February 27: Bus Texts with Stothers

After every Reign road game I’ll try to catch up with head coach Mike Stothers from the bus to get some texts on his assessment of the game. Here’s what he had to say after Saturday’s 5-2 win in Texas, the second of back-to-back.

Reign 5, Stars 2
The Reign used two power play goals by Sean Backman and a three-point game by rookie Jonny Brodzinski to take down the Stars for a second straight day. With Backman’s first power play goal of the night the Reign broke a 0-for-22 performance on the man advantage.

BUS TEXTS WITH STOTHERS
ORI: Big four-point weekend. What impressed you most about your team’s play tonight?
Stothers: Tonight we got some great results from our special teams. We also kept the shots against total down against a very offensively gifted hockey club.
ORI: I’m not a numbers gal, but power play got to 0-for-22. Big goals and big weekend for Backman coming off injury. Perhaps he just needed some rest?
Stothers: Everybody is a numbers gal or guy, especially in hockey. But you can make a case for the importance of those numbers, good and bad. We really believe that in some of those games we had some good looks. Some of those stats were a reflection of us taking penalties while on our PP, which really chafes my backside.
ORI: Certainly that was the case.
Stothers: Backman was great this weekend and he played through some discomfort with his injury. He plays hard and he plays big. When his team needs him he always comes through. As far as rest goes he can have tomorrow and Monday then it’s back to work as usual .
ORI: No rest for the wicked. You must also be happy with Brodzinski, especially stepping up with other bodies not available.
Stothers: That was a Brodzinski type goal that we see regularly in practice. Down the wing with good speed and a quick release while in full stride. High over the goalie’s glove, it was a beaut. The kid can gun a puck and his release is right with the best of them.