A Hard Day’s Night: Round 8 — Swarm vs Red Devils//August 4th [recap]

With just the one set of games in Round 8, all eyes were on – well, on twitter or the Olympics, probably. But NZIHL focus was certainly on the two Auckland games between current league leaders the Canterbury Red Devils and the fifth-place holders, Botany Swarm.

What looked like a classic mismatch on the board was — on the Saturday night at least — an incredibly close and hard-fought game, with the Swarm taking the Devils to overtime before giving up a heart-breaker of a goal. Final score was 2-1 Devils, with goals to Hayden Argyle and Chris Eaden for the Devils, and Josh Hay for the Swarm. Also of note, Red Devils coach Anatoly Khorozov was ejected from the game in the third period, and will serve a two game suspension as a result.

After the cut, the usual write-up in all its gory detail, but first, a couple quick links:

It looks like the Skate of Origin rosters have been released, so if you suspect you’ll be jonesing for a hockey fix by the end of September (and who won’t be?), then it’s time to haunt grabaseat/take your chances with JetStar and make your way down to Christchurch for the 22nd of September for the game. I’m actually really excited for the skills competition, too – either we missed that somehow last season, or that’s a new addition, and either way it should be a lot of fun.

Super belatedly, but Jane from River Road Hockey also pointed out to me recently that the IIHF have released information on disciplinary action after the last World Championships; note New Zealander Ethan Henare will have to sit out two games at the 2013 Championships in Turkey if he attends. (Thanks, Jane!)

Lastly: the Sunday game write-up is hopefully going to follow tomorrow. I believe I made a 2am threat on Twitter to tackle that one in the style of a Xena episode, but honestly, I already ear-wormed myself with “Joxer the Mighty” and I shouldn’t expose anyone else to such a fate. …sorry.  😀

The Saturday game started with excellent news on several fronts, with Alex Polozov and Josh Hay both returning to the lineup after injury. Polozov had suffered a knee injury in the home opener against the Stampede, and Hay had been out a couple of weeks after being concussed in the TTCL game against the Melbourne Ice. Great to see both guys back on the ice and looking like they were skating well.

Unfortunately, Jordan Challis was out of the game with a dislocated shoulder; no news yet as to if or when he’s likely to return.

The first period featured a regular parade to the penalty box from the Swarm, but some excellent work on the penalty kill meant that they didn’t pay the price for it on the scoreboard. Zak Nothling was looking very steady in goal, with a few great stops on pucks that he clearly saw coming all the way.

Patrick Bishop was looking speedy in the first, and managed to chase down at least one puck to prevent an icing and give his linemates a chance to change up. Lyle Idoine was also particularly impressive, managing to draw three skaters to him when he brought the puck in over the blue line. Watching him outwork all three of them to tie the action up in that end for a few extra seconds was a delight to see.

The game was very physical from the outset – neither side was shy about laying the big hits, and there were definitely some guys on both sides pushing the limits for what was legal stickwork and what… might not be considered to be so.

The Swarm did an excellent job in the first period especially at keeping control in the neutral zone and at their own blueline. The Devils didn’t make it into the Swarm’s zone all that often, and solid work on the backcheck meant they didn’t retain the puck for very long when they did. Passing was significantly sharper on the Saturday than it would wind up being on Sunday. Dion Guest picked up a nice takeaway from one of the Devils just inside Botany’s defensive zone, and managed to skate most of the length of the sheet, getting a good scoring chance, although Coleman was able to make the stop with relative ease.

Coleman was also looking very solid in net, in what I gather to have been his first NZIHL game. Botany were only able to put one goal on him all weekend, and it was only when there was a lot of traffic in front of his crease that they seemed to get good chances – he was right on top of everything else, and made a lot of saves on the Saturday in particular that had to take either exceptional skill or positively unholy luck (or some combination of the two).

Speaking of luck, Polozov had a lot of the bad kind, drawing iron twice, and just not able to put a puck past Coleman, despite taking a lot of shots, several of which were very much of the ‘how the hell did that not go in?’ variety. It was excellent at least to see him snap right back into form with his linemates – watching the way Polozov, Wannamaker and Ball move the puck is one of the highlights of being a fan in this league.  Wannamaker and Polozov had some very neatly executed drop passes throughout the game, too, and are at least 82% less likely to give me heart failure while doing so than, well, everyone else I watch regularly.

Things got interesting early, with Devils defenseman James Kirkwood picking up a 10 minute misconduct with just under six minutes remaining.

The Swarm kept up some good offensive pressure for the rest of the first period, making smart plays and attacking the net, but just weren’t able to get past Coleman.  Nothling also made a couple of excellent stops as the clock wound down, including one on Chramtchenko, who pulled off a very pretty toe drag as he lined up his shot.

We had a bit more of the same near the beginning of the second period, with Eaden picking up 2 and a 10 for roughing. The Swarm weren’t able to capitalise on having one of the Devils’ biggest threats off the ice, but did at least manage to keep play moving without a whistle for a minute or two after the expiry of the misconduct to keep him out longer.

It was excellent to see throughout this period that the Swarm were doing a very good job of clearing the crease, getting loose pucks out and away before the Devils could pounce for a garbage goal – and I admit it, I totally had Mighty Ducks flashbacks when I wrote this note.

Polozov and Wannamaker had another good scoring chance early on in the second, with Polozov making an end-to-end rush, and then passing from behind the net to Wannamaker, who just couldn’t quite get the puck through Coleman’s pads. About a minute later, Nothling had an excellent save of his own, just getting enough on a ripper of a slapshot from Gabriel Yeung at the point.

New face Scott Randell also made a good showing this period, trying to go five-hole on Coleman, although he was having none of that. Adam Soffer did some good work in close, providing traffic in front of the net and getting tangled up with the Devils goalie. With about eight and a half minutes remaining there was a lengthy scramble in front of the Devils net, with Botany taking plenty of chances and throwing everything they had at them. The action moved down to the Swarm’s end after that, with Konev coming in on a rush which was broken up by a well-timed diving poke-check from one of the Swarm, although Soffer also picked up a slashing penalty for his part in halting that chance.

Devils captain Argyle was able to break the drought on the ensuing powerplay, scoring at 6.41 with assists from Chramtchenko and Kirkwood, as Botany were just too slow to clear the puck.

The Swarm were able to equalise just under a minute later, with Josh Hay coming in on a rush and managing to get his shot off while he was falling, sliding right into the boards on the follow-through before being mobbed by his teammates. Assist on that one to Attwell.

With 4 seconds left, Andrew Hay was assessed a charging penalty, and the Devils appeared to score right off the ensuing faceoff, but the buzzer had already sounded, and after some discussion the officials confirmed the no goal call.

Less than a minute into the third, Polozov was sent to the box on a hooking call, giving the Devils almost a minute of 5-on-3. They set up in the Swarm’s end and had some good shots, but the Swarm were able to defend well, including a nice attempt at a hipcheck from Richard Idoine on Eaden, which didn’t exactly work as advertised, but did at least separate man from puck — which was the important part!

It was Konev’s turn for a post after that, and with the game knotted up at 1-all, both sides were clearly starting to get frustrated.

Maxime Bettez was also noticeable this game, using his speed and skating ability to get the puck deep in the opposition zone, and tying up several members of the opposing team at times. He was also particularly good in around the crease, checking and using his stick and body position well.

The Swarm did pick up one nice piece of luck, though. With the Devils set up again in the Swarm’s zone, they managed to draw Nothling out to give themselves an open net, but the pass from the man behind the net hit one of their own players and caromed off safely. That kind of friendly fire I will take any day of the week!

Following that there was another mad scramble — around Botany’s net this time – and possession changed so fast and so often that I stopped bothering to count turnovers. Eventually, Botany were able to clear it, and a short while later there was another altercation down in the Devils’ end which resulted in Wannamaker hitting the ice hard and sliding before a whistle stopped play. It transpired he’d been hit by Coleman, and the Devils were assessed a 4 minute minor for high-sticking on the play.

Konev was also given a 10 minute misconduct at that same point, and it seemed to be this which served as the flashpoint to kick off the fireworks in the end of the period. With about ten minutes remaining, Konev was sent off with a game misconduct, cuing an immediate increase in volume from the Canterbury bench. With eight and a half minutes remaining, it was Argyle’s turn to take a minor, and the Swarm nearly negated that as they avoided a Too Many Men penalty by a hair. At 5.46, one of the Canterbury players went down in Botany’s zone, appearing to hit his head, and was slow to get up. (I think this was Josh Greenwood, but didn’t get his numbers.) And that was about when everything went banana sandwich.

The Canterbury bench had been giving an enthusiastic and unflattering opinion of the refereeing for much of the night, and at this point the officials appeared to have had enough. One of them skated over to tell coach Anatoly Khorozov to leave the game, Khorozov argued, and when the official pointed emphatically at the gate before turning to skate back to the timekeeper’s booth, Khorozov sprayed him with a water bottle. Understandably, the officials were having none of this, and with some further fast talking from officials and players alike, Khorozov was off the bench and heading to the locker room. Vince Mitalas then had to get up from his seat at the end of the bench to take over coaching duties. It has to be said, seeing someone in full goalie gear (sans helmet) standing on the bench was certainly a novel experience.

The Devils were able to kill off the bench minor, and as the end of regulation came ever nearer, both sides were giving their all; bodies flying and possession changing rapidly as players tried to make the move to break the deadlock.

With 58 seconds remaining, Wannamaker was returning to the bench when Devils d-man Stefan Speck started a shoving match with him, nearly getting him over the boards before the linesman was able to break it up. Both players were assessed 2 minute roughing minors, meaning that regulation was played out in 4-on-4. The action moved back into the Swarm zone in the dying moments, for a ridiculous scramble around the net that resolved itself with Nothling down flat, out of the net, several other skaters from both teams tangled up, and as the officials whistled play dead, Bettez more or less illustrated the frustration everyone was feeling as he caught the puck just above head-height directly in front of the net, and threw it behind him into the safety netting. It was Argyle’s turn to pick up a 10 minute misconduct then, giving the Red Devils a grand total of 121 PIMs for the evening to the Swarm’s 19. He left the bench, clearly furious, and most likely didn’t do his stick any favours with the treatment he gave it then.

Everyone had a bit of a breather at that point, and then it was right back into the game. As Wannamaker and Speck’s minors carried over into the extra time, we were due to have 1.02 of 3-on-3, if the game lasted that long. It was not to be, however, as Chris Eaden scored 34 seconds into the extra frame on a good rush into Botany’s zone, and before the Swarm were able to get even a single shot on goal themselves.

Disappointing to take a loss after all the Swarm’s hard work on the night, and especially with the Red Devils spending so much time in the box, but while the Swarm weren’t able to convert on any of their PP opportunities, they at least looked promising enough that you had to believe eventually one was going to go in. And one point for the game was certainly better than none.

Third Star: Josh Hay (BSW)
Second Star: James Kirkwood (CRD)
First Star: Chris Eaden (CRD)