Monday Minute 11 - 09

The Hawks had an exciting finish to the annual dash for cash game on Saturday Night. I am pretty sure this was the biggest crowd of the season, and many Hawk fans went home happy, well, some I guess were more relieved then happy, but never the less it was a fantastic finish. This was one game that if you left early, you missed out.

The Hawks were not playing all that great at home over the past couple of games. November really did not start out as well as October and September were.

After not playing well on Nov 1 against Spokane, the Hawks moved into the Garden for their first game of the season on the larger ice. I thought this would open up the game for Portland and allow more open ice for their puck control offense. How ever, Portland was not better then Vancouver on that night and were shut out at home. Vancouver is a good team, however a couple of things were big let downs for me...

First, why is it that not once did someone step up and protect Muchs? Time and time again he got ran or slashed and not once did someone step up and smack a Giant, or run their goalie? I know that fighting is not going to be the same, but dang it, Ponich needs to quit talking about it and hit someone. Teams are going to keep slashing, hitting, bumping and running Muchs if not one Hawk is going to push back. Protect the goalie.

Second, the big ice did not help, in fact it most likely helped out Vancouver and they seem to be getting the puck in the open ice and had better puck and player movement. If Portland is going to keep playing on the big ice, they need to do a better job.

Portland did have a better game on Saturday, but Portland is tremendously better then Seattle and to have to scramble at the end to win in a Shoot Out... big excitement, but I am sure the Coaches and players themselves would like to play better.

Parents weekend is coming up this weekend... It is always nice to see the Parents come in to Portland and see their young men play. Come out and see a couple of good games against BC teams, WHL Champion Kelowna at the MC on Saturday and Chilliwack on Sunday in the Garden.