So, it seems the knives are well and truly out again and Bowns has taken over from Reddick as the scapegoat. To coin a phrase from above maybe I’ll get slated here, but for me lazy people who know nothing at all about the position jump on the goalie’s back. It’s always an easy blame and I’ve noticed often the people slating both nms rarely comment on good games / wins.
I read on Twitter this week that Bowns hasn’t played in Europe and doesn’t have the experience some of the players do, the implication being that makes him the weak link. But many players have struggled to score and even create chances. I’ve also read a lot about how Herzog was the difference. Indeed, after the first game Bowns stood up and shouldered the blame, he took the flack and kudos to him for doing that, but hockey is a team sport and a win or loss isn’t down to one person.
Rarely do Bowns or Murdy take penalties, which tonight caused 2 of the goals and have made the job in all the games much harder. Devils continue to screen their own net but rarely screen the opposition nm. On the few occasions they tried to screen in the home game they actually saved the shot, but on way too many occasions the opposition nms have a clear look at the shots coming in, Paul Adey commented on this tonight. Also, particularly tonight, Salzburg D were the first to the rebounds Herzog gave out and the better team at blocking shots. And again, just my opinion, but some of Devils sog were not the best. Several when the nm was beaten missed the net. But luck wasn’t on the Devil’s side either, Hedden hit the cross bar, several shots were just wide etc.
Many people have agreed that Devils have not been clinical enough in front of net, maybe if they had been more clinical then Herzog wouldn’t have looked so good. Maybe also if they get the puck out of the zone then there wouldn’t be so many chances. But despite this people are still blaming just Bowns, for me that’s a strange one.
IMHO the main difference in the games was both teams Devils played have been clinical, screened the nm very well and taken good, accurate, hard, first time, quick shots. Devils haven’t done any of those things as well as their opposites and the number of shots missed from in front of the net were probably the real difference. It makes the opposition nm’s life much easier. Also Lord in his interview said they were slow out of the blocks and in general they seemed the quicker team.
That said, I personally feel Devils have matched both teams at points in the games, I just wonder if the CHL has come too early for them, injuries in the friendlies and losing a d man haven’t helped preparation. It’s also not beyond the realms of possibility that Bowns is injured, he has played some absolute blinders in the past where very few people had no idea he was carrying serious injuries. Time will tell.
And just a final point, tonight, Devils were outshot, particularly for periods 1&2, Bowns kept them in the game. He made more saves than Herzog overall and I would argue had to make the harder saves in all the games. Just a different perspective but I find it strange that people rush to praise opposition nms and rush to slate their own.