25-26 GAME 12

 PIONEERS 1 - 4 OLIMPIJA

PIV PUT UP A FIGHT BUT FALL TO DRAGONS

MEYER THE ICE-COLD KILLER SENDS THEM HOME WITH AN L

https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/pioneer-history-westward-expansion-timeline 

https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/dank-meme-l-gif-25035332

https://x.com/HKOlimpija/status/1476567256758898698

Me listening to the PIV commentators:

https://gifdb.com/gif/stanley-hudson-sleeping-aog9vkldwhbz2idv.html

Lineup changes

None!

Stars of the game

* Nico Meyer (2 PPGs) - 'eiskalt', according to the otherwise soporific PIV commentators. Killed the game with the 3rd goal, which prompted the 'ice cold killer' type comment. He also spoke very well in his post-game interview. Definitely an OHB interview target for the future...

** Nate Halbert (PPG)  - I continue to be impressed by how offensively-skilled Halbert is. Looking at him, you'd assume he would be a big, beefy stay-at-home defenseman. Instead, he's a big, beefy fly-into-the-OZ defenseman who scores some pretty nice goals!

*** Bine Mašič - We had a lot of chances go begging in the 2nd period and even though none went in, I thought it was really nice to see some proper skill on show from Bine. Last year felt like a bit of a losing battle for him on the top pair, with his shining offensive light dulled accordingly.  He combined this flashier offense tonight with good technical defence. Hopefully he can show this combination more and more this season.

Goals

P1

OLL - Crnović from Gregorc and Meyer. A risky Meyer pass along the blue line finds Gregorc, who hits the bar. It comes back out to Crnović, whose long range shot goes in as Mehle and Boychuk take away the goalie's eyes.

OLL PPG - Halbert from Pance and Polei. Nate Halbert does his best TJ Brennan impression from the opposite circle with a top-left corner finish. 

P2

PIV - Pioneers get their own extended OZ time and as we tire, we ease up on checking. Our coverage ends up way too soft, which gives them the space to strike a good shot to the far post.

P3

OLL 4 on 4 - Meyer from Brennan. Great work by Meyer to keep it in the OZ and then one-two pass with Brennan, before an "eiskalt" (ice-cold)

OLL PPG - Meyer from Brennan. Meyer hits the 5 hole from the top of PIV's right circle.

What I liked to see:

• Meyer showing off his elite skill was lovely!
• Ćosić protecting Horak was admirable. The fight wasn't exactly a heavyweight bout, but it sent the required message.
• Defenders not named TJ Brennan scoring goals! Having those guys chip in is helpful, as in the long run we will need them to support our forwards when it's not going in for those guys. 
• Putting away an inferior opponent more convincingly was a good step in the right direction for us. Nothing like the 6-7 OTL to HCI, thank goodness!
• The commentators mentioning that we have the best PP in the league now. I checked and our PK is 2nd best. 
  
  https://tenor.com/en-GB/search/what-a-time-to-be-alive-gifs

https://www.ice.hockey/stats/teams

What I would like to see: 

• Halbert being more careful - he threw a light punch at a PIV player, who returned the favour with a much heavier punch, dropping Halbert to the floor like a sack of potatoes. I expected a penalty for each of them, but somehow it was only for PIV, who were understandably aggrieved. Don't give it if you can't take it, is what I would say!
• Penalties being assessed more consistently. Meyer stated in his post-game interview that "It's a little hard to read the state of the penalties in the league", which the PIV player later agreed with. Whatever new directive has come down to the refs has made things worse, so the league should go back to the drawing board to shore things up. Otherwise, a potentially very exciting season of hockey will be marred by the zebras.
• A changeup in the PIV commentators - these guys were putting me to sleep! I feel sorry for their wives, having to listen to that all day must be torture!
• Rok Kapel healthy again soon - Kapel took a nasty impact on his knee from Simšič skating into him deep in the OZ. Simšič has been playing better but hasn't exactly been covering himself in glory thus far this season. Obviously, accidents happen, but Kapel was resurgent this season and I really hope it's not over for him thanks to his own teammate.
• More PIV fans - this was embarrassing for PIV. Their ultras seemed to consist of one guy on his own with a drum! They barely managed over 1,000 spectators. I know it's been a tough start to the season, but they seem bound to be in dire straits financially if this continues. Maybe Asiago come back from the dead next season and replace them?

Final thoughts

Not every game has to be some Homeric epic, with twists, turns, betrayals and redemptions. This was a game we should win and which we did win. The end!