True, it sure looked in.
But whether Alexey Toropchenko’s shot conclusively beat Saginaw goaltender Ivan Prosvetov midway through Game 1 Thursday is certainly up for debate.
And, when it comes to goal reviews, “conclusively” is the key word.
Had that goal counted it would have made the game 3-3 and you never know what that does to the flow and mindset of the game.
But it didn’t and seconds later Saginaw made it 4-2.
Game over.
But it would be unfair to suggest to either team that the call was the difference in the game.
This was not a tight game where Guelph, at any point really, played well enough to deserve to win.
They weren’t robbed. They weren’t cheated. Chances are they weren’t going to win that game anyway.
The video review added to the discussion, but it wasn’t really the defining moment of the game.
Saginaw controlled the game.
They used their size to win puck battles and their skill to capitalize on mistakes, mistakes that the Storm simply hasn’t been making much lately.
Defensive zone giveaways were plenty and at least three of them ended up behind Anthony Popovich.
Puck watching ... screening their own goaltender … nothing seemed to really go right on this night.
Can it be blamed on the much-discussed “emotional letdown” coming off what was clearly an emotional Game 7 win two nights before in London?
It’s hard to ignore such intangibles, but perhaps we put too much weight on such things.
Not sure it was an emotional letdown as opposed to a team that looked mentally weary, which led to physical mistakes.
Guelph had no problem using its speed and skill to offset the size of the London Knights’ defence, but were completely overmatched in the Saginaw zone on Thursday.
Outside of the top line, the good scoring chances were few and far between.
Several players were invisible. Several players who have excelled of late, had very bad nights.
Video review didn’t cost Guelph the game. The Saginaw Spirit did.
