OLIMPIJA 2 - 1 PUSTERTAL
OLIMPIJA CONCEDE EARLY BUT THE WOLVES CAN'T BLOW DOWN HORAK'S BRICK WALL AFTER THAT
MOMENT OF BRILLIANCE FROM SABLA TO SEAL THE DEAL
Stars of the game
* Robert Sabolič (GWG) - whilst I still miss Žiga Pavlin as Captain (his was my first Olimpija jersey last season), Sabla really took matters into his own hands today and delivered a performance worthy of the C on his shirt. The game-winning goal was something to behold, with a drag from behind that went through the oncoming Pusteral defender, freeing Sabla up to knock in his trademark backhand-roofer. I always find it pretty delicious in any sport when the opposition know what's coming and they still can't stop it.
** Arvin Atwal (G) - I really like how Atwal's game has evolved under Andrej Tavželj. A former defenseman himself, you can see the effect he has had. Atwal still plays hard, but he doesn't veer into penalty-inducing recklessness anywhere near as much as he did under Upi Karhula. As I have strongly encouraged, he protects his goalie and his teammates and unleashes himself when appropriate (and when the other guy is also going to get a penalty). With all that said, he also scored a nifty goal on a 2-on-1, with excellent elevation on the puck to beat the goalie, who had done well to cross over so far.
*** Lukaš Horák (33/34 .970) - wiped the slate clean after the insta-goal and shut the door for the rest of the game, hanging a big 'dneska ne' sign while he was at it.
Honourable mention: Rožle Bohinc. I accept that I have a type - I love watching big defensemen. It's why I got my Pavlin jersey last year. For someone so young, Bohinc is already developing a fulsome skillset that should take him far. He uses his length to disrupt attackers with his active stick, to the point where it's frankly ridiculous how far he can reach to dislodge pucks. He doesn't shy away from hitting, either, which is something I think this team needs more of (and which, with the return of Červeny, we are getting). We've also started to see some powerful point shots from him. I think it's so exciting to see someone with so much potential in our squad, and I hope he stays there for a long, long time. Imagine what he'll be in 4-5 years! 'Some player!', as men across England pronounce whenever they really rate someone!
Stats
The left side shows the waves of offense Horak had to weather. I do enjoy that shot that appears to be from outside the rink at the bottom left. I must have missed Simšič glitching through the boards to shoot that one! Otherwise, it's a similar story as usual - the goals are coming from the low slot and if you get kept to the outside/out of there you will not be successful. I am reading through a hockey coaching textbook to try to level up my analysis here, so please forgive me if I'm sounding like a broken record at the moment in this section! The vinyl selection will be improving, along with the player! Grooves are being pressed! Ok, I'll stop now!
Shots-saves at even strength:
P1: 5-15 (HCP G)
P2: 8-10 (OLL G). We had two PPs here.
P3: 6-7 (OLL G)
As you can see, P1 was not good for us, but we rebuilt ourselves throughout the game like some reverse Zima Blue (watch Love, Death & Robots on Netflix if you haven't already - it's earth-shaking stuff for sci-fi fans).
Shooting %: 2/23 for 8.69%. We were slightly unlucky but pulled through.
Save %: 33/34. One goes in off the first shot and then a shutout from there.
PP: 0/2
PK: 1/1
We could have done with a PPG here, but when isn't that true? With Červeny back, we look consistently a lot more dangerous - if only because we now have someone on the opposite circle to Sabla, so we can just repeatedly go to either one of them instead of just 55! ^^
Game flow
1949 GOAL HCP - we fall asleep right away and let HCP cut through us. It's a cute neutral zone move that leaves a gaping hole between Atwal and Mašič on the back-end for an easy 5-hole goal on Horak in the first 11 seconds. I have to confess, I was slightly late to the game and walked in to the aftermath of this goal! We can't be letting this happen so soon into a game - if only to avoid inserting such a depressing 'oof' into the Mala Terasa anthem-singing!
0-1
1330 There are small moments from Bonino that make you stop and stare a bit. One here was a mid-air backhand clear. An extremely difficult thing to do made to look like it's nothing. It's instructive in illustrating how high the skill threshold is in the NHL.
On a personal note, I was sitting in the widest angle seat I'd ever been in, partly to avoid the unfortunately common instances of people putting their feet on the seats in front of them. It provided me with an interesting view of the HCP point shots and the columns of screening attackers and battling defenders. I would recommend it to people, but I don't want my quiet spots infiltrated! ^^
1110 A big Bohinc bomb from the blue line is blocked. Nice to see, let's hope he scores his first goal soon!
Someone's going to have to tell me, is the second 2 minute Smash Attack only for season ticket holders? I hear sezonska vstopnica in the announcement but I'm not sure.
359 A high danger chance for Pance right in front goes just wide. It was created by Beričič deftly stealing a puck left behind the net by their goalie.
302 Lovely deception on a zone exit by Kerbashian - a double fake out that sends a HCP forechecker flying into the boards. It's the little things that make the team tick, and Kale is always on his details.
34s left - Červeny has a shot from his left circle 'office' which is glove tipped wide.
P2
1434 PEN HCP - big boarding on Mašič in the neutral zone. He ended up being ok, thank goodness, as if he'd been out we would have only had 5 defensemen.
PP sees a point shot, a net drive and a right circle shot. At least we're spreading things around a bit and trying different things. There's always a balance between doing what you want to do and taking what the PK gives you. Under AT we seem more prepared on the PP than before, so that's a real positive.
1142 GOAL OLIMPIJA - Lavoie and Atwal 2 on 1 sees 19 pass to 20, who brilliantly elevates the puck to score! All recorded beautifully for the social media by Neža! Got to love a well-marketed goal. Bičevskis was initially announced as the player with the secondary assist that was key in springing the rush, but the ICE league site has Mehle instead. I've watched the highlights and it's inconclusive - anyway, whoever it was, well done! You did the unsung, ugly thing that made the celebrated, pretty thing happen!
1-1
1008 Mašič comes back out and shoots just wide, missing out on an opportunity to do what Trevor Gooch did last year and have a barnstorming and scoring return to play, complete with a salubrious celly down centre ice!
624 Bičevskis' stick gets broken by a HCP player but there's no slashing call.
559 PEN HCP - so now they get called for slashing!
243 Huge left pad save by 61.
Atwal protects Horak and gets a big telling off by the refs for it. He's found the line where he can do what he needs to do without taking a penalty for it, it seems! Well done, Arvin!
P3
1705 PEN OLL - Gregorc for holding. Unfortunate but not egregious.
PK minus Sodja is Beričič, Bonino, Bohinc and Atwal, who rudely breaks up the B-team.
Good stick lifts from Ege on the PK2, something I had been calling for repeatedly.
I was initially surprised to find out that we have been running the best PK in the league, but you could definitely see that tonight. This was textbook stuff.
1335 Mahkovec breaks but HCP's goalie knows he wants to go 5-hole and covers it well. What did I say about making tendencies then breaking them, Marcel?! Think about Bill Belichick! Somehow I doubt he will. Ah well. If Coach Tavželj wants me to come in and do a talk on how the intricacies of NFL playcalling translate to ICE League hockey I will happily do so!
10 Sabla playing power forward hockey, finishing his checks twice in one shift.
745 GOAL OLIMPIJA - pure class from Sabla!!! He enters the zone following a high puck, takes it from behind him, drags it through a HCP defender and backhand roofs it past the outstretched glove of their goalie for the go-ahead goal! Unassisted!
2-1
635 Bohinc's length and hitting successfully disrupt a wide-angle attack.
230 HCP go EN and the guy next to me says 'tri-ena' and holds up his fingers, just to make sure.
133 Horak tries an audacious rebound shot attempt on the empty net, but there's no goalie goal for us tonight.
115 Červeny has a shot on the empty net but it's blocked. No ENG but it doesn't matter, we win!
ENDS 2-1
Final thoughts
We all know how games against Pustertal go. It's always closely-fought and a bit grindy. I think we recovered exceptionally well after a nightmare start to close out the game. This is a testament to Coach AT's leadership and to the players themselves. Let's keep piling up regulation wins!
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