I have been getting to the rink later and later lately, so I made sure I was on time and got a full warm up. I needed it since I would be using a different stick than I’m used to. It is shocking to me how much different the stick can make a difference in how I feel the puck.
I switched back to an old Mako I had from 2012. I wish they still made this stick. I bought a bunch because I liked it so much. For the last couple of years, I’ve used a Nexus, which is a great stick as well, but the curves were slightly different. Combine that with I had chopped off an extra two inches from the Nexus, and I had a hard time carrying the puck. But that’s to be expected.
After the first period, I started getting used to it. I caught some passes that I thought I’d miss, and I also made one play that I need to use more. When I pick up the puck along the board, turn toward the center of the ice and bounce the puck behind me to protect the puck and allow me to turn and go. I’ve done it a few times, and was able to pull it off tonight.
I felt a little out of shape, but was in position for the majority of the game. During the third period, I was able to out muscle one of their defense men along the boards at the blue line. I got the puck into the zone, and just out of their reach. I kicked it forward about 4 feet, and knew I’d be alone if I could pick it up and cut across. I did just that. I put my hardest shot on net, and it went right into the goalie’s mid section.
I’ve noticed I do a lot of fly by on my fore check. I’ll skate hard, swipe at the puck and hope to deflect it or pick it up and skate on the rush. I did this tonight, and the defense-man missed his pass attempt and the puck just sat there for a good two seconds. I felt foolish. I’m going to start stopping in front of the defense-man on the forecheck because I know I can take off quicker than most.
Where I was pleased was on the face off dot. I have been more attentive taking drops, trying to focus on winning it instead of just tying up the opponent. Still, that is partially a team stat. I told my left winger that I was going to try and win the draw over to him, so he needs to cut in for it. I won, cleanly only to see it slide through his legs, and he didn’t even have his stick on the ice. This caused a large amount of frustration for me for a variety of reasons, but I tried to remain focused and positive.
I did make some good passes, and handled the puck much better as the game went on. I also feel I didn’t get outworked at all, which is always a plus for me.
Showing posts with label forecheck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forecheck. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Monday, October 31, 2011
Goaldiggers vs. Chicago Blue 2011-10-30
Not to thrilled about playing, I headed to the rink. Maybe it was my long weekend, crappy weather or sore back. I just wasn't excited. The team was better than last week because we had 10 skaters opposed to last week's 9. Additionally, we knew this was a team that we had the potential to beat, and have beat in the past.
I think I had my best first period ever. I had energy, took my time and was solid on the fore check. Defensively I felt I did a good job too. Most of the night, I had this big d-man near me. He wasn't heavy, but he had to have been about 6'6". It made it difficult to get pucks past him because he had such a long reach. I remember anything I'd throw even remotely near him, he had the potential to knock it down, or did knock it down. I put pressure on him whenever he had the puck and learned he wasn't an agile player, and couldn't handle the puck very well. I would disrupt him, and cause him to rush his pass, and it created good opportunities for our team. They had another defense-men who was smaller, and had similar issues but was a better puck mover. The best chance of the game for me came from a hard fore check behind the net. The d-man threw it up the boards and it just caused a little havoc. It caused some scrambling in the neutral zone, and a d-man jumped up in to the play. I called for the puck in the slot, knowing I was wide open as both d-men were on him on the wall. He put it toward the net, and I had two or three good knocks at it. I was standing in the paint, and the d-man lifted my stick so hard that it spun me around. It was a great chance but no luck. It amazes me how big the crease is when you're standing in front of it, but how small it is when you're moving even remotely quickly.
One part of my game I think I struggle with, and so do some of the other Goaldiggers is moving in our own zone once we have the puck. Typically I stay on the wall and look for a pass standing still. I've been trying to move towards the net and get a better angle for a pass. I'm trying to pick the right times to do this so we can generate more chances on the rush by getting behind the -man. At the same time, I have to watch to make sure I get back if there is a turnover. It worked a couple of times tonight, so that is something to be very positive about.
At one point we had a bad change where players were changing with the puck in our end. I saw the pressure on the d-man, on the left side, and even though I was right, I raced as hard as I could to the left to help out. He got it about 4 feet from the blue line and then I tried to get it out from there. I was able to use my speed to knock it out of the zone, and create a rush. I didn't take my time though. As soon as I could, I shot it thinking I was about to lose possession. I got back to the bench, and the center said I had a good extra second or two more.
I loved my game tonight. I had energy, I disrupted their breakout passes, and helped our team get the puck out of our zone. I think the breakout part is big as I feel useless most nights in this area. For me, I think that will help the team out a lot in the future. Even though we lost 5-3 or something, there were still lots of positives to take out of it.
I think I had my best first period ever. I had energy, took my time and was solid on the fore check. Defensively I felt I did a good job too. Most of the night, I had this big d-man near me. He wasn't heavy, but he had to have been about 6'6". It made it difficult to get pucks past him because he had such a long reach. I remember anything I'd throw even remotely near him, he had the potential to knock it down, or did knock it down. I put pressure on him whenever he had the puck and learned he wasn't an agile player, and couldn't handle the puck very well. I would disrupt him, and cause him to rush his pass, and it created good opportunities for our team. They had another defense-men who was smaller, and had similar issues but was a better puck mover. The best chance of the game for me came from a hard fore check behind the net. The d-man threw it up the boards and it just caused a little havoc. It caused some scrambling in the neutral zone, and a d-man jumped up in to the play. I called for the puck in the slot, knowing I was wide open as both d-men were on him on the wall. He put it toward the net, and I had two or three good knocks at it. I was standing in the paint, and the d-man lifted my stick so hard that it spun me around. It was a great chance but no luck. It amazes me how big the crease is when you're standing in front of it, but how small it is when you're moving even remotely quickly.
One part of my game I think I struggle with, and so do some of the other Goaldiggers is moving in our own zone once we have the puck. Typically I stay on the wall and look for a pass standing still. I've been trying to move towards the net and get a better angle for a pass. I'm trying to pick the right times to do this so we can generate more chances on the rush by getting behind the -man. At the same time, I have to watch to make sure I get back if there is a turnover. It worked a couple of times tonight, so that is something to be very positive about.
At one point we had a bad change where players were changing with the puck in our end. I saw the pressure on the d-man, on the left side, and even though I was right, I raced as hard as I could to the left to help out. He got it about 4 feet from the blue line and then I tried to get it out from there. I was able to use my speed to knock it out of the zone, and create a rush. I didn't take my time though. As soon as I could, I shot it thinking I was about to lose possession. I got back to the bench, and the center said I had a good extra second or two more.
I loved my game tonight. I had energy, I disrupted their breakout passes, and helped our team get the puck out of our zone. I think the breakout part is big as I feel useless most nights in this area. For me, I think that will help the team out a lot in the future. Even though we lost 5-3 or something, there were still lots of positives to take out of it.
Goaldiggers vs. North Stars 2011-10-25
I got to the rink a little later than normal, and was the third one. I was concerned that we'd have to forfeit. We ended up having 9 skaters - a trend lately for the Goaldiggers.
Well, it wasn't pretty. Our team was just flat all night. Forwards weren't back checking, players were bunching up and playing on top of each other. It was just bad all around. I felt like I wasn't skating well. It felt like I had to skate twice as hard to go at my normal pace.
It felt like any time I'd have a puck come by me I was off balance, or I just couldn't reach it. An example was I was in a turn, and I was leaning on my stick to make the turn faster, but then the puck came by me, I couldn't do anything because if I moved my stick, I'd fall.
Once it was 5-0, I felt I needed to skate as hard as I could. Fore checking spread out their team a bit, but we just didn't have the energy to take advantage of it more than once or twice. I had one shot off the rush where I took a hard shot (slow for normal players), hoping for a rebound, but there wasn't anyone there. I tried to gain more confidence with the puck, and try different things at that point. I think total we had less than 10 shots on the other goalie, so we really had no chance the way we were skating.
It was a long game.
I wonder if I eat enough food during the week to play? I remember when I was playing well a month or two ago, I was eating fast food a lot more frequently, and the past little while, I've made some changes in my diet. Maybe I'll eat more bacon during the week.
Well, it wasn't pretty. Our team was just flat all night. Forwards weren't back checking, players were bunching up and playing on top of each other. It was just bad all around. I felt like I wasn't skating well. It felt like I had to skate twice as hard to go at my normal pace.
It felt like any time I'd have a puck come by me I was off balance, or I just couldn't reach it. An example was I was in a turn, and I was leaning on my stick to make the turn faster, but then the puck came by me, I couldn't do anything because if I moved my stick, I'd fall.
Once it was 5-0, I felt I needed to skate as hard as I could. Fore checking spread out their team a bit, but we just didn't have the energy to take advantage of it more than once or twice. I had one shot off the rush where I took a hard shot (slow for normal players), hoping for a rebound, but there wasn't anyone there. I tried to gain more confidence with the puck, and try different things at that point. I think total we had less than 10 shots on the other goalie, so we really had no chance the way we were skating.
It was a long game.
I wonder if I eat enough food during the week to play? I remember when I was playing well a month or two ago, I was eating fast food a lot more frequently, and the past little while, I've made some changes in my diet. Maybe I'll eat more bacon during the week.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Goaldiggers vs. Chiefs 2011-10-08
Tonight made me appreciate matching jerseys. Typically the Goaldiggers wear blue, but tonight, our opponents had blue, and we switched to nearly every color of the rainbow. Very frustrating to me, but no big deal.
The team we were playing against were a little bit lower than Piranha level, meaning they really had no chance. The problem is, the Goaldiggers saw that they were by far more talented, and played down to their level. We got lazy, made bad passes and bad choices. As the game went on, we did get smarter, but still made stupid mistakes.
The team decided to use this team as a way to get in shape and practice smart decisions after the first period. The team never practices together, or has really strategy talk, so this was a good practice for us.
I tried to get back to skating like I used to, where I would fore check as hard as I could. It had mixed results. One play I broke up their pass, another resulted in a great stretch pass, but one resulted in some contact. I had gotten off balance some how, and ended up just kind of tripping over the defensemen after he made a pass. I didn't fall but I stretched my neck out pretty good on his body, and it is still sore 36 hours later. I also focused on staying on the point better and not going down so low in my own zone.
At one point in the second period, I was a part of a good cycle. Five or six times we were able to pass the puck along the boards, into the slot and generate some type of chance. I was set up in the corner. We tried to get that going again, just as a practice, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen.
The game reminded me of what it is like to play against less experienced players. I have to play more cautiously for my own safety. Players having less experience make strange choices, and can ultimately lead to injury. A prime example happened in the third. I had picked up the puck at the top of the circle. I went in slowly to try and look for a spot to pass to. I heard the defensemen say that someone was coming, and made my choice right then. As I was releasing the shot, my stick wasn't lifted, I wasn't bumped, or anything I was expecting. No, instead I was tripped from behind as the skater slid on the ice and took out my legs. I assume he was back checking hard, tried to stop and tripped. Not a dirty play, but something you have to be alert for. Playing on the Coyotes, this is something I will have to keep in mind.
I had one assist on a goal off of a face off, and a few shots. The Goaldiggers one 10-3 or 11-3, something like that. We could have easily run up the score, but we were more or less playing keep away at specific times in the game.
The team we were playing against were a little bit lower than Piranha level, meaning they really had no chance. The problem is, the Goaldiggers saw that they were by far more talented, and played down to their level. We got lazy, made bad passes and bad choices. As the game went on, we did get smarter, but still made stupid mistakes.
The team decided to use this team as a way to get in shape and practice smart decisions after the first period. The team never practices together, or has really strategy talk, so this was a good practice for us.
I tried to get back to skating like I used to, where I would fore check as hard as I could. It had mixed results. One play I broke up their pass, another resulted in a great stretch pass, but one resulted in some contact. I had gotten off balance some how, and ended up just kind of tripping over the defensemen after he made a pass. I didn't fall but I stretched my neck out pretty good on his body, and it is still sore 36 hours later. I also focused on staying on the point better and not going down so low in my own zone.
At one point in the second period, I was a part of a good cycle. Five or six times we were able to pass the puck along the boards, into the slot and generate some type of chance. I was set up in the corner. We tried to get that going again, just as a practice, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen.
The game reminded me of what it is like to play against less experienced players. I have to play more cautiously for my own safety. Players having less experience make strange choices, and can ultimately lead to injury. A prime example happened in the third. I had picked up the puck at the top of the circle. I went in slowly to try and look for a spot to pass to. I heard the defensemen say that someone was coming, and made my choice right then. As I was releasing the shot, my stick wasn't lifted, I wasn't bumped, or anything I was expecting. No, instead I was tripped from behind as the skater slid on the ice and took out my legs. I assume he was back checking hard, tried to stop and tripped. Not a dirty play, but something you have to be alert for. Playing on the Coyotes, this is something I will have to keep in mind.
I had one assist on a goal off of a face off, and a few shots. The Goaldiggers one 10-3 or 11-3, something like that. We could have easily run up the score, but we were more or less playing keep away at specific times in the game.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Piranhas vs. Grizzlies - 2011-09-07
Last game, I lost my temper. I wasn’t happy with how I was playing, I wasn’t happy with our team work, or how our team was playing. For a game that really has no meaning (I’m never going to play at a high level, so who cares), I took it way to seriously. Earlier in the day before this game, I was reminded of that. I didn’t think about the game at all during the day. In fact, I gave serious consideration to skipping it.
I went, and I’m glad I did. Playing helped relieve stress that I had acquired since the last game. I was thinking about how I can mess with the other team rather than all of the bad things that happened throughout the day.
The Grizzlies had some big guys and good skaters. They also had some weaker skaters who were more like pylons, and did a lot of stick work. In the first period, I gained the puck in the neutral zone. As I was skating through the neutral zone, I felt one of their sticks in between my legs. As it was bouncing around, I felt that was an opportunity to either get his stick out of his hands, or draw a penalty. I made a hard left turn and pumped my legs to move forward as fast as I can and get the stick out of his hands. I couldn't keep my balance, but I drew the penalty. In second period, after a battle down low, with the puck in the neutral zone, they tripped me. I felt that was a weak call, but we’ll take it.
I had chased down the puck several times into the corner, but kept getting out muscled, and not getting control of the puck. At one point, I did gain control and had plenty of time to look and make a pass. I looked at my team mates, and didn’t see any options. I didn’t want to create an oddman rush going the other way so the pass to a d-man was out. I made a quick pass right into the crease, hoping that my center would pick it up and get a rebound, but it didn’t work out.
I had a couple of good forechecks where I was able to disrupt a pass, and put a lot of pressure on players. Once or twice, I was a bit too patient and didn’t get the puck out of our own zone, but it was better than just a blind pass.
In the third, we were up and wanted to make sure we put pressure on the other team. The rink was wide open, and that allowed me to put a lot of pressure on the d-men. It really caused them to make poor decisions. Bad passes were made, I was able to deflect a pass near the net. In the neutral zone, I was able to pick off a pass and I had a breakaway from the red line in. I could feel the players behind me, and I was more focused on them than the goalie. I was focused on moving forward as fast as I could, and I was lightning down the ice. I think a lot of the Piranhas didn’t know I had that speed. But 10 feet in, I realized I wasn’t going to get tripped like I thought I would, so I had to do what I had to. The goalie was all over, and shaky. His legs were wide, so I just gave a tap forward to go through the 5-hole, and he was able to get his stick on it and knock it away.
I needed this game. I played well, and with the last game as well as things away from the ice, It really helped me stay positive. I’m glad that the Piranhas got a victory. We deserved a lot more than what we got last game, and deserved this victory as well.
I went, and I’m glad I did. Playing helped relieve stress that I had acquired since the last game. I was thinking about how I can mess with the other team rather than all of the bad things that happened throughout the day.
The Grizzlies had some big guys and good skaters. They also had some weaker skaters who were more like pylons, and did a lot of stick work. In the first period, I gained the puck in the neutral zone. As I was skating through the neutral zone, I felt one of their sticks in between my legs. As it was bouncing around, I felt that was an opportunity to either get his stick out of his hands, or draw a penalty. I made a hard left turn and pumped my legs to move forward as fast as I can and get the stick out of his hands. I couldn't keep my balance, but I drew the penalty. In second period, after a battle down low, with the puck in the neutral zone, they tripped me. I felt that was a weak call, but we’ll take it.
I had chased down the puck several times into the corner, but kept getting out muscled, and not getting control of the puck. At one point, I did gain control and had plenty of time to look and make a pass. I looked at my team mates, and didn’t see any options. I didn’t want to create an oddman rush going the other way so the pass to a d-man was out. I made a quick pass right into the crease, hoping that my center would pick it up and get a rebound, but it didn’t work out.
I had a couple of good forechecks where I was able to disrupt a pass, and put a lot of pressure on players. Once or twice, I was a bit too patient and didn’t get the puck out of our own zone, but it was better than just a blind pass.
In the third, we were up and wanted to make sure we put pressure on the other team. The rink was wide open, and that allowed me to put a lot of pressure on the d-men. It really caused them to make poor decisions. Bad passes were made, I was able to deflect a pass near the net. In the neutral zone, I was able to pick off a pass and I had a breakaway from the red line in. I could feel the players behind me, and I was more focused on them than the goalie. I was focused on moving forward as fast as I could, and I was lightning down the ice. I think a lot of the Piranhas didn’t know I had that speed. But 10 feet in, I realized I wasn’t going to get tripped like I thought I would, so I had to do what I had to. The goalie was all over, and shaky. His legs were wide, so I just gave a tap forward to go through the 5-hole, and he was able to get his stick on it and knock it away.
I needed this game. I played well, and with the last game as well as things away from the ice, It really helped me stay positive. I’m glad that the Piranhas got a victory. We deserved a lot more than what we got last game, and deserved this victory as well.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Goaldiggers Game - 2011-05-17
This was the first game for the Goaldiggers after our Kalamazoo trip. It is the start of our new season, and I knew that meant we wouldn't get off to a slow start as our team usually does after long layoffs. The problem this week is that we were missing our two best players. This caused a real lack of offense on our team. I think we entered the zone once in the first period. It wasn't good. The opponents were one of the top teams in our league.
So we had 10 guys again, meaning we were only rolling with two forward lines. I knew I could keep up simply because my conditioning felt good the night before. I got a lot of extra ice time throughout the night, and I was fine with it. I still feel like a greedy player when I do it though. I used to be able to play an entire game and not come off the ice, and I'm trying to get back to that level again.
The first half of the game was bad. We couldn't generate anything, and our forwards were just sloppy. I think we started playing better when we upped the pressure on our fore-check. We'd force them to make passes they didn't want, and they would either miss the pass, or put that player in a position where he didn't have much help. Our defense is outstanding, and I think that if we can keep it to 2 on 2 situations, we'll come out ahead frequently. We really play better when we have our guys spread out.
Still, we lost 5-0, but we gave it a good effort. Missing 3 guys, and two being your best players is tough.
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