“It has to improve:” Pandas not happy with conference winning performance

Some might call a scoreless game for 60 minutes boring.

And some would be right.

Two to three periods of no goals and an offset performance is mind-numbing on both ends.

Especially when the only thing not sending your team home after being out-played and out-shot for two straight games in an away series, was goaltending.

“I would say, quite honestly, that [the British Columbia Thunderbirds] were out-playing us in many ways, with the exception of goaltending,” University of Alberta Pandas head coach Howie Draper said. “So Grace Glover was our shining light over the course of the weekend, and gave us an opportunity to win.”

She also gave them the opportunity to take home their 15th Canada West title on March 7, while the team in front of her played only like Canada West champions in overtime.

“Just as in the past, we seem to be able to get goals when we need them the most, and that was certainly the case.”

By “goals when we need them most,” Draper’s referring to Abby Soyko’s two overtime winners, and third overtime point in just as many games. A performance reminiscent of the Pandas’ regular season and perhaps something they’d want to solve in regulation.

“Maybe we weren’t quite as focused as we needed to be and quick in our puck movement. Decision-making wasn’t great either,” Draper said.

“I wouldn’t say that they were hungrier. I know our team was hungry, but for whatever reason, we just couldn’t establish any offence.”

Looking forward, does this improve before they’re on a plane out East?

“It has to,” Draper replied.

“We’re going to be working a lot on breakouts over the next couple of days, and also our offensive zone play. I felt when we did get it into their zone at times, we were able to establish a little offensive zone time, but not enough.”

“So we need to get back to what’s helped us find success over the course of the year, and some of the tactics that we’ve used have been very successful.”

The biggest tactic ultimately comes down Soyko herself and a solid enough back-end manned by Glover and her 0.73 goals against average.

“Soyko seems to have that ability to lift her level when we need it the most. That’s a sign of a very key contributor. So I hope she can keep it going. I’d like to see a little bit more offence. I’d like to see her get a little bit of help from others on the team. If we want to be successful, we’re gonna need it.”

Of course Natalie Kieser shows up here and there. Whether on a line with Soyko or not, and finds away to get her the puck in those regularly occurring overtime situations.

“We like what Kieser does. She opens up a little bit of space for Soyko, just because she’s a hard worker. She’s strong, she’s tough, she’s fast, so that tends to create a little bit more room,” Draper added.

Draper isn’t saying everyone else on the team is useless, because they’re not, but “there are no bad teams at nationals,” and there are no teams winning a national title — like conference titles apparently — with such little offensive zone control.

Someone has to lose in the first, second, and third round, and it’ll be the team that relies too heavily on two players.

Three stars of the series