Another great game. Ottawa played a very tough checking game. That's the way to play the Isles. The big problem for Ottawa and the rest of the league is that the Isles are great on 4 on 4. We scored two goals and the game winner in overtime. Isles are a very fast skating team that crashes the net. We are 3-0 in overtime and 5-0 in the shoot out because we have great shoot out specialists. Number 1 in the league is Franz Nielson in shoot out percentage over the years. Kyle Okposo is also very good: 4 of 5 this year. We play a similar game to Tampa, but our defense is much better with Boychuk and Leddy, especially Boychuk. We lost another defenseman, Travis Hamonic tonight. I think Pullock or Reinhart gets called up. Clutterbuck got injured too, but Michael Grabner, an incredibly fast skater and great penalty killer is ready to go and will take his place.
There is real Isles fever going on after 20 lean years. This team is for real. Our number 1 picks are finally growing up and becoming stars: Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome are playing like super stars. They are just as valuable, if not more so, than Tavaras. Anders Lee has made a big impact. Kulemin has been a beast. Grabowski is a good player.
The leaders of this team are Boychuk and Leddy, especially Boychuk. They have won Stanley Cups and the whole team looks up to them, including Tavaras. When Boychuk and Leddy talk, the whole team listens closely to them because they want to win the Cup. Boychuk, in particular, has been a very big inspirational leader for the young players on the Isles. The team looks at them as role models for doing what is necessary for winning the Cup. And that includes the Coach, Jack Capuano.
The Isles are loaded with talent at the AHL level, especially defensemen. In 2012 the Isles top 8 picks were all defensemen. And in 2013, our first pick was a defenseman. Halak has played really well.
Something special is developing here. If this continues, the Isles will win the Cup. |
