December 2,
2012
 |
| Bulls vs Utah Dec 1, 2012 (photo courtesy of the SF Bulls) |
In a
disappointing road trip, the Bulls lost the three games they played on the
road. Thankfully, they come home to the Barn this Wednesday for a game against
the Bakersfield Condors.
Thursday,
November 29th, the Bulls lost to the Las Vegas Wranglers in overtime
6-5. This was a crazy game with plenty of chances for the team to claim
victory. Penalties were the big factor.
Friday, the
team traveled to Utah to play two games against the Utah Grizzlies. Saturday’s
match had Taylor Nelson in front of the goal. I’m never quite as comfortable
with him there as I am with Thomas Heemskerk. I just think Heemskerk is a bit
better, but Nelson does need time on the ice, so Friday it was. The Bulls lost
to the Grizzlies 7-4, also ending their 5-game point streak.
Then for
Saturday night’s game the team was ready for a comeback, but it was not meant
to be. And yet again, penalties were the culprit. Heemskerk’s goaltending was
good and not the problem. Even the fights were not. Much like Friday night, there
was times when the team has to fight one 5-on-3 Penalty Kills and that’s when Utah
swooped in. To their credit, the Bulls were able to hold off many PKs, but how
many is too many? And how much more would the score be had their not had to
overcome being so shorthanded for some much of the game?
Previously,
I had written that one of the keys the Bulls must overcome are penalties.
Namely, they must stop committing senseless penalties. In their four-game
winning streak, they had done this. The Guys had kept to smart playing, focusing
on the winning line, instead of getting lost in High Stick or Delay of Game
penalties (for example) that seemed to plague their more recent away games.
I’m not
adverse to penalties. Everyone’s going to commit them. But, our opponents are
smart and they want to win. We must want to win more and to do this, we must
play smarter.
On the
positive note, coming home to play will be good for the team. Go see them
Wednesday night versus Bakersfield and coming up next weekend Friday and
Saturday, December 7th and 8th they play Colorado Eagles.
If you only
go to one game, go to Friday night when the Bulls host the First Annual Teddy
Bear Toss! Bring a Teddy Bear to the game (no battery bears please!) and then
the Bulls score their first goal, toss your bear onto the ice. All the bears
will be gathered and given to kids in need. It’s a great, great event very
popular in minor league hockey.
So, see you
this week!
GO BULLS!
