2007-08 Calgary Hitmen / WHL thread

[604flames]

After tonight, I would think a Chief warning is in effect for southwest Alberta.. wow what a game by Spoke.

[Resolute 14]

Jeezus... 14 shots for Lethbridge? That must have been one hell of a defensive effort.

[604flames]

That's the way Spokane plays, tonight was a mirror image of how they shut down the Giants in Round 2.

They won't even give you the red line, and if you're lucky enough to get it into the offensive zone, they deny the shot better than any other team in the league.

Not to mention that Lethbridge's first (official, I thought I saw one in the first) shot on goal was at the 3:00 mark of the second period.

[Resolute 14]

Crazy. I was really hoping to head to Spokane for tomorrow's game, but looks like I have other plans interfering... damn.

[Buff]

You could tell Lethbridge was rusty. They certainly weren't in playoffs mode. They started to pick it up near the end of the game, but it was too little too late.

I don't think that last nights game (well I hope) is a tell tale story of how the rest of the series will go. I expect Lethbridge to push back hard tonight.\

Gotta give props to Spokane thought. They are a well oiled machine.

[disco_inferno]

i hope the canes were just a little rusty. that long off, and they were due to lose one eventually.

big game tonight, Go Canes Go.

[604flames]

Lethbridge looked better tonight, tough luck that they called back the first Boychuk goal (even though it was the right call). Rough night for Metsola as well I'm sure he'd like a couple of those back, especially Bowman's goal in the third..

Kudos to all the 'Canes fans who made their way to the Spoke, definitely were noticeable on TV at least.

[MelBridgeman]

So how about the rust?

[Buff]

I'm heading to the game tonight. I hope that the home fans can help shake the remaining rust of off the Hurricanes so the 'Canes can make it a closer series!

[dionfan]

Chiefs take game 3, 2-1 in OT. Chiefs now lead series 3-0.

Spokane did look like the better team tomight IMO, their cycle game and puck pursuit seemed to make the Canes scramble around quite a bit.

[moon]

I am assuming that it was a different Chiefs team in Spokane because the team out there tonight was not impressive at all.

Luckily for them the Canes continued with their crappy play and had another game of "bad puck" luck as they say.

I don't expect the Canes to give up but I wouldn't be surprised to see the series over tomorrow night. The Hurricanes just do not look like the same team from the first 3 rounds at all.

[Buff]

I must've watched a different game. Same with the Chiefs fans who were sitting behind me. The Hurricanes started off with tentative play but quickly gained confidence and took their game to the Chiefs. The Canes were hitting hard, the Chiefs weren't making as many big hits. The Canes were playing well, they kept their game simple and didn't take unnecessary risks. I felt that the Chiefs were caught on their heals and the Canes wouldn't let the Chiefs get anything going.

I am confused about the tying goal though. Isn't the play supposed to be whistled down when an injured player is on the ice? More so when the injured players team touches the puck? If so then there shouldn't have been a tying goal as a chief was laying on the ice, in obvious pain. He was out of the play though.

The tying goal. I couldn't really see how it went in. I saw the puck loose in the crease and sticks whacking at it, and then I couldn't see the puck and then I saw it in the air and hitting the back of the net. Really disheartening. The Hurricanes definitely didn't deserve to lose this game.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by dionfan

Spokane did look like the better team tomight IMO, their cycle game and puck pursuit seemed to make the Canes scramble around quite a bit.

In the 1st 5-10 minutes of the 1st period, yes. I thought the Canes did a great job the rest of the game.

The Chiefs are a really well coached team. They are rarely out of position. They have such good positioning that I wondered if I was really watching a junior team.

[Buff]

The Spokane Chiefs are the 2008 WHL Ed Chynoweth Champions. They were the better team. The Hurricanes were playing like a defeated team after losing the night before in heart breaking fashion.

Congratulations going to the Chiefs. Many thought that they would be the tired team going into the series, but they kept on going to win the championship.

[Resolute 14]

Indeed. Plowing through Vancouver, Tri-City and Lethbridge to win the title is one mighty impressive feat.

[C.F]

I think it's safe to say the western conference truly was superior to the eastrern conference this year. At the very least, I think the top 3 seeds in the west would have beaten anyone who came out of the east.

Congrats to the Chiefs, I'm sure they'll do very well in the Memorial Cup.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Indeed. Plowing through Vancouver, Tri-City and Lethbridge to win the title is one mighty impressive feat.

You're not kidding. They hardly had an easy ride to the title. All three teams they defeated could be considered elite type junior teams. Kudos to the Chiefs on an incredible achievement. Hope they win the big prize now.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by C.F

I think it's safe to say the western conference truly was superior to the eastrern conference this year. At the very least, I think the top 3 seeds in the west would have beaten anyone who came out of the east.

Congrats to the Chiefs, I'm sure they'll do very well in the Memorial Cup.

The top teams in the West were certainly superior to the top teams in the east. However, top to bottom, I'd take the West, especially amongst playoff qualifiers. There were no easy marks in the East this year.