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bhf303
(The Next Level!)
198 Posts |
 Posted - 02/20/2011 : 12:30:25 AM
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The North Division is TIGHT! There are nine points between 1st and 4th place.
I was pretty frustrated earlier this year and was pretty negative at times as a result, but I'm thinking now that these next few games could be very interesting. I'm actually getting pumped up right now to see how this thing shakes out.
The team has shown some sparks of life and maybe, just maybe, they are primed to make a good run here in the late rounds! |
Somersaults, thats how I roll! |
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Woodrow
(The Next Level!)
119 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 02:18:43 AM
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| Winning that CPZ trade has helped make the division a race. Minella and D'Agostino have done nothing to help the Nailers, and with the NHL and AHL affiliates with an unbelievable run of injuries, Wheeling's only getting worse. Less than a month ago, a win against Reading would have given them 1st place in the conference. Now they'll be lucky to make the playoffs. |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 08:57:22 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Woodrow
Winning that CPZ trade has helped make the division a race. Minella and D'Agostino have done nothing to help the Nailers, and with the NHL and AHL affiliates with an unbelievable run of injuries, Wheeling's only getting worse. Less than a month ago, a win against Reading would have given them 1st place in the conference. Now they'll be lucky to make the playoffs.
If you don't want the two, I think we could find a place for them and
get them out of your hair  ! |
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elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 11:07:12 AM
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Wheeling's strong play was only a result of their personnel. Without the likes of Street, Peterson, Orpik, etc they are struggling. They lack a cohesive strategy and depend on AHL talent to succeed. It's happened before in the last few seasons, Wheeling comes out fast but by January their roster is diminished by injuries and call ups and they begin to play with the rest of the pack.
Call ups and injuries happen, there is no use crying about it. It comes down to coaching. At the ECHL level a good coach must look at AHL players as luxury items and put systems in place that allow the team to succeed regardless of whether those higher skilled players are on the roster or not. Chuck Weber excelled at this, in fact most defensive, grind it out coaches do. The more offense oriented a coach tries to be the more a team will struggle in the absence of the skilled players.
D'Agostino and Minella are serviceable ECHL players with a fair amount of upside, but if you're looking for game changers you'll have to look elsewhere. The closest thing to a game changer the Cyclones have had this season is Dylan Hunter. Even CPZ, while being an upgrade on paper, isn't a guy that really can change the outcome of a game like Street and Peterson could when they were with Wheeling.
I was impressed with the way the Cyclones played on Friday night. They played well in Their own end. If that type of defense keeps up there is no reason to think the Cyclones won't make a run. I am a bit skeptical though, simply because the type of game we saw against Toledo on Friday have been followed up with performances that have been less than stellar. Until They become consistent they'll continue to hover at or slightly above .500. |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
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Woodrow
(The Next Level!)
119 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 11:27:09 AM
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Mentioning Orpik in the same breath as Petersen and Street. Really? The Nailers have been in every game since the trade because they consistently work hard, especially relentless forechecking. But when no one can put the puck in the net, it's hard to win. It's also difficult to have a "cohesive strategy" for losing six of your regular forwards in a two-week span. It's now Mikael Bedard and some beer league all-stars up front. Drulia hasn't really brought anyone decent in, so maybe he believes we'll get some guys back soon. If not, the loss of this season is in his lap.
I'm pretty sure anyone would gladly give you Minella and D'Agostino to have CPZ back in the lineup. Most of us knew it was a bad deal from the minute it was announced. |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 2:56:25 PM
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The Cyclones can potentially put a very nice team on the ice if we can get past the injury bug and not get raped all at once by the A.
Some of the new guys are basically in a job interview right now and are bringing a ton of new energy to the ice. And while there is a lot of shooting going on they aren't great chances for the most part.
Friday's win was simply a matter of beating Toledo into submission early. That works sometimes, but you can't hang your hat on it. You need some guys that can score.
As I look into my crystal ball and wonder what the future holds I feel pretty good about mixing some of these energetic new guys with (hopefully) the likes of Sproat, Pierce and Reynolds coming back from injury and CPZ and Mahbod providing some skill and speed. Any help from the A like Hunter, Comrie and O'Hanley should be viewed as gravy.
Speaking of Mahbod, we have GOT to get that guy the puck more breaking out of our zone. Toledo had nobody that could skate with him Friday.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
Edited by - Catch22 on 02/20/2011 2:58:06 PM |
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elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2011 : 6:06:04 PM
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Sproat will be back sooner or later. Reynolds and Pierce are likely done for the year.
There is no doubt the Cyclones are more offensive with the new guys but trust it's going to come down to defense (How far do the Washington Capitals usually get with their high powered offense and offensively active defensemen when it comes the the playoffs?) The game with Toledo impressed me in the way the 'Clones didn't allow the opposition skate the puck out of the perimeter to the front of the net. They were also quick to clear players from the slot and to get bodies on people in the event of a rebound. It was good to see, but against Toledo it's hard to say if they've really turned the corner defensively, but if they have, they will make a run.
Sure the style of hockey I'm talking about isn't always pretty but it wins. There is also no reason a team can't be solid defensively and still score, you just usually don't see it. |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 11:35:02 PM
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The injuries and call-ups look to have gutted Wheeling and Elmira and Gwinnett are free falling. Kalamazoo is getting set to take the division lead.
Meanwhile we seem to be a .500 team regardless.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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bhf303
(The Next Level!)
198 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2011 : 11:52:43 PM
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| Wheeling has lost seven out of their last nine games. The two wins in that span were against.....the Cyclones. |
Somersaults, thats how I roll! |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2011 : 1:35:00 PM
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Annnnnd we're still basically a .500 team. Have been all season, probably still will be on the last day.
The question is "Will that get us into the playoffs?" The answer looks about 50/50 (go figure).
As of today nobody has any games in hand on us, but we have games in hand on both Gwinett and Florida, two teams that are within reasonable reach. If Wheeling continues to tumble we might even jump over them.
It's very, very, very unlikely we'll contend for the division title unless we go on a run like is rarely seen EVER, so we're looking at the 7 or 8 spot and it is still tight and is likely going to stay that way.
Flip a coin. It's a good as a prediction at this point.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2011 : 12:30:33 AM
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Take a look at the magic numbers over on CycWords!
http://wp.me/pxJRy-b1 |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
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justmom
(The Next Level!)
335 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2011 : 11:36:13 AM
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| I'm a math teacher and reading those charts just makes my head hurt. Thanks for doing all of that work to put it on paper. |
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