Cardiff home (21/01) & Dundee away (22/01)

[takina]

So what do we all think?

Would like to know the state of play regards Jorgensen / Noble and Godfrey before sticking my neck out too far but if the Blaze game tonight is anything like the last two home games then win or lose we're in for a treat.
Significant game tomorrow with Dundee hard on our heels and with games in hand on us too. Not an easy rink to play in, so whilst I'm hopeful for the points, we'll have to shake off bus legs really quickly and play sensible hockey for the full 60 if we're to get anything

[jen]

Will be difficult to stay out the box, Hogarth is ref again and if his idea of control is what it was last week then God help us all.

[IX2T311]

Not completely convinced we're going to get a win tonight, but if we could have Godfrey, Noble, and Jorgensen back I wouldn't want to bet against us, odds on us are 3/1 and 4/7 for Cardiff, which seems slightly unfair to me; I'd have said we're a little more on par with them than that? Saying that, I'm just a fan, I'm sure they know something I don't.

Tomorrow though I'm quite hopeful, they're some crucial points to get and I think a win is almost mandatory, if we could do it in regulation as well I'd be all the happier. Equally Dundee will be saying the same thing. At the moment if they win either of their games in hand over us then they'll jump us, but if we could get two clean points tomorrow then it'll be a harder job.
Side note here of if Edinburgh win all their games in hand then we'll be equal on points, but as usual I'm not entirely sure how all the fiddly-nonsense goes after that.
However, that does require both teams actually winning their games in hand, which isn't guaranteed to happen. Edinburgh and Dundee are playing each other on the third and all we can do for that is pray that it's a one sided stomp of a game which is over way before 60 minutes.

A close game tonight which could go either way and a nice win tomorrow would be my guess.

[takina]

Well I think the scoreline flattered us somewhat, ill discipline by Cardiff in P2 helping us to get closer to parity. In reality, 5 on 5 we weren't very good and had it not been for Brian, the goals against would probably have been higher. 3 imports down and DS still doesn't give Klotz regular ice time, I just don't get it personally, he may not be the greatest player but I'd take him over Bordy any day and he saw plenty of ice time.

So - with the rant bit done - admired the team for never buckling, nice to see us scoring goals - for all that Cardiff were the better team and deserved the win, they weren't all that convincing and if we were at full strength the result may well have been different. Jen gets my star of the week award for calling Hogarth spot on, some "interesting" calls to say the least, I like the fact that he talks and consults but my oh my there were some bemused faces (from both teams) as they skated to the sin bin. Bit thin skinned too, I think, I like refs who explain and talk but he needs to blow his whistle a little less frequently on the small stuff and accept that hockey is a contact sport. Thought he allowed two (that I saw) significant incidents to go uncalled too. Not impressed tonight but I like his approach (if not his execution) and I hope he improves

Almeida and Andy Hotham clearly dislike each other - no idea what the cause is but, despite the size difference, they niggled all night - I'm told it was the same down in Cardiff

So - Dundee got thrashed in Belfast, we need a win tomorrow. Need to be smarter than tonight by quite a margin. Hockey is not "Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes," give Brian a chance and he'll keep us in games, Dundee can score, and we need to be way tighter, play like we did tonight it'll be a long coach journey up there followed by a longer journey home.

[pjblaze]

I thought it was a decent performance and at least it felt like we were in it right to the end. Especially with the players injured.

My main dissapointment was face offs. We seemed to lose the vast majority which constantly started us on the back foot.

[breezerblaze]

Cardif nearly beat themselves with their indisipline.
Glad to see that we are continuing to play well on the powerplay.

And why did the ref get the Devils playing a new game 'Penalty Box Musical Chairs'. Again two refs or video replay would have sorted this.

[kerry]

I have just watched the highlights. I knew Hogarth was rubbish last night but the Check to the head penalty was completely wrong. Joey and the Blaze player touched shoulders ,clearly not the head !!

[jen]

Shut out for Stewie with 3 top D men missing! Superb. Well played Blaze and Stewy.