Eagles look to Pullar together
Affected by a recent rash of injuries and having been hindered by sub-par goaltending for most of the season, Soo Eagles return to the friendly confines of Pullar Stadium for a pair of Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League home games this weekend.
The Eagles are coming off a grueling week in which they played five road games in a six-day span. Ergo, it figures to be a welcome return home for the Eagles, who have won all four of their games at the Pullar, including a pair against the West Division-leading Soo Thunderbirds.
This weekend’s opponents are the Espanola Express, which visits the Eagles on Friday, and the Elliot Lake Wildcats, who are in the Michigan Soo on Saturday.
Start times are slated for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Pullar.
They should be able to return to form against Espanola. Speaking from experience watching the Express enough, the Express have no real plan to get out of their own zone and it’s almost as if they’re trying to play NHL 17 on the ice. A lot of running around like chicken’s with their heads cut off. They don’t really hold pressure in the offensive zone either…they desperately miss the presence of Tom McCarthy on the bench.
Missing their two best defenceman due to suspension/injury(Ellerton/Westaby) and two of their better forwards due to injury/whatever? (Anklewich/Salesse) doesn’t help matters for them though.
I haven’t seen the Eagles play yet so I can’t really pinpoint their issue. Espanola’s issue is getting out of their own zone and connecting two passes together..lol..so if the Eagles keep up the forecheck, they can really cause havoc in the offensive zone…as long as they finish.
They outshot the Express 71-29 the last time they met at Pullar, and I’m expecting much of the same tonight.
Well its 11-2 right now for the Eagles..I guess I was right in saying the Express are an utter mess right now.
Wildcats fans,
I am not in the know of your team but scratch my head at your goalie situation. Why is Justin Richer not getting more starts?
I have no stake or relation to Richer. Watched him carry his team to a league championship last year, though. His numbers are far superior to his teammate’s.
I have to agree with Brad, that the Express certainly miss the coaching of Tom McCarthy. He is correct in stating that the team has trouble stringing together passes and getting out of their own zone. I believe that Salesse never did report to the team, and that Grandbois didn’t report to Timmins either. Hopefully, the Express can get it together soon, or it is going to be long season. They have a lot of games over the next week or so, and a prolonged losing streak would really damage what looked a promising early start. It would also hurt attendance, which is up over last season.
Espanola coach has no idea on how to set a pentaly kill or power play . Forwards continually going into there own corner on PK. That s how French river got a point.
One game on the pk both forwards went on the offensive , instead of passing the player did a selfish shot from a bad angle and the puck went all the way back to there own end. They played well at the cochrane tournament and actually won 3 in row.
Started playing different players on pk after success and have looked poor since then. I see one man ship getting rewarded . Bad penalties . Time for coaching move