Thursday, April 16, 2009

Six Things To Watch Out For...

1) Two top end defenseman facing off in this series. Who's better, Giants rearguard Jon Blum or Kelowna Rockets d-man Tyler Myers? Both are first round draft picks, Blum by Nashville and Myers by Buffalo. While both are completely different players, both are arguably the top two defenseman in the Western Conference.

2) Intensity. It won't be a problem for the Rockets, but can they come close to the intensity line without going over it? Emotion is good, but too much can be detrimental.The Giants are the older team, and will do all they can to rattle the Rockets cage in an effort to send them to the penalty box. In some instances it's best to turn your cheek and skate away. Who ever does this the best may just end up winning the series.

3) Two players who shouldn't be forgotten in this series is the role Ryley Grantham and Lance Bouma will play. Grantham's 'policeman role' was limited against the Tri City Americans simply because no one wanted to get involved, and frankly liberties were not taken against the Rockets top end players. That's where Bouma comes in. Bouma is one of the best open ice hitters in the game and likes nothing more than to get into the face of an opposition forward. Look for those two to make a significant contribution in this series.

4) Solid officiating. We are down to the final teams to decide who is going to battle for the league title. If game six of the Tri City series was any indication, the officials will do their utmost to allow the two teams to decide matters. That may mean some tripping or questionable hooking calls will receive a blind eye from the officials, but I would far and away rather witness a series where the referee's step back, then a best of seven where the fans routinely yell out "We want a ref".

5) Secondary scoring. While Jamie Benn and Evander Kane will have the spotlight on them, the '20 goal guys' is what I like to call them, are the ones that could make a huge difference in this series. A '20 goal guy' is someone like Stepan Novotny for the Rockets and James Wright for Vancouver. Novotny had 19 goals while Wright had 21 makers. Those two may not see the best defensive pairing from the opposing team, so its a chance for them to shine in the offensive zone.

6) Adjustments. Who does a better job of adjusting to what the other team is doing is often times a huge key in a series win. If the Rockets are being hemmed in their own zone from a relentless Giants fore check, how do they counteract that? How do the Giants keep the puck away from the Rockets forwards, who seem to excel when they are allowed significant time and space in the offensive zone?

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