nivek_wahs
03-21-2007, 04:18 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=d4841fee-af3d-433c-a17e-b7955d780a6d
Don't expect early upsets in WHL
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Imagine a playoff series in which there are no upsets. No underdogs getting their teeth into the big dog and tearing it to shreds. No little guy getting up off the canvas in the 10th round and willing himself to win.
Why even play, you say?
In the WHL, the answer would be to get to the second round. That's when all the action starts. When predictability goes out the window.
In the upcoming first-round series, the closest thing to an upset will be if the Prince Albert Raiders win more than one game against the Brandon Wheat Kings, if Spokane can make it a six-game series against Everett, if Chilliwack can even win a game against Vancouver . . .
In other words, the favourites in these series are all the top-finishing teams and the biggest worry those teams have is to stay healthy. The haves and the have-nots in these upcoming series are as opposite as black and white.
BRANDON VS. PRINCE ALBERT
Brandon coasted through the end of their schedule and still won eight of 10. Does anyone think P.A., which only got into the playoffs -- after a monstrous collapse in the final six weeks -- because it could beat the Saskatoon Blades, are going to mount a challenge? Sorry P.A., but no miracle run like two seasons back. Brandon has one of the best home records in the 21-team league, losing only four in regulation. The Wheat Kings play .500 hockey on the road and have the second best power-play unit. If the Raiders can lull Brandon to sleep and P.A. fireplug Matt Robertson can score like he did when he notched 37 in the regular season, the Raiders might win one game. But Brandon has six players who have 20 goals or more, led by Mark Derlago with 46. The Wheaties have too much talent and might just sweep P.A. four games to none.
REGINA VS. SWIFT CURRENT
The Broncos came on late in the season after struggling in January and early February. Then again, so did Regina, and the Pats have every likelihood of winning this series in six. Regina made a number of changes before the WHL trade deadline and it took about a month to get things figured out. This club has very good balance, more offence and better defence than Swift Current. The Pats have a proven pair of veteran leaders in Kyle Ross and Logan Pyett while Broncos netminder Kyle Moir won't be able to do it all himself. He'll get some help from Myles Rumsey and Jeremy Schenderling, but Swift Current just can't score enough goals.
MEDICINE HAT VS. RED DEER
The Tigers are the second-highest scoring team in the WHL and also sport the third-best defence. That carried them to 52 victories -- second only to Everett. Up against Red Deer, which is still too young to have any hope of beating such a mature team, the Tigers might not lose a contest, although Red Deer will battle hard and could get one win at home. For five straight years, the Tigers have been the best in the Eastern conference. Last year, they were shocked by the Moose Jaw Warriors in a five-game series and guys like Kris Russell, Darren Helm and Derek Dorsett won't let that happen again. Red Deer will play to its maximum potential and, with a pair of Sutter boys in the series -- Brett and Brandon -- the Rebels will challenge every night, but won't win.
KOOTENAY VS. CALGARY
The Ice and Hitmen finish games with scores like 8-6 and 7-5, because both have plenty of firepower. Saskatoon native Steve DaSilva leads Kootenay with 38 goals while Brodie Dupont, with 37 goals, provides Calgary's leadership. The difference in the series will be goalie Taylor Dakers in the Kootenay net. As well, the Ice are better at home and on the road than the Hitmen, which means Kootenay wins in seven.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Out west, Everett just has too much top-line firepower for Spokane to even come close while Tri-City has money goaltender Carey Price between the pipes and will beat Seattle.
Chilliwack had an amazing first season in the WHL and got on a roll at the end, but unfortunately it's facing the Memorial Cup-bound Vancouver Giants and won't win a game. Kamloops and Prince George will battle back and forth in the B.C. interior and, while the series will go seven, it will be the Blazers who finally shed their inept playoff record. The club missed the playoffs the past two years and before that, lost out six consecutive years in the first round.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007
Don't expect early upsets in WHL
Doug McConachie, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Imagine a playoff series in which there are no upsets. No underdogs getting their teeth into the big dog and tearing it to shreds. No little guy getting up off the canvas in the 10th round and willing himself to win.
Why even play, you say?
In the WHL, the answer would be to get to the second round. That's when all the action starts. When predictability goes out the window.
In the upcoming first-round series, the closest thing to an upset will be if the Prince Albert Raiders win more than one game against the Brandon Wheat Kings, if Spokane can make it a six-game series against Everett, if Chilliwack can even win a game against Vancouver . . .
In other words, the favourites in these series are all the top-finishing teams and the biggest worry those teams have is to stay healthy. The haves and the have-nots in these upcoming series are as opposite as black and white.
BRANDON VS. PRINCE ALBERT
Brandon coasted through the end of their schedule and still won eight of 10. Does anyone think P.A., which only got into the playoffs -- after a monstrous collapse in the final six weeks -- because it could beat the Saskatoon Blades, are going to mount a challenge? Sorry P.A., but no miracle run like two seasons back. Brandon has one of the best home records in the 21-team league, losing only four in regulation. The Wheat Kings play .500 hockey on the road and have the second best power-play unit. If the Raiders can lull Brandon to sleep and P.A. fireplug Matt Robertson can score like he did when he notched 37 in the regular season, the Raiders might win one game. But Brandon has six players who have 20 goals or more, led by Mark Derlago with 46. The Wheaties have too much talent and might just sweep P.A. four games to none.
REGINA VS. SWIFT CURRENT
The Broncos came on late in the season after struggling in January and early February. Then again, so did Regina, and the Pats have every likelihood of winning this series in six. Regina made a number of changes before the WHL trade deadline and it took about a month to get things figured out. This club has very good balance, more offence and better defence than Swift Current. The Pats have a proven pair of veteran leaders in Kyle Ross and Logan Pyett while Broncos netminder Kyle Moir won't be able to do it all himself. He'll get some help from Myles Rumsey and Jeremy Schenderling, but Swift Current just can't score enough goals.
MEDICINE HAT VS. RED DEER
The Tigers are the second-highest scoring team in the WHL and also sport the third-best defence. That carried them to 52 victories -- second only to Everett. Up against Red Deer, which is still too young to have any hope of beating such a mature team, the Tigers might not lose a contest, although Red Deer will battle hard and could get one win at home. For five straight years, the Tigers have been the best in the Eastern conference. Last year, they were shocked by the Moose Jaw Warriors in a five-game series and guys like Kris Russell, Darren Helm and Derek Dorsett won't let that happen again. Red Deer will play to its maximum potential and, with a pair of Sutter boys in the series -- Brett and Brandon -- the Rebels will challenge every night, but won't win.
KOOTENAY VS. CALGARY
The Ice and Hitmen finish games with scores like 8-6 and 7-5, because both have plenty of firepower. Saskatoon native Steve DaSilva leads Kootenay with 38 goals while Brodie Dupont, with 37 goals, provides Calgary's leadership. The difference in the series will be goalie Taylor Dakers in the Kootenay net. As well, the Ice are better at home and on the road than the Hitmen, which means Kootenay wins in seven.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Out west, Everett just has too much top-line firepower for Spokane to even come close while Tri-City has money goaltender Carey Price between the pipes and will beat Seattle.
Chilliwack had an amazing first season in the WHL and got on a roll at the end, but unfortunately it's facing the Memorial Cup-bound Vancouver Giants and won't win a game. Kamloops and Prince George will battle back and forth in the B.C. interior and, while the series will go seven, it will be the Blazers who finally shed their inept playoff record. The club missed the playoffs the past two years and before that, lost out six consecutive years in the first round.
dmcconachie@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007