Martinson Post Game Comments & Is The Party Over?

Turn Out The Lights, Is The Party Over? - photo SceneByKimberly.com

Of course the party is not over, it has just begun but it was difficult getting rejected by the best looking team at the CHL party last night. The Americans wasted a great comeback to lose to Whichta 4-3 with the game winner coming with just over a minute left in the game. There were a lot of similarities with the loss to Ft. Worth on Sunday. A very important game in the race for first place, playing at home, out shooting the opponent (43-19) and loosing the game.

We have been at this point several times before this year where it appeared we might be heading for second place and have always risen to the occasion . First place is still totally in control of the Americans. Is the path more difficult, yes but this team has shown time and again it can get the job done under adversity.

Here are some of Coach Martinson's post game comments:

- I was disappointed in the start of the game as we gave up a couple of soft plays and you can't give Wichita an inch. Every time we were soft they put the puck in the net.

- I changed goalies even though it wasn't really our goalies fault and then we had some guys go really hard and get us back in the game. Wichita was ripe for the picking but our veterans did not step up. We need our veterans guys to step up and that hasn't happened the last few games.

- We went brain dead on the power play as we got away from some of the things we had been working on.

- I thought Baldwin played great tonight and I think he is going to help us. He is good at blocking shots and moving guys out.
 
- Robinson has made our power play a lot better. When we got the puck to him things happened and when we got away from that it didn't. I think some of our guys are more worried about how much power play time they are getting rather doing everything they can to help win the game.

- McKenzie may play this weekend but don't look for Maiani to play until the first round of the playoffs.

- Kerbashian is suspended for three games. A bad time of the year to spear somebody. He won't be back until the weekend.

- We miss the speed of McKenzie, Maiani, & Kerbashian in a game like tonight.

- I have one amateur signed who will be here this weekend but he can't play until the playoffs. I am waiting to see what else happens before I sign another amateur.

- Doesn't look like the Europeans players we have signed will be coming.

- We will be adding another defenseman but I don't know yet if it will be a pro or an amateur.

- The playoff roster (which must be submitted by March 26th) is made up of 19 players plus one additional player can be on the injured reserve (IR) for a total of 20 pro players. The person who starts the playoffs on IR (most likely Berube) will not be able to play in the first round. In addition to the 20 pro players you can have two amateur players. You can also have a third goalie on the playoff roster as back up.

One of the more interesting comments Coach Martinson  made from my perspective was in response to a question from the audience regarding whether the players we are bring in late in the season will be here next year. This is not a quote and I am reading between the lines but the response was something like we are not thinking about signing anyone until all the stuff going on in the league sorts itself out. I took this to mean there is still the possibility of something going on between the CHL or CHL teams and the ECHL. We can only hope.

Finally, best of luck to equipment manager Kacee Coberly and his wife Roxanne who will be headed to the hospital today for the birth of their second child, a son, named Noah.