2009 Hitmen/WHL Playoffs

[moon]

I guess that Hayes is going to be an issue in this series.

I figured that Brandon was good enough to overcome it, but it appears he has chosen to play worse than normal in the first game at least.

[Flickered Flame]

Wheaties finally score.

[ricoFlame]

7-1? whoa. talk about making a statement.

[Flickered Flame]

2 quick 3rd period goals make it 7-3.

[Flickered Flame]

Another Hitmen penalty coming up.

[Flickered Flame]

Broda makes it 8-3 Hitmen.

[Jets4Life]

ok no need to panic. The Wheaties started off slow. They will bounce back with a solid effort next time. Just a fluke. That's all.

[Flickered Flame]

Keith Seabrook has scored a power play goal and it is 9-3 Hitmen.

[Flickered Flame]

Hitmen win 9-3 and remain unbeaten in the playoffs.

[johnnyluv]

Looks like the Hitmen can win even if Jones is just good. I don't know that Brandon can say the same with their netminders. Good to see some hitting, too - I think the Wheat Kings will take retaliation penalties all throughout if we keep it up.

^And look for Drummondville to come from the Q, although their scoring isn't backed up by any grit whatsoever.

[Flickered Flame]

Even if Jones is just good, the Hitmen have a huge advantage in goal. I would expect that with Brandon hosting the Mem. Cup next year, they will upgrade their goaltending.

[Da_Chief]

Question, As a host team, you'll already have a ticket to the Memorial Cup, so do you get beat in the first round to avoid injuries? or do you go all out to make it to through the front door?

Rimouski is still in it but likely going down to Drummondville.

Why hasn't Calgary hosted the Memorial Cup in more than 40 years?

[Resolute 14]

Calgary last hosted the Memorial cup in 1974, so 35 years. At any rate, part of the problem is that the Flames just don't bid on them. Next year would have been an ideal season to bid for the tournament, but the Flames don't want to tie up the Dome for 10 days in case the NHL club is still in the playoffs. Seems silly to me, since you could jsut schedule the junior game in the afternoon and the NHL game in the evening, but such is life.

Anyway, The turning point in this game was Jones' skate save early in the 2nd, followed immediately by MacDonald's skate save, which saw the puck turn right around and end up in Brandon's net. 3-0 instead of 2-1, and that's that.

Hayes wasn't great, but I also think Calgary really exposed Brandon's defence tonight. Their entire back end needs to get better if they are going to make this a long series. I liked our D overall, though giving up 3 goals was not ideal. But, two PPGs, and a third off a 2 on 1 created after Stone had the stick slashed out of his hands isn't terrible. That start to the third undoubtedly left the coaches frustrated.

Speaking of which, a couple big hits and Brandon lost their cool entirely. I know they were down by four at the time, but man, if they don't keep their emotions in check, that will be a killer. The vaunted Kyle Beech couldn't get Calgary off their game, and neither will anyone on Brandon. And since two of our goals were off retalitory penalties, that could hurt the Wheat Kings a ton if they don't control that.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Calgary last hosted the Memorial cup in 1974, so 35 years. At any rate, part of the problem is that the Flames just don't bid on them. Next year would have been an ideal season to bid for the tournament, but the Flames don't want to tie up the Dome for 10 days in case the NHL club is still in the playoffs. Seems silly to me, since you could jsut schedule the junior game in the afternoon and the NHL game in the evening, but such is life.

Anyway, The turning point in this game was Jones' skate save early in the 2nd, followed immediately by MacDonald's skate save, which saw the puck turn right around and end up in Brandon's net. 3-0 instead of 2-1, and that's that.

Hayes wasn't great, but I also think Calgary really exposed Brandon's defence tonight. Their entire back end needs to get better if they are going to make this a long series. I liked our D overall, though giving up 3 goals was not ideal. But, two PPGs, and a third off a 2 on 1 created after Stone had the stick slashed out of his hands isn't terrible. That start to the third undoubtedly left the coaches frustrated.

Speaking of which, a couple big hits and Brandon lost their cool entirely. I know they were down by four at the time, but man, if they don't keep their emotions in check, that will be a killer. The vaunted Kyle Beech couldn't get Calgary off their game, and neither will anyone on Brandon. And since two of our goals were off retalitory penalties, that could hurt the Wheat Kings a ton if they don't control that.

It's time for the good guys to regroup. Goaltending is a problem, but with some solid outings, we can easily tie this series up. No need for all my fellow Manitobans to panic. Only game 1..

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

It's time for the good guys to regroup. Goaltending is a problem, but with some solid outings, we can easily tie this series up. No need for all my fellow Manitobans to panic. Only game 1..

no need to panic yet, but getting lit up 9-3 can't be good for any wheat queens (minus Aulie) confidence.

Game 2 should be much tighter though.

[Resolute 14]

So far this series is following the pattern set in the first two series.

Plante takes a dumb penalty very early in the series
Calgary easily wins game 1, blowing out the opposition
Game two is much tighter, but ends in a Calgary win.
Games 3 and 4 are no contest.

Steps one and two down, hopefully three and four follow. As the writers in Edmonton said in the first round: Calgary just comes at you in waves. Oil Kings couldnt withstand, Hurricanes couldn't withstand. Wheat Kings sure didn't in the second tonight. Will be very interesting to see how Brandon bounces back on Sunday. It was really interesting to note that the Hitmen were not at all happy with their performance, believe it or not.

[Sinatra]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Question, As a host team, you'll already have a ticket to the Memorial Cup, so do you get beat in the first round to avoid injuries? or do you go all out to make it to through the front door?

Rimouski is still in it but likely going down to Drummondville.

Why hasn't Calgary hosted the Memorial Cup in more than 40 years?

Well, the Giants were trying to stay in the playoffs so they weren't going to be rusty for 2 months waiting to play in the Memorial Cup. You still want to keep playing, and no team wants to just lose onpurpose. You come to the rink to play hard and win.

[Flickered Flame]

Backlund has given the Rockets a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period of game 1.

[Flickered Flame]

Callahan makes it 2-0 Rockets.

[Flickered Flame]

Ian Duval, the former Hitmen, has made it 3-0. GO ROCKETS!