Well, somewhat lackluster game IMO.
I tried really hard Barnesy! but I couldn't find Eriksson on the ice. I could find him skating around in warmups but other than that he didn't leave much of an impression, good or bad.
Ellis is a chippy bastard! He is hacking, slashing, checking anything that moves.
Filppula was very involved. He's the engine on the Kopecky/Bootland line. Bootland floated a lot. Didn't hit much of anything or drop the mitts which was sad. Kopecky pursued the puck well but Valtteri must have some sort of knack to always be in the play.
Hudler has slick moves and passes. Constantly circling looking for the puck or the open spaces. Saw him digging along the boards at times and had a two shift chat with #44 of the Stars which included a couple passing elbows and quick pokes going both ways.
Quincey looked real solid going both ways, moving the puck well and blocking passes and shots (there was a LOT of that by both teams). I'd say less than half of all shots and passes went on net or to the intended player. Real sloppy by both teams but moreso the Griffins.
Goals. The Stars' 1st goal was a simple back-door tip in from a PP point slap-pass. The Stars' 2nd goal was a mess with most notably #3 Clay Wilson?? not being able to clear the puck and then having the 2nd rebound shot bounce off him and in as Joey just layed in the crease hoping the puck would either be underneath him or hit him.
Griffins' 1st goal was just a point shot by Helmer ripped through. The 2nd goal was a rebound drilled home after two chances by Filppula and Bootland right in front.
The game winner by the Stars was a wrister top shelf from the left circle on a rush.
When trying to come back Bootland and Kopecky each took a weird/stupid penalty and managed to take 4 minutes off the clock in the 3rd. Bootland just blatantly hook/tripped a guy as he passed him from behind at center ice. And Kopecky shot the puck on net just
baarely after an offsides whistle and picked up the unsportsmanlike conduct for it. Oh and there was a looong 5 on 3 for the Griffins earlier in the game that they managed to piss away not amounting much of anything.
The last minute and a half was pretty exciting as the Stars were called for a penalty in their own end so Ireland took a time out pulled the goalie and the Griffins controlled the offensive zone for the last 90 seconds peppering the Stars with chances and shots from Hudler in the right circle and point shots with traffic. But, they couldn't capitalize and that was all she wrote.
I think Hudler would do well with linemates that can receive and move the puck at a much greater rate than what he currently has with Manlow and McDonell. I'd be very interested to see what he could do in Detroit and our passing game. He's almost always in open space looking for the puck and where it's going to be.
So yeah I've rambled enough for now.
peace
