Don't expect early upsets in WHL

[nivek_wahs]

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

[Big Ern]

Just because Saskatoon is not in the playoffs at all, this guy shouldn't make other teams feel bad about their chances.

There ABSELOUTELY IS a way those underdog teams can win in the first round. Here's a clue: How often have the Pats beat Medicine Hat this season? The Broncos have done it twice. How often has Vancouver beat Everett? Chilliwack beat them bad, once.

So, my point? Playoffs aren't predictable, no matter how far along they are. This is a brand new season. And yes, there will be upsets in the first round.

[dondo]

Spokane's record versus Everett was pretty close 4-3-1 for Everett as I recall, so that series could be an upset. Muelller is still injured sick (pretty damn long flu if you ask me - two weeks and counting?) whatever and might not be back early enough. The whole Silvertips team was on a bit of a slide and looked very ordinary closing out the season. The Tips are also beat up right now and a good deal of their wins have come in 4 on 4 OT and the shootout - neither of which are in the playoffs (thank gawd)

Blazers on a slide as well and PG seems to be surging at the right time, so that could be a very drawn out series with PG coming out on top.

The Ice and Hitmen are simply a toss up-- depending upon who shows up that could be the most viciously fought series in the first round in the East or West.

The Ams and the TBirds will also be one of those toss-up series which could come down to a very even hard fought battle.

I don't know much about the East, but it seems to me that the Pats and Broncos could prove to be a challenge for one another. The Broncos are a speedy team with talent but young and could either collapse or up their game's in the second season.

I really don't see the Bruins being a challenge for the Giants nor should they be this particular year -- a team which has the Memorial Cup on their minds and a first year expansion team? At the very worst the Giants will drop two very close games, but I really don't see that happening.

Medicine Hat is a force but that what was thought about them last season as well and the Moose Jaw Warriors managed to take them out. Also never count out a Sutter coached team in a playoff atmosphere. Playoffs are about goaltending and role-players, team play and work ethic and the teams which work those elements the best usually come out on top. Coaching could play a very large role in this series.

[dj-kris]

Well i guess we might as well just advance the top seeds thru to the next round since this hockey profit has blessed us with his knowledge

[nivek_wahs]

http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=24074

Western Conference

WHL playoff predictions: Our fearless choices

Tuesday, March 20, 2007
By Doyle Potenteau
The Daily Courier

Five opinions. Three coaches. Two media members. One great read. Well, we‘re hoping it‘s a great read.
Through some intimidation, exchanging of money and just plain ol‘ bribery, I managed to cajole fellow media member Regan Bartel plus three members of the Kelowna Rockets‘ coaching staff to peer into their WHL playoff crystal ball. While Bartel and I are usually harangued by diehard fans for not knowing anything or getting our facts wrong – to quote Dave Barry, ‘What, you never make misstakes?‘ – what makes this bit of print interesting is getting opinions from Kelowna head coach Jeff Truitt plus assistant coaches Ryan Huska and Kim Dillabaugh.
While the Rockets are not involved in this year‘s playoffs, much to theirs, mine and Bartel‘s plus most of Kelowna‘s dismay, we here at The Daily Courier are keeping close tabs on this year‘s post-season run for several reasons – the first being Vancouver playing host to the 2007 Memorial Cup.
Another reason are Okanagan residents competing for playoff-bound teams, such as Kyle Beach for the Everett Silvertips. That, and, this year‘s title contenders are numerous, with Everett, Tri-City, Medicine Hat and Kootenay, plus, of course, Vancouver.
All in all, the next two months should prove quite interesting.

B.C. Division

Vancouver (1) vs. Chilliwack (4)

Truitt: Vancouver in four. The Giants have too much power and head coach Don Hay is going to have his team pumped for every series.

Huska: Vancouver sweep. The Giants have a lot of firepower and playoff experience that Chilliwack doesn‘t.

Dillabaugh: Vancouver has a lot of playoff experience, while Chilliwack doesn‘t has as much. And the depth that Vancouver has, the Giants hold the upperhand.

Bartel: Giants in four. Chilliwack was out-scored 26-2 in four games at Pacific Coliseum during the regular season, and the lack of success will continue when the Giants put their playoff faces on.

Potenteau: Giants in four. Why? Chilliwack went 0-8 in its season against Vancouver.

Kamloops (2) vs. Prince George (3)

Truitt: Kamloops isn‘t going into the playoffs on a big high. Still, with guys like Reid Jorgensen and Brock Nixon, and if (goaltender) Dustin Butler gets on his game, I like Kamloops. Blazers in six.

Huska: Prince George in six. The Cougars have been playing some very good hockey lately and the Blazers aren‘t.

Dillabaugh: Prince George in six. The Cougars have had good success lately, and their power play is dangerous. When it comes down to it, Prince George‘s power play will be the deciding factor.

Bartel: Cougars in six. The Blazers‘ 12-game winless streak on the road to end the season has me siding with Prince George. The first-round playoff curse in Kamloops will continue. The Blazers missed the playoffs last season. Prior to that they’ve been a first-round casualty six years running.

Potenteau: Blazers in six, though during the weekend I was leaning to Cougars in five. Why the change? Kamloops has a big edge in coaching, and, in a nutshell, I‘m picking Jorgensen‘s grit over the skill of Devin Setoguchi.


U.S. Division

Everett (1) vs. Spokane (4)

Truitt: Spokane has played Everett real tough, and earlier this had a chance to be an upset. But when push to comes to show, Everett has more up front. Silvertips in six.

Huska: Everett in six. The Silvertips, over the course of the regular season, have proven themselves to be THE team in the WHL.

Dillabaugh: Everett in six. When it comes to playoff experience, Everett has the edge. The Silvertips also have Leland Irving in net, and he‘s going to be the difference for them. Everett‘s going to be a hard team to knock off.

Bartel: Everett in six. Tips head coach Kevin Constantine will get the most out of his guys when it really counts. No one motivates and adjusts to the opposition better than Constantine. Even though Leland Irving was less than stellar down the stretch in goal, he’s a money goaltender and will show his weight in gold when it really counts.

Potenteau: Everett in four. Five if they‘re unlucky. With Irving plus a handful of great forwards, such as Peter Mueller, Moises Gutierrez, Kyle Beach and Zach Hamill, the Silvertips‘ offence will overwhelm Spokane. And it‘s hard to argue against 54 wins and 111 points.

Tri-City (2) vs. Seattle (3)

Truitt: Tri-City in five. The Americans are full of confidence, and they‘ve really turned the corner since the beginning of the season. Plus, (goaltender) Carey Price has shown that he can play under pressure.

Huska: Tri-City in seven. Price will be the difference in the series. But, that said, I think this will be the best series. Both teams are good and can skate very well; it‘ll be a good one to watch.

Dillabaugh: This series will go seven games, and Tri-City will win in. The Americans have made some good additions with defencemen T.J. Fast and Roman Teslyuk plus Colton Yellow Horn up front. Derek Yeomans will be good in goal for Seattle, but when Price is on his game, there aren‘t many who are better than him.

Bartel: Tri City in six. Good team speed, a solid power play and team toughness is just to much for the T-Birds. Carey Price is always on his game, while Yeomans can take an odd game off.

Potenteau: Tri-City in six. The Ams have better coaching, better depth and an edge in age, though don‘t be surprised if Seattle, led by Aaron Gagnon and Scott Jackson, pulls off an upset in seven.

[nivek_wahs]

Eastern Conference


Central Division:

Medicine Hat (1) vs. Red Deer (4)

Truitt: Red Deer is going to play tough, and GM/head coach Brent Sutter will have his team playing without fear. But Medicine Hat has too much offence in its lineup, and asking forwards Martin Hanzal and Kirill Starkov to carry Red Deer might be too much. Tigers in six.

Huska: Medicine Hat in four. The TIgers have a lot of speed and more depth than the Rebels.

Dillabaugh: Medicine Hat in four. The Tigers have a good goalie in Matt Keetley and have good team speed with lots of skill. Red Deer will have trouble defending. The Tigers are rolling and they‘re pretty tough to beat at home.

Bartel: Tigers in five. Even without Derek Dorsett in the opening round, the Tigers have far to much firepower. Never bet against a team that lost just five times on home ice all season.

Potenteau: Tigers in four. Medicine Hat has the league‘s second-best set of defencemen behind Vancouver‘s – a fact borne out by the Tigers‘ 175 goals against, best in the Eastern Conference and third-best overall.

Kootenay (2) vs. Calgary (3)

Truitt: This will be a good series. Head coach Cory Clouston has done such a good job with Kootenay, and the Ice always seem to rise to the occasion even when they don‘t have any big-name players. The Ice play as good a game as any team does, and they‘re playing really well right now. Kootenay in six.

Huska: Kootenay in six. Every season, nobody gives Kootenay a chance. And, yet, the Ice are always proving people wrong. Plus, right now, the team is playing very well.

Dillabaugh: Kootenay in six. The Ice have more overall depth, and goaltender Taylor Dakers has playoff experience. Kootenay is a real good team, from goal on out.

Bartel: Ice in six. I hate Kootenay. Did I say that out loud? Yet the organization traditionally has playoff success, and again will rise to the top thanks to one of the most balanced lineups in the league. If one line isn’t going, Clouston has the option of leaning on another.

Potenteau: Kootenay in five. The Ice finished with 10 more regular-season wins (49-39) and there‘s two good reasons for that: Commitment to defence and a potent offence. Kootenay led the league in scoring with 267 goals while only allowing 189. Notably, only two Eastern Conference teams were under 200 goals against, with the other being Medicine Hat.

East Division:

Brandon (1) vs. Prince Albert (4)

Truitt: Brandon in five. With guys like Mark Derlago and Juraj Simek, the Wheat Kings have a pretty potent power play, and GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon has his team clicking along pretty well. That, and Prince Albert entered the playoffs having to scratch its way in.

Huska: Brandon in five. The Wheat Kings‘ power play, and just how many gifted players they have, will be too much for Prince Albert to contain.

Dillabaugh: Brandon in a sweep. Prince Albert has had a tough go lately, and Brandon‘s power play and penalty kill has been great all season. The Wheat Kings are an old, experienced team, and they have some guys who know what it takes to win in the playoffs.

Bartel: Brandon in four. The Raiders were awful down the stretch, with just three wins in their final 18 games. Peter Anholt may have celebrated a milestone this season by moving into second place all time in games coached in the WHL, but he won’t have much to celebrate in the post-season.

Potenteau: Wheat Kings in four. Of all the games this past season at Prospera Place, nobody dominated Kelowna like Brandon. The Wheat Kings won 7-1 and literally took half the game off. If Brandon can consistently repeat that performance, the Wheat Kings may earn a darkhorse spot in Vancouver this May.

Regina (2) vs. Swift Current (3)

Truitt: I have to give head coach Curtis Hunt a lot of credit. He has his team playing well down the stretch, while Swift Current has been up and down. With the offence the Pats have, Regina in six.

Huska: Regina in six. The Pats have been one of the hotter teams in the league during the second half. They‘ll be tough to contend with.

Dillabaugh: Swift Current in an upset. In seven. Call it a gut feeling, though Swift beat some pretty good games the last two weeks, like Medicine Hat and Brandon.

Bartel: Broncos in six. I can’t go against my former team can I? The Broncos didn’t win a game in Regina all season long, but they’ll regain home-ice advantage by finally doing it in the playoffs. Kyle Moir wants to go out with a bang, and the overage goaltender will stand on his head.

Potenteau: Pats in six. Regina has an older lineup and two very good over-age forwards in Garrett Festerling and Kyle Ross. Plus, of course, the Pats gained some valuable playoff experience when they gained forwards Troy Ofukany and Kirt Hill in a six-player trade with the Kelowna Rockets.

[LifelongChiefsFan]

In reality these so called "experts" aren't any better at picking how a series will unfold than you and me. You could pull someone who knows nothing about hockey off the street and it's possible for them to pick more series right than the experts. It would honestly be more suprising to me if there wasn't an upset in the first round.