John Snowden once studied to be a golf pro, worked as a caddie at the renowned Dallas National Golf Club and has suggested he is a better golfer than a hockey player.
So you can forgive the Newfoundland Growlers head coach for spending some of his Sunday watching televised coverage of Tiger Woods’ triumphant return as Masters champion.
But a good part of the day was spent reviewing video of the opening two games of the Growlers’ first-round ECHL playoff series against the Brampton Beast.
In both cases, he liked what he saw.
“I thought we did a lot of really good things. I thought that during the games and though that looking (at the video) afterwards,” said Snowden, whose team owns a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after a pair of 2-1 wins at Mile One Centre, including an overtime victory in Game 2 on Saturday.
“Especially on Saturday, We played a really good 200-foot game, didn’t give up many opportunities and created a lot of our own at the other end.
“I would have like to see more chances on the power play (Newfoundland went a combined zero-for eight on the PP in Games 1 and 2), but overall, it was a complete 60-minute game by us.”
Actually, it was a complete 60 minutes and 18 seconds, because it took a little of extra time before a goal by Brady Ferguson clinched the victory against a Brampton team that had received superlative netminding from Etienne Marcoux, who made 40 saves,
“Marcoux was the best player on the ice, just outstanding,” said Snowden. “So the message for us was just to stick with it. That goes for any night, against any goalie who is on his game. But it was a message that needed to really be said Saturday because (Marcoux) was so good, and I thought our guys did a great job of keeping up the pressure, creating the chances and we finally got to him in the end.
“It was a good lesson for us because that’s what you’re going to see in the playoffs and more and more of it as you go further. You see it in the NHL, the AHL and every other league, goalies who are dialed in and can steal wins. So when they’re on their games, everyone on your team has to be on theirs and I think that was the case for us, especially Saturday.”
Now, the challenge for Snowden’s Growlers is to maintain that sort of performance away from Mile One. Games 3 and 4, and any necessary Game 5 are set for the CAA Centre in Brampton, beginning with a matchup tonight (8:45 p.m. NT).
“One of the things that we did so well this season was with consistency, getting into good habits, good routines, and I don’t know if you want to change that because it’s the playoffs or because of the format. You want playoff intensity, of course, but you need that consistency, too. Why would you have success all season doing things the way you’ve done them and then want to blow it all up and do things completely different in the playoffs?”
John Snowden
These are road game, but somewhat different, because after Monday’s flight from St. John’s to Toronto, the only bus trips the Growlers will be taking are between the airport and hotel and between the hotel and rink. If a Game 5 is necessary, the team will be hunkered down in Brampton for pretty much all week (Game 4 is Thursday and Game 5 would be played Saturday night.)
“It’s not quite the same, but I think we want to keep things the same as they were on the road during the regular season,” said Snowden. “I think we might get a little more in-depth with our stats, and maybe some of the video stuff. But the one of the things that we did so well this season was with consistency, getting into good habits, good routines, and I don’t know if you want to change that because it’s the playoffs or because of the format.
“You want playoff intensity, of course, but you need that consistency, too. Why would you have success all season doing things the way you’ve done them and then want to blow it all up and do things completely different in the playoffs?”
There are the possibility of changes to the Growlers’ roster in the next few days. Their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, who are getting ready for the Calder Cup playoffs, have a large roster, including a half dozen players who are playoff-eligible for Newfoundland, which has three reserve spots open.
Snowden said he isn’t sure how many, if any, players might be reassigned from the Marlies to the Growlers this week, but is fine with the status quo.
“Changes like that are part of hockey and if they happen to us, I know how are dressing room operates and know the guys will be able to sort it out without any trouble. That’s part of the reason for our success this year.
“But if nothing happens, we’ll be fine with that, too. We’ve got a confident group right now and I’m confident in them.”
Twitter: @telybrendan