Posted by You find the hockey stick, the puck, the mascot, the coach……but where’s Ryane Clowe? Aside from the ‘Where’s Waldo?’ reference that’s the question the everyone’s been asking lately. Fresh off of signing a 4 year $14.5 million deal this past summer Clowe has yet to get a goal in 12 games only registering 2 assists.
Coach Todd McLellan has not held back his sentiments in wanting more from his forward “We’re one-ninth into the season so that would start being a big concern, not a little one.”… “A little one is two games.” quoted from the recent road trip San Jose was on.
McLellan put Clowe on the top line of Thornton and Heatley hoping that it would shut down NHL point’s leader Ange Kopitar. The Kings goal in the 2nd scored by Frolov would later be matched from SJ’s Patrick Marleau his 10th of the season. The game went to a shoot out and going into the 6th round it was all up to Clowe.
With Ryane’s success in past shootouts it was no wonder why McLellan chose him. A confident Clowe skated towards LA’s goaltender with speed he went forehand freezing Quick then quickly (pardon the pun) going backhand netting the puck. Although it doesn’t count in the goals column it was just what he needed to get him out of this slump.
“I was just happy to see it hit the back of the net,” said Clowe. “Something like that can give you a little confidence.”
His size (6’2” 225) and speed are hard to battle. Anyone will tell you Ryane Clowe is one of the toughest to play against in the NHL. He’s a dynamic power forward that gets into the mix, is not afraid to drop the mitts for his team, and doesn’t give up on the puck a grinder thru and thru.
“We know how much pressure he puts on himself,” said Nabokov. “I’m glad it happened and he got the goal. We know how good of a player he is.”
If you look at his stats in 175 NHL games he has 41 goals and 57 assists while missing all but 15 games in the 07’-08’ season with an ACL tear. This confidence booster will prove vital for him the rest of the season this is just the beginning of what he can do. All players go through droughts let’s just hope Ryane Clowe’s is over. Looks like we found him folks.
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Great post Chelsea and i’m sure Clowe with find his scoring touch again soon.