nivek_wahs
03-16-2007, 04:37 AM
http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=17042&sc=9
Warriors pass up golden opportunity
Tribe loses 3-1 to Saskatoon
RANDY PALMER
The Moose Jaw Times Herald
The Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders seem to be approaching the last playoff spot in the East Division like two horses that simply don’t want to race.
And all of a sudden there’s another runner, albeit a pretty lame one, coming up from behind.
The Warriors failed to do themselves any kind of a favour Wednesday as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Saskatoon Blades in Saskatoon in a game that could have knocked the sixth-place Blades from the playoff picture.
Instead, the Blades (26-40-2-2) are now very much alive, sitting a point back of the Warriors (27-40-3-0), who are a point back of the Raiders (26-38-3-3) after Prince Albert lost 2-1 to Regina at home Wednesday.
“That’s one of the frustrating things, we sure could have helped ourselves against a team that isn’t as good as a Regina or Brandon or Calgary or Kootenay, but they sure didn’t make us look good tonight,” said Warriors coach Rene Lemire. “It seems like we have nine lives, but sooner or later we’re going to have to help our own cause rather than depending on other teams to beat P.A.”
Wednesday wasn’t one of those nights, as the Warriors came out with far less intensity than the coaching staff hoped for and were outshot 14-7 in the first period. They managed to escape the opening frame in a scoreless draw but gave up a pair of late second period power play goals to trail 2-0 heading into the third.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted, we were just watching in the first seven or eight minutes and didn’t do the little things that we set out to do,” Lemire said. “That was very surprising, it was the exact opposite of what we’d been doing in practice the last couple of days and of what we’d studied on video . . . We wanted to be a tough, aggressive hard-hitting team and we came out timid.”
Joe Logan and Brad Cole scored the second period goals for the Blades before Derek Hulak gave Saskatoon a 3-0 lead two minutes into the third.
Warriors captain Steve Gillen got one back five minutes into the final frame, but that would be as close as they’d get.
Joey Perricone made 31 saves in taking the loss, Braden Holtby stopped 17 for Saskatoon.
The Warriors now turn their attention to a crucial home and home set with the Swift Current Broncos this weekend, with Saturday’s regular season capper 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
“We have to come out with some enthusiam and play the body, otherwise we’re going to find ourselves in trouble again, and then it’s lights out,” Lemire said.
“Right now there’s still a glimmer of hope, but we’ll be packing up on Sunday unless we shape up.”
Warriors pass up golden opportunity
Tribe loses 3-1 to Saskatoon
RANDY PALMER
The Moose Jaw Times Herald
The Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders seem to be approaching the last playoff spot in the East Division like two horses that simply don’t want to race.
And all of a sudden there’s another runner, albeit a pretty lame one, coming up from behind.
The Warriors failed to do themselves any kind of a favour Wednesday as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Saskatoon Blades in Saskatoon in a game that could have knocked the sixth-place Blades from the playoff picture.
Instead, the Blades (26-40-2-2) are now very much alive, sitting a point back of the Warriors (27-40-3-0), who are a point back of the Raiders (26-38-3-3) after Prince Albert lost 2-1 to Regina at home Wednesday.
“That’s one of the frustrating things, we sure could have helped ourselves against a team that isn’t as good as a Regina or Brandon or Calgary or Kootenay, but they sure didn’t make us look good tonight,” said Warriors coach Rene Lemire. “It seems like we have nine lives, but sooner or later we’re going to have to help our own cause rather than depending on other teams to beat P.A.”
Wednesday wasn’t one of those nights, as the Warriors came out with far less intensity than the coaching staff hoped for and were outshot 14-7 in the first period. They managed to escape the opening frame in a scoreless draw but gave up a pair of late second period power play goals to trail 2-0 heading into the third.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted, we were just watching in the first seven or eight minutes and didn’t do the little things that we set out to do,” Lemire said. “That was very surprising, it was the exact opposite of what we’d been doing in practice the last couple of days and of what we’d studied on video . . . We wanted to be a tough, aggressive hard-hitting team and we came out timid.”
Joe Logan and Brad Cole scored the second period goals for the Blades before Derek Hulak gave Saskatoon a 3-0 lead two minutes into the third.
Warriors captain Steve Gillen got one back five minutes into the final frame, but that would be as close as they’d get.
Joey Perricone made 31 saves in taking the loss, Braden Holtby stopped 17 for Saskatoon.
The Warriors now turn their attention to a crucial home and home set with the Swift Current Broncos this weekend, with Saturday’s regular season capper 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
“We have to come out with some enthusiam and play the body, otherwise we’re going to find ourselves in trouble again, and then it’s lights out,” Lemire said.
“Right now there’s still a glimmer of hope, but we’ll be packing up on Sunday unless we shape up.”