MONROE - Walking off the ice after a 27-0 loss to Oregon left more questions than answers for Monroe Avalanche boys hockey coach Josh Smith Tuesday.
Oregon dominated the game from the opening faceoff in the first period. The Panthers blitzed the Avalanche (0-10, 0-4 Badger South) for nine goals in the first period and had three players score two or more goals in the first. The Avalanche were out-shot by the Panthers 82-4. Oregon senior forward Collin Bundy scored five goals and had a hat trick in the first period. The Panthers had four players notch hat tricks. In addition to Bundy, senior defender Cole Hefty scored four goals, junior forward Max Dosher had three goals and senior forward Colin Hughes had three goals.
"They (Monroe) skated like they didn't want to be here," Smith said. "They (Oregon) beat us to every puck. It was like they were sleeping on their feet. They are too content to stand and watch the game happen around them. We played better Saturday when we only had two players on the bench."
It was a rocky start for the Avalanche. Hughes scored his first goal with 15 minutes, 49 seconds left in the first period on an assist from Joey Andriacchi. About 1 minute, 30 seconds later, Hughes scored his second goal on an assist from Bundy. In the final 3:40 of the first period, the Panthers scored three goals capped off by Bundy's third goal with 22 seconds to go in the period to extend the lead to 9-0. Andriacchi finished with a game-high seven assists.
Smith wasn't caught off guard by the shots on goal chart after the game. Smith said the Avalanche are averaging about 15 shots on goal per game this year.
"I was not surprised after the first period that was our total," he said of four shots on goal for the game. "We had only one shot on net after the first period and two of the shots were icing that got to the net. It's feast or famine. It's all or nothing with us."
The Avalanche have lost 10 straight games.
"The losing is tough," Smith said. "I don't know if that is starting to wear on them. We just need to want it. We have to want to go in and dig out the puck. I'm not seeing it out of some of them. It's not practice. I have seen it from them in practice. It's attitude. It's in their heads. If we want it and can dig out the puck, we can change the second half of our season, and if we don't it's going to be a long season."
Avalanche sophomore goaltender Dan Guilliams of Freeport Aquin had 55 saves. However, Smith said Guilliams is seeing 70 to 100 shots on goal per game. Tightening up on defense and staying in position are still areas the Avalanche are trying to shore up.
"You get tired," Smith said of Guilliams being under siege with all the shots he is facing. "He has about an 83 to 85 save percentage. His job is to stop the first shot. Our centers and wings need to back check to help out. He's doing pretty good on the first shots. We are not back checking enough to help him out. It's halfway through the season and we shouldn't be worried about being in position."
Oregon dominated the game from the opening faceoff in the first period. The Panthers blitzed the Avalanche (0-10, 0-4 Badger South) for nine goals in the first period and had three players score two or more goals in the first. The Avalanche were out-shot by the Panthers 82-4. Oregon senior forward Collin Bundy scored five goals and had a hat trick in the first period. The Panthers had four players notch hat tricks. In addition to Bundy, senior defender Cole Hefty scored four goals, junior forward Max Dosher had three goals and senior forward Colin Hughes had three goals.
"They (Monroe) skated like they didn't want to be here," Smith said. "They (Oregon) beat us to every puck. It was like they were sleeping on their feet. They are too content to stand and watch the game happen around them. We played better Saturday when we only had two players on the bench."
It was a rocky start for the Avalanche. Hughes scored his first goal with 15 minutes, 49 seconds left in the first period on an assist from Joey Andriacchi. About 1 minute, 30 seconds later, Hughes scored his second goal on an assist from Bundy. In the final 3:40 of the first period, the Panthers scored three goals capped off by Bundy's third goal with 22 seconds to go in the period to extend the lead to 9-0. Andriacchi finished with a game-high seven assists.
Smith wasn't caught off guard by the shots on goal chart after the game. Smith said the Avalanche are averaging about 15 shots on goal per game this year.
"I was not surprised after the first period that was our total," he said of four shots on goal for the game. "We had only one shot on net after the first period and two of the shots were icing that got to the net. It's feast or famine. It's all or nothing with us."
The Avalanche have lost 10 straight games.
"The losing is tough," Smith said. "I don't know if that is starting to wear on them. We just need to want it. We have to want to go in and dig out the puck. I'm not seeing it out of some of them. It's not practice. I have seen it from them in practice. It's attitude. It's in their heads. If we want it and can dig out the puck, we can change the second half of our season, and if we don't it's going to be a long season."
Avalanche sophomore goaltender Dan Guilliams of Freeport Aquin had 55 saves. However, Smith said Guilliams is seeing 70 to 100 shots on goal per game. Tightening up on defense and staying in position are still areas the Avalanche are trying to shore up.
"You get tired," Smith said of Guilliams being under siege with all the shots he is facing. "He has about an 83 to 85 save percentage. His job is to stop the first shot. Our centers and wings need to back check to help out. He's doing pretty good on the first shots. We are not back checking enough to help him out. It's halfway through the season and we shouldn't be worried about being in position."
