SUNDAY 18/02/18
NIHL SOUTH 1
STREATHAM REDHAWKS VS INVICTA DYNAMOS
So first, have decided to rethink the naming of Streatham game posts. As I have migrated to the upper deck of the High Road I have decided to rename these posts as Hawks Eye View.
Pre Game
Streatham came in to this game, seeking to maintain the 100% record they had built against the Dynamos. Trying to stay in the chase for 5th place, the Redhawk's needed a win after being shut out the week before by Peterborough and a 6-2 defeat to Swindon the night before. With Chris Cooke returning to the line up the Hawks were back to a 5 man D corps.
The Dynamo's came in to this game under strength, as Ryan Morgan, Louis Colvin and Josh Condren were all scratches. With 14 skaters and having been taken to overtime the night before by Cardiff Fire the Dynamo's would need to dig deep, and find a way to slow the pace of the game down in order to not become exhausted. Given that the favoured approach of the Redhawks is one that reallies heavily on their speed this was going to require the Dynamo's to be very physical.
1st Period
The Redhawks would win the opening face off, but the game would have a very cautious start as both sides looked for a way through the others defenses. The Hawks however decided to abandon their usual center ice stretch pass route and opted for a more physical approach dumping pucks in to the corners. While the Dynamo's attempted to counter by trying to take the ice up the center through to the slot area.
The first real chance came after Siagris was able to dump the puck from the blue line towards the waiting stick of Adam Carr who's tip attempt was saved by King. Shortly after Ranson and Rose would combine on a 2 on 1 attack but again King was able to pad the puck away. Two minutes in and the Redhawks would find themselves on the PK as Jacob Ranson found himself being called for holding Mason Websters stick.
The Hawks PK has been one of the strongest aspects of this team, and once again the PK's discipline shone through, as they held the Dynamo's puck carriers to the outside and maintained solid spacing throughout. This allowed Carr and Allen to break out, Ralph would try to break up the passing between the two of them but the rebound would be gifted back to Carr who found a way to stuff it under King and make it 1-0 to the Hawks.
Invicta would try to answer back with the rest of its power play, but again the Hawks PK was keeping the Mo's puck carriers to the outside, only allowing point shots. Ralph would have the best of these chances but with Colclough on form and any attempts at a screen being cleared nothing was getting through to the net.
With the penalty killed, the Hawks took control of the game, Doughty would go close going end to end unchallenged, cutting in from the boards and almost firing one past King from close range. Invicta would fire back as Webster and Strawson would find Osman wide open, but Colclough had the shot spotted and made the save.
The Hawks would extend the lead, going 2-0 as Adam Carr added to his tally for the night. Baird and Watt would work the puck round the cycle to find Carr who would work hard to get the puck in front of net and lift it over King to make the mountain the Mo's had to climb higher.
7 minutes later, the Hawks would extend the lead even further. Taking advantage of a series of turn overs in the neutral zone Ranson and Webb would find a way in 2 on 1 with Strawson the last line of defense. Webb would use the screen this created to fire the puck net-ward. The deflection caught King off guard and ended up in the net 3-0 Redhawks.
The 1st Period would end 3-0 to the Hawks. It had been a mixed period. The Hawks passive Defensive fore check had allowed the Dynamo's to gain zonal entries, however any shots that they could get off Colclough was able to deal with. Also the Hawks were winning the battle of the boards clearing pucks from dump attempts.
2nd Period
The Dynamo's would win the opening face off of the second, and changed up the game plan. Dumping pucks and trying to skate at the Hawks. However the start of the period would see a slightly blunt start from both teams offenses. With the puck trapped in a neutral zone turn over trap.
But the Dynamo's would try to break this cycle by switching to cross crease passes and crashing the net, trying to create tip ins and rebounds.
However the WCW line would strike again to make it 4-0 to the Redhawks. Adam Carr would skate in unchallenged on a 2 on 1. With the Dynamo's D backing off this left Ryan Watt open to collect a cross slot pass, Watt would fire in to the net and make it 4-0.
The Dynamo's would finally find a way to answer back a minute later. The Hawks passive fore check allowed a turn over in the neutral zone. Allowing Jaroslav Cesky to exploit an opening and skate in unopposed, before dekeing the puck around Colclough to break the shut out and make it 4-1.
This goal served as a boost to the Dynamo's as they, became more aggressive going forward and more assertive on the puck. Forcing turnovers in the neutral zone and hemming the Hawks in their own end. However they were unable to convert this possession in to scoring chances, until an errant clearance attempt by Siagris allowed Cesky and Connolly to combine for a shot Colclough was again able to save
3rd Period
The 3rd period would see another stuttering start, as a series of whistles by the officials kept killing the play. Then Tom Ralph would take a cross checking penalty when the Mo's were on the break. The Hawks would work the Mo's PK hard on the following power play, but despite forcing the Mo's PK to collapse in on their own net the Hawks could not find a way to extend the lead
After successfully killing the penalty, the Mo's became more aggressive again crashing the net, Webster and Ralph would come close forcing saves out of Colclough trying to force tip ins and rebounds. When unable to get the puck in to the central slot area, the Mo's would resort to ranged shots at the point with Ralph being used as the point man here.
The Hawks had begun to sit back at this point, with a 3 goal lead, all they needed to do was park the bus and try to catch the Mo's on the break. The Dynamo's were still being allowed to get pucks in to the center slot area but Colclough eiter saved anything net bound, while the defense was doing a solid job sweeping the zone clear.
However Ryan Watt would put the final exclamation point on the game at 48 minutes,converting a power play after Brandon Webster was called for charging. The Hawks would move the puck around the outside of the penalty kill box that the Mo's had set up. Doughty, and Farn would move the puck around for a perfect tic tac toe goal as Ryan Watt would beat King five hole to make it 5-1
With a 4 goal lead the Hawks went in to shut down mode for the final 12 minutes, and unfortunately for the Dynamo's it looked like the short bench and overtime the night before had finally taken its toll. The Mo's would be gifted a late power play, but the units sent out looked disorganized and seemingly had no game plan as every attempt at working the puck in was repelled.
In the closing minutes, Webster and Cesky would try to pull something else off for the visitors. Ralph would come close on a point shot, as the deflection off Colclough's blocker would force a dramatic save on the rebound as the Mo's crashed the net. However the Mo's became gassed at this point as the short bench finally took its toll. The Hawks would pen the Dynamo's in their own end, effortlessly able to move the puck around and cause chaos around the net. But despite chances for Webb, Siagris and Ranson the Hawks could not add to the scoreline.
The Game would end 5-1 to the Hawks, maintaining the 100% record on the season and giving the Hawks a much needed win after 2 defeats in a row.
POST GAME
After 2 defeats in a row, that win was much needed for the Hawks. And keeps them within striking distance of 5th in the league mathematically. This was a strong performance by the Hawks at both ends of the ice. Matt Colclough thoroughly deserved his MOTM beers as aside from a very well executed solo effort from Cesky he was able to turn away everything thrown at him. In with a shout as well was the members of the WCW line. Watt, Carr and Webb ran rampant tonight collecting 4 goals between them and the Dynamo's had no answer for them.
The Dynamo's put up a fight, and while other visits by the Dynamo's in the past have turned in to penalty heavy slug fests, this game they stuck to a game plan that showed they can play hockey when not spending large portions of the game on the PK. Jaroslav Cesky was well deserving of the MOTM beers for the visitors. Along with Mason Webster Cesky worked tirelessly to try and make something and peg back the free scoring Redhawk's. Down to 14 skaters however, and having been taken to OT the night before it was clear that despite the discipline of the Dynamo's and the wealth of possession they had they had nothing left in the tank by the end.
Up next for the Redhawk's, as the season enters the final straight, its the Cardiff Fire. On paper this looks like an easily bankable 2 points. But the Fire have suddenly clicked and begun to find a way to compete as was evidenced by taking both the Dynamos and the Wildcats to OT on consecutive nights. Combined with the exciting prospect in net of Jordan Lawday the next game at the High Road could be close. With it being the only game for the Hawks next weekend this will be a must win in the race to make 4th.
No comments:
Post a Comment