Fans encouraged by Wheaties’ loss

: Ironically, it was during a loss that Brandon Wheat Kings finally showed their fans that they're a championship-calibre team.

Forget the 8-3 win over Kamloops or the 7-3 win over Prince George. Those were glorified scrimmages that the Wheat Kings — frustratingly to their fans, who expect more effort than they have been seeing much of this year — won while on cruise control.

But finally, in falling 4-3 to the Saskatoon Blades last Friday, a game the Wheat Kings dominated, fans could see that things might be fairly decent after all next May, when the Memorial Cup comes to town.

The Blades are the best team in the WHL and the Wheat Kings matched them stride for stride, losing the game only because of a three-minute blip in the first period when goalie Andrew Hayes, perhaps rusty from the action being almost totally at the other end through the first half of the period, gave up three goals on the first four shots he faced.

After that, he was spectacular. Meanwhile, the Wheat Kings were firing 47 shots at Blades' goalie Steven Stanford. It was a stark change from the Remembrance Day game against Prince George, when the Wheat Kings fell into their maddening habit of trying for the highlight reel goal with four or five passes instead of shooting. Friday, it was shoot-shoot-shoot, the way the truly offensively successful teams play, and it led to an up-tempo style that left Saskatoon hanging on for dear life. Stanford was the star, but the Wheat Kings' decision to start shooting more showed that, to this scribbler, goals will come in flurries this winter if that style of play — and effort — is maintained.

Forget the followup 8-7 overtime win Sunday against Regina. It was ugly, and one coach and GM Kelly McCrimmon should expunge from the video archives. Pull out the tape of that Saskatoon game and say, ‘OK boys, play like this and we can win the Cup.’

But back to the Wheaties’ habit of overpassing.

I blame it on the WHL “plays of the week.” Guaranteed — a play will make the grade if it includes four passes within spitting distance of the crease, including one blind behind-the-back pass and then a ‘roof’ shot over a befuddled goalie.

Problem is, those ultra spectacular plays occur with the frequency of a Jordin Tootoo NHL goal, so why not just blast away and see what happens?

When a player shoots from 20 feet in front of the net, a lot of good things can happen. It could go in. It could ricochet off a defenceman’s leg and zip past a startled goalie. It could be tipped in — on purpose or accidentally. It could create a nice juicy rebound for a team-mate.

But when a player passes off from 20 feet in front of the net more bad things can happen. It could be intercepted. It could be off-target. It could put the recipient in a less favourable position to shoot. It definitely gives the goalie more time to get ready. On the other hand, it might click for a goal.

Put NHLers Jarome Iginla or Patrick Marleau 20 feet in front of the net with the puck on their stick and the last thing they’ll be thinking about is a pass. A sniper knows when to shoot.

Comments

Be the first to comment!