nivek_wahs
01-30-2007, 05:34 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=ec3bccd3-7893-4b76-9255-432ebf5e81ed
Blades in tough fight for playoff life
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades have their backs against the wall. They've fallen into last place in the WHL East Division and they're hurting on the blue-line.
Compounding the Blades' woes, the team, or teams, they've got to catch are five wins up on them.
Saskatoon's goaltending has been good, but not spectacular, as of late. Blades' head coach/GM Lorne Lolleken says teams have scored one or two "bad" goals. While the majority of players are living up to expectations, "two or three players really have to pick it up," Molleken says "They know who they are. It has been addressed and we'll talk about it again today."
The Blades embark on what will likely be a make-or-break, seven-game in 10 night stretch beginning tonight in Moose Jaw.
"We're to a point now where it's critical . . . we've got games in hand but the old saying is that you have to win for them to count," said Molleken.
Saskatoon now trails the Moose Jaw Warriors by a point, but even with a win, there's still a lot of ground to be made up if Saskatoon hopes to finish in the playoffs.
The fourth and final playoff spot is now shared by both Regina and Prince Albert, currently nine points up on Saskatoon, while Swift Current is 10 points up on the Blades. Saskatoon has three games in hand on both the Pats and Raiders and five on the Broncos. Three of the seven upcoming games are against those teams, but the Blades also have road games against Medicine Hat -- the top team in the Eastern Conference -- and against Brandon -- the top team in the East Division.
It's not an easy road, considering the Blades have won only six times in 22 road games. Medicine Hat and Brandon have only lost three games in regulation on home ice.
It's a simple formula, Molleken says. "We've got to get more (out of everybody). Our goalies have to make sure they don't give up any bad goals, even though we're not giving up many goals.
"Defensively, we've got to get better . . . and unfortunately we don't have any depth there."
Defenceman Ryan Funk, who as a 17-year-old was having an outstanding season until he suffered a groin injury in late November, is conceivably gone for the year. He was scheduled to meet with specialists Monday in Calgary for consultation.
Rookie Teigan Zahn, another blue-liner having an outstanding season even though he's just 16, suffered a fractured jaw in early January and the wires don't come out of holding his jaw in place until Feb. 7.
That leaves just five defenceman and there's no opening for them to have a bad night, let alone a bad shift.
European import Rastislav Konecny, who also suffered a separated shoulder in early January, could be back by mid-February. The Blades are hoping that he can regain he scoring touch he showed early, with nine goals in 19 games. His production then dropped as he went 14 games without a goal and only seven assists. If Konecny hopes to return next year as a 19-year-old, he'll have to contribute down the stretch.
"Every game now is a fight for our life," Molleken says.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
BLADES' UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tonight at Moose Jaw
Wednesday at Medicine Hat
Friday vs. Red Deer at CUC
Saturday vs Lethbridge at CUC
Feb. 6 at Brandon
Feb. 7 at Regina
Feb. 8 vs Prince Albert at CUC
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Blades in tough fight for playoff life
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades have their backs against the wall. They've fallen into last place in the WHL East Division and they're hurting on the blue-line.
Compounding the Blades' woes, the team, or teams, they've got to catch are five wins up on them.
Saskatoon's goaltending has been good, but not spectacular, as of late. Blades' head coach/GM Lorne Lolleken says teams have scored one or two "bad" goals. While the majority of players are living up to expectations, "two or three players really have to pick it up," Molleken says "They know who they are. It has been addressed and we'll talk about it again today."
The Blades embark on what will likely be a make-or-break, seven-game in 10 night stretch beginning tonight in Moose Jaw.
"We're to a point now where it's critical . . . we've got games in hand but the old saying is that you have to win for them to count," said Molleken.
Saskatoon now trails the Moose Jaw Warriors by a point, but even with a win, there's still a lot of ground to be made up if Saskatoon hopes to finish in the playoffs.
The fourth and final playoff spot is now shared by both Regina and Prince Albert, currently nine points up on Saskatoon, while Swift Current is 10 points up on the Blades. Saskatoon has three games in hand on both the Pats and Raiders and five on the Broncos. Three of the seven upcoming games are against those teams, but the Blades also have road games against Medicine Hat -- the top team in the Eastern Conference -- and against Brandon -- the top team in the East Division.
It's not an easy road, considering the Blades have won only six times in 22 road games. Medicine Hat and Brandon have only lost three games in regulation on home ice.
It's a simple formula, Molleken says. "We've got to get more (out of everybody). Our goalies have to make sure they don't give up any bad goals, even though we're not giving up many goals.
"Defensively, we've got to get better . . . and unfortunately we don't have any depth there."
Defenceman Ryan Funk, who as a 17-year-old was having an outstanding season until he suffered a groin injury in late November, is conceivably gone for the year. He was scheduled to meet with specialists Monday in Calgary for consultation.
Rookie Teigan Zahn, another blue-liner having an outstanding season even though he's just 16, suffered a fractured jaw in early January and the wires don't come out of holding his jaw in place until Feb. 7.
That leaves just five defenceman and there's no opening for them to have a bad night, let alone a bad shift.
European import Rastislav Konecny, who also suffered a separated shoulder in early January, could be back by mid-February. The Blades are hoping that he can regain he scoring touch he showed early, with nine goals in 19 games. His production then dropped as he went 14 games without a goal and only seven assists. If Konecny hopes to return next year as a 19-year-old, he'll have to contribute down the stretch.
"Every game now is a fight for our life," Molleken says.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
BLADES' UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tonight at Moose Jaw
Wednesday at Medicine Hat
Friday vs. Red Deer at CUC
Saturday vs Lethbridge at CUC
Feb. 6 at Brandon
Feb. 7 at Regina
Feb. 8 vs Prince Albert at CUC
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007