Go back to game 4, in Kitchener... the Knights let it get out of hand, and lost it... on a bullshit goal in overtime. A bullshit goal, but a goal and a fortune spinner. That now notorious bouncer, up, over and off of a soon-to-be shell shocked, Michael Hutchinson became the turning point of the series. Instead of 3-1 London coming home, it's deuces, followed by sevens, and ultimately a bust for the Knights.
So much for the Kadri point machine. 26 points in 11 playoffs games, now forgotten with a less than respectable effort in what's pretty much his OHL conclusion. Worse was Justin Taylor's exit. A slew foot from the captain ended his night and his Jr. career in embarrassing fashion. It's that OT goal in Kitchener, I tell ya. It gave the Rangers life. It put the Knights on their heals and they'd never regain their balance.
What could've settled things, only compounded the problem. London's goaltending and defensive posture was amongst it's worst in recent playoff memory. What's ironic, the tandem in place (Hutchinson and Houser) was brought in and expected to be better than previous spring efforts between the London pipes. In the end it wasn't even close.
Poor Hunters. They tried. But hey, that's hockey. You make deals, put faith in players and it blows up in your face. It does work. And it doesn't. Painfully for the Knights it didn't, again. So now what?
* Nazem Kadri must become more decisive with the puck. Problem is he can't evolve in that department over the summer. Expect some dynamics and many dammits courtesy of Kadri in the NHL preseason, that long, excuse spawning preseason.
No comments:
Post a Comment