There are several ingredients in hockey which can make up the dreaded “trap“ game. One, if your team is generally playing well, and has had recent success, and your opponent is the opposite (not playing that well, and hasn’t had success).
Two, if you are on the road, and the opponent is playing at home. Like the Toronto Sceptres were yesterday, playing their third of three on a road trip in Minnesota against the Frost.
Three, when your level of desperation, for any reason, just isn’t that high — for example, you might be tired and have an international break after this game, and when the opponent’s level of desperation is clearly much higher — for example, having just been pushed out of a playoff spot and having lost three straight games.
For the Sceptres, this would signal danger. The opportunity for them to clinch a playoff spot might have worked as motivation, but when you’re tired or comfortable with your position, sometimes a strike of fear can work better than a glimpse of ease ahead of you. Maybe the Sceptres should’ve been looking at their recent record against the Frost (2-3), or the fact that this was the Pride game for a team with an ‘appearance’ of non-tolerance. The chance to defeat a bully might have been something to focus on.
It would also have been a good game to start backup netminder Raygan Kirk, who hadn’t played in 42 days (since Feb. 16). With Kristen Campbell heading to a stretch where she will likely get several games with Team Canada at the World Championships in Czechia, it wasn’t necessary to give her this action, and Kirk would be motivated. As well, Toronto’s players would’ve battled hard for the rookie, knowing she has played well and likely wanting to get her a win.
And afternoon games are another problem that the team hasn’t quite solved. With this loss, their record is now 5-1-3-2 in daytime games, very average and slightly below their overall winning percentage of .556.
Minnesota’s goaltender Nicole Hensley said she likes afternoon games. Taylor Heise agreed saying, “I think honestly playing 60 full minutes today was really impressive for us. 12:00 (noon) is kind of an early game like (Nicole) said. I like early games as well but I think getting everyone under the wing right away in the game was huge.”
The Frost have presented difficulties for the Sceptres this season, and are likely a team they don’t wish to face in the playoffs. A win today could’ve helped them avoid that scenario. However, that wasn’t enough motivation to press their advantage, and the first two minutes where they didn’t match Minnesota’s energy were enough to illustrate that a “trap” game was exactly that. Two goals gave Minnesota confidence and a late push back in the third was too little, too late for Toronto.
“When you go into a three-week break my dad tells me this all the time,” said Heise. “You can either win and not have to think about it, or lose and think about it every single day for three weeks. So I'm glad that we get to not think about it.”
Now the Sceptres can replay this game in their minds and come back determined not to repeat it in the schedule’s final three games.
