Pretty decent showing for the boys. Canes are younger and faster but we basically hung on the whole game.
I thought Kuemper was excellent. Lil
don't like him, but he's the main reason we managed a tie. He was pretty tuned in. I don't think he's a flashy 10-bell save kind of guy, but he is solid.
Friggin refs wanted everyone to know they were out there. Some pretty lame ass calls and WAY too many. When was the last game you saw TWO calls for embelishment? Killing a penalty in the last two minutes and giving them an extra few seconds in the OT was scary. I think the wasted time 4v4 in OT actually helped us. We too slow to hang with the Canes 3v3.
I don't know why the even put Ovie out there in OT. I mean I see Kuzy cause he skates so well, but if we could ever win a face off it may result in something. Just getting to the shootout felt like a win to me.
And take Ovie out of the SO. Not really his forte. Kuzy, yes, definitely - he flat out embarrasses the goalie sometimes. Strome I think could be good (despite his o for 4 record) Hell, put McMike out there - he might actually have pretty good hands.
As for Mcmike and his limited minutes.....THIS was not the game for him - hard checking, back checking, fore-checking. That's not McMike and he is a defensive liability so that's why they limit his minutes. I mean I agree he's gotta learn at some point, but I was not surprised he didn't get used much. I'd throw him out there on the PP and see what he can do. He is an offensively skilled guy - not a checker. He's like a slower Vranna :-) who doesn't pull his weight on the fore check or back check.
They didn't miss Mr. Norris in this game one bit.
