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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Big one tonight, Dogs @ Clippers

Should be a fun one tonight, with probably half the Bulldog fan base making their way down to the Frank Crane Arena for Game 4 of this Coastal Conference Semi Final Series between the Dogs and Clippers.


After Thursday's 4-2 win the Clippers lead the series 2-1.


The picture tonight will be an interesting one. It's either a Bulldog win, and a 2-2 series heading back to Alberni with the Dogs having home-ice advantage in what's basically a best of three. Or it's a Nanaimo win, and a 3-1 series lead and a chance to advance on Monday night.


For it to be the FORMER and not the LATTER the Dogs need to up their battle level, and they need to play a full 60 minutes, or maybe more. The Dogs played a good first two games. The Clippers didn't necessarily play great in game 1, but who cares, they got the win. They battled hard in game 2, and then they put in a heroic effort with a short bench for game 3.

The Dogs would love to have Game 3 back. They came out of the gate flying, looking like they were going to hit the Clippers right out of the building, taking a 1-0 lead just over three minutes in. But three minutes doesn't a hockey game make.

I'm not sure ALL SEASON LONG that I could say the Dogs were clearly out worked and out battled. Before Game 3. Now their goal needs to be to not get out worked the rest of the year.

Should be a good one tonight, with a couple desperate hockey teams going at it.

Get the pregame show with Rick Schievink and myself at 7:15 tonight with the puck drop and play-by-play at 7:30 on 93.3 The Peak FM.

If you are heading down to Nanaimo, drive safe, and MAKE SOME NOISE and cheer on the guys!


Hammer

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So without trying to Jinx the boys, if we lose tonight then what? Do we put Pierce Eviston in? Quick skaiting talented young player. Do we pull Slubowski and Put in Lewan. Frank has got to control those rebounds better. What do they have to do tonight? Play the whole game as they did the start of both previous games? Work the puck into the middle on the PP instead of working it to the boards? Nanaimo is keeping all our shots to the outside. And they are controlling the rebounds. We got to get control in our own end. And more shots more often. Shot high on Boivin. He commits very early.
Good luck dogs. And go dogs go.

Hammer said...

The players need to play with the intense passion that comes with a burning fire in their bellies and under their behinds.

They need to play with cool composure that comes from ice in their veins and clear brains.

They need to SKATE SKATE SKATE, use their speed, take the body, and SHOOT the puck. They need to sacrifice their bodies to put one in the other net, and keep one out of their net.

Last but not least, they need to BELEIVE. And I know they do.

And so do I.

And they need their fans to believe and support them too. They feel no doubt the most intense pressure to live up to their own expectations, and the expectations of the fans. I think it's the biggest thing that weighs on their play more than anything. The last thing they need to read is "if we lose", all the stuff they have to change, etc etc.

You are welcome to make any comment you wish of course, and make any analysis you see from what's happening out there on the ice. To each their own of course!

My personal stance is to leave the coaching and line up changes and stategies to the coaches as much as I can, and the playing to the players, who are really the only ones out there on the ice!


GO DOGS GO.


And like you said, GOOD LUCK, that's the biggest thing of all. Puck Luck. You gotta work for your breaks and earn 'em and these guys have worked their paws off all year!

Anonymous said...

No offense Hammer, but if we cannot comment on the play or line up or anything else we like to question about the team at a time like this then what good is a comment section. I have the greatest respect for what you do. As well as charles. I have gone to nanaimo for the game and will go tonight. The rink announcer is terrible and the play by play guy on the radio can't hold a candle to you.
I just asked what we should do? If they lose. And I say we because I consider this a community team. Our team. We all wondered and made comments on Luongo on team canada. As we should. Hockey is our game. And we are all arm chair coaches and GM's. I love the dogs. Have had season tickets since they started. Its great hockey. And they are a great group of kids.
Rogic,Lewis,Hatch to start with renz and Ross on the point. Renz deserves the starting line-up. He has come into his own.
Makes you think Luke who?

Deb said...

well said Anonymous... thank you. Small roster change up for the game tonight, should be good.

Go hard boys!

Anonymous said...

Well I am excited to read the Richardson will be playing as well as Brody. I'm thinking Brody is taking Jeff's place simply for physical play. He's a little bigger and possibly can throw a big hit. Jeff is a solid D man. And quick. But a change is needed. Although it must be easy to say who plays. But I would imagine it would be incredibly hard to say who sits.
Richardson, with his speed should add some quickness and excitement. And hopefully a goal or 2. But who is sitting in his place? Bailey would be my quess. Good luck boys. And all the best. We will win tonight.

Hammer said...

"You are welcome to make any comment you wish of course, and make any analysis you see from what's happening out there on the ice. To each their own of course!"


Do I really need to explain that?

Apparently. So here it goes again.

-You are welcome to make any comment you wish.

-You are welcome to make any analysis.

-To each their own.


Just because your stance is to change the goalie, change the power play, change the roster, etc and mine isn't, it doesn't mean that you can't say it.

And just because I think it's the last thing the guys need to see or do, it doesn't mean you can't say it.

Apparently you are looking for the "here's my opinion, agree with it" section. Sorry, not gonna find one of those around here!

Not saying you have to agree with me either, back to the whole "to each their own" comment in the initial post.

I will NEVER, that's N E V E R look at a game that hasn't even been played yet, and think about the team losing it.

Sorry, again - you do that all you want.

I don't even know what the line up is for tonight yet, and you want me to speculate on the next game afterwards and how the line up and strategies should be afterwards?

It's why I should read the comments before I'm trying to have a nap.



It's come up about 10 times here on the blog this season. Several times by Deb. The line up. People want different players in there.

I always answer the same with a question - OK, then who do you take out. What's your line combos. etc.

And I haven't ONCE got an answer that I remember.

I'd LOVE Brody Lynott, Pearce Eviston, and Josh Mitchell in the line up.

I don't know who I'd want to take out of it.

And I'm not about to start throwing the kids under the bus.

It's the Coaches call. And I'm sure glad it's not mine.


So, one more time - who's your scratches, what's your lines, etc.

And just a disclaimer ahead of time, and just like last time, I'll say it again - "you are more than welcome to make any comment you wish, too each their own"


Just don't make it and get upset and say that there shouldn't even be a comment section because I don't personally agree with it. That's like "I'm taking my ball and going home"

One final time. You asked what the team needed to do.

Again, my answer wasn't good enough, but that's too bad, because it's my answer, like it or not, you certainly don't have to but I'm not changing it.

Here it is, one more time.


The players need to play with the intense passion that comes with a burning fire in their bellies and under their behinds.

They need to play with cool composure that comes from ice in their veins and clear brains.

They need to SKATE SKATE SKATE, use their speed, take the body, and SHOOT the puck. They need to sacrifice their bodies to put one in the other net, and keep one out of their net.

Last but not least, they need to BELEIVE. And I know they do.

And so do I.

Anonymous said...

(Wayne) I believe the guy's have been putting everything they've got into it. I also think it wont matter if the Coaches make changes to the lineup and sit the new players on the bench and play them 1 short shift a period. Whoever is in the lineup tonite should play enough so the big guns can get rested up between shifts. IMO. Coaching strategy has played a big part of the Bulldogs being down 2 games to one.

A hot goaltender beat them the first game and in my opinion the Coaching stratagy in the first two games beat them in the 3rd game.

I also think if they get it together the Bulldogs are capeable of takeing the next 3 games handily.

Hammer this is my opinion, if you dont like it feel free to pull it.

Hammer said...

Wayne - I've never pulled an opinion before, why would I now? Thanks for the post.

Again, people seem to think if I don't agree, their thoughts aren't welcome....I don't know how many times I have to say that's not the case. I guess I need to bow and agree to all the armchairs, lest all of your feelings get hurt.

Feel free to say whatever you want everyone....FOR THE LAST TIME - just don't expect me to agree, just because it's your opinion, I don't expect the same of you...one last time "to each their own"

Anonymous at 2:14pm - where did you read that Lynott and Richardson were coming into the line up? That one, I find interesting!