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For Those of You Wondering...

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 11:49:00 AM.

...why this is the first post since April, the simple answer is that there won't be anymore posts on "Les' Loft".

       The full answer is that I was hoping that the combination of a new laptop, a new computer program for the newsroom at the Saskatoon Media Group...the company I work for (92-9, The Bull, CJWW, Magic 98.3)...and wireless internet at home and on the Blades' bus would allow me to start my own blog. However, the new computer program in our newsroom has some glitches that aren't allowing me to start the blog up and do the things I want to do on it.

       Once that is ready and my blog starts up, the Blades will have a link to it off their website. Until then, "Les' Loft" is inactive...and there is no issue between me and the hockey club as to why "Les' Loft" isn't being used!

       In the meantime, if you have a question, you can send me an e-mail to "bladesvoice@hotmail.com". I generally respond pretty quickly as some fans can attest.

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Taking a Moment for a Post-Mortem

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 07:57:00 AM.

       I’m taking a break from playing catch-up around home and at the office to jot down a few thoughts on the just-completed 2008-2009 season for the Saskatoon Blades.
 
       I had given thought to saying it sucks not to still be hanging around the hockey club and getting ready to hit the road again. The first two games of an Eastern Conference semi-final series with the Wheat Kings were to have been played over the weekend and the packing for a trip to Brandon would’ve been happening as I write this. Instead, I see where Lethbridge has dropped the first two games in Calgary and the Wheaties won twice in Medicine Hat.
 
       If only the golf courses were open…my time would be occupied and the empty feeling that comes from a string of routine days wouldn’t be quite as great!
 
       The biggest problem with the Blades being eliminated in seven games in the opening round of the playoffs by the Hurricanes is that I can’t go out anywhere without someone stopping me to say, “too bad about the season ending too soon…BUT…”
 
       It’s the BUT that makes me cringe because the well-meaning people that stop me either have an opinion or will ask a question that might as well be an opinion that says, What if this happened or Why didn’t this happen or This should’ve been the case.
 
       So, here, once and for all, is my opinion on the season…
 
       It was a success…period, double exclamation point!!
 
       Think back to September…did you see a 49-18-3-2 record after a 10-3 loss to Medicine Hat during the Ice-Breaker Tournament? Did you see a first place finish in the East Division after a 1-4 start to the regular season? No is the answer to both questions. When asked to predict how the Eastern Conference would shape up before the campaign began, none of the 12 radio broadcasters from the Conference picked the Blades to be the second seed. Only one picked them higher than where I had the Bridge City Bunch tabbed, for a 7th place finish…and Drew Wilson in Prince Albert figured the Blades to be 4th. The other 10 chose either 8th place or 9th and out of the playoffs for the Blades.
 
       By the way, that poll had Lethbridge finishing first and Brandon second.
 
       That last sentence starts the explanation to the most-asked question I’ve fielded since last Wednesday’s 4-3 ouster at the hands of the Hurricanes, “How could the Blades, with 49 wins and 103 points, winning a division, lose to a team that ended up 28 points behind them in the standings?”
 
       Simply put, in the month of March, what most every expert felt would happen for the entire regular-season when they gazed into their collective crystal balls back in September, actually happened. Including the final six games of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs, Saskatoon finished 5-7-0-1 and showed the inconsistencies in all facets of their game that had been corrected, and all but eliminated, from October through February. Lethbridge, meanwhile, finally got their team together.
 
       Luca Sbisa returned from half an N-H-L season with the Philadelphia Flyers to play the final 18 regular season game for the Hurricanes…and 35-40 minutes of each playoff game against the Blades…instantly improving the play of his partner, Hurricanes’ captain and Ottawa free agent signing Ben Wright. Finnish goaltender Juha Metsola overcame injuries and time at the World Junior Hockey Championship to play some stellar goal. Trade deadline acquisition Kyle Beach, a first round pick of Chicago, behaved long enough to play some games after suspensions…along with Dwight King, a 4th round L-A Kings’ draft choice in 2007, who, at 6’4”, 220 pounds plays a frustrating game of “keep-away” for opponents to deal with.
 
       Most importantly, Zach Boychuk was finally healthy and in the Lethbridge line-up. He managed to play 43 regular season games in between two stints of injury time for a nagging high ankle sprain, plus helped Team Canada win a fifth straight World Junior gold medal. Put Boychuk, Sbisa, King, Metsola, Wright and Beach together with 2007 fourth round Dallas draft pick Colton Sceviour (an 80-point man and team leading scorer during the regular season and Brent Ashton’s son, 30-goal scorer Carter (a certain first-round N-H-L draft pick in June) and you have the Lethbridge team finally together that the experts expected back in September. You could’ve reversed the standings…in fact, if you did, the Blades taking the Hurricanes to seven games before succumbing would’ve been admirable…instead of disappointing as it is now!
 
       Excuses and sour grapes you say…I prefer a healthy mix of fact and opinion. Strong facts make for valid opinions!
 
       A second question I get a lot of is, What would’ve happened if Minnesota had let Colton Gillies come back? Ahhh, as former Winnipeg Jets’ head coach Tommy McVie said during the 1980-81 season, while watching his club go winless in 30 games, “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas!” The Wild had no intention of returning the 19-year-old left winger and the Blades knew it all along. Sure, he would’ve helped…but it wasn’t going to happen, end of story!
 
       Question three is picking up some steam…”Why didn’t Lorne Molleken make a bigger effort to acquire a goal-scorer or third 20-year-old before the trade deadline?” My question back to you is, ‘How do you know he didn’t?’ The answer is he did try hard, had offers out on the table for several top-end scorers or 20s that could’ve helped. Ask the Western Conference head coach, who vetoed a three-team deal, that his G-M was prepared to pull the trigger on, that would’ve brought the Blades a very useful 20-year-old forward, why he did so. Or, ask Moose Jaw G-M Chad Lang why he didn’t accept any of Saskatoon’s trade overtures with the Warriors…for any one of Joel Broda (who ended up in Calgary) or Riley Grantham or Ian Duval (both of whom ended up in Kelowna). I’d be willing to bet that he wasn’t anxious to trade within his division, although he may wish he had the player the Blades were willing to part with who ended up having a tremendous season. From a Saskatoon perspective, sometimes the best trades are the ones that aren’t made…although that’s a hard sell for some fans at this moment!
 
       That leaves me to ponder the future…and I dare say the Blades are well-positioned with their list of players for a shot at the playoffs and a deeper post-season run in 2009-2010 than they have been for several seasons. Yes, I know, you’ve heard that before…even from me after a first round playoff loss in 2003 (only 7 wins the following season, yikes!!)…but this time the list shows 16 ultimate returnees and an excess of 20-year-olds that can be used to help fill holes on the roster for next season.
 
       One of those areas might be in goal, although the players on the team tell me they have full confidence in Adam Morrison inheriting the starter’s role from Eastern Conference nominee for Top goaltender Braden Holtby. Morrison only played 13 games but got a fair amount of interest from N-H-L scouts heading into the draft.
 
       On defence, Colin Joe departs after great 20-year-old service, coming over from Kelowna. Back for sure are Teigan Zahn, Stefan Elliott, Jyri Niemi and “Super Sub” Brendon Wall. Duncan Siemens and Dalton Thrower are cinches to be on the roster as rookie 16-year-olds in the fall while Sam Klassen and Ryan Funk are 20-year-old possibilities.
 
       Up front, guaranteed to be back are Gaelan Patterson, Curtis Hamilton, Travis Toomey, Burke Gallimore, Darian Dziurzynski, Charles Inglis, Josh Nicholls and Jamie Crooks. Brent Benson is a certain 16-year-old rookie after registering 52 points, tied for eighth in Saskatchewan AAA Midget scoring with Notre Dame, and 10 points more so far in the playoffs as his Hounds’ team is off to the Telus Cup. The battle for other two or three other rookie spots will be very intense at training camp. The 20-year-old possibles are captain Derek Hulak, Walker Wintoneak, Chris Langkow and Milan Kytnar.
 
       The latter came over from Kelowna and went from 9 goals, 13 assists and 22 points with the Rockets to 27-37-64 with the Blades and brought a compete level that would rival Martin Erat. The skill level and scoring touch are a bit shy of the Nashville Predator and former Blade, but his intensity and desire to play and will to win are Marty Erat all over again! He is the “X” factor in the off-season. If the Edmonton Oilers sign him and turn Kytnar pro, that’s the way the puck bounces. However, if the Oilers choose not to ink the Slovakian…and no other N-H-L team does, look for Molleken to try and convince him to come back for one more season, making life very interesting for all the 20s in the mix. Even if Kytnar isn’t back, there’ll be five players to choose three from to fill the “overage” roster spots. If you had asked me back in September who I thought would be the Blades’ trio of 20-year-olds for 2009-2010, I’d have said Hulak, Langkow and Klassen. Now, I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision!!

 

       Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, it’s time to wait for next season. Sure, that's another “next year” for a franchise going into Year 44 of its major junior existence without a championship. But, the quality of returnees creates legitimate hope for next season...and seasons to come...as opposed to falling into a two or three season downturn and missing the playoffs.

       Certainly, lots can happen between now and the start of training camp in late August. However, that first banner in 15 years going up in the rafters of Credit Union Centre will be a good memory and something to build on!
  

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Pivotal Game 5 is Here!

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 09:49:00 AM.

       Things are going as I expected them to in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series between the Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes…tied 2-2, heading to Game 5 tonight. If you think I’m blowing a lot of “hot air” about that, let me remind you of the post on this blog, two down, entitled, “Let the Playoffs Begin”, written on Friday, March 20…the day this series began…and this paragraph near the end of the post…
       “I can see each team winning once in both buildings in the first four games...meaning it'll be all square at 2-2 going into Game 5 a week from tomorrow at Credit Union Centre. At that point, we'll see which team prevails...the depth and balance of the Blades or the star power of the Hurricanes. I'll stick my neck out and say Saskatoon wins Games 5 and 6 and the series...but it could just as easily go the other way!”
       I'm not going to deviate from that, now!!
       Here’s some quick facts on the series…
The Blades have out-scored Lethbridge 11-9.
Nine different Blades have scored a goal in the series…Walker Wintoneak and Milan Kytnar lead the way with 2 each. 15 players have at least one point with Derek Hulak leading the way with 4.
The Hurricanes have out-shot Saskatoon 98-91.
On the power play, each team has scored three times in the series…the Blades on 20 chances (a 15.0% proficiency), Lethbridge on 17 man-power advantages (a 17.6% rate).
The team that scores the game’s first goal, more often than not goes on to win in the regular season, has only won once in four games of this series…that being Lethbridge in Game 2!
The team that scores the game’s second goal has won all four times!
Zach Boychuk has scored five of the nine Lethbridge goals in the series…four other players have one goal each so far. All of Boychuk’s goals have come in the two Canes’ victories. Just 10 Hurricanes have hit the scoresheet in the series, Boychuk with 6 points and Dwight King with 5, 4 of them assists.
The most penalized player in the series so far is, big surprise here, Zach Boychuk with 10 minutes!
       It would be easy to say that Saskatoon needs to shut down Boychuk and the series is theirs, as evidenced by the Carolina first round draft pick having scored five of the nine Lethbridge goals...all in their two wins. But, Carter Ashton, Kyle Beach and/or Colton Sceviour are capable of busting out...so the Blades have to be wary of that!
       The Blades need to get more shots on Juha Metsola…especially on the power play. They have just 22 shots on goal in their 20 man-power advantages. That compares to 24 shots by Lethbridge on their 17 chances to date.
       Both goaltenders have taken turns being sensational in this series. I can’t see Braden Holtby or Metsola being faulted if their team isn’t able to pull through and move on to Round 2!
       In the end, the determining factor in this series is going to be 1-on-1 battles…be they along the boards, in the corners, in front of the nets, on the rush…the team that loses fewer of these sort of confrontations will be the one to advance.
       By the way, if the Blades win this series, they’ll move on to play Brandon in the Eastern Conference semi-final round. Lethbridge, meanwhile, will get Calgary if they advance!
       May the better team win!
 

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One "Split" Deserves Another!

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 12:08:00 PM.

       Which Lethbridge Hurricanes’ team is the real one after splitting the opening two games of a best-of-seven W-H-L Eastern Conference quarter-final series with the Blades in Saskatoon over the weekend?
       I think you may get part of the answer before the weekend as the Bridge City Bunch and the ‘Canes play Games 3 and 4 in this Southern Alberta city on Tuesday and Wednesday. The split means a guaranteed Game 5 on Saturday at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.
      “It was almost a reverse situation here (in Saturday’s 5-2 loss compared to Friday’s 5-1 victory),” summed up Blades’ General Manager and Head Coach Lorne Molleken, “I thought Lethbridge, at the start of the game, had an extra step to their stride and certainly we couldn’t counter that for the most part. (Zach) Boychuk and (Dwight) King were real good for them and we didn’t really get enough good opportunities on (goaltender Juha) Metsola to create some goals or create more opportunity.
       “We just need to learn from this, put it behind us and get ready for Tuesday night.”
       Saturday’s game showed why many believe this series will be the best one of the opening round of the WHL playoffs. The 28-point difference in the standings between the East Division-champion Blades (with 103 points) compared to the seventh seeded Hurricanes (with 75 points) is slashed to almost nothing because of two major factors.
       The first is playoff experience. The series started with the Lethbridge roster having 318 games worth of WHL post-season experience, compared to just 57 for Saskatoon. Only six Blades’ players had participated in the playoffs compared to 13 returnees to the Lethbridge side…plus another three players acquired from other teams that have had some time in the “second” season.
       The second factor is “star power”. The highest of four NHL draft picks on the Saskatoon roster is defenceman Jyri Niemi…in the 3rd round by the New York Islanders. Lethbridge has three first round draft picks (Boychuk, forward Kyle Beach and defenceman Luca Sbisa) plus a second rounder (defenceman Eric Mestery). Plus forwards Dwight King and Colton Sceviour are 4th round selections from 2007.
       The ‘Canes were supposed to be a contender for a division and conference championship while the Bridge City Bunch were supposed to be scratching and clawing just to get into the playoffs.
       Talk about your reversal of fortunes!
       But, as this is written, the series is 1-1 and a long ways from over. The Blades have two factors in their favour…one, being depth and balance. The second is their road record…a WHL-record tying 28 wins during the regular season!
       “We knew it was going to be a long, tough battle against a real good team,” said Molleken, “It’s a situation now that it is a new season and we’re hoping that our success on the road during the regular season will carry over into the playoffs.”
       I said before the series started that I thought this set would see the first two games split in Saskatoon and the next two games in Lethbridge also being split…meaning a 2-2 series coming back for Game 5 Saturday at Credit Union Centre.
       We’ll see how good of a prognosticator I am come Thursday morning.
***
       I promised to do this a while back…my apologies to Ryan Ohashi, the ever-willing “we aim to please” Communications Coordinator for the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the delay. However, if not for people like Ryan Ohashi in Lethbridge, willingly and unfailingly responding positively to my calls for help with information (rosters, game notes, statistics, etc.) then my job of bringing play-by-play of the Saskatoon Blades on the radio and the internet would be a lot more difficult than it already is!
       While I’m at it…I have to give major thanks and props to the office staff with the Blades…Michael Scissons always comes through with the info I require…while Trent Coghill, Aaron Avivi, Celynn Kasun, Brittany Loraas and Matt Tillman are absolute pleasures to work with!
       Plus, Ryan Ohashi isn’t the only team communications person that is a big help to me…the same goes to all of them around the league, as well as my radio play-by-play bretheren (many of whom work for their team and do the communications in addition to being on air!) and Cory Flett and his hard-working communications’ staff in the WHL office. A million thank yous to all of you “unsung heroes” behind the scenes…at least to me!!
***
Blades Player-of-the-Week: He only played Game 1, but Jyri Niemi’s performance was stellar. The 18-year-old Finnish defenceman scored the winning goal, assisted on the first goal and was a dynamic force for 55 minutes until being cross-checked in the face by Hurricanes’ forward Kyle Beach. Both sat out Game 2 with suspensions for the incident and its aftermath…but both played Tuesday in Lethbridge.
 

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Let the Playoffs Begin!!

Posted by Les Lazaruk on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 02:39:00 PM.

       Juha Metsola was in full gear, taking shots this morning, as the Lethbridge Hurricanes went through an optional practice at Credit Union Centre ahead of tonight's opening game of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series with the Saskatoon Blades. While G-M Roy Stasiuk said yesterday that the 19-year-old Finn likely wouldn't play tonight, methinks this has "Game-Time Decision" written all over it.
       Just one question, if Metsola does, indeed, have a concussion...does he not have to sit out at least one full week in accordance with W-H-L rules? If so, he'd be out for tonight and tomorrow's second game, but only the 'Canes can answer the concussion question with regards to Metsola. Now that it's playoffs, that's highly unlikely to happen. Plus, only the league can clarify that rules from the regular season carry on into the playoffs!
       This will be the fourth post-season match-up between the Blades and 'Canes begins at Credit Union Centre. Saskatoon has won two of the previous three playoff sets...11 wins to five overall.
***
       Courtesy of the WHL media site…here’s all the numbers you could ever hope to take in with regards to the match-up…
Saskatoon Blades vs Lethbridge Hurricanes: Head To Head Stats
Summary
 
 
 
Description
Result
 
Head to Head Record 2008-09 Regular Season
Saskatoon 3-1-0-0
Lethbridge 1-2-1-0
Head to Head Record 2009 WHL Tie-break
Saskatoon 0-0-0-0
Lethbridge 0-0-0-0
Last 5 Years record between teams
Saskatoon 10-13-1-0
Lethbridge 14-9-1-0
Saskatoon vs. Lethbridge Last 5 Years record at Saskatoon
Saskatoon 5-7-1-0
Lethbridge 8-5-0-0
Saskatoon vs. Lethbridge Last 5 Years record at Lethbridge
Saskatoon 5-6-0-0
Lethbridge 6-4-1-0
Previous Meetings This Season
Lethbridge 4 @ Saskatoon 3 (Mar 7 2009) Final
Saskatoon 3 @ Lethbridge 2 (Jan 17 2009) Final OT
Lethbridge 0 @ Saskatoon 3 (Jan 1 2009) Final
Saskatoon 3 @ Lethbridge 2 (Oct 26 2008) Final
 



How the 2 teams match up
 
 
 
 
Lethbridge
Saskatoon
Team Record
35-32-3-2 75 points
49-18-3-2 103 points
Division Ranking
4th Central
1st East
Conference Ranking
7th Eastern
2nd Eastern
League Ranking
12th
3rd
Past 10 Games
5-5-0-0
6-3-0-1
Streak
0-2-0-0
1-0-0-1
Last Game
6-2 Loss vs. Calgary (Mar 15 2009) Final
5-4 Win vs. Prince Albert (Mar 14 2009) Final
Home Record
20-13-3-0
21-12-2-1
Away Record
15-19-0-2
28-6-1-1
GF
227 
283 
GA
228 
195 
PP%
(69/325) 21.2
(73/354) 20.6
PP (Home)%
(40/167) 24.0
(36/183) 19.7
PP (Away)%
(29/158) 18.4
(37/171) 21.6
PK%
(76/341) 77.7
(63/382) 83.5
PK (Home)%
(33/157) 79.0
(29/183) 84.2
PK (Away)%
(43/184) 76.6
(34/199) 82.9
Leading Rookie
Fyten (12-13-25)
Gallimore (26-27-53)
Most PIM
Beach - 165
Zahn - 160
Team PIM/GM
18.1/game
18.2/game
Leading Scorers
Sceviour (29-51-80)
Hulak (30-46-76)
 
Beach (24-39-63)
Kytnar (27-37-64)
 
King (25-35-60)
Wintoneak (31-28-59)
 
Boychuk (28-29-57)
Chorneyko (21-37-58)
 
Ashton (30-20-50)
Patterson (22-35-57)
Last 5 Games
6-2 Loss vs. Calgary (Mar 15 2009) Final
5-4 Win vs. Prince Albert (Mar 14 2009) Final
 
4-1 Loss @ Kootenay (Mar 14 2009) Final
5-4 Loss @ Prince Albert (Mar 13 2009) Final SO
 
4-1 Win vs. Kootenay (Mar 13 2009) Final
4-3 Loss @ Moose Jaw (Mar 10 2009) Final
 
2-1 Loss @ Edmonton (Mar 8 2009) Final
4-3 Loss vs. Lethbridge (Mar 7 2009) Final
 
4-3 Win @ Saskatoon (Mar 7 2009) Final
5-4 Win @ Prince Albert (Mar 6 2009) Final
Leading After 1st
22-4-0-2
25-5-2-2
Leading After 2nd
25-2-1-2
36-2-2-0
Tied After 1st
8-10-2-0
20-6-1-0
Tied After 2nd
5-5-0-0
10-5-1-1
Trailing After 1st
5-18-1-0
4-7-0-0
Trailing After 2nd
5-25-2-0
3-11-0-1
Out Shooting Opponents
15-10-0-0
34-6-1-2
Out Shot by Opponents
15-20-3-2
12-9-2-0
1-Goal Games
12-9-3-2
19-8-3-2
2-Goal Games
7-6-0-0
10-3-0-0
3-Goal Games
8-11-0-0
5-2-0-0

Saskatoon Blades
#
Player
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
+/-
17
Derek Hulak
4
4
0
4
2
-2
9
Curtis Hamilton
3
1
2
3
4
1
11
Chris Langkow
4
1
2
3
4
-1
24
Walker Wintoneak
4
1
2
3
0
0
4
Teigan Zahn
3
0
3
3
4
1
32
Gaelan Patterson
4
2
0
2
2
-1
37
Travis Toomey
4
2
0
2
2
2
25
Burke Gallimore
4
0
2
2
2
-2
47
Colin Joe
4
0
2
2
0
0
19
Milan Kytnar
3
0
2
2
2
-2
8
Jyri Niemi
3
0
2
2
4
-1
6
Stefan Elliott
4
1
0
1
2
0
71
Brent Benson
1
0
1
1
0
1
27
Ryan Funk
4
0
1
1
0
-1
1
Braden Holtby
4
0
1
1
0
0
20
Josh Nicholls
3
0
1
1
0
1
16
X Mike Reich
1
0
1
1
0
1
44
Adam Chorneyko
4
0
0
0
8
0
26
Darian Dziurzynski
4
0
0
0
0
-1
41
Charles Inglis
3
0
0
0
0
1
3
Sam Klassen
4
0
0
0
4
0
5
Duncan Siemens
1
0
0
0
0
0
21
X Brody Sutter
1
0
0
0
0
1
55
Brendon Wall
2
0
0
0
0
0
 
#
Player
GP
W
L
OTL
SL
MIN
GA
GAA
SV%
1
Braden Holtby
4
3
1
0
0
242:46
8
1.98
0.918

Lethbridge Hurricanes
#
Player
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
+/-
21
Kyle Beach (total)
3
2
1
3
6
-2
 
LET
2
2
1
3
4
-1
 
EVT
1
0
0
0
2
-1
12
Dwight King
4
2
1
3
4
5
14
Cam Braes
4
1
2
3
2
2
18
Carter Ashton
4
1
1
2
12
0
7
Carter Bancks
2
0
2
2
0
1
11
Zach Boychuk
2
1
0
1
2
-1
8
Mitch Versteeg
4
1
0
1
6
-1
7
Eric Mestery (total)
3
0
1
1
0
-2
 
LET
2
0
0
0
0
0
 
T.C
1
0
1
1
0
-2
3
Max Ross
2
0
1
1
0
1
9
Colton Sceviour
4
0
1
1
6
-4
22
Ben Wright
4
0
1
1
4
2
31
Brandon Anderson
1
0
0
0
0
0
26
Cody Castro
3
0
0
0
0
-1
21
X Mitch Fadden
1
0
0
0
0
0
16
Austin Fyten
3
0
0
0
2
0
28
Brent Henke
4
0
0
0
0
-1
17
Drew Hoff
3
0
0
0
2
-1
15
X Dan Iwanski
1
0
0
0
0
0
35
Juha Metsola
3
0
0
0
0
0
10
Craig Orfino
4
0
0
0
0
-1
2
Derek Ryckman
3
0
0
0
2
1
5
Luca Sbisa
1
0
0
0
0
-1
23
X Cody Smuk
1
0
0
0
21
-4
3
X Cam Stevens
1
0
0
0
0
-1
4
X Brock Sutherland
1
0
0
0
0
-1
19
Brody Sutter
2
0
0
0
0
0
20
Garrett Taylor
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
Brennan Yadlowski
4
0
0
0
6
1
 
#
Player
GP
W
L
OTL
SL
MIN
GA
GAA
SV%
35
Juha Metsola
3
1
1
1
0
182:53
9
2.95
0.900
31
Brandon Anderson
1
0
1
0
0
60:00
3
3.00
0.906
***
       This is my personal take at the one series that the league tabbed for television to follow. They're counting on it not being a four-game sweep...even though three of the four sets that SHAW-TV followed last season was over in the minimum number of games!
       They shouldn't have that issue in this series between the Blades and Hurricanes!!
       Those who think the 28-point difference in the standings between the second seeded Bridge City Bunch and the seventh place 'Canes means an easy series for Saskatoon are dreaming. The same goes for folks who think the fact that Lethbridge’s roster totals 318 games of WHL playoff experience, compared to Saskatoon’s 57 games, means that the Hurricanes are favoured.
       Lethbridge are the defending Eastern Conference champions and have 13 returnees from that team. In very few games did all 13 suit up together, hence the Hurricanes' modest regular season record. Plus, the 'Canes boast three first round N-H-L draft picks and another second round choice...something the Blades don't have. But, Saskatoon does have balance and depth.
       In goal, the Blades have Braden Holtby and Lethbridge has Juha Metsola...the Finn winning 12 games in the post-season last year. On defence, the Blades' six-man group is as solid as any in the league while the Hurricanes have Luca Sbisa, a Philadelphia first round pick who played the first half of the season in the N-H-L with the Flyers, two very good 20-year-olds in Ben Wright and Mitch Versteeg plus a second round draft pick in Eric Mestery.
       Up front, first round picks Zach Boychuk and Kyle Beach lead the way for Lethbridge while Colton Sceviour, Dwight King, Carter Bancks and Saskatoon product Carter Ashton have all had exceptional campaigns. The Blades counter with four lines that they have confidence in rolling...a different one or two coming up big from night-to-night. Heck, all four have produced on a given night this season!
       I can see each team winning once in both buildings in the first four games...meaning it'll be all square at 2-2 going into Game 5 a week from tomorrow at Credit Union Centre. At that point, we'll see which team prevails...the depth and balance of the Blades or the star power of the Hurricanes. I'll stick my neck out and say Saskatoon wins Games 5 and 6 and the series...but it could just as easily go the other way!
       Either way, it's going to be a dandy!!
***
       As for the rest of the first round WHL series, the league's first place overall team, the Calgary Hitmen, taking on the second year franchise, the Edmonton Oil Kings, in the first Battle of Alberta, W-H-L-style, since the Oil Kings lost to the Calgary Centennials in 1974 in five games. The Hitmen are an all-around dominant team that has had little to play for for quite a while. Edmonton has battled hard just to make it into the post-season. Most folks think this will be a sweep for Calgary. I think Edmonton might surprise them once...but this will be the Hitmen in five games!
       The third seeded Brandon Wheat Kings meet the Number 6 Kootenay Ice in a series that involves 14-hour bus rides...remember, flying is not permitted by W-H-L rules until the league final. Also, if this set goes to a seventh game, it would be played in Winnipeg as the Wheaties will be kicked out of their home building by the annual Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. This series shouldn't come to that. Brandon has too much firepower...which more than makes up for an, at times, shakey team defence and inconsistent goaltending. Captain Keith Aulie will return from an injury, which will help the Wheaties immensely, while Kootenay is not expected to get sparkplug forward Dustin Sylvester back from a broken ankle. Brandon takes this in five games.
       That brings me to fourth seeded Swift Current against Number 5 Medicine Hat. If goaltending and defence are the keys to winning, then the Broncos have the advantage with Travis Yonkman over Ryan Holfeld between the pipes and a bigger, stronger corps of blueliners in terms of playing the position. However, never underestimate the game-breaking ability of a Tyler Ennis or Brennan Bosch for the Hat. Keegan Dansereau can do the same thing for Swifty. I haven't predicted a first round upset so far...and you aren't getting it here, but it will be close...Swift Current in seven games!
       In the Western Conference, there’s first place Vancouver against eighth place Prince George. Are you kidding me?! The Giants had more than double the number of wins...57 to 25...and points...119 to 53...than the Cougars did. And, Vancouver won all eight regular season meetings by a total score of 40-11. I know, I know about regular season numbers should be tossed out come playoff time, but the Cats will celebrate like they've captured the Memorial Cup if they win one game...heck they might go bonkers if they stay within two goals at the end of any of the four straight that the Giants are going to win this series by!
       Next up is second seed Tri-Cities against Number 7 Everett. The Silvertips are young and could be very good in two years time. The Americans are built for now. Thomas Heemskerk has the ability to steal a game in goal for Everett...but Tri-Cities has Chet Pickard between the pipes to counter him and a lot more firepower. The Ams take it in five games.
       Third seed Kelowna meets Number 6 Kamloops in a good rivalry match-up. The Rockets won all nine regular season meetings, out-scoring the Blazers 48-18. That means Saskatoon product Justin Leclerc is going to have to be better in goal for Kamloops than he has been against a very strong Kelowna squad. Again, he might steal one game, but it'll be the Rockets in five games.
       Lastly, the four versus five seeded series is a close one...based on season standings and head-to-head matches in the regular campaign. But, defending league and Memorial Cup-champion Spokane was 20 points better than Seattle. However, the Thunderbirds did prevail in four of nine games against the Chiefs. Seattle has some tremendous top-end talent...but Spokane is another of those balanced "teams" in their play. I pick the Chiefs in six games.
***
 

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