I’ve been watching, but I wasn’t sure what to post—it feels like the same story every game. Minimal progress, awful zone entries on the power play, missed assignments, and a failure to play a full 60 minutes. After some thought, I came up with a few things, so let’s not waste time and get right into it.
Time to Hire a Head Coach
Interim head coach Derrick Martin isn’t working out. He’s making the same mistakes that got Mallette fired, except now he’s dealing with a weaker roster. Expectations should be adjusted—Martin wasn’t expected to win games or make a playoff push, but he was expected to develop young players. And we’re just not seeing it.
This leads right into the next topic…
What the FFFFFFFFF is the Point of Pulling the Goalie?!?!?
I’ve done a lot of Googling on this because I find myself punching the air every time they pull the goalie. You just know we’re going to get scored on.
“Hurrr hurrr it’s the right thing to do!”
I know. Statistically, you’re about three times more likely to score a goal while pulled. But the other team? They’re about seven times more likely to score. Data suggests you have around a 15% chance of tying the game—about one in six attempts.
You ready for the Rockets’ numbers since the trade deadline (Jan 10)?
- Pulled the goalie 20 times
- Scored on 15 times
- Scored once ourselves (still lost in OT)
I get that it’s statistically and strategically the right move. I want to defend it. But…
STOP.
PULLING.
THE GOALIE.
Its not working for us. Figure it out.
Alright, rant over. Let’s talk about something positive.
Petruk Has WAY More Potential Than He Shows
“That guy? All he does is fight and run around hitting things.”
Yup. For a while, that’s exactly what he did. Initially fun, but when your team keeps losing because of dumb penalties, that act wears thin. Eventually, he found himself scratched.
Since then? He’s been playing hockey. He’s skating, hitting, and—most importantly—not spending all his time in the penalty box. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with him playing with an edge. But if you’re going to the box, make sure you’re not going alone and don’t put your team on the penalty kill.
The team has clearly reeled him in a bit—maybe too much. Petruk isn’t a guy who’s going to dazzle you with skill, but what he brings is important: heart. And outside of Corbet and Graham, this team has been sorely lacking that this season.
So why do I think he has potential?
- He’s big and strong
- He’s surprisingly fast
- He plays with heart and stands up for teammates
If he can balance his physical game with smart hockey, he could develop into a solid power forward. Maybe I’m person #2000 who sees something in him. Maybe coaches have tried to mold him and it just hasn’t clicked. Or maybe he was shoehorned into a goon role and accepted it. Either way, I hope he figures it out because there’s more to his game, and when he plays smart, I appreciate what he brings.
New Faces in the House
A quick look at some of the new guys:
Guilbeault – Honestly, I thought he was younger. I was hoping he’d develop, but he’s already 19. Not bad, not great. The defense is a mess, and with only five D-men playing tonight (Mar 19), everyone is overworked. No real complaints, but nothing standout either.
O’Brien – Five games, zeroes across the board. Not sure what his average ice time is, but it wouldn’t shock me if it’s in the single digits. Feels like the coach doesn’t trust him, but he’s only 17 and I have thought he played well in his limited time, so there’s room to grow.
Barrett – Still looking for his first goal, but he’s getting assists and decent ice time. Since being called up, he’s been a pleasant surprise—good effort, solid skating. Also just 17, so expect more from him next season.
That’s my rant—now let’s hear yours!