Forwards see blocked shots as missed chances. Goalies see them as less work.
Tri-City goalie Scott Diebold's opinion was far different than Jimmy Mullin's, but both agreed that was the difference in the 2-0 loss the Fargo Force junior hockey team suffered Friday in front of 3,867 fans at Scheels Arena.
"That's just hockey sense, and we know we don't want to get the puck blocked," said Mullin, whose head tilted back and let out a deep breath after hearing Tri-City had 27 blocked shots. "I think we were in that moment that we wanted to shoot the puck and I think as a whole we need to think about it and not throw it against their shin pads because 27 blocked shots is ridiculous."
Then there's the other end of that argument. Tri-City (14-11-6) is a team that prides itself on blocked shots.
Pulling off the Storm's first win at Scheels Arena didn't draw high-fives. Or the fact this is Tri-City's third win against the Force (18-13-4) this season after entering the year 0-12-1 all-time.
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But hearing they blocked 27 shots was the most important figure Tri-City cared about.
"The boys played really well in front of me and you don't get 27 blocked shots every night," said Diebold, who made 36 saves for his third shutout of the season. "You know with Fargo they're huge with speed. They're a hugely offensive team so to do what we did against them was good."
Diebold - like so many opposing players and coaches this season - talked about Fargo's offensive prowess. Lately, that has not been the case.
This marked the team's third shutout of the season, the second straight game where it had 25 or more shots blocked and three-game losing streak where the Force have scored three goals.
Force coach Jason Herter said he wasn't upset with his team. He was pleased they were able to create chances, but the onus is now on the team to work around teams looking to cut down his team's scoring opportunities.
"It's not getting them out of the lanes, it is about getting yourself out of the lanes," Herter said. "When you are receiving a pass knowing you have to get a shot of quickly, you have to move your feet quickly."
Blocked shots aside, special teams were a bit of an issue for the Force. They went 0-for-6 on the power play and 1-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Goalie Ryan Massa kept the Force in the game, stopping 33 shots including eight during a stretch where the Storm had consecutive 5-on-3 chances.
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Darmouth commit Brian Ward snagged a loose puck off Massa's pad and scored for a 1-0 lead in the second period. The lead doubled to 2-0 when Simon Denis snapped in a one-timer on the power play early in the third.
"Nothing we are doing is going to change, we just have to plug away," said Massa, a Nebraska-Omaha commit. "Fortunately, we have these guys again tomorrow night, and they're a great hockey club and it should be a good game."
FIRST PERIOD: NO SCORING
SECOND PERIOD: 1. TC, Ward (Brooks), 17:20
THIRD PERIOD: 2. TC, Denis (Jonzzon, Pinkston), power play, 4:29.
SAVES: TC, Diebold 13-11-12-36.F, Massa 16-4-13-33.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Ryan S. Clark at (701) 241-5548
