SCORES
HCI 1 - 3 OLL (Simšič, Bukovec, Sabolič)
G99 2 - 3 OLL (PENS) (Drozg, Meyer - Mahkovec and Sabla penalties).
OLL 1 - 4 HCP (Drozg)
https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/166152128/Ben-affleck-smoking
https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/515850454/Shell-Shock
Sabla when he's about to go for a backhand penalty:
https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/sniper-pubg-loading-sniper-reload-gif-15505006
https://www.huckmag.com/article/mick-fanning-shark-attack-memes (plus logos)
Takeaways from this 4-game segment
- Our place in the table - realistically, we are looking safe for automatic playoffs. We have 53 points and 7th place (FTC) is on 40pts. However, we may well end up in 6th place. 5th place Bolzano are 4 pts behind with 2 games in hand, while RBS are 6 pts behind with 1 game in hand. We are currently 3rd, tied with HCP on 53 pts. They also have a game in hand. Despite our goal difference, I think our inconsistent play will likely keep us falling down into the final automatic playoff slot by the end of the regular season. I would love to be proven wrong, though!
- HCI win - one goal per period sealed this thanks to determined preparation to take the Sharks down after slipping up against them twice previously. Bukovec got his first goal, which I was pleased to see - it was quite a nifty, mid-air finish!
- HCP loss - Vietnam veteran flashbacks. We can take the positive that P2+P3 were 1-1, but HCp were playing within themselves thanks to a 3-goal cushion, so it's a limited positive. I don't want to be a doom-monger, but imagine if after all the good this season, we end up getting dumpstered by them again in the playoffs? Hopefully the eventual seeding would prevent that, but it's possible. It would leave a seriously sour note if we couldn't manage a single playoff series victory, especially if it's against them.
- Boychuk - he is clearly very important to this team, as we looked lost without him against HCP. We didn't start that game well, with Horak being a little bit too aggressive with his puck play 11s into the game, but still - Boychuk's absence was felt. I sincerely hope it's not a long injury layoff for him, again. It would be a brutal blow to lose him long-term just as it seemed we were approaching full health again.
- Drozg - it's great to see him scoring and flashing his skill. However, I think you do see why NHL teams prioritise drafting centres over wingers. Bonino and Drozg, given their ages, are probably at a relatively close skill level during their times with Olimpija. Yet, you saw how much more of an impact Bonino had on his line, as well as on our PP - he basically revolutionised them both. That's what can come from a dynamic centre, which is presumably why Olimpija brought in three Canadian centres this season in Boychuk, Petan and Quince. Drozg is making nice impacts here and there; I really love some elements of his game, such as his astounding closing speed on defence. Yet, he is not having Bonino's level of impact on our overall play, at least thus far. This isn't really a damning judgment on him or the team, or anyone - just maybe for myself, that I hoped he would have a Bonino-esque impact. I now realise it's unfair to expect that of him. That's more down to the position he plays, rather than his play itself. David Pastrnak is one of the few wingers who can have a centre-like impact, as the wonderful Jack Han describes in his article on how Morgan Geekie, Boston's 1C, is scoring so much (spoiler - it's thanks to Pasta). Maybe Drozg can take some leaves out of his book! https://jhanhky.substack.com/p/why-is-morgan-geekie-scoring-so-often
NU on G99 OTW
I was travelling home during the G99 win, so NU kindly volunteered to provide some thoughts on the game (edited by me for clarity):
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