OKC V GRAND RAPIDS 23.1.13
With the gifted people back in the highest league on earth, and with Hartikainen and Paajarvi joining them there, the opportunity for the ‘bubbling under’ talents like Curtis Hamilton and Tyler Pitlick is there in a big way. Who will win the day?
For the 2010 2nd rd picks, this is the opportunity they’ve been waiting for, and with that we got word that Tyler Pitlick was hurt and unlikely to return for several weeks. That leaves a Hamilton and a bunch of depth picks to wage war for playing time and PP opportunities. Here’s how it is going:
- Ryan Martindale 4, 2-2-4 +1
- Toni Rajala 4, 2-1-3 -1
- Tyler Pitlick 3, 0-2-2 E
- Kristians Pelss 4, 0-2-2 +1
- Curtis Hamilton 2, 0-0-0 -1
- Phil Cornet 3, 0-0-0 E
Pitlick looked good in the three games before injury, but Hamilton remains a lightweight even at the AHL level. Martindale, a man who barely registered in pro hockey a year ago, has joined Rajala and Pelss as the guys who are earning minutes.
- Todd Nelson on Pitlick: “It’s really disappointing. We’ve been through this with a lot of your young guys where we get a guy like Tyler where it’s been a tough year for him but this weekend he played some really good hockey, had a couple of assists and started to turn the corner. Then in the third period he got tangled up with a guy and his right knee is really bothering him. Right now, as we speak, he’s getting an MRI done and until we get the results off that we can’t determine how long he’s going to be out for.”
I know that sometimes I get stubborn on a guy (Smid made a dumb play last night but I haven’t mentioned it, a sure sign of maturity) but for me Pitlick’s a player. He might not post the good crooked numbers this year but there’s a player there all the same. Hamilton? I don’t think we’ll be talking about him much come summer. Sometimes these kids just don’t work out.
Arcobello scores 53 seconds into the 2nd period, now 2-1 for GR. Green with the assist.
Tyrvainen scores his 2nd of the year to tie the game. Martindale with the assist, now has a three game scoring streak according to Jim Byers.
House scores to tie it. Assists to Pelss and Marincin, who had a long crazy shift.
rajala and Marincin. sorry. Jim crossed me up!
Any particular bad goals let in by Roy?
I still maintain there is a player in thier with Martindale. He is a project for sure, but I hold out hope that the right coach and maybe the right veteran mentors can tech him what it takes to be successful in pro hockey.
Given that Pitlick and Hamilton have not done mich with thier chances, it would be really really nice to see Martindale take advantage of the opportunity before him.
Wow this PP is terrible.
Marincin with the PP score, I stand by original statement.
Marincin (Lander, Rajala) PP it is tied.
Nice to see Lander contributing.
Pelss is really playing well. We’re last minute now, still tied.
Pelss has been great, the puck moves in the right direction when he’s on the ice.
Wow, Green was a pylon on that chance.
GR wins in the shootout. The Barons didn’t look good there.
I missed most of the game – how were Clark and Cheechoo (saw he had 5 shots)? Anything else particularly notable?
Barons lose in the shoot-out.
Pelss, he’s a player at this level at least.
Yeah, from what I saw of the 3rd and OT he looked really good (and in previous games). Sure shows that the boxcars (from Jr and even the ECHL) don’t tell the whole story. Thanks.
Are you suggesting that Pitlick is your new Marc Pouliot, LT? No wonder his knee got buggered.