There’s a lot to like about Saturday.
There’s more onus on moving the puck quicker and getting players forwards faster when turning over possession. I loved the energy and work rate all game, and we didn’t really let up over 60 minutes bar a couple of Lee Valley goals at the start of the second period and a few big saves from Dylan Philips.
I thought we made them look ordinary. Despite my concerns after the Guildford game, this was akin to a result from three or four years ago rather than what they threatened last year. Near total domination by Haringey.
11-2 is a strong scoreline, but with more composure we could have had plenty more. 83 shots on the Lions’ net to 24 on the Huskies’. And that’s not counting all the big chances that were wide of the mark.
We race to 3-0 in the first period with goals from Ruskin Springer Hughes and Will Nowik. A delayed-penalty goal and a powerplay goal thrown in to boot.
There’s a nice play that Ryan McFarlane tries a couple of times from the point. You expect the slapshot or for him to shift it across ice but it’s played deftly into the slot. This time it’s for Will who forces a blocker save.
Leo De Souza Saoncella put in a couple of big hits centre ice, and Courtney Grant is all action. Ryan Payne far too strong for the Lee Valley player on the boards. Some nice combinations between Stuart Appleby and Carl Etuazim. A late scare when Dylan skates out of the crease to beat the onrushing Lee Valley skater to the puck, but it’s dealt with in the end. A strong first period.
Maybe a lack of concentration for Lee Valley’s first goal, but they score straight from the restart. Robert Rejna sees a glorious chance sail wide after Will had put it across the slot. Marton and Stu have shots saved, and Will drops it off to Leo on a couple of occasions, both gloved from the left.
Ruskin and Stu make it 5-1, before a Lee Valley timeout. They double their score a minute later, gaining the zone they play it across the slot twice for a tap-in. Should have been dealt with.
Rob makes it 6-2 moments later though, and Pete Toth extends it to seven with a rocket from the right. As tradition dictates, you have to score on a big anniversary and Pete marked his 100th game as a Huskies with a goal. Brilliant.
Johan Persson and Nikita Bzozovskis linked up on a couple of occasions very nicely before another Marton goal on the powerplay to make it 8-2. Five Haringey goals in the second period and no sign of them slowing down.
There’s a big blow at the start of the third as Casey Wilson hits the ice. His injury didn’t look good, and he was down holding his knee from a long time. I think Oli Cooper went off early as well, and he didn’t travel on Sunday so there may be an issue there too.
Cameron Pow tidies up in centre ice to deny a breakaway. I must have been stood next to the Cam Pow fan club who screamed his name every time he stepped onto the ice. Johan puts a slapper on net form the point but it’s kicked out.
Marton gets his hattrick for 9-2 with a wrister form the slot after Carl had had his shot saved. Carl’s gloved from the blue line, and Courtney hits the ice to block the puck. I love his attitude.
Marton and Ruskin were sensational, each bagging a hattrick of goals and assists, and Ruskin gets his with a perfect individual goal. Hands and stick control to glide past opponents, cutting back inside to the crease for a low finish. 10-2.
He combines with Rob moments later from behind the net for his second and Haringey’s eleventh on the night. Conner Smith picks out Johan across centre ice with a sublime saucer pass, he carries it to net but it’s saved on the left. Lovely move.
It could have been 12; Leo times the poke check to release Nikita who gains the zone but his shot is held. 11-2 it ends.
It’s a great performance and result, with room for improvement. Seen in context, there are sterner tests ahead but after losing the previous three games it’s nice to get back to winning ways.
Invicta was Sunday. We travelled short-benched with only 14 skaters and one netminder. It sounded like a very tight game, with no goals in the first two periods. We go 2-0 down in the third but still have the fight and spirit to tie it up and take it to overtime. That tells you something about this group.
It’s not the result we wanted but they manage to get to overtime and take something away from the game against a good side. A lot of credit should go to our junior players who are playing a big part for us at the moment and playing it well.
It would be tremendous to get our first league win on the road this year on Sunday against Milton Keynes Thunder. It’s been a tough start for them in South 2, with games against Invicta, Guildford twice, and Oxford their first fixtures. They’ve recently snapped their own losing streak with a win over Slough. Thunder forward Marks Kanins looks a threat, having amassed nine goals and six assists in five league games.
I expect it to be tough, and it will be interesting to see who’s available for us to travel. Whoever lines up, if they bring the energy and stubbornness they did last weekend, they’ve got a good chance.
Let’s Go Huskies.
Photos: Luke O’Donovan
