Around the OHL: Domi vs. Machac
The battle for the OHL rookie
of the year added another chapter
on November 4. Brampton
Battalion's Patrik Machac came
into London in third place in rookie
scoring with 14 points in 16
games played. Leading the OHL
in rookie scoring is London
Knights' Max Domi, going into
"Corey Perry Night" at the John
Labatt Centre with 17 points in 16
games played.
The Knights edged the Battalion 4-2, with Domi picking up a pair of assists.
A key matchup on Friday was Domi and Machac — a very fitting matchup considering these two young prospects are in the middle of a race for OHL rookie of the year. Overall Domi has a significant edge, even though these two players have a lot of the same playing characteristics: for their lack of size, they are very strong on the puck, both players are listed as less than six feet tall and under 190 pounds. But with lack of size comes great speed and agility, and both of these players have outrageous speed for their age.
Now let's look at what both players did individually November 4, in their meeting in London.
Domi started off the game by making poor decisions with the puck; it really looked like he was trying to force the play, showing no patience with the puck in the offensive zone. He later settled down by setting up Matt Rupert in the high-slot on a cross-rink pass assisting on the first goal of the game. He continued to play with his aggressive style, constantly putting pressure on the Battalion on London's power-play, working the puck down low in the offensive zone, drawing the defence in and carrying the puck out of London's defensive zone with his great speed. Overall, a strong offensive game from the 16-yearold Toronto native.
Machac is a one-way offensive player who can dazzle you with his offensive speed, but when it comes to getting back into the play in the defensive zone, his effort is lackadaisical. The great vision he showed in the first period continued throughout the game setting up Dylan Blujus in the first period on a power-play goal, temporarily equalizing the score. Machac showed great heart by sacrificing the body by blocking a shot from the point but lost all credibility by screening his own goalie by being half committed by skating by a shot from the highslot from a shot by Jared Knight. This particular play also shone a light on how well he plays positionally; to his credit he just blocked a slap-shot but he was late getting back to his position which led to Knight getting a pass from Seth Griffith, and an open Knight from the slot on the power-play will hurt any team. Overall, the Czech Republic import played an average offensive game with one assist on the night, but right now it's his defensive side that is hurting him, which makes me ask the question: why is Machac playing on Brampton's penalty-kill unit?
Domi's offensive play should keep him as a top contender for the OHL rookie of the year if he stays healthy. The London Knights elect to keep him off the penalty-kill, which will keep him rested throughout the game and the whole OHL season. Machac is piling up a lot of ice time, and you can tell he is getting tired by the third period, but his statistics don't show that. He is a proven offensive threat on the power play that will be challenging Domi for the rookie of the year title by the end of the year.
The Knights edged the Battalion 4-2, with Domi picking up a pair of assists.
A key matchup on Friday was Domi and Machac — a very fitting matchup considering these two young prospects are in the middle of a race for OHL rookie of the year. Overall Domi has a significant edge, even though these two players have a lot of the same playing characteristics: for their lack of size, they are very strong on the puck, both players are listed as less than six feet tall and under 190 pounds. But with lack of size comes great speed and agility, and both of these players have outrageous speed for their age.
Now let's look at what both players did individually November 4, in their meeting in London.
Domi started off the game by making poor decisions with the puck; it really looked like he was trying to force the play, showing no patience with the puck in the offensive zone. He later settled down by setting up Matt Rupert in the high-slot on a cross-rink pass assisting on the first goal of the game. He continued to play with his aggressive style, constantly putting pressure on the Battalion on London's power-play, working the puck down low in the offensive zone, drawing the defence in and carrying the puck out of London's defensive zone with his great speed. Overall, a strong offensive game from the 16-yearold Toronto native.
Machac is a one-way offensive player who can dazzle you with his offensive speed, but when it comes to getting back into the play in the defensive zone, his effort is lackadaisical. The great vision he showed in the first period continued throughout the game setting up Dylan Blujus in the first period on a power-play goal, temporarily equalizing the score. Machac showed great heart by sacrificing the body by blocking a shot from the point but lost all credibility by screening his own goalie by being half committed by skating by a shot from the highslot from a shot by Jared Knight. This particular play also shone a light on how well he plays positionally; to his credit he just blocked a slap-shot but he was late getting back to his position which led to Knight getting a pass from Seth Griffith, and an open Knight from the slot on the power-play will hurt any team. Overall, the Czech Republic import played an average offensive game with one assist on the night, but right now it's his defensive side that is hurting him, which makes me ask the question: why is Machac playing on Brampton's penalty-kill unit?
Domi's offensive play should keep him as a top contender for the OHL rookie of the year if he stays healthy. The London Knights elect to keep him off the penalty-kill, which will keep him rested throughout the game and the whole OHL season. Machac is piling up a lot of ice time, and you can tell he is getting tired by the third period, but his statistics don't show that. He is a proven offensive threat on the power play that will be challenging Domi for the rookie of the year title by the end of the year.
