2009 Hitmen/WHL Playoffs - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

You Need a Thneed · 03-22-2009, 04:46 PM

Hitmen Win!

Dion · 03-22-2009, 04:48 PM

Carson McMillan deflects Postma's shot form the point for the winner.

You Need a Thneed · 03-22-2009, 04:52 PM

If you count only the 1st and third periods, the Hitmen outshot the Oil Kings 40-5.

Sound like most of the action was on one side of the ice - (except for the OT) Through regulation one side of the ice saw 56 shots on goal, the other side saw only 12.

FallingMeTook · 03-22-2009, 04:52 PM

Good to see the team fight through and pull out the win despite Jung standing on his head. Coming in that was the only way the Oil Kings were going to be able to pull out a game, and today the Hitmen proved they could overcome that.

Resolute 14 · 03-22-2009, 06:51 PM

Yeah, all the penalties early in the second put the Hitmen on their heels for most of the entire period, but otherwise it was all Calgary. Jung was unbelievable, but once the Hitmen finally tied it up, you could see that they simply weren't going to be denied. Tip of the hat to Edmonton's goaltender though... it's 6-0 after one if not for him.

malcolmk14 · 03-22-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If you count only the 1st and third periods, the Hitmen outshot the Oil Kings 40-5.

Sound like most of the action was on one side of the ice - (except for the OT) Through regulation one side of the ice saw 56 shots on goal, the other side saw only 12.

I was on the side of the ice with 12.

LockedOut · 03-23-2009, 12:55 AM

I was at the game today. What's with all the empty club seats? When I bought my tickets on Wednesday there wasn't even 2 tickets available in that section only singles. Is it just season ticket holders not showing up. It was probably 1/3 full at best.

Resolute 14 · 03-23-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I was on the side of the ice with 12.

Just means that you (and I) got to see the GWG up close.

When our first OT winner was waived off because of the glove pass, there was the Oil Kings ###### who got up and started taunting all the fans around him... like really buddy, in 125 minutes of hockey, your team has scored exactly 1 goal, and that came immediately after a two man advantage expired. Not to mention that your team was getting your ass handed to it for the entire OT. Of course, we score a minute later, and since he couldn't get out of his seat fast enough, he got stuck there and had to listen to a few dozen Hitmen fans giving him the gears.

Incidentally, those military night jerseys the Oil Kings had are just hideous.

Cowboy89 · 03-23-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockedOut

I was at the game today. What's with all the empty club seats? When I bought my tickets on Wednesday there wasn't even 2 tickets available in that section only singles. Is it just season ticket holders not showing up. It was probably 1/3 full at best.

A lot of Flames season ticket holders in the club section also get concert seats and Hitmen tickets guarenteed as well. Probably most of or nearly all of the club seats are corporate tickets and as such the Hitmen are probably too proletariat for many corporate types. My company always has extra Hitmen club tickets hanging around the office and usually they get burned (As a fan of hockey and the Hitmen I go whenever my schedule allows but that still leaves plenty of nights without anyone in our seats).

Flickered Flame · 03-23-2009, 08:30 PM

Hitmen lead the Kings 3-0 through 40 minutes tonight. Hitmen goals from Plante, Broda, and Kozun. The shots are 31-10 after 2 periods for the Hitmen. This might be the best game of the series so far for the Hitmen.

iggnuef · 03-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Former Hitmen TJ Galiardi was recalled by the Avs today and is playing vs the Oilers tonight. Congrats to TJ!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=414550

Native Calgarian aswell

johnnyluv · 03-23-2009, 10:06 PM

Torrie Jung named the 2nd star in a 4-1 Hitmen win. This definitely bodes well for our chances of a sweep - Jung is the only hope they have of getting anywhere, and he hasn't been enough.

Flickered Flame · 03-23-2009, 10:22 PM

Only 3501 fans at the Rectum Place tonight. That is pathetic for a playoff game.

Resolute 14 · 03-23-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Only 3501 fans at the Rectum Place tonight. That is pathetic for a playoff game.

Actually, it isnt surprising. The WHL, like many junior and minor leagues, often sees much smaller crowds in the early rounds of the playoffs than in the regular season. No group sales, and season ticket holders often drop for the post season. Midweek game, and the embarrassment of being an Edmontonian, knowing you are going to lose to Calgary.

Definitely a dissapointing crowd though.

This is one of the reasons why the Hitmen actually sell season tickets as a 38 game set rather than 36. Guaranteed good crowds for their first two playoff games.

flamesrule14 · 03-24-2009, 02:01 AM

Definetly a dissapointing crowd tonight. I was shocked at how few people showed up. Hopefully game 4 is a bit better.

Hitmen completely dominated. Oil Kings couldn't generate any offence at all. Jung is one heck of a goalie. First time seeing him and he is really good. Definetly kept the Oil Kings in the game best he could. Hopefully the Hitmen can finish them off on Wednesday.

FallingMeTook · 03-24-2009, 11:41 AM

The series is probably pretty much over. Jung has stood on his head for the past two games, and yet the team in front of him simply can not get anything done. If the Hitmen manage to get a lead on Wednesday night, the Oil Kings simply don't seem to have the will and the talent, outside of Jung, to comeback.

As far the attendance goes, it has to be considered disappointing, regardless of any mitigating factors. There is an excellent post by Guy Flaming, an Edmonton radio host who covers the Oil Kings. He confirms what Resolute mentioned, the fact that group sales were a no go, and that around a third of season ticket holders did not pick up the playoff option.

Quote:

I'm also told that of the 3300-ish season ticket holders, around 1000 didn't pick up their playoff option.

He raises a lot of good points in the article, and acknowledges that he might not know the reason the average fan stayed away, as he gets paid to cover the team. It seems as though most took a good showing for granted,

Quote:

Last night on the catwalk I had a between periods conversation with someone in upper management who told me he had talked to "hundreds" of people last week who told him "congratulations on making the playoffs, you should have great crowds" yet at the same time were not going to be attending the games themselves.

I think he sums it up quite nicely in two paragraphs:

Quote:

Part of me wants to be saying "Shame on you Edmonton!" but I honestly can't because I don't know who or what is to blame for the poor showing. I was expecting a crowd in the 10,000 range considering the historical importance, the playoff excitement, the quality of the opposition, (the Hitmen are a legit Memorial Cup contender as the #1 ranked team in the country), and the fact that Edmonton is so well known for being an event city. To me, this qualified as an event.

Fans of quality hockey are missing out - the Hitmen are ridiculously good and Edmonton goalie Torrie Jung has been playing out-of-his-mind in the net for the Oil Kings. I wish that was the only story from Monday night.

http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/...you-there.html

flambers · 03-24-2009, 01:35 PM

Was this not the Oil Kings first ever playoff game? Seems odd there was so little fans especially for a team playing in their first playoff game.....

Resolute 14 · 03-24-2009, 05:04 PM

Hey, when you have a winning tradition like the Oil Kings, being an 8 seed just doesn't cut it...

Anyway, don't be surprised if the Hitmen only draw 8-10,000 for the second and (hopefully) third rounds. Still a hell of a lot better than Edmonton, but legit contender or not, it is still junior hockey in an NHL city. There are always pressures that come from that.

FallingMeTook · 03-24-2009, 10:17 PM

All three road teams win in the Eastern conference tonight, putting Brandon on the brink of moving on, and Saskatoon and Swift Current in control of their respective series.

In bigger news however, after being dominated for the two games in Vancouver, Prince George has come out to compete at home, and have forced the Giants to overtime tied at 2.

Flickered Flame · 03-24-2009, 10:47 PM

Cunningham scores in OT. Giants win.