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My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

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SOLD OUT!
Perhaps the biggest crowd in Battalion history (again) will be on hand tonight as the traveling circus known as the OHL Championship has finally come to the Bunker after 11 years.
Side attraction is the Bill Waters show.

Anyway as for the game itself..........

By far the worst effort of the year on Wednesday night and personally a loss that hurt even more then that 11-2 beating we took in the 06 playoffs.
However i havent lost all faith, i think the Troops will come out hard tonight, they saw how much faster the Spits were on Wednesday and they now know how hard they need to play to hang with them. Plus i know they dont wanna go through the same practice tomorrow as im sure they went through yesterday.
As has been said several times already, nothing LESS then there best game of the season will put the Troops on the board in this series.

Keys:
Skate hard win battles for the puck
Check hard, we arent the most pyschical team in this league but we can hold our own and make teams nervous (example Game 2 vs Belleville)
GET SHOTS ON THE NET: The one goal we did score Wednesday Engelage looked weak, problem was be barley got ANY good scoring chances what-so-ever in Game 1, most chances missed the net or was foiled by the Spits D.

This is doable guys.
As Cody said in the post game press conference Wednesday.
"When we play to our potential nobody can touch us."

Rimouski is only 4 wins away boys!

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

Remember that London game? The guys seemed to have fed off the energy the building had that night and they completely dismembered a pretty good London squad. Just no OT tonight, my ticker isn't strong enough...

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

Hey Bat, the rink has one of those defibrulators, and I have a set of jumper cables, so dont worry about OT!

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

As discussed in the Game 1 thread, it comes down to depth and intensity. Intensity can often trump depth (last year's playoffs, anyone?), so A LOT will hinge on how well the Troops begin tonight's contest. They were right about even with the Spits for most of the first period on Wednesday. They need to be better than the Spits for most of tonight's game. Shift after shift.

Mistakes will happen, it's inevitable. The Spits are too good not to force those. Shake it off and keep competing. I don't care if the score is 3-0 Brampton or 3-0 Windsor. I want to see the Battalion players competing like it's already overtime.

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

A much better effort tonight by the Troops but they just couldn't overcome those 3 first period goals. Might have been a different story if all those penalties didn't take away Brampton's momentum.

Interesting to see that if Brampton takes it's pokes at the Windsor players it seems to throw them off their game a little.

Good game tonight by Kang and Peluso. Kang almost connected with the tying goal...almost.

Game 3 goes Monday back at the WFCU Centre and it's a must win for the Battalion. If they play like they did in the 2nd and 3rd of tonight's game, it's gonna be a close checking hard game.

BTW I know those at the game didn't see it...but that Dale goal was a beauty...head down in the scrum the puck comes out between his skates...he kicks it towards the net and slams it home with the stick...awesome work !

Here's to a Game 3 win coming back to Brampton

GO TROOPS GO !

Gwai Lo

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

It was a heart breaker because that what it did to me. I thought the Troops were going to rally after a poor 90 seconds late in the first period that effectively sealed this one. They did bounce back in the early going of the second and started to play well. Dale was the best Battalion on the ice IMO; his goal, his massive hit on Hall on the PK (from which Hall saw very limited ice after that hit). Just his buzzing around the ice was what the Battalion needed.

I know talk of the officiating will make its rounds but it's one thing when it's bad but another when it's inconsistent. Quiet for half the game, then 7 guys in the box after the scrum in the second, then a linesman calling Albert for 4 minutes when it was Dale (I think that's why Stan was furious). Then deciding to put the whistles away for the final 4 or 5 minutes when Battalion should have had a call or two. Inconsistency (more than anything else) kills me...

Anybody notice a lady in section 13 or 14 holding up a sign saying 'Ref #19, you're a disgrace'. She had it going for a good twenty minutes, just standing there in the entrance to the bowl holding it at every whistle. Finally somebody came and kicked her out. But what was that all about.

I gloated during the Belleville series how the Troops were shutting down Tangradi, Cameron & Pither. The tables have turned and now Hodgson, Duchene & Grachev are all goalless through two games. Regardless of how well Brampton plays, these guys have to score; there's no other way around it. Hopefully they can find some twine in game 3...

Great crowd and even a futile attempt at the 'wave'; it was nice all around tonight. A good hockey game; I'll leave it that for now.

My Recent Posts · (05/01/09

Bat Man wrote:
Anybody notice a lady in section 13 or 14 holding up a sign saying 'Ref #19, you're a disgrace'. She had it going for a good twenty minutes, just standing there in the entrance to the bowl holding it at every whistle. Finally somebody came and kicked her out. But what was that all about.

That fan had that sign in the bleachers holding it right in the ref's face as he tried to walk to the ice, the ref tried ripping it out of the fans hands but the fan had a better grip lol
Anyway........

Not sure what to make from tonight.

Many may think that in the 1st the Battalion played bad but in all honesty, Brampton played hard, Windsor was just that much better.
McCollum stood on his head but those two soft goals at the end of the first really killed it.

2nd Period Brampton came out hard and played there best period of the series by far. However it wasnt like the Troops could easily go down and get chances like crazy they had to work for it, and even then the goals were so ugly only a homer could love them Wink

3rd was very even i thought, we just couldnt get enough chances

Not sure what the ref was thinking for that 4 Minute penalty to Albert, he didnt decide to call anything at all until the Spits bench lost it, and didnt decide on 4 until talking to the linesmen.

What hurts the most about tonights loss though........
The Troops tried there best played hard and still lost, too me that hurts more then a 10-1 blow out, i guess at least they are losing with dignity now.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Anything after that disgraceful performance on Wednesday would have been an improvement but once again, they played forty minutes of good hockey. However, this time, they decided to have their collective brain cramp in the first period instead of the traditional second. Lord, can anyone on this team throw a body check?

McCollum made some great saves but in the end, so what? He was giving up huge rebounds, was doing a Bryan Pitton imitation in handling the puck and let in two soft (one absolutely brutal) goals. That wasn't what Stan signed him up for.

It ain't over but they're going to have to put six consecutive periods of superior hockey together with superb goaltending to right this ship.

Who the hell wants to see Windsor celebrate their championship in OUR house?

Not me.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Certainly can't hang the loss on Thomas, Arthur come on. The second goal i'm sure was deflected off our D mans stick. He had no chance. That one hurt bad!
I think the Spits are by far the fastest team i've ever seen play. Against Belleville it was the Bulls who had to figure out how to deal with our speed on the forecheck, now it's us. I'd love to see the guys get some sticks on and run some interference in the neutral zone but we know what that will bring so the only answer is to get real physical on their D. It looked a little like that was the plan in the second and it seemed to work. The Spits don't have an overly big D so we need to dump the puck in, even Grachev, and bang and crash. It isn't pretty and it isn't the kind of hockey this team was built for but against these guys it is how we'll win. Did anyone see Peluso with a body check last night?? Is he in ijured?
No comment on the reffing.
Great to see the bunker full even if their was loads of Spits fans their. Didn't hear any bad language where we were sitting.
Need a quick start and early lead Monday. Come on boys never give up this isn't over.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Lamp

I'm not hanging the loss on McCollum and I don't want to get into a prolonged debate but he was picked up to fill a perceived deficiency in goaltending and quite frankly, I don't think he's been a substantial upgrade.

If you're a first round NHL draft pick you don't allow two goals in less than thirty seconds in the last minute or so of a period and certainly not two games in a row in the league championship. He looked like he was channeling Patrick Lalime on those two goals last night.

There was a flurry of five or six shots in a row in the first, all of which Thomas stopped, some brilliantly, but he started it all by kicking a rebound up into the high slot.

He's playing like he did in the WJC and I'm sure the Detroit brass is not amused.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Arthur Ellis wrote:
Lamp

I'm not hanging the loss on McCollum and I don't want to get into a prolonged debate but he was picked up to fill a perceived deficiency in goaltending and quite frankly, I don't think he's been a substantial upgrade.

If you're a first round NHL draft pick you don't allow two goals in less than thirty seconds in the last minute or so of a period and certainly not two games in a row in the league championship. He looked like he was channeling Patrick Lalime on those two goals last night.

There was a flurry of five or six shots in a row in the first, all of which Thomas stopped, some brilliantly, but he started it all by kicking a rebound up into the high slot.

He's playing like he did in the WJC and I'm sure the Detroit brass is not amused.

Arthur im not sure what your talking about.
Yes that 2nd goal was pretty bad but it may have been deflected.

If it wasnt for Thomas we would have had NO chance last night, guy stood on his head and if it was for some players getting 2 goals i would have given thomas at least 3rd star, he was great.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

I couldn't care less what the Detroit brass is thinking right now. They'll have plenty of time to work with McCollum when he's done here. All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals. He was weak in Game 1, and much better in Game 2. Could he do even better? Maybe, but so could the players in front of him.

Overall, the Troops played a lot better last night. But Windsor is a class above.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

First of all, Thomas did not singlehandedly get Brampton to the Final. It was a team effort.

He has been a big contributor in the playoffs but he hasn't stolen a game and he has done exactly what Stan brought him in to do. By any objective measurement he has NOT exceeded expectations.

He wasn't weak in Game 1, he was horrible and in game 2, he was inconsistent as hell, probably the worst thing a goalie can be.

Great saves don't mean a damn thing when you allow goals at the worst possible time. And you take those great saves with a huge grain of salt when you give up horrible rebounds to create the situation that forces you to make those saves.

I sit in section 6 and had a good view of those two goals at the end of the first. They were both stoppable. Period.

Sure, the other guys played like crap in the first period last night but what great goalies do is keep the team in the games until they regroup

In both games they could have gone to the room only down by one. Instead, they leave the ice down three. That's a momentum killer.

This is not how a first round draft pick plays in a league final. Remember, this is the final, not a mid February game against Kingston.

So far in the Final he's the same McCollum who played for the US in the WJC.

Sorry, I'm not inclined to cut him any slack. He's underperformed.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Arthur Ellis wrote:
First of all, Thomas did not singlehandedly get Brampton to the Final.

Thanks for assuming that's what I meant.

McCollum kept the Troops in it at 0-0 through a long stretch of the first period. I don't disagree that we need him to step up even more in the final, but to single him out when his teammates had a grand total of 4 shots in the first period is pretty lame.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Hey guys, after game 1, Butler was saying that all but 3 troops should have been charged admission, and I think that would be true for last nights 1st period. McCollum is the reason we were'nt in a bigger hole than we were. EVERYONE needs to step up, or start cleaning the dust of the golf clubs. There's enough of a blame pie to give evryone a healthy slice.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

"Thanks for assuming that's what I meant."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simon, I didn't assume anything. You implied it directly with your sentence "All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals|" There's nothing terribly ambiguous there.

Look, folks, maybe I'm being too hard on TM and yes, I agree he made some great saves to keep the gang in the game in the first.

However, that's exactly why Stan brought him in. He did WHAT WAS EXPECTED of an elite first round goalie.

And I'm sorry but once again, he negated those great saves by crapping the bed on those two goals.

And I bet Stan feels the same way.

Unless TM picks up his game dramatically and steals a game all on his lonesome, then Brampton will be swept and we'll add TM to the ghosts of playoff posts.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

From day 1 as a bats fan I can safely state that I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly. I've ranted and raved on what the bats did wrong when they lost and admittedly spent less time on what they did right. I've pinned losses on players but most often on the coach.

The bats have done a number of right things to get to this stage. Negotiated a few great draft picks and made some great trades. Stan has done a more than adequate job this post season behind the bench.

That being said, the Spitfires are in a class of their own this season. The Spits don't stop moving, very rarely you will find a Spitfire not in motion, they are always moving. They can get the jump quickly as they are already in moving and obviously have practiced hard on skating transition. Conversely, you will find their opposition stationary waiting in position for a pass.

The perpetual motion of players on the ice is something that the coaches instill in their players at the very beginning of the season - they are reminded over and over until it becomes second nature.

I agree that McCollum hasn't been able to steal a game, I have to admit that when your top scorers on the team aren't scoring your odds of winning become drastically reduced. When your D is flatfooted on most goals against your team it will be a problem.

None of this comes as any surprise to anyone.

After all these years I am very happy and proud that my team has made it this far - honoured to have players on my team recognized and awarded by the league, the country and the media. All these things I consider a bonus as I enjoy watching the team and being an OHL fan.

However a dream of the Memorial Cup may have to wait some time as the Spitfires are just that good, it isn't that the bats are playing all that bad, but that 10-1 loss was certainly ugly.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

I was at the game from WIndsor...your goalie is the only reason it was close. Made unbelievable saves in first.
22-4 shots on net. HE WAS THE DIFFERENCE! Our goalie assisted on your 2nd goal. Both goalies had a
couple of weak goals. I think we were lucky to win as YOU were the beter team the last 40 minutes. We got a
lucky bounce after you pulled the goalie. I totally agree bout the reffing. You guys gut burned in the third but got away with
a few early in the game. Weird how the refs started calling late? Oh well...keep cheering i think its still far from over.
You win here Monday and its a new series!! Does HODGSON ever go off the ice???

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Arthur Ellis wrote:
Simon, I didn't assume anything. You implied it directly with your sentence "All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals|" There's nothing terribly ambiguous there.

Since you wished to isolate McCollum, I decided to speak only of him. I guess I'm the one guilty of assuming you would understand what I meant.

As he's the first ever Battalion netminder to collect three series' worth of wins in one year, McCollum did play a huge role in getting the Troops to the finals. Yes, it's what Stan expected of him when he traded for him. But we all know expectations are not always met.

Again, I don't disagree that we need McCollum to find yet another level if the Troops are to succeed against Windsor. But keeping in mind that the Spitfires are that good (as reflected in the play of the entire Battalion team, not just the goalie), I think some slack to is warranted. Conversley, if we're going to rip one player, let's rip the whole team for not competing hard enough from the start of Game 1.

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Rather than isolating anyone lets just say we are a team, win or lose & unless we collectively buy into a strategy to play as a team on Monday
we are "done". The Kids have pulled together all season & are not quitters; it remains whether the coaches can create a counter plan
& whether we have the flexibility to execute. Admittedly everyone knew Windsor was the real deal; yet they are not invincible & we have not really teased their D
or their G.

We can create a plan & give them a run not only for Monday's game but for the rest of the series. Our guys are more than willing & can execute. Windsor has had
a lot of time to show their stuff; now we get the same opportunity if we can keep our feet moving & get our "flow' going.

The guys on our big line may have to alter their style a little & can cause fits if they "bring it' to each shift. Our second & third lines match up well with the Spits
so its really up to us to make them work for every inch of ice.

It's doable; do we have the "character"; only time will tell.

Go Troops Go

My Recent Posts · (05/02/09

Conversely, if we're going to rip one player, let's rip the whole team for not competing hard enough from the start of Game 1.

And that's the right answer; rip the whole team, not the player.

Why hasn't anybody attempted to take a lick at Hodgson as a culprit for the teams current situation. He's the Captain, WJHC hero, Most Outstanding Player of 2009 but he's put up nothing but zero's and is (for the most part) a defensive liability on the ice because he nor his linemates have any interest or focus in their own bloody end of the ice right now! Who cares what he does without the puck; Hodgson's priority is doing something with the puck. Cody's efforts are none different than that of Thomas'. Cody scores two goals in game 2 and Brampton wins; series tied. Ditto for Duchene & Grachev.

Much easier to throw the goalie under the bus; would Brampton be in the Finals with a Killeen/Foote combo, probably rotating every game at that (as was proved for half this season)? Note: Apologies to Killeen and Foote who are & will be capable goalies but were mentioned to make a point.

It's a team effort for gawd sakes and it was the team that won the East, not the play of a handful of individuals. Why bring up McCollum's name this late in the game? If there are criticisms for one particular player fine; but don't forget to chomp on everybody else up with equal venom.

I'd much rather see McCollum let in the softy or gimme and the team lose than him stealing a game in which the Troops had no business winning in the first place. I'm not one for deception or deceit; let's call a spade a spade. Just like last season's catastrophe against Barrie: Stan went out and retooled and got players he thought were missing ingredients for this year and went for it. And so on and so on.

If the Battalion win the Championship then do it because the team won the game, not on an individuals own merit. And if the Troops fall, it's pinned on the team and not because of expectations (or a lack thereof) from an individual component.

Brampton Battalion; not Brampton Hodgsons or Brampton McCollums. Remember that.

Author	Comment
Steve	OHL Championship - Game 2	Lead	[-]
Posts: 543 (05/01/09 10:34 AM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None SOLD OUT! Perhaps the biggest crowd in Battalion history (again) will be on hand tonight as the traveling circus known as the OHL Championship has finally come to the Bunker after 11 years. Side attraction is the Bill Waters show. Anyway as for the game itself.......... By far the worst effort of the year on Wednesday night and personally a loss that hurt even more then that 11-2 beating we took in the 06 playoffs. However i havent lost all faith, i think the Troops will come out hard tonight, they saw how much faster the Spits were on Wednesday and they now know how hard they need to play to hang with them. Plus i know they dont wanna go through the same practice tomorrow as im sure they went through yesterday. As has been said several times already, nothing LESS then there best game of the season will put the Troops on the board in this series. Keys: Skate hard win battles for the puck Check hard, we arent the most pyschical team in this league but we can hold our own and make teams nervous (example Game 2 vs Belleville) GET SHOTS ON THE NET: The one goal we did score Wednesday Engelage looked weak, problem was be barley got ANY good scoring chances what-so-ever in Game 1, most chances missed the net or was foiled by the Spits D. This is doable guys. As Cody said in the post game press conference Wednesday. "When we play to our potential nobody can touch us." Rimouski is only 4 wins away boys!
Bat Man		#1	[-]
Posts: 458 (05/01/09 11:33 AM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Remember that London game? The guys seemed to have fed off the energy the building had that night and they completely dismembered a pretty good London squad. Just no OT tonight, my ticker isn't strong enough...
Elwoodinontario		#2	[-]
Posts: 132 (05/01/09 12:58 PM) Smooth Talkin' Cat Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hey Bat, the rink has one of those defibrulators, and I have a set of jumper cables, so dont worry about OT! Here we go Battalion, here we go!
SimonTheSignGuy		#3	[-]
Posts: 2375 (05/01/09 2:57 PM) Eat. Eat. Eat. Sleep. Sports. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As discussed in the Game 1 thread, it comes down to depth and intensity. Intensity can often trump depth (last year's playoffs, anyone?), so A LOT will hinge on how well the Troops begin tonight's contest. They were right about even with the Spits for most of the first period on Wednesday. They need to be better than the Spits for most of tonight's game. Shift after shift. Mistakes will happen, it's inevitable. The Spits are too good not to force those. Shake it off and keep competing. I don't care if the score is 3-0 Brampton or 3-0 Windsor. I want to see the Battalion players competing like it's already overtime.
The One Gwai Lo		#4	[-]
Posts: 994 (05/01/09 10:57 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	A much better effort tonight by the Troops but they just couldn't overcome those 3 first period goals. Might have been a different story if all those penalties didn't take away Brampton's momentum. Interesting to see that if Brampton takes it's pokes at the Windsor players it seems to throw them off their game a little. Good game tonight by Kang and Peluso. Kang almost connected with the tying goal...almost. Game 3 goes Monday back at the WFCU Centre and it's a must win for the Battalion. If they play like they did in the 2nd and 3rd of tonight's game, it's gonna be a close checking hard game. BTW I know those at the game didn't see it...but that Dale goal was a beauty...head down in the scrum the puck comes out between his skates...he kicks it towards the net and slams it home with the stick...awesome work ! Here's to a Game 3 win coming back to Brampton GO TROOPS GO ! Gwai Lo
Bat Man		#5	[-]
Posts: 459 (05/01/09 11:11 PM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	It was a heart breaker because that what it did to me. I thought the Troops were going to rally after a poor 90 seconds late in the first period that effectively sealed this one. They did bounce back in the early going of the second and started to play well. Dale was the best Battalion on the ice IMO; his goal, his massive hit on Hall on the PK (from which Hall saw very limited ice after that hit). Just his buzzing around the ice was what the Battalion needed. I know talk of the officiating will make its rounds but it's one thing when it's bad but another when it's inconsistent. Quiet for half the game, then 7 guys in the box after the scrum in the second, then a linesman calling Albert for 4 minutes when it was Dale (I think that's why Stan was furious). Then deciding to put the whistles away for the final 4 or 5 minutes when Battalion should have had a call or two. Inconsistency (more than anything else) kills me... Anybody notice a lady in section 13 or 14 holding up a sign saying 'Ref #19, you're a disgrace'. She had it going for a good twenty minutes, just standing there in the entrance to the bowl holding it at every whistle. Finally somebody came and kicked her out. But what was that all about. I gloated during the Belleville series how the Troops were shutting down Tangradi, Cameron & Pither. The tables have turned and now Hodgson, Duchene & Grachev are all goalless through two games. Regardless of how well Brampton plays, these guys have to score; there's no other way around it. Hopefully they can find some twine in game 3... Great crowd and even a futile attempt at the 'wave'; it was nice all around tonight. A good hockey game; I'll leave it that for now.
Steve		#6	[-]
Posts: 544 (05/01/09 11:23 PM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Bat Man wrote: Anybody notice a lady in section 13 or 14 holding up a sign saying 'Ref #19, you're a disgrace'. She had it going for a good twenty minutes, just standing there in the entrance to the bowl holding it at every whistle. Finally somebody came and kicked her out. But what was that all about. That fan had that sign in the bleachers holding it right in the ref's face as he tried to walk to the ice, the ref tried ripping it out of the fans hands but the fan had a better grip lol Anyway........ Not sure what to make from tonight. Many may think that in the 1st the Battalion played bad but in all honesty, Brampton played hard, Windsor was just that much better. McCollum stood on his head but those two soft goals at the end of the first really killed it. 2nd Period Brampton came out hard and played there best period of the series by far. However it wasnt like the Troops could easily go down and get chances like crazy they had to work for it, and even then the goals were so ugly only a homer could love them 3rd was very even i thought, we just couldnt get enough chances Not sure what the ref was thinking for that 4 Minute penalty to Albert, he didnt decide to call anything at all until the Spits bench lost it, and didnt decide on 4 until talking to the linesmen. What hurts the most about tonights loss though........ The Troops tried there best played hard and still lost, too me that hurts more then a 10-1 blow out, i guess at least they are losing with dignity now.
Arthur Ellis		#7	[-]
Posts: 12 (05/02/09 1:12 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Anything after that disgraceful performance on Wednesday would have been an improvement but once again, they played forty minutes of good hockey. However, this time, they decided to have their collective brain cramp in the first period instead of the traditional second. Lord, can anyone on this team throw a body check? McCollum made some great saves but in the end, so what? He was giving up huge rebounds, was doing a Bryan Pitton imitation in handling the puck and let in two soft (one absolutely brutal) goals. That wasn't what Stan signed him up for. It ain't over but they're going to have to put six consecutive periods of superior hockey together with superb goaltending to right this ship. Who the hell wants to see Windsor celebrate their championship in OUR house? Not me.
litthelamp		#8	[-]
Posts: 445 (05/02/09 7:59 AM) Drives the Booster Brigade bus Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Certainly can't hang the loss on Thomas, Arthur come on. The second goal i'm sure was deflected off our D mans stick. He had no chance. That one hurt bad! I think the Spits are by far the fastest team i've ever seen play. Against Belleville it was the Bulls who had to figure out how to deal with our speed on the forecheck, now it's us. I'd love to see the guys get some sticks on and run some interference in the neutral zone but we know what that will bring so the only answer is to get real physical on their D. It looked a little like that was the plan in the second and it seemed to work. The Spits don't have an overly big D so we need to dump the puck in, even Grachev, and bang and crash. It isn't pretty and it isn't the kind of hockey this team was built for but against these guys it is how we'll win. Did anyone see Peluso with a body check last night?? Is he in ijured? No comment on the reffing. Great to see the bunker full even if their was loads of Spits fans their. Didn't hear any bad language where we were sitting. Need a quick start and early lead Monday. Come on boys never give up this isn't over.
Arthur Ellis		#9	[-]
Posts: 13 (05/02/09 12:45 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Lamp I'm not hanging the loss on McCollum and I don't want to get into a prolonged debate but he was picked up to fill a perceived deficiency in goaltending and quite frankly, I don't think he's been a substantial upgrade. If you're a first round NHL draft pick you don't allow two goals in less than thirty seconds in the last minute or so of a period and certainly not two games in a row in the league championship. He looked like he was channeling Patrick Lalime on those two goals last night. There was a flurry of five or six shots in a row in the first, all of which Thomas stopped, some brilliantly, but he started it all by kicking a rebound up into the high slot. He's playing like he did in the WJC and I'm sure the Detroit brass is not amused.
Steve		#10	[-]
Posts: 546 (05/02/09 1:26 PM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Arthur Ellis wrote: Lamp I'm not hanging the loss on McCollum and I don't want to get into a prolonged debate but he was picked up to fill a perceived deficiency in goaltending and quite frankly, I don't think he's been a substantial upgrade. If you're a first round NHL draft pick you don't allow two goals in less than thirty seconds in the last minute or so of a period and certainly not two games in a row in the league championship. He looked like he was channeling Patrick Lalime on those two goals last night. There was a flurry of five or six shots in a row in the first, all of which Thomas stopped, some brilliantly, but he started it all by kicking a rebound up into the high slot. He's playing like he did in the WJC and I'm sure the Detroit brass is not amused. Arthur im not sure what your talking about. Yes that 2nd goal was pretty bad but it may have been deflected. If it wasnt for Thomas we would have had NO chance last night, guy stood on his head and if it was for some players getting 2 goals i would have given thomas at least 3rd star, he was great.
SimonTheSignGuy		#11	[-]
Posts: 2377 (05/02/09 1:27 PM) Eat. Eat. Eat. Sleep. Sports. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I couldn't care less what the Detroit brass is thinking right now. They'll have plenty of time to work with McCollum when he's done here. All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals. He was weak in Game 1, and much better in Game 2. Could he do even better? Maybe, but so could the players in front of him. Overall, the Troops played a lot better last night. But Windsor is a class above.
Arthur Ellis		#12	[-]
Posts: 14 (05/02/09 3:00 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	First of all, Thomas did not singlehandedly get Brampton to the Final. It was a team effort. He has been a big contributor in the playoffs but he hasn't stolen a game and he has done exactly what Stan brought him in to do. By any objective measurement he has NOT exceeded expectations. He wasn't weak in Game 1, he was horrible and in game 2, he was inconsistent as hell, probably the worst thing a goalie can be. Great saves don't mean a damn thing when you allow goals at the worst possible time. And you take those great saves with a huge grain of salt when you give up horrible rebounds to create the situation that forces you to make those saves. I sit in section 6 and had a good view of those two goals at the end of the first. They were both stoppable. Period. Sure, the other guys played like crap in the first period last night but what great goalies do is keep the team in the games until they regroup In both games they could have gone to the room only down by one. Instead, they leave the ice down three. That's a momentum killer. This is not how a first round draft pick plays in a league final. Remember, this is the final, not a mid February game against Kingston. So far in the Final he's the same McCollum who played for the US in the WJC. Sorry, I'm not inclined to cut him any slack. He's underperformed.
SimonTheSignGuy		#13	[-]
Posts: 2378 (05/02/09 3:57 PM) Eat. Eat. Eat. Sleep. Sports. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Arthur Ellis wrote: First of all, Thomas did not singlehandedly get Brampton to the Final. Thanks for assuming that's what I meant. McCollum kept the Troops in it at 0-0 through a long stretch of the first period. I don't disagree that we need him to step up even more in the final, but to single him out when his teammates had a grand total of 4 shots in the first period is pretty lame.
Elwoodinontario		#14	[-]
Posts: 137 (05/02/09 5:58 PM) Smooth Talkin' Cat Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Hey guys, after game 1, Butler was saying that all but 3 troops should have been charged admission, and I think that would be true for last nights 1st period. McCollum is the reason we were'nt in a bigger hole than we were. EVERYONE needs to step up, or start cleaning the dust of the golf clubs. There's enough of a blame pie to give evryone a healthy slice. Here we go Battalion, here we go!
Arthur Ellis		#15	[-]
Posts: 15 (05/02/09 6:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Thanks for assuming that's what I meant." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Simon, I didn't assume anything. You implied it directly with your sentence "All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals\|" There's nothing terribly ambiguous there. Look, folks, maybe I'm being too hard on TM and yes, I agree he made some great saves to keep the gang in the game in the first. However, that's exactly why Stan brought him in. He did WHAT WAS EXPECTED of an elite first round goalie. And I'm sorry but once again, he negated those great saves by crapping the bed on those two goals. And I bet Stan feels the same way. Unless TM picks up his game dramatically and steals a game all on his lonesome, then Brampton will be swept and we'll add TM to the ghosts of playoff posts.
SW1NE		#16	[-]
Posts: 321 (05/02/09 8:09 PM) Lives in Real Stars Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	From day 1 as a bats fan I can safely state that I have witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly. I've ranted and raved on what the bats did wrong when they lost and admittedly spent less time on what they did right. I've pinned losses on players but most often on the coach. The bats have done a number of right things to get to this stage. Negotiated a few great draft picks and made some great trades. Stan has done a more than adequate job this post season behind the bench. That being said, the Spitfires are in a class of their own this season. The Spits don't stop moving, very rarely you will find a Spitfire not in motion, they are always moving. They can get the jump quickly as they are already in moving and obviously have practiced hard on skating transition. Conversely, you will find their opposition stationary waiting in position for a pass. The perpetual motion of players on the ice is something that the coaches instill in their players at the very beginning of the season - they are reminded over and over until it becomes second nature. I agree that McCollum hasn't been able to steal a game, I have to admit that when your top scorers on the team aren't scoring your odds of winning become drastically reduced. When your D is flatfooted on most goals against your team it will be a problem. None of this comes as any surprise to anyone. After all these years I am very happy and proud that my team has made it this far - honoured to have players on my team recognized and awarded by the league, the country and the media. All these things I consider a bonus as I enjoy watching the team and being an OHL fan. However a dream of the Memorial Cup may have to wait some time as the Spitfires are just that good, it isn't that the bats are playing all that bad, but that 10-1 loss was certainly ugly.
gospitsgo67		#17	[-]
Posts: 9 (05/02/09 9:00 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I was at the game from WIndsor...your goalie is the only reason it was close. Made unbelievable saves in first. 22-4 shots on net. HE WAS THE DIFFERENCE! Our goalie assisted on your 2nd goal. Both goalies had a couple of weak goals. I think we were lucky to win as YOU were the beter team the last 40 minutes. We got a lucky bounce after you pulled the goalie. I totally agree bout the reffing. You guys gut burned in the third but got away with a few early in the game. Weird how the refs started calling late? Oh well...keep cheering i think its still far from over. You win here Monday and its a new series!! Does HODGSON ever go off the ice???
SimonTheSignGuy		#18	[-]
Posts: 2380 (05/02/09 9:08 PM) Eat. Eat. Eat. Sleep. Sports. Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Arthur Ellis wrote: Simon, I didn't assume anything. You implied it directly with your sentence "All I care about is that he got the Battalion all the way to the finals\|" There's nothing terribly ambiguous there. Since you wished to isolate McCollum, I decided to speak only of him. I guess I'm the one guilty of assuming you would understand what I meant. As he's the first ever Battalion netminder to collect three series' worth of wins in one year, McCollum did play a huge role in getting the Troops to the finals. Yes, it's what Stan expected of him when he traded for him. But we all know expectations are not always met. Again, I don't disagree that we need McCollum to find yet another level if the Troops are to succeed against Windsor. But keeping in mind that the Spitfires are that good (as reflected in the play of the entire Battalion team, not just the goalie), I think some slack to is warranted. Conversley, if we're going to rip one player, let's rip the whole team for not competing hard enough from the start of Game 1.
docstan		#19	[-]
Posts: 62 (05/02/09 9:51 PM) Loves Gary Morrisson Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Rather than isolating anyone lets just say we are a team, win or lose & unless we collectively buy into a strategy to play as a team on Monday we are "done". The Kids have pulled together all season & are not quitters; it remains whether the coaches can create a counter plan & whether we have the flexibility to execute. Admittedly everyone knew Windsor was the real deal; yet they are not invincible & we have not really teased their D or their G. We can create a plan & give them a run not only for Monday's game but for the rest of the series. Our guys are more than willing & can execute. Windsor has had a lot of time to show their stuff; now we get the same opportunity if we can keep our feet moving & get our "flow' going. The guys on our big line may have to alter their style a little & can cause fits if they "bring it' to each shift. Our second & third lines match up well with the Spits so its really up to us to make them work for every inch of ice. It's doable; do we have the "character"; only time will tell. Go Troops Go
Bat Man		#20	[-]
Posts: 460 (05/02/09 10:06 PM) Bleeds green Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Conversely, if we're going to rip one player, let's rip the whole team for not competing hard enough from the start of Game 1. And that's the right answer; rip the whole team, not the player. Why hasn't anybody attempted to take a lick at Hodgson as a culprit for the teams current situation. He's the Captain, WJHC hero, Most Outstanding Player of 2009 but he's put up nothing but zero's and is (for the most part) a defensive liability on the ice because he nor his linemates have any interest or focus in their own bloody end of the ice right now! Who cares what he does without the puck; Hodgson's priority is doing something with the puck. Cody's efforts are none different than that of Thomas'. Cody scores two goals in game 2 and Brampton wins; series tied. Ditto for Duchene & Grachev. Much easier to throw the goalie under the bus; would Brampton be in the Finals with a Killeen/Foote combo, probably rotating every game at that (as was proved for half this season)? Note: Apologies to Killeen and Foote who are & will be capable goalies but were mentioned to make a point. It's a team effort for gawd sakes and it was the team that won the East, not the play of a handful of individuals. Why bring up McCollum's name this late in the game? If there are criticisms for one particular player fine; but don't forget to chomp on everybody else up with equal venom. I'd much rather see McCollum let in the softy or gimme and the team lose than him stealing a game in which the Troops had no business winning in the first place. I'm not one for deception or deceit; let's call a spade a spade. Just like last season's catastrophe against Barrie: Stan went out and retooled and got players he thought were missing ingredients for this year and went for it. And so on and so on. If the Battalion win the Championship then do it because the team won the game, not on an individuals own merit. And if the Troops fall, it's pinned on the team and not because of expectations (or a lack thereof) from an individual component. Brampton Battalion; not Brampton Hodgsons or Brampton McCollums. Remember that.

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OHL Championship - Game 2

OHL Championship - Game 2

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