Aways: Aumy Jr. (18)
Take Aways:  Ruggs McOoooh (18)
Shots Blocked:  Hiroshi Ohira (36)
Game Rating: Asclepius Perseus Flitter (66)
Offensive Game Rating: Asclepius Perseus Flitter (72)
Defensive Game Rating: Ruggs McOoooh (70)
TOI: Ruggs McOoooh (21:23)
PPTOI : Asclepius Perseus Flitter (3:21)
SHTOI: Terrence Smith (3:38)

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