Blazers vs. Texas – Sorta Game Blog
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
6:30 – Yep, 5-3 was the final. Like I said six hours ago, look for a “what a difference a year makes” story on Doug Sauter and the team. Also have a note on Cam Doull, who I was able to get in touch with this weekend.
Monday will be the Power Poll as well as some leftover Doull goodies.
Hey, if anyone was on the Heartland Flyer, would love some thoughts on how you guys felt about it. For those that don’t know, there was a bus trip that took Blazers fans to the Texas game today.
5:50 – Looks like it’s going to be Texas 5, Blazers 3, final. Texas was able to get 3 PP goals and one SH goal. Still 1:50 left.
4:58 – It’s a shootout in Texas. And a chippy one at that. The teams combined for five goals in the period and Texas leads 4-3 heading into the third.
With the game tied 2-2, penalties bit Oklahoma City bad. Texas’ Jason Deitsch scored back-to-back 5-on-3 goals, and it appeared the Blazers might be content with just coming back home.
But after killing off a Texas PP, Oklahoma City got one of its own and capitalized with a Stacey Bauman goal.
Bauman, Gomez and Tyler Harder, not three names you would expect to be the goal-scorers.
Cacciola has been magnificent (showing what little I know), stopping a couple of breakaways and keeping Texas up as Blazers have 34 shots through the first two periods.
Josh Patterson and Texas’ Nathan Saunders received game-misconducts late in the period after Jason Deitsch (I think) and Simon Lambert got into a scuffle.
Will the play let up in the third or will the teams continue to get feisty with each other?
4:05 – Robin Gomez scores late in the period to tie it at 1-1 heading into the second. It’s funny because though the Blazers outshot Texas 18-9, it sounds like G Andy Franck was the first period hero.
Texas excels at the SH goals and Jordan Cameron added to that mark. The first half of the period sounded like Oklahoma City trying to get its head in the game, but the Blazers woke up and played strong in the final 10 minutes.
3:20 – Oklahoma City getting a break as Texas G David Cacciola is getting the start. But as I was typing, Texas has scored a short-handed goal on a 2-on-1 break.
12:40 – Hey, able to talk with head coach Doug Sauter today. Actually woke him up, oops. Understandable with the long trips Oklahoma City has been making.
Ted Vandermeer will not play today and G Andy Franck will get the start at Texas here in a couple hours.
Sauter said Franck was the difference maker in Saturday’s 3-2 win.
Also said that was the most physical the Blazers have played this month.
Some of the guys are a little nicked up at this point and playing a third game in as many days won’t help the cause. Josh Patterson is having a little issue with his right knee, but he will play today. Jason Murfitt played well Saturday, Sauter said, and he’ll be ready to go while Tyler Fleck took a shot on the foot last night but no issues there.
Look for a “what a difference a year makes” story about Sauter and the Blazers. Already surpassing last year’s win total and can clinch a playoff berth today.
Also, spoke with Cam Doull this weekend, so you’ll get to hear his side of what has happened and where he is currently at in his life. I’ll also post more with Doull in Monday’s Power Poll blog.
Texas is coming off a 4-3 SO loss at Odessa last night. And as I’ve said before, though the Brahmas are one of the best teams in the league, the Blazers have really matched up well and had some of their finer moments vs. Texas this season.
Back later when the game gets going.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Mark,
Blah….blah….blah….why don’t you just come out and say it….NICE GAME LADIES!!!! I am now forced to get out my big spoon because you refuse to speak your mind! Andy will not come out of his slump under Sauter…go back and look at other goalies under Sauter that were in slumps…not many have recovered while still playing for Sauter. I think it is probably pretty hard playing in the same position as your coach. Once the confidence is gone these guys can only think about feeling those big shoes, or pants, which ever you prefer.
Quit being such a baby about your posts! This is a hockey blog, not a candy shop…..so…..stop sugar-coating everything! Just come out and say it…there is no need to try and keep it in!!
Do we have the best WCHL (Women’s Central Hockey League) team or what?!
The only thing good about this team is the coaching staff and the GOOSE!
PS – Smoke it up Andy!!!!
Christy, you live on both sides of the fence. When the Blazers win you have your cute little cheerleading outfit on talking about what what a great game Leslie had and how tough Goose is. When they get beat you start putting down other posters. And to make yourself feel better you call the Blazers the same gender that you are. What does that say about yourself?
First of all Leslie isn’t very good. There is a reason he is -11 (maybe -12 now). The coaching staff is starting to give him less shifts and for good reason. The funny thing about this guy here is that even with less playing time he is still going the wrong direction in +/-. He will never be a good player on this team no matter what.
Your goalies that have “never come out of slumps under Sauter”? Jean-Ian Filiautrault (where is spell check?) He was up and down plenty of times while playing here. Twiggy had a minor slump the year we won it all. Christy, you don’t remember who Twiggy was because you are a casual fan. You cheer when we win and get mad when we get beat. There is a place for people like you- it’s called the Okc Thunder.com. Go there and you will fit right in with all of the other hags that know nothing about sports. Oh, great! Now you’ve made me so mad Suzanne going to be calling me out for talking bad about her Thunder.
Christy just do us all a favor- save that cheerleading outfit for your husband. He might be into that sort of thing. And when the Blazers get beat start pointing the finger at the right people- start with #28.
Mark,
I didn’t mention Leslie one time in my blog about yesterday’s game. You seem to be the only one thinking about Leslie. Maybe he doesn’t play great because his feet are so tired from running through your mind all the time!
When we win I complain just as much about the effort put into the game as I do when we win! I talk constantly about our players not “showing up” or putting any effort in win or loose. Heck, I’m suprised we have won as many as we have!
Now for the goalies….are you saying the Goose isn’t tough? Are you saying Andy isn’t in a slump? How many goalies have not recovered from slumps under Sauter? Have you read the blog about Andy’s helmet? He can’t stop anything because his head is stuck in the rock and roll hall of fame! Are you gonna sit there and tell me that when you see Andy is starting in goal you don’t say, crap we’re gonna loose?
If you will read my post again you will notice that I said not many have recovered….I didn’t say never recover.
I think you are related to Alan Perry!
Mark – Did you see the new blog? You will be sad but Leslie has beed waived. This doesn’t mean he can’t still run through your mind every night! We, your fellow hockey fans,will be here to support you in any way we can. I know this will be very hard for you, but the pain will eventually go away. Just remember….when one door closes another one opens and everything happens for a reason!
Christy, I said I would never comment on this guy again and I will keep my word. He is history, unlike your desire to be a puck bunny.
Mark – You said you would never comment about this guy again long after I posted this…hate to bust your bubble but I am too old to be a puck bunny!!
Christy, there are still players from the 70’s and 80’s Stars/Blazers running around here- I would list some of their names but I would worry that you would be chasing them around like you do these younger players.
It’s ok Mark….I understand how upset you must still be over 28 being out of the gate! I completely uderstand you needing to take your frustrations out on someone. I will take the puck bunny crap you keep dishing out and assume you are sad because you aren’t a hockey player or coach and don’t have any women chasing you around. Like I said before, the pain will pass. Just because Leslie isn’t physically here doesn’t mean he can’t still hold a special place in your heart. No one can take the memories away from you, they are yours forever. I can’t imagine how hard tomorrow night will be for you….first game since loosing Leslie….it won’t be the same for you. You will make it through this!
That was the worst camera angle for NiftyTV in the league period. I just had to turn it off because I was better off listening to Byers (I know he was on NiftyTV too).
I caught myself pulling for Frank to have a great game to get him out of the slump. It sounds like he played great early on and then the 5 on 3 PP’s got to him. How often does a team get back to back 5 on 3s on the same penalty (Franks)? Sounds like some home cookin to me.