I beg to differ
Mackers,
The Caps can't beat Hershey. They shut down the outside threat from Sulentic and Kindel (the guy who marked Kindel out of the game scored their third goal on a brilliant run) all night long and outnumbered the Caps all over the field through superior speed and smarts; Vancouver never quite figured out that (if he's fast and determined, like Hershey were) the first guy you beat is going to get goalside on you again if you try to take on the next two who are waiting.
Their two center backs were tough and fast and dominant in the air. Tilley was the only guy winning the odd head ball, but his flick-ons were run down by (usually) at least two other defenders or the keeper.
The biggest gaffe of the night was going to three in the back and putting Nico Berg in the middle. He was two steps slower than Hershey's slowest guy and even when he did get to the ball he lacked the confidence to distribute effectively. He got stuffed for a breakaway on one occasion that drained what little confidence Didar had right out of him.
I read in the Province about the little guy who set up the third goal and bagged the fourth on a breakaway from his side of center. I guess Mitchell thought his stats were a blip in the league this year. Vancouver's answer: move the only guy who could keep up (Franks) to a more attacking position and leave the middle of your defense exposed.
No, I don't think they are going to beat Hershey with their current squad and, although I've heard that they all got on the plane this morning (minus Skinner who is injured) the brass had to have had at least a passing thought of forfeiting the game, paying the league fine and saving the 25K or so it's going to cost them to get to Pennsylvania and back.
Mackers,
The Caps can't beat Hershey. They shut down the outside threat from Sulentic and Kindel (the guy who marked Kindel out of the game scored their third goal on a brilliant run) all night long and outnumbered the Caps all over the field through superior speed and smarts; Vancouver never quite figured out that (if he's fast and determined, like Hershey were) the first guy you beat is going to get goalside on you again if you try to take on the next two who are waiting.
Their two center backs were tough and fast and dominant in the air. Tilley was the only guy winning the odd head ball, but his flick-ons were run down by (usually) at least two other defenders or the keeper.
The biggest gaffe of the night was going to three in the back and putting Nico Berg in the middle. He was two steps slower than Hershey's slowest guy and even when he did get to the ball he lacked the confidence to distribute effectively. He got stuffed for a breakaway on one occasion that drained what little confidence Didar had right out of him.
I read in the Province about the little guy who set up the third goal and bagged the fourth on a breakaway from his side of center. I guess Mitchell thought his stats were a blip in the league this year. Vancouver's answer: move the only guy who could keep up (Franks) to a more attacking position and leave the middle of your defense exposed.
No, I don't think they are going to beat Hershey with their current squad and, although I've heard that they all got on the plane this morning (minus Skinner who is injured) the brass had to have had at least a passing thought of forfeiting the game, paying the league fine and saving the 25K or so it's going to cost them to get to Pennsylvania and back.