It's hard to know where to start with last night. In late August we're usually happy to see any hockey. The expectation is usually a glorified training session. If I saw a game with that much fire at the height of a season, I'd be impressed. To play two games at that level after less than a week together bodes extremely well for the season.
As so many others have said, the CHL power play rules suck. I'm glad to see teams staying 5 on 5 for coincidental, but giving a team a massive advantage for a potentially dubious calls is ludicrous. That brings me on to the special teams. We obviously struggled but, in the case of the pp, that seemed to be more about being slightly off on execution (which will come). There was good movement and creativity. Against a lesser opponent we may well have scored a few. Already it feels like a breath of fresh air compared to last season.
Defensively there were a few lapses. I would have preferred for us to have a proper stay at home defencemen on the team, but I accept that this is about PRs approach to the game, and it wouldn't work in his system. I was impressed by rymsha and, among the forwards, I was encouraged to see Sanford has really upped his defensive game.
Booth had me worried in the first few minutes when we went 3 down, but as there game progressed he seemed to settle. His positioning started to look solid and he started to look liked the top tier goalie we need to get silverware.
The 4th line was impressive. Aside from the 4th Belfast goal, when Keefe got a favourable line change while they were tired, they brought the energy all night.
I'm reserving judgment on the new guys for the most part, but I'm feeling positive. Hopefully next weekend we'll get to see harewood to see how he's progressing.
In terms of presentation, I really liked the new "let's go" video and I liked doing all of the player introductions before they come into the ice (to speed things up). The thing with phone lights was fun too. I think that'd work really well as part of the intro. We just need to steal the microphone away from Todd, to stop him doing his "your team, the home team" bit. It wasn't needed in the old days, it isn't needed now. The ice is a lot busier now with all the adverts, but in person it wasn't as noticeable as when you watch the stream. I don't like it, but I understand why it's necessary. Thank goodness we don't have animated advertising boards though.
All in all, I'm really buzzing. I can't wait to see us against angers, but I can't see that game having the edge this one did.