nivek_wahs
03-16-2007, 04:29 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=b50f55bf-40ab-4d9d-95c6-346c2c45bc3b
With a little help from our friends
Blades need Swift Current win for shot at playoffs
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, March 16, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades need a favour from the Swift Current Broncos.
To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Blades (26-40-2-2) must sweep a home-and-home series with the Prince Albert Raiders (26-38-3-3) and then hope that Swift Current at least splits a two-game showdown with the Moose Jaw Warriors (27-40-3-0).
Saskatoon visits Prince Albert tonight (7:30 p.m., Art Hauser Centre). The return match goes Saturday at Credit Union Centre.
The Broncos (32-35-1-2) have no personal stake in the outcome. They're assured of a third-place finish in the East Division and that means a first-round date with the Regina Pats. However, Broncos coach-GM Dean Chynoweth doesn't intend to go easy on the Warriors.
"You have an obligation to the team, to your fans and to the league, to field the best team you possibly can and make sure they're ready to play," said Chynoweth.
That noted, the Broncos won't be icing their best team. They'll be without four regular forwards: leading scorer Levi Nelson (concussion), Brady Leavold (illness), Spencer McAvoy (leg) and Matt Tassone (knee).
"We'll be short," confirmed Chynoweth. "We're going to have to bring two midget kids in and a lot of our midgets are still playing in playoffs."
Of the three teams still in the hunt, Prince Albert is the only team that doesn't need outside help. The Raiders can punch their playoff ticket by sweeping Saskatoon.
"I've never gone down to the wire like this in the regular season," said Raiders benchboss Peter Anholt, whose WHL coaching career spans 13 seasons. "But it's certainly been a good experience for all of the young guys on all of the teams. Saskatoon has really battled through a lot of adversity to get themselves to this point and we've probably let some games slip away to get to this point."
Saskatoon has won just one of eight games against the Prince Albert this season. Furthermore, the Blades haven't won at Art Hauser Centre since last season -- Jan. 29, 2006, to be exact.
"We want to make the Art Hauser Centre a hard place to play and so far, so good against Saskatoon," said Anholt. "But each game is played on its own merit and we've got to make sure we're ready to go."
In four home-ice wins over Saskatoon this season, the Raiders have won by more than two goals only once -- a 5-1 rout Nov. 17.
"We've gone in there and played pretty solid in some cases, but I really don't want to talk about any of the negatives right now," said Blades coach-GM Lorne Molleken. "What's happened in the past has happened. Our focus is (tonight)."
During Wednesday's 3-1 win over Moose Jaw, the Blades showed more spirit and consistency than they have in weeks. They're still minus No. 1 centre Justin McCrae (groin), but several young players played prominent roles against the Warriors. The line of Colton Gillies, Rastislav Konecny and Walker Wintoneak effectively cycled the puck in the offensive zone. Another unit -- Gaelan Patterson flanked by Dustin Cameron and Blair Macaulay -- provided similar consistency in Moose Jaw territory.
"We still need some help and lots of things can still take place," said Molleken, "but our goal was to get to a situation where these last two games meant something."
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
- Blades (26-40-2-2) at Raiders (26-38-3-3)
7:30 p.m., Art Hauser Centre
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
With a little help from our friends
Blades need Swift Current win for shot at playoffs
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Friday, March 16, 2007
The Saskatoon Blades need a favour from the Swift Current Broncos.
To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Blades (26-40-2-2) must sweep a home-and-home series with the Prince Albert Raiders (26-38-3-3) and then hope that Swift Current at least splits a two-game showdown with the Moose Jaw Warriors (27-40-3-0).
Saskatoon visits Prince Albert tonight (7:30 p.m., Art Hauser Centre). The return match goes Saturday at Credit Union Centre.
The Broncos (32-35-1-2) have no personal stake in the outcome. They're assured of a third-place finish in the East Division and that means a first-round date with the Regina Pats. However, Broncos coach-GM Dean Chynoweth doesn't intend to go easy on the Warriors.
"You have an obligation to the team, to your fans and to the league, to field the best team you possibly can and make sure they're ready to play," said Chynoweth.
That noted, the Broncos won't be icing their best team. They'll be without four regular forwards: leading scorer Levi Nelson (concussion), Brady Leavold (illness), Spencer McAvoy (leg) and Matt Tassone (knee).
"We'll be short," confirmed Chynoweth. "We're going to have to bring two midget kids in and a lot of our midgets are still playing in playoffs."
Of the three teams still in the hunt, Prince Albert is the only team that doesn't need outside help. The Raiders can punch their playoff ticket by sweeping Saskatoon.
"I've never gone down to the wire like this in the regular season," said Raiders benchboss Peter Anholt, whose WHL coaching career spans 13 seasons. "But it's certainly been a good experience for all of the young guys on all of the teams. Saskatoon has really battled through a lot of adversity to get themselves to this point and we've probably let some games slip away to get to this point."
Saskatoon has won just one of eight games against the Prince Albert this season. Furthermore, the Blades haven't won at Art Hauser Centre since last season -- Jan. 29, 2006, to be exact.
"We want to make the Art Hauser Centre a hard place to play and so far, so good against Saskatoon," said Anholt. "But each game is played on its own merit and we've got to make sure we're ready to go."
In four home-ice wins over Saskatoon this season, the Raiders have won by more than two goals only once -- a 5-1 rout Nov. 17.
"We've gone in there and played pretty solid in some cases, but I really don't want to talk about any of the negatives right now," said Blades coach-GM Lorne Molleken. "What's happened in the past has happened. Our focus is (tonight)."
During Wednesday's 3-1 win over Moose Jaw, the Blades showed more spirit and consistency than they have in weeks. They're still minus No. 1 centre Justin McCrae (groin), but several young players played prominent roles against the Warriors. The line of Colton Gillies, Rastislav Konecny and Walker Wintoneak effectively cycled the puck in the offensive zone. Another unit -- Gaelan Patterson flanked by Dustin Cameron and Blair Macaulay -- provided similar consistency in Moose Jaw territory.
"We still need some help and lots of things can still take place," said Molleken, "but our goal was to get to a situation where these last two games meant something."
cwolfe@sp.canwest.com
- Blades (26-40-2-2) at Raiders (26-38-3-3)
7:30 p.m., Art Hauser Centre
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007