2014-2015 WHL Thread

[DoubleK]

It was not a good hockey game tonight. Kootenay came out flat and were punished for it.

Reinhart looked tired and wasn't a factor.

[Flickered Flame]

Hitmen get a great game out of Mack Shields and beat the Tigers 3-1 in game 1 of the 2nd round. Because of the arena conflicts, it is a weird format of 1-2-1-1-1-1, with game 1 in MH tonight. Now 2 in a row at the Dome.

[RW99]

Nm

[Resolute 14]

Good thing Red John won't be back to this thread since the Ice lost, or I'm sure he'd have some comments about the joke of a goal Shields let in to lose last night's contest. Such a shame too, given the ridiculous save he made five minutes before.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Good thing Red John won't be back to this thread since the Ice lost, or I'm sure he'd have some comments about the joke of a goal Shields let in to lose last night's contest. Such a shame too, given the ridiculous save he made five minutes before.

I heard it went in from centre?

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, Just a dump-in with a perfect arc that went clean through the five-hole. Hell of a way to ruin a 47-save effort. And doubly frustrating because we finally got got our speed going, allowing us to get past Medicine Hat's clutch and grab and were easily outplaying the Tigers in OT. At the same time, Medicine Hat probably should have won in regulation - Shields bailed his skaters out big time in the first 75 minutes of the game.


Also, someone please tell me that the 6PM start on Friday for game 5 is a typo. That is such a horrible start time for a game.

[dash_pinched]

How did Langhamer play last night, Resolute? I think this is going to be a long series, two very evenly matched teams.

[Flickered Flame]

Hitmen rebound with a 5-4 win in game 3.

[Red John]

Not an Ice fan so not sure what that has to do with anything.

Didn't see the goal either, don't get to watch many East teams.

Would be pretty surprised if Calgary got by Brandon but would love to see it happen.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

How did Langhamer play last night, Resolute? I think this is going to be a long series, two very evenly matched teams.

Solid. He wasn't tested in game 2 pretty much until the OT, but in OT he saved the Tigers more than once.

[IntenseFan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Also, someone please tell me that the 6PM start on Friday for game 5 is a typo. That is such a horrible start time for a game.

No typo. The Hitmen game is an early start to be followed by Game 2 of the Flames and Canucks on the jumbotron. My family and I just got tickets because, why not? Sounds like fun...

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, I figured that out afterward. 6PM is frustrating for me because I am one of those guys who gets of early and doesn't work downtown. Fighting rush hour traffic even to get to Chinook LRT at that time of day is truly frustrating.

[IntenseFan]

^ One of the many reasons I gave up my car.

[Resolute 14]

Hitmen win what potentially could have been the final game in the Medicine Hat Arena. If we eliminate the Tigers on Friday, it's all over for that barn.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Hitmen win what potentially could have been the final game in the Medicine Hat Arena. If we eliminate the Tigers on Friday, it's all over for that barn.

I've seen dozens of great games in that old barn, sad to see it go, but at the same time, looking forward to the new arena and the possibility of Medicine Hat hosting a Memorial Cup in the not too distant future.

[Red John]

3rd round is basically set.

First of all, nice to see the Royals and their dirtbag coach out of the playoffs. Looks good on them to be laughed out of the rink.

Rockets seem to have flipped a switch in the playoffs...halfway there and only one loss, in OT. Helps that they're finally getting healthy. Josh Morrissey returned to the lineup tonight and had 5 points. Wow. A likely rematch with Portland awaits...

...Say what you want about Portland and their cheating tactics but to be in the final four for a 4th straight year is impressive if not almost unheard of in junior hockey. They won't be favourites against Kelowna but still.

Glad to see the Hitmen play Brandon. Don't think they have what it takes to win but hopefully they do. Brandon is weak defensively and can be exploited but doubt Shields and co. can shut down that scoring attack. Hitmen are perennial bridesmaids so not expecting too much but perhaps they can take advantage of the WK's inexperience much like Portland did to a superior Kelowna team last year.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by Red John

3rd round is basically set.

First of all, nice to see the Royals and their dirtbag coach out of the playoffs. Looks good on them to be laughed out of the rink.

Rockets seem to have flipped a switch in the playoffs...halfway there and only one loss, in OT. Helps that they're finally getting healthy. Josh Morrissey returned to the lineup tonight and had 5 points. Wow. A likely rematch with Portland awaits...

...Say what you want about Portland and their cheating tactics but to be in the final four for a 4th straight year is impressive if not almost unheard of in junior hockey. They won't be favourites against Kelowna but still.

Glad to see the Hitmen play Brandon. Don't think they have what it takes to win but hopefully they do. Brandon is weak defensively and can be exploited but doubt Shields and co. can shut down that scoring attack. Hitmen are perennial bridesmaids so not expecting too much but perhaps they can take advantage of the WK's inexperience much like Portland did to a superior Kelowna team last year.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Calgary beat Brandon if the Wheat Kings can't get healthy in time for the start of the series. With Klimchuk being made of glass and a risk to go down at anytime, 139 points from Bukarts/Hawryluk on the shelf, and Waltz/Pilon missing on the backend, it could be a tremendous struggle for the Wheat Kings to knock Calgary out.

Despite what Red John said above, the D/goaltending has been really, really solid in the playoffs thus far. I'm not saying they can't/won't be exploited at times but they will be better than most think.

It's going to come down to whether the younger kids (it feels like the entire WK team has been nothing but kids for the last 3 years now) can continue to fill in with timely goals while the veterans are out. Patrick/Kaspick have pitched in so far with OT winners, that will need to continue if they remain in the lineup.

Should be a fun one.

[Flickered Flame]

Should be an excellent series, the Wheaties won the regular season series 2-1-1 with most of the game very high scoring. It would not surprise me at all if the Hitmen win this series.

[dash_pinched]

Although I was rooting for the Tigers, congrats to the Hitmen on moving on to round 3. Best of luck against Brandon.

[Resolute 14]

If we don't get those idiotic defensive zone turnovers under control, it will be a quick series. Brandon is far better at converting those than the Tigers were.