Previewing Tonight's Game (at London) Part III

An article by the OHL (link) states that tonight's game will be broadcast across the province on Rogers Sportsnet. (This is good and bad, I think. Good if Ottawa wins, bad if they get their asses kicked all over the ice.) The article attempts to create a sense of excitement by pointing out the strengths of both London (obvious) and Ottawa (hmmm).

Three Knights sit at the top of the OHL scoring race, including veteran sniper Corey Perry (pictured), who leads the scoring race with 51 points in 21 games. The first round pick of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim has recorded points in 20 games this year. Knights captain Danny Syvret is also on a tear, scoring six goals in the past four games. He leads the OHL with a plus-30 plus-minus rating and was named OHL Player of the Week earlier today.

The 67's are coached by the incomparable Brian Kilrea, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November. The squad has been bolstered by Czech forwards Jakub Petruzalek, who leads the team with 27 points in 19 games and San Jose Sharks first rounder Lukas Kaspar.

Unfortunately, Killer will not be on the ice tonight, but nice try on the teams' strengths. (B-t-w, Kaspar, noted in the above quote, happens to be ranked #50, with 19 points). I love the 67s, really I’m a fan - hence the web blog - and I really want them to win . . . but I’m also a realist. If they want to win this game, they will have to play like they haven’t played so far this season. This means: three periods of consistent, 100% effort for 20 minutes; not expecting the goalie to win the game because they have only scored 1 goal; no turn-overs; no break-aways; no stupid fights that end in them being injured; no sulking when the score is 5-0 (which is very likely, c’mon, it’s London), rather a more determined grit-your-teeth and just-get-it-done attitude; finding out early how the ref is making his calls, and working with it --- not complaining; etc. . .

You see, it will be an Herculean effort. But just think how much confidence it would give the 67s if they were to win. Of course, it would also p-off a huge number of people, including the OHL’s ‘Knights Watch’ group, all the sports channels that have been reporting on this because there is no other hockey, and the entire city of London for starters. But, I’m pretty sure that p-ing off other teams, teams’ fans, etc. in a crushing victory is entirely what these guys live for. Wishing them luck.