nivek_wahs
02-12-2007, 05:07 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=b413e0da-d55a-47b7-babf-2565420c5d82
Blades have hard time gaining ground in East
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, February 12, 2007
The Swift Current Broncos are being a tease.
Every once in a while the Broncos win a game that prevents the Saskatoon Blades from getting closer in the East Division playoff race.
The Broncos snapped a six-game losing streak Friday, edging the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 and moving the Broncos back into a third-place tie with the Raiders. But Sunday, the Broncos lost 4-3 to the Calgary Hitmen.
Unfortunately for the Blades, Friday's win means both P.A. and Swift Current now sit eight points up on Saskatoon in the chase for the fourth and final playoff spot, with time running out.
Saskatoon will have to catch one of those two teams to make it to the post-season. Saskatoon has a game in hand on P.A. and three on Swift Current. Saskatoon has 18 games remaining but have lost five of their last six. Making matters worse, the Blades play 10 of those games on the road. The Blades have only eight wins in 26 road games this season.
The Broncos, with two wins in their last 11, have 15 games remaining in their schedule, including eight at home. Their next three -- against Brandon Tuesday, Prince Albert Friday and Saskatoon Saturday -- are on home ice.
Prince Albert, with 17 games left, has eight games at home and nine on the road.
A Brandon win over the Broncos Tuesday and a Blades win over the Wheat Kings Wednesday at Credit Union Centre would move Saskatoon to within six points of a playoff spot.
Saskatoon heads to Medicine Hat for a game Friday before heading to Swift Current for Saturday's showdown. The two teams play each other once more, Feb. 28 at Credit Union Centre.
Saskatoon has won four of six games against the Broncos. However, Swift Current has won all five games against Prince Albert with the two teams playing each other three more times.
The Raiders have won six-of-seven games against Saskatoon and, in an unbalanced schedule, those two clubs still have three games left against each other, including a home-and-home series to wrap up the regular season in mid-March.
Brandon continues to hold down top spot in the six-team East Division, but the Regina Pats have moved to within nine points of the Wheaties after a 5-1 win Sunday, giving the Pats 12 wins and a shootout loss in their last 16 games. Moose Jaw remains in last place, two points back of Saskatoon.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Blades have hard time gaining ground in East
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Monday, February 12, 2007
The Swift Current Broncos are being a tease.
Every once in a while the Broncos win a game that prevents the Saskatoon Blades from getting closer in the East Division playoff race.
The Broncos snapped a six-game losing streak Friday, edging the Prince Albert Raiders 3-2 and moving the Broncos back into a third-place tie with the Raiders. But Sunday, the Broncos lost 4-3 to the Calgary Hitmen.
Unfortunately for the Blades, Friday's win means both P.A. and Swift Current now sit eight points up on Saskatoon in the chase for the fourth and final playoff spot, with time running out.
Saskatoon will have to catch one of those two teams to make it to the post-season. Saskatoon has a game in hand on P.A. and three on Swift Current. Saskatoon has 18 games remaining but have lost five of their last six. Making matters worse, the Blades play 10 of those games on the road. The Blades have only eight wins in 26 road games this season.
The Broncos, with two wins in their last 11, have 15 games remaining in their schedule, including eight at home. Their next three -- against Brandon Tuesday, Prince Albert Friday and Saskatoon Saturday -- are on home ice.
Prince Albert, with 17 games left, has eight games at home and nine on the road.
A Brandon win over the Broncos Tuesday and a Blades win over the Wheat Kings Wednesday at Credit Union Centre would move Saskatoon to within six points of a playoff spot.
Saskatoon heads to Medicine Hat for a game Friday before heading to Swift Current for Saturday's showdown. The two teams play each other once more, Feb. 28 at Credit Union Centre.
Saskatoon has won four of six games against the Broncos. However, Swift Current has won all five games against Prince Albert with the two teams playing each other three more times.
The Raiders have won six-of-seven games against Saskatoon and, in an unbalanced schedule, those two clubs still have three games left against each other, including a home-and-home series to wrap up the regular season in mid-March.
Brandon continues to hold down top spot in the six-team East Division, but the Regina Pats have moved to within nine points of the Wheaties after a 5-1 win Sunday, giving the Pats 12 wins and a shootout loss in their last 16 games. Moose Jaw remains in last place, two points back of Saskatoon.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007