WHL Playoff Thread

[Resolute 14]

Slade wasnt happy with his icetime and quit on the team as a result. From what I recall, not many Giants fans were disapointed with that decision. I hadnt heard of any other troubles though.

Disapointing game for the Hitmen tonight. The Tigers played well. Not outstanding, not horrible, but well. Calgary just had far too many individuals, and not enough team tonight. The Tigers simply had to trap us all night long as we repeatedly tried to rush one guy against four, failing every time. Medicine Hat definitely deserved this one.

Also, when two incomptetents such as Derek Herman and Kyle Rehman are officiating the third round, I could not characterize the state of WHL officiating with any words other than "in crisis." Shame we can't have Matsuoka for every game.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Also, when two incomptetents such as Derek Herman and Kyle Rehman are officiating the third round, I could not characterize the state of WHL officiating with any words other than "in crisis." Shame we can't have Matsuoka for every game.

I'll trade you Francois Charron for ... well let's just say you can have him, I'll pay his airfare out

[604flames]

Giants lost to PG tonight 3-2, but the Cougs still have a huge hill to climb down 3-1 in the series. Game 5 Friday at Pacific Coliseum.

[Enthusiastic Pilon]

Holy cow! Tonight I almost started cheering "Go Flames Go" because it was exactly Flames hockey. We couldn't break out of our own zone, but the Tigers had a free pass from behind their net to our blueline, sometimes even further. Unless we had a wide open net, we refused to take a shot. The guys around me were trying to get enough thunder sticks to spell out "shoot". And the Tigers would shoot from anywhere and go for rebounds. Losing by two with five minutes left, we're flipping the puck out into the neutral zone giving it to their D. Officiating was terrible, first period I thought we were going to be allowed to play, but every once and a while a phantom call would come up, usually after the Tigers' bench would be heckling them. I almost cheer when I see Matsuoka come onto the ice, last game he called all the penalties and the other ref just was out for a skate. Even the linesmen were horrible. An icing was waved off when no one came near the puck, eventually it cost us a goal, and an offside, where I wasn't in good position to see it, but I have no idea how it was onside ended up in a penalty that ended in a PP goal. Man that was one hell of a frustrating game to watch. Down 3-1 going into Medicine Hat, not looking good guys.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Enthusiastic Pilon

Even the linesmen were horrible. An icing was waved off when no one came near the puck, eventually it cost us a goal, and an offside, where I wasn't in good position to see it, but I have no idea how it was onside ended up in a penalty that ended in a PP goal.

It wasn't onside, if you are thinking of the blown call when Medicine Hat was already on the powerplay. I was on that blue line, and you could see a full inch of white ice between the puck and the blue line. Very badly blown call, and yeah, it did end up with Spence taking a penalty when the Tiger player went for a skate into his stick. It didn't result in a goal though. The Hitmen did a masterful job of killing off that 80 second five on three.

[Flickered Flame]

Looks like Alex Plante has just given the Hitmen a 1-0 lead in game 5.

[Flickered Flame]

Dan Mercer with a ppg 2-0 Hitmen!

[Flickered Flame]

Helm makes it 2-1 with about a minute left in the first.

[Flickered Flame]

2-2 heading into the 3rd period. In Vancouver the Giants have a 3-0 lead on PG.

[Resolute 14]

Shame they couldnt hold the lead. Anybody's game right now.

[Resolute 14]

Great passing play by the Hitmen on the PP. Now up 3-2 with 7 minutes left.

...And the Hitmen immediately take a stupid penalty.

.....which immediately costs them a goal.

[LockedOut]

3-3 and going to OT.
Let's go Hitmen.

[Resolute 14]

Damn. Tigers win.

Great season for the Hitmen though.

[604flames]

Western Conference Final is over too, Giants beat PG 5-1 tonight, totally dominated them.

I'm guessing the President's Cup will start next wk sometime (Friday?) in the Hat..

[I_H8_Crawford]

Don't both teams make the memorial cup?

Do you think they will go all out in the upcoming series, or rest a bit to be ready for the memorial cup?

[Resolute 14]

Hopefully sooner, but they will want to time the finals with the Memorial Cup.

Should be a good final. Not quite sure who I want to cheer for in this one.

[604flames]

Good call Snakeeye I just realized that would be a whole week off, and you'd think the league would want the weekend games in Vancouver to try to draw bigger crowds. It's a shame nobody's really talkin about them here with the Nucks still in it, under 7,000 at the Coliseum tonight.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Don't both teams make the memorial cup?

Do you think they will go all out in the upcoming series, or rest a bit to be ready for the memorial cup?

There is a bit of a stigma attached to reaching the Memorial Cup via the "backdoor". Both teams will be working to win the title, especially since the Memorial Cup is such a crapshoot given its format.

[604flames]

whl.ca has announced the dates for Games 1 + 2 only.. Kinda surprising it doesn't start until Friday..

[Resolute 14]

Yes and no. Imagine if the finals started sooner, and ended in a sweep. Both teams would be rusty as hell in the Memorial Cup. I suppose it is better to give the two WHL finalists a small, even handicap by making them wait so long than to give them that same handicap in an uneven basis into a short tournament.