We should be able to beat Short Fuse. I think our team has a collective mental block that we need to overcome. This perhaps explains the 2-5 loss we suffered.
I was moved over to left wing for the game. It was a bit different, but not too much. In the first period, we did have our line in on a combined attack that got us a shot on goal. (Sometimes you just don't beat the goalie.) I also had a couple instances where I was anticipating (and even stealing) a pass. Pity that my puck control isn't better; I could have really turned one of those into something. I take it as an encouraging sign nonetheless.
Another good thing: we took about four penalties in a row in the second period, and only gave up one goal. At the start of the third, we even earned ourselves a short-handed goal (our first of the night). It's too bad that we don't know who should go on what shift during penalty kills; the left wings sat out nearly the whole time.
The latter part of the third period was marked by the verb "to crater." One of our better defensemen feels responsible for at least two of the goals that sunk us. I was involved on one of them; I received a face-off in the defensive zone and passed it back to him, whereupon play went behind the net, in front of the net, and into the net. Exactly how the math worked out, I don't know; I just know that we ended up in a deeper hole.
The usual plug: If you feel like following the team, look for the Bay Area Bulldogs in Conference D of the Pacific Hockey Association.