Ten games without a hit for a striker, which is not defined shooting only, but especially over the gates, a small eternity. Not disappear, just the beginning of the season, if this ugly Zero leaves in the Statistics simply wants to. “I’m paid to be, finally, that I the score. It is frustrating if the Pucks go in,” says Nino Niederreiter .
Now, the Puck is finally clean, in game number 11, the 4:0 home victory against the Chicago Blackhawks in Saturday’s noon game, in Raleigh, North Carolina, home of the Hurricanes. “And this is great for me. In such situations, you start sometime, so much to do and many things to think about – I’m glad I took this first goal finally behind me.”
in The end it will be a 2-point night for Chur, it is an assist point to. He is at the “3. Star” of the lot selected, in the wardrobe of a dozen journalists gathered around the Swiss as quickly as possible, to stand again in the center of …
And in the final phase, the clearly superior Hurricanes against their fate resulting Blackhawks not three Times the Torumrandung made and further Topchancen awarded, Niederreiter could have easily come to another gate, and two to three more assist points. But this is secondary – the main thing is, this Zero is now gone.
“Momentum” or not – anything
This game against the Blackhawks, it is once more a proof how much a phenomenon as this so-called “Momentum” exists – or whatever it is these difficult-to-explain process wants to name it. happened The term “Momentum” to banish not a few to the realm of fairy tales.
runs But for the Swiss winger this lunch game just To marked the start of the uncertainty, it lacks the self-confidence. In one of the first Shifts of the game he would have a good chance of the game in a 1-on-1 Situation in the attacking zone. Would have. Because of the Chur cancels his Move, he wants to play around the defenders in the middle of the movement. The Puck is gone, Niederreiter turn – it is the beginning of another frustrating game seems to be.
in the Back not helping out, if it runs in front: Nino Niederreiter defends with Goalie Petr Mrazek against Chicago’s Captain Jonathan Toews. (Picture Keystone)
He does, what can you do in such situations, a striker In the Defensive stay alert, at least nothing in the rear to burn. In the start third a simple, but important back-checking succeeds Niederreiter, he thwarted a good Chance in Chicago. His Coach, Rod Brind’amour, formerly as a player, even the type of hard worker who praises after the game is exactly this scene.
The call to the mental trainer
The Chur tried to last a lot, to score the first goal of the season. He believes that in such situations, something needs to be changed: “Something.” That’s exactly why he still calls on the day before his mental coach in Switzerland, with her, he has been working for many years. He is looking for in this conversation, after this “Something” that could be made in thinking differently. To ice hockey it is in these discussions only rarely.
Whether there is a connection with the first gate can be made the day after that? These “Mind Games”, these thoughts games are difficult to understand. But what happens after his goal to 2:0, is: Niederreiter is suddenly in the game, the confidence is palpable, it is success is now also offensive actions, the Puck promise no more wrestling.
It comes in the assist point at 3:0, it could be more to come, the “Momentum” is now on his side. That pleased the Coach: “Nino had recently come under pressure,” said Brind’amour. “I’m happy for him and his goal. That is exactly what he has needed.”
icebreaker – Hockey Podcast by Tamedia
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Created: 26.10.2019, 22:35 Uhr
