Victory start strong but hard work must continue

The Chatham Victory have picked up where they left off. After a 100+ point season last time out and a perfect 8-0-0 pre-season the team have started the new season 5-1-1.

No one player has stood out offensively for the team thus far. Instead the team’s philosophy of depth and two way play is ensuing, typified by the third line of Enver Lisen, Antoine Vermette and Andrei Kostitsyn who tie the team for lead goals with 3 a piece and a combined +26 rating through 7 games. Vermette also has a 60+% face-off win percentage as does fellow centreman Jonthan Toews. The team’s controlled aggression has borne through recording the 4th highest number of hits per game whilst walks to the penalty box have been kept to a minimum.

The real difference however has been in defence. During the current rebuild Grand Master Supremo BuffonIdol stated his desire to build a sound defensive side. Though early days the team sit top of the pile in defensive scrounging with a measly 1.86 goals against average. Key to this thus far has been the goaltending. It has long been apparent that goaltending has held the franchise back in recent years with 606hlstats.org revealing the team has received the worst goaltending in the league over the past 3 seasons. GMS Buff signed veteran Jose Theodore up in the off-season and it is paying dividends right now. Equally pleasing has been the play of former #1 Josh Harding in riding the storm when Jose has had the odd hiccup. If the tandem can keep up their play through the season the franchise stands a good chance of finally breaking their play-off curse.

One of the most interesting stories in the team camp so far has been the absence of Dennis Seidenberg. The 213lb blue-liner started the season with a 2 match ban carried over from pre-season. In his absence the strong play of Colin White meant Dennis has sat as healthy scratch for the past 5 games, a huge disappointment for the former first pair d-man. Rumours circulate however that Dennis will return to the ice soon, though who gets dropped from the stellar line-up remains difficult to call.

GMS Buff may be given the incentive to shuffle his pack given the dire performance against the Watford Capitals. The Victory were shut-out 3-0 at home to hand the Caps their first win of the season. Buff has in private acknowledged that super-stars Toews and Sedin need a shake up and it remains to be seen if the pair, who combined for just 4 goals and -3 rating might be placed on separate lines in the near future.

606hlstats.org must be down at the moment, I can't get it to open