Aeros v. Rockford Ice Hawgs - Game 29

Woo! Merry Christmas, boys! Did Santa deliver tonight or what?

Just leave some cookies and milk at my seat next Friday.

I'm gonna be like Russo and start with all the stuff I got right:

First, Brusty's intermission interview echoed a lot of what I said in my recap of Wednesday's game. Normally that wouldn't be bragging stuff but it's hard to really get a sense of these games on the little AHLLive video, so when I mostly nail it, that makes me happy.

Second, Rosy's back, baby! A beautiful, game tying goal, an assist on Rogers' goal, and then the game winning shootout goal! Someone has been a good boy this year. Number one star for you, mister!

Third, Ryz! A piddly assist wasn't enough for that first, long-awaited point. It had to be THE goal that got the team moving offensively. The Confidence Goal. The Number Three Star Goal!

Fourth, Rogers had a terrific game. Solid AND got that offensive touch back in scoring the "Take That, Bitches!" Goal.

Fifth, Schaefer got the start, which isn't a surprise on a 3-in-3, and once he found his groove in the second and third, he was spectacular. Seriously, it's a great problem to have to choose between two such fantastic goalies, but I'm glad it's not me doing the choosing. So, does KC ride the hot goalie tomorrow or does he ride the OTHER hot goalie tomorrow?

What else? No penalties for Scotty, Kolanos got to play for the Wild tonight (and got an assist off Gillies first NHL goal, which was also the game winning goal), Schultzie got 2 points, and I didn't complain once about Mosey! Hey, that's like half the list knocked off!

Oh! My unsung hero... Jesse Schultz, who was hitting everything that moved and warming my heart in a familiar Clutterbucky way in the process. Rockford is a tough bunch of nuts, so that's a good strategy for cracking them a bit. Good job, Schultzie.

The bad news is that the first two periods were not good. The first goal came very early and the team looked like they'd lost their puppy. No confidence. No puck possession. Where the hell is Kolanos?

The second was better defensively as the score was held 0-2.

The third, well, they found their mojo and rocked it out. There were NO penalties in the third. Much like that game against Providence with so few penalties, when you're not spending all your energy on the PK, there's energy and time to take the puck to the net and give the goalie the business. And the fact that the Hawgs got the go-ahead third goal within seconds of the Aeros tying it up didn't matter. They dug deep and stayed steady and trusted their ability to get it done. That is the consistency and maturity and professionalism KC has been looking for from this team.

It's a long weekend but starting it with a win sure helps.

Scratches were Hamilton, Hamilton, and Lundbohm. I believe Love was playing forward, which accounts for the missing d-man in the stands. I'm assuming M. Hamilton is injured or purposely being rested due to the compressed schedule, as I have a hard time believing he'd be a healthy scratch after the run he's been on.

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I can't wrap up with out bragging on C2, who had his best game of the season so far in Minnesota. He was under the Isles skin AND he was getting signficant scoring chances, as well as creating space for the rest of the guys to move the puck. He got the second star of the game and a special place in the deep, dark recesses of the Isles hearts, who took no pleasure in his antics.