Look at the score and it’s easy to say that
the Bandits just were outclassed by a vastly superior team from Waterloo. But
try this... picture a 1-0 score half way through the first period, with
Waterloo having had 7 shots but NO legitimate scoring chances. Every shot was
from the periphery, and Dylan was turning everything aside easily.
Now picture this... a 3½ minute shift for a Bandit’s line, while the Wolves changed players 3 times half way through that first period. That is when the Wolves scored their first goal... and that was the story of the game. Tired legs have been a story all season long: note that, of the team’s first 10 losses, 6 of them were games in which the Bandits were either tied or leading half way through the game. At the time, the explanation was simple... we were out-manned numerically. But now that the team has double-digit skaters most games, and 13 skaters eligible to play, the explanation is more fixable: skaters are staying out on the ice too long. On that 3½ minute shift that led to the Wolves’ first goal, there was a face-off in our end, and the puck was once cleared all the way into the Wolves’ zone... but no Bandits players changed. And much the same was true of the second goal (a 2+ minute shift) and most of those that followed. In the NHL, the average shift is 45 seconds long.
Would the Bandits have beaten Waterloo with shorter shifts? Probably not. But would the core been 9 to 2 at the end? Almost certainly not. More likely much closer... 5-2? 4-2? 3-2? And this team has already shown it can come back to salvage at least a tie in several close games. It’s something for the players to think about with a game against North London on the horizon.
As for the 3 stars. Despite the score, several players deserve mention. Jake and Ryan G. continue to impress with their tireless effort. Josh not only scored one goal and had an assist, he was our one legitimate scoring threat all game, and had an amazing plus/minus rating of +1 in such a one-sided loss. Patrick was Patrick... reliable defensively and having a plus/minus rating of zero. Bandon had a goal and an assist as well. Finally, despite the score, Dylan fought hard all game and deserves credit for numerous excellent saves and remaining focussed throughout... at least 5 or 6 goals he had absolutely no chance on, pucks being passed across to allow for open-net tip-ins.
So now we face North, a team that we have tied and lost to twice. The secret to a better result: Less is more, boys! Less in more!