I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on why we didn't use Shinnimin 1st in the shootout last night. It seems to me that Shinnimin and Fesser seem to be our best break away guys. I am definitely not taking anything against Holland and Hughesman's games, but it seems that they tend to be danglers rather than snipers. It seems to me that you should use the guys that can hit the corners of the net on a shootout. I noticed the same thing when they lost in the last shootout. Shinnimin seems to score more often than not on the SH breakaways. Obviously Holland and Huey are top 5 shooters, but it just seems strange to me.

If you watch during warm ups Huey, Holly, Big Mess, and Feser all practice shoot out situations in warm ups. Are they what good shots? No, more like all star shoot out. Maybe Hiller needs to say gett serious and let's start thinking game mode and not mess around. I think our problem is Shinny needs to go first then feser then Huey or Holly maybe even throw Malte or Williams in there. We are hurt and tired it's that time of the season.

I said the same thing as we were walking out the arena last night. That is the second time in a row I watched Huey not even get his shot off. I would have Feser go first than Shinny than Holland. Huey and Holland GREAT players but in the shootout last night looked like they barely tried or cared.

Hughey did get a shot off. He tried to go 5-hole. Just sayin'.

I agree. Shinny should go first.

I should have known Huey's little fan club who sits on the other end of the shootout goal would come to his defense. I didn't make my Huey comment cuz I don't like him or I don't think he plays well it's cuz he's not good at the shootout...just saying.

Wow, overreact much? You must have me confused with someone else. I don't sit by either goal.

Huey did get a shot off and I will say this(even though I am not a Huey fan at all) he is the only on in warm ups that doesnt do the stupid crap goes straight on and a couple of dekes and shoots.

Hughey and Holland looked totally uninterested in the shootout. I also told my wife that it was the second time in a shoot out I noticed Hughey not getting a shot off. Obviously I am not the coach and I don't see practices (which I know they practice shoot outs) but I would start with Feser then Shinny and then Holland. I think Holland still is one of the best in the shoot out do to his puck handling. Not sure what the team is all of a sudden missing. I am thinking since Wilgosh has been out they have been on a down slide. Not having the captain on the ice looks like it is hurting them.

Not having an active captain playing has taken its toll for sure. No one is stepping into that roll while he is out - which is disappointing. Its no coincidence the team has been on a slide while he has been out.

We have to be the most spoiled and biggest complainers as fans in the whole WHL. Everytime the boys are doing well we never hear anything on this board. Now we have some injuries and tough scedular and we turn against the team, coach and players. It's embarrassing. We are tied for the us division, and even if we don't hold on to that we are going to have home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Teams/Fans would be doing anything for that and we are complaining about a shoot out lose. We "assume" the players don't try and don't care???? We assume no one has stepped up in the room as a leader with Wilgosh hurt??? You have to be kidding? Not sure if thats what you call a true fan...

dont you think we should be getting better instead of worse, just like all the other teams???
all teams have injuries..... just sayin, ninja

The proof is in the pudding. The Ams are stumbling. Are they a good team, certainly. But they've been struggling of late, and we are just speculating as to why. Teams dont struggle like this at this time of year for no reason. I love the Americans and just want to see (what I thought through mid-season was the most promising team EVER) them succeed.

So... hear are my thoughts I have been sitting on. We played great up to the trade deadline, last year we played great up to the deadline as well. If you look back at the posts from last year we went through the exact same thing the last year or two at the same time of year. Why do you think this is? Do the boys relax and our leadership fade after the worry of being traded away? Maybe knowing that they are safe, that they have made the playoffs and that there is no punishment encourages this relaxed play. I wish we had the answer. But we don't. Only the boys have the power to turn things around. Hopefully our leadership grows and starts kicking them in gear!

I think that is it, but I also think that our team needs to show alittle more fire and allot more heart. Yes we have injuries but I think they're some older players that need to step it up. I think Hiller needs to get them going I'm glad he went at it with Johnson the other night.

Going to be a sad/tough day to look back on the trade deadline onFeb.27 and relize The only move we made was for the rights of a player that stayed in the NHL. Tampa bay traded Dominic Moore (F) away yesterday for a draft pick. More ice time and less competition for Brett. I agree that the leaders and older guys need to step up and I trust they will tonight and the rest of the way. Go AMS

So Moore wasn't in Tampa's line up last night and Connolly only got 6:40 of ice time. Also the last game Connolly got a point he got less then 4 minutes of ice time. So all the trades doesn't matter. We will see on the 27th

yzerman made it pretty clear that he thinks connolly sitting on the bench watching, will help his game more than going bac to juniors where he will be the best player, he also stated as soon as his junior team is done, he can, if he wants, then send him to the ahl, which is where he wants to see him.