If it’s a goalie controversy, it’s the type any team wants.
With Fargo goalie Brennan Boynton apparently suspended for a second game dating back to a brawl in the first game of the last round - this information is oddly hard to find out from the league - Andrew Miller posted his second consecutive shutout as the Force took game one of the Clark Cup Final 3-0 in Chicago.
Presuming the mysterious suspension is now over, it still seems impossible for anyone but Miller to start game two Saturday night. He may have a short leash, considering Boynton was one of the league’s best goalies all year, but he definitely deserves to keep playing as long as Fargo keeps winning.
Against Chicago, Boynton was reminiscent of Ken Dryden with the 1970s Montreal Canadiens - he only faced 20 shots, but there were long periods of inactivity and he came up big every time he was called upon.
Strangely, that was only 11 times after the first period, two of which came in the first minute of the second period. Fargo did a good job of following the script in how to beat Chicago. Hold onto the puck, keep sustained pressure in the offensive end, be physical when needed, and win the one-on-one battles. The Steel are prone to defensive lapses in these situations, and when they do get the puck, they like to score pretty goals off the rush, often involving an individual effort.
That is not playoff hockey.
On the other hand, Fargo’s first two goals were not a thing of beauty, but that’s how it should be at this point in the season. Will beats skill in the playoffs, and that’s what we saw Friday night.
Still, few expected Chicago to be this uninspired. Even trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Steel did not look desperate at any point in the third. Certainly Fargo was doing the right things to shut down the Steel, but it looked way too easy.
Chicago has a lot of work ahead of them if this is going to be a long series. The question mark all year was whether they had the grit to do the little things that win a playoff series that lasts longer than one weekend. They did nothing tonight to answer those questions.
A season-high 793 fans were in attendance, but that’s only because Illinois loosened attendance restrictions this week, and this was the first game more than 750 fans were allowed. Although it’s a bit confusing, it seems the state is now allowing 60% of capacity as opposed to the previous 25%, but various counties and suburbs have their own restriction. Fox Valley Ice Arena is an hour from the city of Chicago, so the Steel are not subject to Chicago’s typically more stringent requirements.
The small crowd probably favors the visiting team, but you won’t be able to say that next weekend in Fargo. Scheels Arena, arguably the league’s nicest, will likely be sold out, and regardless of what happens in game two, the Force will have a chance to win the series on home ice.
From what we saw Friday, don’t bet against it. Chicago seemed to lack any answer to turn the game around. They don’t have big hitters, they are averse to scrums, so if they aren’t scoring, they can have a hard time getting things rolling.
They better figure it out quick, because if they lose game two, this series is not coming back to Chicago.
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