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We won last night, and it was a very nice win. Without any of the "swing" players (4th line V), we went against DH, a team at .500 with 2 ok lines and one really good line.
The girls had to work for it, getting 2 in the first, but not scoring again until 1/2-way through the 3rd. Their first line was extremely tough to handle as their star player was very good. We had the advantage over the other two though.
My girls moved the puck really well. My 2nd line is beginning to click now, giving me 2 that go out there and do good things. The 3rd didn't give up a goal and didn't take any penalties (thank G-d the ref was looking the wrong way at one point.).
My 1st two lines are beginning to get good enough on the break-outs that they are starting to get creative, to read the other team's forecheck and adjust accordingly.
In the 2nd period, I noticed that DH's 2nd and 3rd lines were collapsing in an attempt to smother our 1st and 2nd lines. I told them between periods to look for the collapse, anticipate it, and then kick the puck out to the point for the slap-shot.
In the 3rd period, my 2nd line read the collapse, the wing moved the puck back out wide to the center who looked down low, then slipped it up top to the defenseman who proceeded to slip the one-timer through the traffic and into the net.
Heck... it actually gave me the temporary illusion I can read other teams and coach to it. :-)
We got a few other nice shots on in a similar way.
My goalie... what to say... In the past month, she has become a goalie.
One month ago, pre-A, she would have given up 2-4 goals last night. Last night, she showed what she has developed into. That game vs. A 3 weeks ago, where she made 42 saves on 49 shots has turned out to be the turning point in her young 2-year career. She now makes saves with confidence. She controls the puck. She played the whole game last night, stopping 2 point-blank shots from their star player and one break-away from another player. Soft shots no longer go in. Last night was the first complete-game shut-out she had had. The only other combo shut-outs had been against teams who mustered very little offense. When the final buzzer sounded, she leaped up in the crease and flew towards our bench, hugging her teammates. She earned it. The quiet "A" student who spends all of her free time in the computer lab earned a complete-game shut-out against a team who's youngest player is a year older than her.
It felt good. In many ways, we could have lost that game last night, but they earned a win.
I'm very happy.
Overall record: 6-3
Record vs JV teams: 6-1
Last night's win makes this the winningest season girls JV has ever had. It ties the total # of wins in JV's 4-year prior history.
The girls had to work for it, getting 2 in the first, but not scoring again until 1/2-way through the 3rd. Their first line was extremely tough to handle as their star player was very good. We had the advantage over the other two though.
My girls moved the puck really well. My 2nd line is beginning to click now, giving me 2 that go out there and do good things. The 3rd didn't give up a goal and didn't take any penalties (thank G-d the ref was looking the wrong way at one point.).
My 1st two lines are beginning to get good enough on the break-outs that they are starting to get creative, to read the other team's forecheck and adjust accordingly.
In the 2nd period, I noticed that DH's 2nd and 3rd lines were collapsing in an attempt to smother our 1st and 2nd lines. I told them between periods to look for the collapse, anticipate it, and then kick the puck out to the point for the slap-shot.
In the 3rd period, my 2nd line read the collapse, the wing moved the puck back out wide to the center who looked down low, then slipped it up top to the defenseman who proceeded to slip the one-timer through the traffic and into the net.
Heck... it actually gave me the temporary illusion I can read other teams and coach to it. :-)
We got a few other nice shots on in a similar way.
My goalie... what to say... In the past month, she has become a goalie.
One month ago, pre-A, she would have given up 2-4 goals last night. Last night, she showed what she has developed into. That game vs. A 3 weeks ago, where she made 42 saves on 49 shots has turned out to be the turning point in her young 2-year career. She now makes saves with confidence. She controls the puck. She played the whole game last night, stopping 2 point-blank shots from their star player and one break-away from another player. Soft shots no longer go in. Last night was the first complete-game shut-out she had had. The only other combo shut-outs had been against teams who mustered very little offense. When the final buzzer sounded, she leaped up in the crease and flew towards our bench, hugging her teammates. She earned it. The quiet "A" student who spends all of her free time in the computer lab earned a complete-game shut-out against a team who's youngest player is a year older than her.
It felt good. In many ways, we could have lost that game last night, but they earned a win.
I'm very happy.
Overall record: 6-3
Record vs JV teams: 6-1
Last night's win makes this the winningest season girls JV has ever had. It ties the total # of wins in JV's 4-year prior history.
